Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for only $7 to get early access to upcoming chapters!
Currently, there are 110 chapters in my PATREON
> > Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations <<
----------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 51: The Post-War Era
Perhaps it was the joy of victory, or perhaps it was the shock of Luffy's impassioned voice. In any case, everyone fell silent, staring blankly at him.
The entire area was deathly quiet, with only the sound of intermittent, irrepressible sobs echoing in everyone's ears.
It was Nami.
"Waaah..." At this moment, all the words she wanted to say turned into scalding tears.
She couldn't speak anymore. She covered her cheeks, and all the grievances and pain of the past eight years, along with the joy of her release, transformed into two clear streams of tears that slipped through her fingers.
He won! He really won!
The Arlong Pirates, who had been a nightmare for eight long years, were finally... completely defeated.
They were free!
"OH!!!!!"
Only then did all the villagers of Cocoyasi Village react, and a deafening cheer erupted like a tsunami, soaring into the sky!
The entire island was in an uproar.
It is said that on this day, the cheers from Cocoyasi Village could be faintly heard on another island, thousands of meters away.
...
The post-war period.
Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp, the three most seriously injured, lay side-by-side in Cocoyasi Village, having their wounds dressed by the old doctor.
Ganyu, Zoro, and Nami sat beside them, chatting.
"Nami-san, did you see my heroic figure when I defeated the Fish-Man officer?" Just then, Sanji finally got his chance to get close to Nami.
"You must be the new crewmate, Sanji, right?"
Nami sat down next to Ganyu, affectionately linked her arm with Ganyu's, and rested her head lightly on Ganyu's shoulder.
She looked at Sanji and smiled.
"That final kick you used to send Kuroobi flying was so cool. I saw it!"
This was her first time meeting Sanji. Ganyu had told her there was a perverted cook on the ship, so this must be him.
Well, Ganyu was right, he really is a bit of a pervert.
Seeing his gaze drift to her chest, Nami couldn't help but sigh.
Another troublemaker had joined the crew.
Seeing him staring at her, Nami wasn't angry. Instead, she confidently puffed out her chest, pressing against Ganyu's arm.
Bounce. Bounce.
Sanji witnessed the entire process: the trajectory of the bounce, the impact against Ganyu's arm, and the astonishing, elastic rebound.
Hisss...
The visual impact was just too strong.
Sanji felt a hot rush surge to his head, an unbearable burning in his nasal cavity, and two streams of bright red blood instantly gushed out!
And then.
With an expression of extreme bliss on his face, his head lolled to the side, and he passed out.
"What?! He's spouting blood again?! Is there an injury we missed?! Quick, call the doctor! Call the doctor!"
"Uh, no, I am the doctor!"
The professional doctor from Cocoyasi Village was terrified by the scene and hurriedly ran over to stop the bleeding.
"Idiot." Zoro, sitting cross-legged on Ganyu's other side, saw the moron cough up blood and faint, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
His gaze swept over the blue-haired girl and the orange-haired girl beside him, then turned away in disdain.
Women were nothing compared to the swords in his hand.
Speaking of swords, Johnny and Yosaku had already returned them, and now he was left with only the Wado Ichimonji.
Looks like I'll have to find a chance to buy two more swords.
"Ganyu."
Luffy, lying on the ground, suddenly opened his eyes, shook his head from side to side, and looked around. "Where's Usopp? I've been looking for him for ages."
Is it possible he's right next to you?
Ganyu was somewhat speechless and pointed a finger beside him.
There lay a "human mummy," its entire face wrapped in bandages, with only a long nose sticking out.
"Ah, is that Usopp? I thought it was a Fish-Man!" Luffy exclaimed in surprise, then burst out laughing. "Usopp, you look hilarious!"
His smile made Ganyu, Zoro, and Nami laugh along with him, and the atmosphere instantly became cheerful.
"Luffy... I... also... took down... an officer..." Amidst the laughter, Usopp struggled to open his eyes and stammered, a hint of pride in his voice.
He had defeated Chew, one of the three top Fish-Man executives, in a one-on-one duel.
Although the fight was somewhat dishonorable, he had won in the end.
"Haha, nice job! That's just like you, Usopp!" Luffy grinned and slapped Usopp hard on the shoulder.
"Ow... That hurts... d*mn it..." The pitiful Usopp couldn't even dodge.
Suddenly.
A villager from Cocoyasi Village rushed in, shouting, "This is terrible! The Marines are here!"
