Marine Branch 16 Headquarters — Nazawa Island.
Captain Nezumi lounged in his cushioned chair, a pipe between his fingers and a smug grin on his face. Papers were scattered across his desk, mostly ignored. Outside, the sun was bright, the waves calm. Everything seemed perfect in his little corner of East Blue.
He chuckled to himself, sipping tea.
"Let Arlong handle the dirty work," he muttered. "And I'll keep collecting my share. Easy life."
Suddenly—*BANG!*
The office doors burst open.
A drenched, panting Fishman scout stumbled in, water still dripping from his uniform.
Nezumi flinched, annoyed. "What the hell is this? Do you barge into my office like some wild animal?! You better have a damn good reason!"
The Fishman saluted hastily. "S-Sir! Urgent report from Cocoyashi Village!"
Nezumi leaned back lazily, waving his pipe. "Well? Spit it out."
The Fishman took a deep breath. "Arlong… has been defeated."
The room fell silent.
Nezumi blinked. "…Come again?"
"Arlong. The Arlong you're working with—he's been defeated."
Nezumi shot up from his seat, eyes wide. "What?! By who?!"
The Fishman hesitated, then spoke firmly. "It was Zino."
Nezumi narrowed his eyes. "Zino…? Zino who?"
The Fishman straightened. "Monkey D. Zino, sir."
Silence.
The color drained from Nezumi's face. He stood frozen, eyes darting, sweat forming instantly on his brow. Then—*SLAM!*—he flung open a drawer, yanked out a thick folder, and began rifling through it.
"No… no, no, no… Not *that* Zino…"
He stopped on a page marked with a golden Marine emblem. His hands trembled slightly as he read the contents.
Name: Monkey D. Zino
Rank: Lieutenant
Known Feats: Defeated Captain Morgan (Marine), Defeated Pirate Captain Kuro
Lineage: Grandson of Commander-in-Chief Kong
Nezumi's jaw locked.
"That brat… is Kong's grandson?!"
He staggered back into his chair, collapsing into it like the air had been knocked from his lungs. His tea cup slipped from his fingers and shattered on the floor.
"This is bad… this is *really* bad…"
The Fishman scout remained still, unsure whether to speak.
Nezumi rubbed his face furiously. "I've been colluding with Arlong for years. If this reaches HQ, I'm finished. Stripped of rank. Maybe even executed for treason!"
He stood again, pacing now. "No wonder Arlong lost. That brat's been climbing the ranks fast—and with those bloodlines? The Marine brass probably worships him!"
He turned sharply toward the Fishman. "Does anyone else know yet?"
"Only local reports so far, sir."
Nezumi grit his teeth. "Then we bury this story our way. Prepare a statement for Marine HQ—say Arlong was taken down by a rogue pirate group… label them criminals. We'll say they destroyed a village during the fight. Frame them for the damage."
"But sir—"
"And find every record you can on this Zino's crew. Especially this Nami girl. Wait..." He turned to look at the Fishman scout. "Do you think Nami have any connection with Zino?"
"Seems like it. They appeared to be together in Cocoyashi Village." The scout replied.
"Good! Before, she was part of Arlong's crew, wasn't she? We'll call it treason."
Nezumi's eyes burned with panic-fueled cunning.
"If I can't destroy him with force… I'll ruin him with the law."
He turned to the window, watching the waves crash against the shore.
"Monkey D. Zino. You may be Kong's grandson, but you provoked me. Your climb in rank will stop here."
...
Cocoyashi Village.
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over Cocoyashi Village. The air still carried the faint scent of salt and smoke—a stark reminder of the fierce battle that had just ended. But for the first time in years, the shadow of fear that had loomed over the village finally lifted.
From the distance, Zino descended gracefully, landing with the swift and silent *Geppo* technique. In his grasp was the defeated Arlong, whose once formidable frame was now bloodied and bound tightly with thick, reinforced chains. The chains clinked softly with each movement, a testament to the Fishman's complete downfall.
Nearby, Alvida tossed the unconscious Chew to the ground with little effort, cracking a smirk as she tightened the final knot. "He's heavier than he looks," she muttered, brushing dirt off her sleeve.
Gin, who had followed Zino into the village, was already securing the last prisoner. The defeated Kuroobi was bound firmly, his body limp from exhaustion and injury. Wiping sweat from his brow, Gin looked up and said, "That's the last one."
Zino's gaze swept over the subdued Fishman officers—Arlong, Kuroobi, and Chew—then shifted to the heart of the village where the villagers had begun gathering, their faces a mix of hope and disbelief.
