One sword breaks the shackles, freeing the maiden's heart.
From then on...
The vast sea allows fish to leap, and the high sky allows birds to soar.
...
...
"Oh, oh, oh!"
"Arlong's crew has fallen!"
"Is this... is this... is this real? Am I not dreaming?!"
"What... what... what exactly happened?! Is Arlong's crew really gone?!"
The Cocoyasi Village villagers who had followed to Arlong Park shouted, some excited, some confused, their voices rising and falling, ceaselessly.
"Everyone, please listen to me…"
Genzo spoke loudly, calming the villagers' emotions.
"It's all true! Thanks to Nami's friends, Mr. Roland, Miss Tohru, and Kuina-chan, Arlong's crew will never appear again! We... we... are finally free!"
Nojiko couldn't help but cry tears of joy.
Oh, oh, oh, oh—
Roland!
Roland!
Roland!
The villagers' cheers escalated.
The entire village was enveloped in excitement and joy.
At the same time.
In front of the Arlong Park building, which had been cleanly cut in half.
"Thank you... really, thank you, Mr. Roland, I…"
Hot tears streamed down Nami's beautiful face, unstoppable.
At this moment, witnessing Roland sever Arlong Park with her own eyes.
Nami felt her entire body lighten, and her long-suppressed heart was liberated.
Her world was elevated, becoming boundless once more.
At the same time, an indescribable emotion also arose within her.
"You're welcome, we are friends, and it's only right for friends to help each other!"
Roland waved his hand indifferently.
"Just friends?"
Nami asked subconsciously, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Roland, with a hint of hope.
"Otherwise?"
Roland smiled in return.
"Hmm, friends! Friends are good!"
The maiden's bright eyes dimmed slightly.
"But since we're friends, you actually hid your strength! If I had known you were so powerful earlier, would I have needed to be so anxious and worried?"
Nami wrinkled her delicate nose, changing the subject.
"I didn't hide it from you, I just never had a chance to show my strength, and you didn't ask either!"
Roland said with a smile.
"Besides, if we're talking about hiding things, you were the one who hid things from us first, weren't you?!"
"Oh, my!"
Nami stomped her foot shyly.
"I can't argue with you, I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm going to find Thor and Kuina-chan!"
...
...
The Cocoyasi Village incident settled.
Roland no longer needed to do anything about the subsequent matters.
Under Genzo's organization, the follow-up work for the incident proceeded steadily.
First, informing other surrounding villages that had been oppressed by Arlong's crew.
Second, the collection and distribution of the treasures left behind by Arlong's crew.
As the greatest contributor to defeating the Evil Dragon Pirate Crew, Roland naturally inherited the spoils.
However, Roland had no interest in money; enough money was sufficient, and if not, he would just cast a fishing line.
Therefore, the Evil Dragon crew's assets would ultimately be distributed equally among all the persecuted people, based on per capita.
All these matters were overseen by Genzo, Nojiko, and others.
As for Nami, all the villagers tacitly agreed not to disturb her.
Because everyone knew how much effort Nami had put in for them over the past seven years.
Now that she was finally free, they only wanted Nami to play to her heart's content and make up for her unfortunate childhood.
On the other side, Nami, as the host, enthusiastically took Thor and Kuina out to play.
Sweet local oranges and other treats were devoured by the three maidens.
Of course, Nami had also invited Roland to join them.
However, as a qualified fisherman.
Roland resolutely refused to be tempted by beauty.
He consistently remained on the front lines of fishing.
The peaceful life in Cocoyasi Village continued.
However...
The outside world, the sea, was gradually stirring up waves.
The cause of it all was the scene of Roland slicing Arlong Park with his sword.
That scene was recorded by a villager using a Transponder Snail.
When visiting other villages to explain the situation, this photo was often brought out for bragging.
Gradually, reporters caught wind of the incident, swarming in to purchase the photo's copyright.
At the same time, they began to dig deeper into the story behind the photo, and once they did, it became a huge deal.
The darkness of Cocoyasi Village and other areas being oppressed by Arlong's crew for many years was revealed, brought to light for all to see.
Initially, the incident's impact was only in the East Blue, but gradually, as more and more media reported on it, the incident escalated.
The inconspicuous 'small matter' that occurred in an obscure corner of the East Blue then entered the eyes of important figures around the world.
...