Chapter 214: Cocoa West Village
After flipping through all the newspapers from the past year, Eric found some significant news:
[The last Warlord of the Sea has been identified. He is the supernova "Iron Man" Duke, with a previous bounty of 230 million Berries, now having his bounty revoked and appointed as a new Warlord of the Sea.]
"I've never heard of this name..." Even though some of the memories of the original One Piece anime were a bit fuzzy, Eric was sure that this character didn't exist in the original. "Looks like I've already changed the course of the world."
"Let me see." Kurumi took the paper, reading aloud, "It says here, in front of the reporters: 'I will dethrone the new "Sea Emperor"—Darren Eric .' Aha, this statement sure is arrogant."
"However, recently there have been reports saying that Eric is afraid of the new Warlord of the Sea. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been a single news story about the Dawn Pirates over the past year."
"Some even paraded around with a fake Dawn Pirates flag, claiming to have defeated one of the Four Emperors, the Dawn Pirates, until the Navy pointed out that it was all fake."
Eric was somewhat speechless. Clearly, after Luffy disappeared for two years, fake Straw Hat Pirates had emerged, but when it was his turn, after only a year of silence, he was already said to have been "defeated."
"They're just a bunch of clowns, no need to pay attention to them." Eric said confidently, "After we finish our training, it's time for the world to recognize us again!"
"Ah!" Esdeath put a hand over her chest, "Eric 's expression now is so great!"
She was immediately hit with a white-eyed glare from Kurumi.
Eric also found the news about Princess Otohime following the Celestial Dragon Donquixote Musgarud Saint on a week-long voyage, bringing back a signed agreement for a peaceful relationship between the Fish-Man Tribe and humans.
"This woman doesn't even fear the trouble," Eric muttered quietly.
To Eric , Celestial Dragons looked like primates, but their behavior and personalities were far from it, and it was hard to guarantee they wouldn't act out their primal instincts.
As for the aftermath of the signing, the death of Hody Jones hadn't prevented Princess Otohime from being assassinated. Fortunately, with the senzu beans Eric provided, she didn't die from her injuries.
But in the following speeches, Princess Otohime had many more guards from Ryugu Castle around her, and even her three sons were always by her side protecting her.
However, to this day, the mastermind behind the assassination still hadn't been caught, which made everyone a little uneasy.
While browsing the edges of the newspaper, Eric found two minor pieces of news:
[Pirate Buck captured at Swallow Island]
"Seems like Trafalgar D. Water Law has set sail." Eric thought, glancing at the newspaper's date. It had been three months since then.
And another news piece: [The Evil Dragon Pirate Crew attacks villages in the East Blue.]
Seeing this, Eric felt a sudden urgency. He had saved Zoro's childhood friend Kuina, saved Shirahoshi's mother, Princess Otohime, but hadn't saved Nami's foster mother, Bellemere!
Didn't he come to this world to resolve these regrets?
Eric quickly walked into the control room, "Full speed ahead to the East Blue!"
"Yes!"
...
East Blue, Cocoa West Village.
A beautiful and peaceful village, surrounded by large fields of orange trees.
"Pirates! Pirates are here!" The shout broke the village's tranquility.
"Pirates! Everyone, hide!" A villager shouted while running, swiftly passing between two little girls.
The jagged bow of the ship with a prominent nose and the red swordfish pirate flag waved in the wind.
"It's the Evil Dragon Crew!" The villager immediately recognized the pirate crew's name.
The villagers couldn't believe that the Fish-Man Pirates of the Grand Line were appearing here.
Young Nami and Nojiko were rushed into the woods by Genzo.
The Evil Dragon, wearing a hat and leading his Fish-Men, arrogantly stood in front of the villagers.
"Hello, foolish humans. From this moment, this village, no, this island, is under our rule!"
"Listen well! On this commemorative day, you will buy your lives from me. 100,000 Berries for each adult, 50,000 Berries for each child. Those who can't pay will be killed, hahahahaha!"
Because of the Fish-Men's overwhelming power, the villagers quickly gathered the money.
The Evil Dragon, smiling broadly, asked, "How much did we get, comrades?"
Crocoby, holding a bag, replied, "A little over 25 million Berries."
"Good, let's move out, comrades!" The Evil Dragon was about to lead the Fish-Men away.
"Ah, Brother Arlong, there's smoke rising from the village corner," Bishoalo pointed to the smoke ahead.
"Ah?" The Evil Dragon, looking down, raised his head toward the smoke.
...
Standing in front of Bellemere's house, the Evil Dragon actually knocked politely on the door.
The "knock, knock" sound felt like a death knell, coming to take Bellemere's life.
Bellemere, cooking, looked out the window, where she saw several tall figures.
"The door's not locked, come in," the hostess invited from inside.
"Sorry to bother you." The Evil Dragon grinned as he pushed the door open.
The soup in the pot was bubbling, and the pleasant aroma of food filled the air.
Arlong scanned the room but didn't see the woman.
Bellemere swiftly raised her leg and kicked towards Arlong's chin.
The towering Arlong was instantly kicked back, and Bellemere elegantly sat on his chest.
"Crack."
The muzzle of a flintlock gun was inserted into Arlong's mouth, "What a pity, I used to be in the Navy. What would a pirate from the 'Grand Line' be doing in Cocoa West Village?"
