"Is this really all the treasure they had?" Nami asked, staring in disappointment at the pile of loot they had managed to haul in. The total value of the items barely reached ten thousand Berries. Aside from that, there were a few low-quality weapons and some basic food supplies.
"This clown is too poor," she muttered, crossing her arms in frustration.
Zino, however, felt uneasy. Something about this didn't sit right with him. For someone like Buggy—who was known to terrorize towns and claim territories—this amount of treasure was far too small. There had to be more.
"They might have hidden the rest of their treasure somewhere else… probably on their ship," Zino said aloud, voicing his suspicion.
Nami's eyes lit up at the thought. "Ah, that's really possible! Pirates usually stash their valuables on board where they can keep an eye on them."
Wasting no time, the group made their way back toward the shoreline. Before they left, Nami handed the small stash of loot to Zoro. "You carry the treasure. No way I'm letting it out of our sight."
Zoro grunted but complied, carrying the small chest of goods as they returned to the beach.
When they arrived, however, the scene was not what they had expected. The captured Clown Pirates were nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was only one person standing there—an old man with glasses, who appeared to be watching the sea thoughtfully.
"They're gone?" Nami asked, scanning the area quickly. "Did they escape?"
"Looks like it," Zino said, narrowing his eyes at the spot where the prisoners had been tied up earlier. Only the frayed ends of rope remained, fluttering slightly in the breeze.
He then approached the elderly man, who had turned his attention to them with a curious look. "Excuse me, sir. Have you seen a group of pirates tied up around here?"
The old man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he adjusted his glasses and asked, "Who are you people?"
Zino gave a polite nod. "We're a group of pirate hunters. My name is Monkey D. Zino, and these are my crewmates—Zoro, Alvida, and Nami."
Upon hearing the name, the old man's eyebrows rose slightly, but he nodded. "I see. I'm Boodle, the mayor of Orange Town—this island's only settlement.
Zino nodded after hearing the old man's introduction. He then got straight to the point. "We captured the Clown Pirates earlier and tied them up right around here. Have you seen anyone like that?"
Mayor Boodle looked around and noticed the ropes still lying scattered across the ground. He adjusted his glasses and replied, "I did notice the ropes, but I only arrived a short while ago. I didn't see any pirates. But… are you saying you actually caught the Clown Pirates?"
Zino nodded. "Yeah. We left them here temporarily after we defeated and tied them up. But it looks like they escaped."
Boodle scratched his head, looking surprised but then let out a sigh of relief. "Well, if they're gone, then that's good news. At least they've left the island. Thank you for driving them away. They've been terrorizing this place for far too long."
"Don't be too relieved just yet," Zoro said, glancing warily toward the sea. "They might circle back once they think we've left."
Boodle's expression stiffened, the relief on his face fading a little.
Zoro then turned to Zino. "So, what now? Are we going after them?"
Alvida crossed her arms and clicked her tongue. "Did you forget? Our ship got blown to pieces. That clown's cannon—whatever that 'Muggy Ball' was—completely wiped it out."
That wrecked ship was hers to begin with. She will be lying if she didn't feel anything when she saw the ship got destroyed. However, she couldn't do anything about it, and could only sigh.
Zino on the other hand frowned slightly at the reminder, looking out toward the wreckage where their ship once floated. It had been reduced to burnt planks and twisted metal.
The old man, Boodle looked thoughtful for a moment, before saying, "Oh, that was your ship? I saw the wreck earlier. I figured Buggy had something to do with it. If you'll allow me, I'd like to help."
"You want to help us?" Nami asked, raising an eyebrow.
The old mayor nodded. "Yes. Our town owes you a great debt. If not for your group, we might've still been hiding from those pirates. I may not have much, but I do have an old ship you can use."
Zino's eyes lit up slightly. "You have a ship?"
Boodle chuckled. "It's nothing fancy—just an old vessel we used for supply runs. It's been docked and unused for years, so it'll need a bit of maintenance. But it should still float."
"How big is it?" Zino asked, intrigued.
"Smaller than your previous ship," Boodle replied honestly. "But it should be enough for a crew your size. Come, I'll show it to you."
Without hesitation, the old man turned and began leading them inland, down a quieter path through the town. As they walked, he began sharing stories about Orange Town and its history—how the town used to thrive with merchants and travelers before Buggy's gang arrived and turned it into a ghost town.
Surprisingly, Zino found himself listening with genuine interest. The old man's voice carried pride, and despite his age, his steps were steady. It was clear he loved his town and felt deeply grateful that someone had finally stood up to its tormentors.
"You really saved this place," Boodle said as they walked. "I don't think most people would've risked themselves for strangers. You and your crew… you've given us hope."
Zino offered a small smile. "We're just doing what we can."
Behind them, Nami whispered to Alvida, "It's rare to hear someone call us heroes."
Alvida smirked. "Don't get used to it."
The group continued following Boodle.
"We're here," said Boodle as he led the group toward the far end of the island.
They arrived at a quieter seaside area, far from the bustle of town. An older-looking dock stretched into the sea, worn but still sturdy. Several small ships were moored there, bobbing gently with the waves. A handful of islanders were busy unloading their fishing gear, having just returned from a morning trip out at sea.
The moment the villagers noticed a group approaching, they tensed. Some paused their work and narrowed their eyes at the unfamiliar faces.
"Ah! It's the mayor!" one of the men suddenly called out, relaxing. "Mayor Boodle, what brings you out here?"
A few others echoed the sentiment, still glancing cautiously at Zino and his crew.