His voice rang out clear and resolute, carrying across the square.
"Cocoyashi is free. Arlong's reign is over!"
The words hung heavy for a moment, suspended in the silence.
Then—eruptions of joy broke loose.
Tears streamed down faces long hardened by pain and suffering. Villagers, once held captive by fear, now wept openly with relief. Children laughed and ran through the streets, their carefree voices ringing out. Men clapped one another on the back with hearty smiles, while women embraced in tears and joy.
Nami stood among them, her body trembling as emotion overwhelmed her. Tears carved fresh trails down her cheeks as she stepped forward slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, Zino... truly."
Zino offered her a small, understanding nod. "It's your home, Nami. You never stopped fighting for it."
Moments later, another group came rushing down the main road—Genzo, the village sheriff, his arm wrapped in bandages but very much alive, and the farmer who had been held hostage alongside him.
When the two heard the triumphant news of Arlong's defeat, their faces broke into broad smiles, and cheers erupted from their throats. Even the gruff, no-nonsense Genzo, known for his stern demeanor, couldn't hold back a single tear. Relief and joy softened his weathered features.
As the villagers reveled in their newfound freedom, Kaya moved gently to Zoro's side, her hands steady and sure as she carefully bandaged the wounds he had sustained in his fierce battle with Kuroobi.
Zino knelt beside the swordsman, his expression a mix of admiration and good-natured teasing. "You pushed through with cracked ribs and blood loss," he said, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Stubborn as always."
Zoro gave a tired grunt in reply, turning his face away slightly as Zino's hands worked skillfully over the cuts and bruises. "You're one to talk," he muttered.
Nearby, Gin stood quietly, observing the scene. Noticing him, Zino gestured toward the newcomer. "By the way—this is Gin. He's officially joining us."
Zoro raised a curious brow, recalling the man vaguely. "The starving guy from Baratie?"
Gin's lips twitched in what might have been an awkward smile.
Zino chuckled softly and added, "He's actually Don Krieg's former commander, known as Gin, the Demon."
Zoro let out a low whistle. "An infamous pirate, huh? Well, looks like we're collecting notorious names now."
Gin gave a modest shrug, his eyes glinting with quiet determination.
Not long later, Zoro, who had been barely able to stand earlier, now leaned against a post, arms crossed, bandages visible beneath his shirt. His movement was still stiff, but the difference was clear—Zino's medical treatment was remarkably effective.
Though the wounds hadn't fully healed, Zoro could now move without grimacing in pain. He still needed two or three days before he could swing his swords at full strength again, but for now, he was stable.
Nearby, Alvida adjusted her gloves, eyeing the pile of unconscious Fishmen lying in the shade, tightly bound and gagged.
"So… what do we do with these monsters?" she asked flatly.
Zino stood a few feet away, arms watching the horizon. "We turn them in," he said simply, motioning toward the restrained Arlong, Kuroobi, Chew, and the others. "Let the Marines deal with the rest."
Zoro cocked an eyebrow. "Aren't you a Marine too?"
Zino gave a faint chuckle and shook his head. "Nah. I'm just me. I don't carry prisoners."
"Figures," Alvida added with a smirk. "You don't strike me as the type who likes paperwork."
Later that day – Southern Shore of Conomi Island.
The waves lapped gently against the docked ship—*Silent Orca*—as Zino's team began hauling the captured criminals aboard. Arlong's massive form was carried by Zino, his chains reinforced and his mouth tightly gagged. Gin and Alvida followed with Kuroobi and Chew, both still unconscious.
Hatchan, who had been knocked out in an earlier scuffle, was dragged along without resistance. Even *Don Krieg*, still battered from his clash with Hatchan and later subdued by the crew, had been loaded into the ship's brig. He now lay unconscious behind iron bars—stripped of weapons and pride.
Once the deck was cleared, Zino turned to his crew.
"We've got our catch. Anyone know where the nearest base is?"
"I do," Nami replied from behind them.
She approached with a determined look, holding a rolled-up map. "There's a Marine base close by—Branch 16 Headquarters, on Nazawa Island."
"Show me," Zino said.
She unrolled the map over a barrel, flattening it with both hands. "Here—this is Conomi Island, where we are right now," she said, tapping the main landmass. Then her finger slid westward, landing on a smaller island with a marked anchor symbol. "And this is Nazawa Island, home of Marine Branch 16. It's the closest one in the region."
Zino studied the map carefully. "Alright. That's our next stop. We'll drop these scumbags off."