"Hehehe…" All the Fish-Men laughed sinisterly, their unpleasant laughter mingling, causing nausea.
Bellemere glared at them, angrily shouting, "What's so funny?"
"Ha ha ha!" The Evil Dragon laughed beneath her, biting down on the gun barrel.
"...!" Bellemere couldn't believe what was happening before her eyes. She stared at the broken gun barrel.
"Useless, useless, useless. How weak, how weak your kind is." The Evil Dragon, lying on the ground, looked up at Bellemere with contempt.
The Evil Dragon raised his large foot and stepped on Bellemere's arm, the crisp sound of bones breaking echoed, followed by the woman's agonized scream.
Bellemere's elbow twisted into an irregular shape, but the Evil Dragon didn't hold back, stepping on her body with each stomp. Bellemere's body trembled with every step.
Bellemere, drenched in sweat, gritted her teeth, thinking, 'No, these guys are real monsters. If I'm going to die, it'll be for Noko and Nami!'
Genzo angrily shouted, "Bellemere, don't die for that useless sense of justice! Sometimes pointless battles can be solved with money!"
"Mr. Genzo…"
"Exactly. Female Navy, 100,000 Berries per adult, 50,000 Berries per child. As long as you pay your family's portion, I'll let you live."
Genzo knelt, flipping Bellemere over, quietly asking, "A total of 200,000, how much do you have left?"
"With my secret savings, just a bit over 100,000."
"…!" Genzo gritted his teeth.
Octopus Little Eight said by Bellemere's door, "Hey, she prepared three servings of food."
"Oh?" The Evil Dragon smiled wickedly, "A family of three, huh."
"Almost forgot." Kneeling, Genzo began his solo performance, using crude acting to lie to the Evil Dragon, "Today, she invited me and a friend over for dinner."
"Alright, Bellemere, hurry up and hand over your portion of the money, or the food you made will get cold."
"Mr. Genzo!"
"Seems like 100,000 Berries, thankfully that's enough." Genzo, sweating profusely, continued lying, "That way, all the villagers will be safe."
Crocoby checked the list in his hand, "Indeed, according to the village records, she's neither married nor has children."
Crocoby looked at Bellemere, "This woman is single."
Nojiko and Nami, who were held back by Dr. Nako, looked as if they had lost their souls, their pupils shrinking to the size of pinpricks.
"You understand, right? There's no evidence proving Bellemere is your mother. While they haven't figured out who you are, you need to leave the island and escape by sea!"
Nojiko, being saved by Bellemere, still had memories, but at this moment, Nami's orange eyes lost their original brilliance, growing dull and lifeless.
Dr. Nako continued to persuade, "Besides, there's no other way for all three of you to survive. I know it's risky to have you so young set out to sea, but if something goes wrong—"
While Dr. Nako was Speaking, tears built up in Nami's eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
"But if there's any chance…"
"No," Nami interrupted Dr. Nako's words, "I don't want to leave, why do we have to leave? It's those people who came here without permission… I want to live in this village! Is it because we're poor
? Can't we be Bellemere's daughters?"
"Why, why?" Nami's innocent voice asked again and again, looking at Dr. Nako, who had no words to say.
Nojiko, holding back tears, spoke quietly, "Understood. We'll leave the village."
"Nojiko!"
"Let's go, this way Bellemere will be saved."
Bellemere stood by the door, clutching her disfigured left arm. "That's good, now I can be saved."
"Wait, who said that was for me?" Bellemere smirked, "That 100,000 Berries is for my two daughters. Mine isn't enough."
"Bellemere, you!"
"Mr. Genzo, I'm sorry. I can't say 'I don't have family.' Even if it costs me my life."
The two little girls turned around in disbelief, their big eyes filled with tears, looking at Bellemere.
Dr. Nako angrily whispered, "So foolish!"
"Even though we're not related by blood, we're still family. Even if it's just words, I want to be their mother. They are my children, right?"
Nojiko and Nami cried as they apologized, rushing to their mother—Bellemere!
Bellemere, who had not shed a tear despite having her arm broken, finally shed tears of regret as she embraced the world's best pair of daughters.
"You have to achieve your dreams," her already broken arm trembling as it touched Nami's head, "You must live."
"They are your daughters, right?" The Evil Dragon spoke out of place, interrupting the tearful scene.
"Yes, you must promise not to harm these two children."
"Of course, as long as you obediently die!"
Nami cried out, "Help!"
Genzo, who had been avoiding conflict, finally stood up like a warrior, raising his guns for a fierce shot, but Crocoby knocked him over with a single strike.
At that moment, the villagers rushed in with various weapons, shouting.
"Don't kill them, that's enough!" The Evil Dragon walked toward Bellemere. "Perfect, let's use you as the first example of a warning."
Bellemere threw the two children back into the house.
The cold muzzle of the gun was aimed at Bellemere's heart. "Die for meaningless love."
"Nojiko, Nami," Bellemere turned back, showing the most beautiful smile in the world, "I love you both."
Just as the trigger was about to be pulled, the Evil Dragon's gun was suddenly sent flying.
"Huh?" The Evil Dragon glared toward where the gun went.
"This beautiful story cannot end in tragedy. Don't you think, Kurumi?"
"Ara, indeed."
(END CHAPTER)
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