"The Marines?"
Everyone was startled. Why would the Marines be here at this time?
"Did you see clearly which division of the Marines it was?" Genzo frowned and asked the villager in a low voice.
"It's... It's..." The villager opened his mouth, about to answer, but was roughly shoved aside by a white-gloved hand, nearly falling.
"It's me, of course!"
A Marine officer, wearing a ridiculously brimmed Marine cap shaped like mouse ears, waddled in pigeon-toed.
Behind him was a row of heavily armed, nervous-looking Marine soldiers.
"It's you!"
When Nojiko saw clearly who it was, her face instantly filled with rage.
This person was none other than Captain Nezumi of the 16th Branch, one of the chief culprits who had colluded with Arlong and oppressed Cocoyasi Village for years!
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, I really didn't expect..."
Captain Nezumi ignored the angry glares from Nojiko and the surrounding villagers, clapping his hands nonchalantly as he strolled toward the injured Straw Hat Pirates, a fake smile on his face.
"That Arlong and his crew of trash would actually be defeated by a bunch of small-time pirates like you!"
"But thanks to you, the money that was supposed to go to Arlong, as well as the Arlong Pirates' treasure..."
"They shall all be collected by Captain Nezumi of the 16th Marine Branch!"
Captain Nezumi suddenly burst out laughing, cackling for a long time. When he saw that no one in front of him was paying him any attention, his face instantly darkened.
How dare they ignore him!
He waved his hand, ordering the Marine soldiers behind him, "Go! Arrest all of these lawless pirates!"
The Marine soldiers behind them, awaiting orders, raised their weapons. In an instant, a dozen rifle muzzles were pointed at the six Straw Hat Pirates on the ground.
The six members of the Straw Hat crew showed no panic at this scene.
"Who's taking them?" Zoro asked, glancing at the blue-haired girl beside him.
Ganyu shook her head and smiled faintly. "We don't need to do anything. Someone will take care of them."
The words had just been spoken.
Thump, thump, thump!
Another set of dense, orderly footsteps came from a distance.
A moment later, another group of Marine soldiers in blue and white uniforms, this one larger, rushed onto the scene and immediately surrounded Captain Nezumi and his subordinates.
The man leading them wore a coat with "Justice" printed on it and had a resolute face. He was none other than the Marine officer Ganyu had saved with her arrow.
His sharp gaze swept over the area, lingered for a moment on a blue figure, then landed on Captain Nezumi as he snorted softly.
"Pudding... Commodore Pudding Pudding?!"
The moment Captain Nezumi saw this man, it was like a mouse seeing a cat. All his arrogance vanished. "You... What are you doing here?"
Commodore Pudding Pudding of the 77th Marine Branch far surpassed him in both rank and ability.
Commodore Pudding Pudding's face was grim, his tone icy. "Captain Nezumi, I have learned everything about your collusion with the Arlong Pirates from the villagers of Gosa Village. Prepare to be tried at Headquarters!"
"What?!" Captain Nezumi trembled in fear, still trying to argue, "No, it's not like that, Commodore Pudding Pudding, you must have misunderstood something..."
"There is no misunderstanding!"
Commodore Pudding Pudding cut him off sharply. "Take your men and leave Cocoyasi Village immediately! If it weren't for an official arrest warrant from Headquarters, you absolutely would not be leaving here alive today!"
"Yes... Yes... I'll leave right away... I'll leave..." Captain Nezumi's face was ashen, and he didn't dare say another word. He left with his subordinates, tails between their legs, under the contemptuous gaze of the villagers.
After Captain Nezumi left, Pudding Pudding first appeased the villagers of Cocoyasi, then ordered his men to arrest all the defeated members of the Arlong Pirates.
He completely ignored the Straw Hat Pirates, who were just a few meters away, as if he didn't see them at all.
Soon after, Arlong, the three Fish-Man officers, and dozens of Fish-Man minions were captured by the Marines and taken back to the warship.
Before leaving, Commodore Pudding Pudding walked up to Ganyu and bowed deeply. "Thank you. This morning on the sea... you saved the lives of all the members of our 77th Branch."
After expressing his thanks, without waiting for Ganyu or the others to reply, he looked up again and said firmly, "But if we meet again on the sea, I will still arrest you!"
After saying this, he didn't linger, turned abruptly, and strode away, following the procession escorting the Fish-Men.
The members of the Straw Hat Pirates looked at each other, speechless.
Someone commented, "That's one interesting Marine."