One of the fishermen, a tanned middle-aged man with a thick beard, stepped forward. "Mayor, who are these people with you?"
Boodle raised a hand in greeting. "Relax, Hagan. These people aren't enemies. In fact, they're the reason we're free from the Clown Pirates."
The villagers exchanged looks.
"They drove out the Clown Pirates?" Hagan repeated in disbelief.
"They helped drive them away, yes," Boodle confirmed. "They're pirate hunters. They only just arrived, and already they've taken on Buggy's crew."
"Wait, are you saying they actually fought Buggy and his men?" Hagan's eyes widened.
Zino nodded. "We captured them. Tied them up too. But… they managed to escape before we could turn them in to the Marines."
"Escaped?" Hagan's voice dropped. "Then... they might come back?"
Boodle didn't respond immediately. He simply turned to Zino, his eyes steady.
Zino understood the unspoken request and stepped forward. "We'll stay here for at least a day," he said calmly. "We'll search the island thoroughly. If we don't find them, we'll expand the search to the surrounding waters before continuing our journey."
Although his words weren't a solid promise, they still brought relief to the worried villagers.
"Thank you," Boodle said softly, glancing around at his people. "Even if it's just for a day, your help means a lot to this island."
Zino nodded silently.
Hagan exhaled in relief. "If you folks really fought Buggy and lived, you've earned our respect. That clown's been tormenting this island for too long."
"Don't worry," said Alvida, stepping up beside Zino. "If he dares to come back, we'll deal with him again."
The villagers, now visibly more at ease, stepped aside to let them pass.
"Let's go check the ship," Boodle said, gesturing toward the far end of the dock.
He led the group along a wooden path, the dock creaking softly under their steps. At the very end of the dock sat a medium-sized ship, anchored quietly and covered in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs.
Boodle stopped in front of it and raised his hand. "This is my ship—*Silent Orca*."
Zino and his crew stepped closer to inspect it. The ship had solid structure, but its neglected state made it look almost ghostly. Dust clung to every surface, the sails were folded and stiff with age, and spiderwebs stretched across the railings and mast.
"…It's seen better days," muttered Zoro.
Nami scrunched her nose. "It looks like it hasn't moved in years."
Alvida folded her arms. "Are you sure it's still seaworthy?"
Boodle chuckled, though a faint flush of embarrassment appeared on his cheeks. "Well, it *has* been a while since I last used her. But back in the day, she was a fine ship. She may be a little rusty now, but with some cleaning and maintenance, I'm sure she'll sail just fine."
He glanced back at them, seeing their skeptical expressions. "How about this—I'll take care of the cleanup and get her inspected. You don't need to worry about that. In the meantime, why don't you all head into town? Even though Buggy and his crew have been a menace, they didn't completely destroy everything. We still have a few working shops and vendors."
Nami's eyes lit up immediately at the mention of shops. "Shops, huh? That sounds like an invitation."
Boodle reached into his coat and pulled out a thin metal bracelet with a small red gem embedded in it. He handed it to Nami. "Take this. It's a sign that you're friends of the mayor. If you show it around the market and mention my name, the shopkeepers should give you a discount."
"Seriously?" Nami asked, eyes gleaming. She took the bracelet without hesitation and smiled brightly. "Mayor, you're officially my favorite person on this island."
Zino gave a small chuckle. "That's a dangerous title."
"Alright! Guys, let's go shopping," Nami announced, already tugging Alvida by the arm.
"Fine by me," said Alvida, nodding. "We need supplies anyway—our ship got blown up along with most of our food."
Zoro let out a sigh. "I'll pass. I'll go with Zino instead and help check for the Clown Pirates."
Before Zino could say anything, Alvida turned around and pointed at Zoro. "Oh no you don't. You're coming with us."
"…Why?"
"Because we'll need help carrying things. Also, if we let you wander off alone, you'll probably get lost. Again."
"…I wasn't lost last time."
"You did!"
Zoro went quiet, visibly annoyed but unable to argue. "Tch. Fine."
Zino smirked at the exchange. "In that case, I'll check around the outskirts of town and the rest of the coast, just to be sure Buggy didn't leave any traps behind."
"Don't take too long. We'll meet back here by sundown," said Alvida.
With that, the group split into two: Zino went off alone to scout the island, while Nami, Alvida, and Zoro headed into town to purchase supplies. Nami led the way, clearly the most enthusiastic about the shopping trip, already talking about what kinds of tools, maps, and snacks they needed.
Back at the dock, Boodle turned toward his ship with a determined look.
The Silent Orca had once been his pride—a vessel used in his youth for island patrols and small journeys between neighboring territories. It had been retired long ago when his responsibilities as mayor increased. Still, he had kept it, hoping one day it might serve a purpose again.
"Well, looks like she'll get to sail again after all," he murmured to himself.
Just then, Hagan and a few other villagers came walking over. One of them was carrying a toolbox, while another brought a bucket and brush.
"Mayor," Hagan said, "you're not planning to clean that thing by yourself, are you?"
Boodle looked at them with surprise. "You're offering to help?"
"Of course," said Hagan. "You brought those pirate hunters here. If they drove off Buggy, then helping you out is the least we can do. Besides, it's been a while since we've worked on a ship."
The other villagers nodded in agreement, already setting their tools down and preparing to get to work.
A soft smile touched Boodle's face. "Thank you. I appreciate it."
Together, they began scrubbing the deck, removing the cobwebs, and inspecting the mast and sails. As the sun began to climb higher in the sky, laughter and friendly chatter filled the air. The old dock, once quiet and forgotten, was alive again with purpose.