"Captain Nezumi, that seems to be a newly appeared pirate ship. Should we go eliminate it?" The Lieutenant next to Nezumi looked towards the ship they had fired upon.
"That's not our target."
Captain Nezumi glanced at the pirate ship not far away. Its flag wasn't familiar, most likely a newly formed crew.
Ever since Pirate King Gol D. Roger ushered in the Great Pirate Era, a continuous stream of pirates emerged on these seas every day.
That's why he was climbing the ranks at any cost.
In this world, the weak are meant to be bullied.
Captain Nezumi didn't usually come to Cocoyasi Village. If he did, he would go directly to Arlong Park on a small boat with his trusted subordinates.
This time was different. A Commander from Marine Headquarters had been attacked by pirates within Captain Nezumi's jurisdiction. The only ones Nezumi could think of who would dare do such a thing were the Arlong Pirates.
All twenty-plus islands of the Conomi Archipelago were under Arlong's rule. Everyone was forced to pay a head tax, just like the Celestial Dragons' Heavenly Tribute.
Even though they were making a fortune, they had to go and cause him this huge trouble.
So Captain Nezumi brought his troops and ships here to give them a little warning.
As for that pirate ship over there, he'd leave it to the Arlong Pirates to handle. The fact that they could withstand a cannonball suggested they weren't ordinary pirates.
But still, in these seas, fish-men were indeed the superior race.
"And let's go warn those lowly villagers of Cocoyasi Village to behave themselves and not make any moves."
Captain Nezumi prepared to disembark.
Tap. Tap.
On the ship, Luffy landed steadily.
"I heard what you said just now. What were you planning to do to Nami's village?" Luffy stood on the mast, looking down at them expressionlessly.
"Who are you?!" Captain Nezumi's eyes widened.
"Monkey D. Luffy. I'm a pirate."
Almost the instant he spoke, Luffy's figure vanished and reappeared right in front of Captain Nezumi.
A pirate?
Could he be from that ship? But that should be several nautical miles away!
"It's a pirate ship!"
"Pirates are fighting the Marines!"
"Quick, go find Genzo and Nojiko!"
"Wait, look! Isn't that Nami on that ship?"
There were many villagers at the port, and they were stunned by the scene before them.
Crack! The massive Marine warship shattered and crumbled before their eyes.
Is... is this even human?
"L-Luffy?"
As the Going Merry docked, Luffy's body was still steaming with vapor. Seeing him in this state for the second time, especially with the shattered Marine warship and a large group of Marines lying unconscious or worse behind him, Nami was momentarily speechless.
"The Marine in charge said he wanted to do something to your village," Luffy said, putting his straw hat back on as he walked up to Nami. "Seems like he's connected to the Arlong Pirates."
His words made the villagers who had just approached exchange uneasy glances. They had suspected collusion between the Marines and the Arlong Pirates but never had solid proof.
"Nami!"
A woman with short blue hair pushed through the villagers and threw her arms around Nami.
"Are you okay? Why did you have to come back now?"
"It's a long story," Nami said. "I've decided I'm not going to put up with it anymore. I'm going to drive the Arlong Pirates out of the village!"
"But you attacked the Marines..." Nojiko looked worriedly at the scene of devastation ahead.
"We're pirates. Nami is the navigator on my ship," Luffy said, pulling Nami back from Nojiko. "Pirates fighting Marines is perfectly normal."
Hearing this, Nojiko finally turned her full attention to Luffy.
"And who are you?"
As if her toy had been taken, Nojiko quickly grabbed hold of one of Nami's arms.
"Nami's captain," Luffy said with a proud, almost haughty look, tilting his head up with a slight smirk.
"And I'm Nami's sister," Nojiko retorted, striking a similar pose.
Then the two of them began a petty tug-of-war over Nami.
"Is this something worth bragging about?!" Nami clenched her fists. Could these two not read the situation?
"You'll regret this!"
"You foolish villagers, harboring pirates and opposing the Marines!"
"Just wait and be honest for the bounty posters from Marine Headquarters!"
From the warship, which had been shattered in the middle by a Gatling attack and was slowly sinking, a bruised and battered Captain Nezumi completely lost his composure and started shouting curses.
Nami looked at him, her face grim.
This was the source of Nojiko's worry. Attacking the Marines meant becoming wanted pirates.
However.
"So noisy. Gomu Gomu no... Rocket!"
Luffy stretched both arms far behind him, then launched them forward, aiming for Captain Nezumi's head.
Crack.
Without the tenacious vitality of someone like Buggy the Clown, he was most certainly dead.
"Nami."
Luffy adjusted his hat. "Let's go find that Arlong guy and his crew."
Nami nodded.
"I'm going to drive all those fish-men out!" Nami tightened her grip on the wooden staff in her hand. "Those fish-men don't belong here!"
"Nami, we need to plan this carefully. Let's wait for Genzo," Nojiko urged.
"My mind is made up, Nojiko."
Watching Nami and Luffy walk towards Arlong Park, Nojiko's face was a mix of complex emotions.
But...
Nojiko glanced back at the Marine warship sinking into the sea. That straw-hat-wearing man was incredibly strong!
Nami hated pirates more than anything. Yet, when that straw-hat kid pulled her arm and declared she was his navigator, Nami hadn't resisted at all.
There was a hint of helplessness and even fondness in her eyes.
Just what was their relationship?
"She'll be fine with him around."
Perhaps the ones who would truly save Cocoyasi Village weren't the Marines, but pirates!
...
Arlong Park was now right in front of them.
"Nami, you wait here," Luffy said, looking at her.
"I can help too."
"It's a captain's order!"
"...Okay."
Nami's lips moved slightly. She knew perfectly well that she would only be a hindrance if she went.
"Just wait. It'll be over soon," Luffy grinned, taking his straw hat off and placing it on Nami's head.
The next moment, Nami watched as the gate symbolizing Arlong Park was kicked wide open.
A fish-man's physical strength was more than ten times that of a human; they were truly deserving of the name 'monsters'. But even they couldn't kick a gate open like that.
Several fish-men nearby had just looked up when they found the massive gate crashing down on them.
An ordinary person would have been crushed flat.
Those fish-men's physical constitutions were indeed much better than the Marines Luffy had just dealt with; they actually had the strength to push the stone gate off themselves and stand up.
So this is what fish-men are like.
Under a nearby sunshade, on a lounge chair, the figure there only opened his eyes arrogantly at the commotion.
This fish-man had a sharp, saw-like long nose and a mouth full of sharp teeth.
"Another village fool coming to die?" Arlong's eyes fixed intently on Luffy. "You humans never learn your lesson, do you?"
"Are you Arlong?" Luffy spoke suddenly.
"Where did this brat come from? Boss Arlong doesn't have time to play with you," a nearby fish-man mocked.
Arlong, following the trend of the conversation, shifted his gaze towards the gate and saw a familiar figure with orange hair.
"Hahaha, so it's someone Nami brought! Your taste is just as poor—"
Smack.
Before he could finish, the fish-man who had just spoken went flying past Arlong's body and smashed into the wall behind them.
One punch. And he was no longer breathing!