"Think they'll take all of them?" Gin asked.
Zino smirked. "With this many high-value criminals? They'd better roll out the red carpet."
"So, who's in charge of that place?" Sanji asked casually.
Nami's expression immediately darkened. Her voice came cold and sharp. "Captain Nezumi."
"Nezumi?"
Nami nodded. "He's a corrupt Marine captain. He took bribes from Arlong for years. That's how those Fishmen were able to keep control of my village. Every time we resisted, Nezumi looked the other way—or worse, helped them."
The mood shifted. Even the waves seemed to hush.
Zino narrowed his eyes, stroking his chin. "Nezumi… yeah, I've heard that name before. Paper-pusher. Coward. Loyal to whoever lines his pockets."
Then a small smirk tugged at his lips. "Looks like I'm on a streak. One more corrupt Marine captain to knock down."
Alvida crossed her arms, smirking. "You've got a weird habit of running into these kinds of guys."
"Maybe it's fate," Zino said, raising his hands in mock innocence. "Could be I'm the destined one—cleansing the seas one crooked officer at a time."
"Destined, huh?" Nami rolled her eyes. "Try 'walking trouble magnet.'"
Zoro let out a low chuckle. "So, what now? We sail for Nazawa and drop these bastards off?"
"And after that we continue forward to Grandline, right?" Said Ussop.
When he mentioned Grandline, almost all of the crews showed some kind of expectations. Alvida, Zoro, and Sanji have their own thoughts and targets waiting in Grandline. Each of them have a flicker of desire in their eyes.
However, one of them showed a conflicting expression. Nami was especially quiet at the moment, and Zino saw this. A thought played in his mind.
Finally, his voice broke the quiet.
"No. Not yet," he said. "We'll rest here tonight. Everyone needs to recover. We move at first light."
No one argued. The battle with Arlong had pushed them all to their limits—physically, emotionally. A moment of peace was well-earned.
Nami, who had been quietly watching the horizon, suddenly turned toward the distant silhouette of Cocoyashi Village. Her eyes softened.
"I want to go back," she said.
Though her tone was calm, something about it stirred unease in the air. The rest of the crew turned toward her, momentarily stunned. For a brief second, a flicker of doubt passed through their minds.
"Is she… leaving the crew?" Ussop whispered.
Kaya looked like she wanted to speak up. "Na-Nami, you—"
But before she could finish, Zino raised his hand gently, stopping her.
"Just go," he said.
Nami looked at him, eyes slightly wide. "Zino, I…"
He smiled—not wide or proud, but warm. Quiet. "I believe in you."
That simple phrase hit harder than anything. Nami's eyes watered, but she kept her composure. With a small bow, she turned. "Thank you."
She climbed down from the ship and began walking back toward Cocoyashi Village, the fading sunlight stretching her shadow along the path.
"Uwaaaah~ Nami-chwan~" Sanji sobbed dramatically, collapsing onto the deck.
Alvida raised an eyebrow. "So… is she really leaving us?"
Zino shook his head slightly. "No. When we set sail tomorrow, she'll be with us."
"You sure about that?" Alvida asked.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked up at the sky, where the first stars were beginning to pierce through the dusk.
A long silence.
Then, softly, he said, "Guys… I need your help."
"Huh? What's going on?" Ussop tilted his head, concerned.
Zino's voice lowered. "I… I need some time alone tonight. Can I ask you all to leave the ship, just for the night?"
The request hit like a quiet bomb. Even Zoro blinked.
"What?" Ussop said in disbelief. "You're kicking us off the ship?"
Zino didn't turn around. He kept his gaze fixed on the sea. "Please."
There was something in his voice—weight, exhaustion, maybe even pain. Not the usual stoic composure they were used to.
Zoro was the first to nod. "Let him be."
"But where do we even sleep—" Ussop started.
"Arlong Park," Zino interrupted. "It's abandoned now. There should be plenty of space."
Alvida folded her arms. "Alright. We'll be back at dawn."
Zino gave a quiet nod of gratitude but said nothing more.
One by one, the crew disembarked, walking off into the growing dark. Kaya was the last to descend the ramp, glancing back at her captain. Zino stood alone, back turned, still staring into the horizon like it held answers he hadn't yet found.
"…Is he really okay?" she asked, barely audible.
Zoro looked over his shoulder. "He'll be fine. Just let him breathe."
As the crew vanished into the night, the Silent Orca remained at the dock—its lone occupant lost in thought beneath a starlit sky.