Some things mattered more than life itself. For nearly eight years, Nami had scraped together a fortune to free Cocoyasi Village from the Arlong Pirates’ tyranny. Now, with freedom within reach, she wouldn’t let anyone—Navy or otherwise—shatter that hope. She’d fight to the death if she had to.
Genzo, the village sheriff, could no longer stay silent as he watched Nami’s desperate stand against the Marines in her ravaged orange grove. His eyes blazed with fury, fixed on Captain Nezumi, the rat-faced Navy officer smirking amid the chaos. “This girl’s money is for saving Cocoyasi Village!” Genzo roared, his voice cracking with rage. “Your cowardice let Arlong’s crew rule this island for years! They burned homes, crushed lives, and you did nothing! Now, when we finally have a chance to escape their claws, you show up—not to help, but to snuff out our last hope! Is this your justice? Tell me, is this your damn justice?”
Nezumi stood unmoved, his sleazy grin unwavering. He didn’t even turn. “What’s that? A lowly village sheriff lecturing a Navy captain?” he sneered, voice dripping with disdain.
Nami, locked in a brutal melee with the Marines, faltered at Genzo’s words. Her staff dripped with blood, the air thick with the coppery stench of her fallen foes. “Genzo… you… how did you know?” she gasped, her voice trembling. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel·fiɾe·net
Genzo tugged his cap lower, hiding his turbulent emotions. “We’ve known for a long time, Nami. Since you joined Arlong’s crew.”
“What…?” Nami’s breath caught.
“I couldn’t believe you’d do it,” Genzo continued, his voice heavy. “So I asked Nojiko. She told us everything—how you joined Arlong to save the village. From then on, everyone in Cocoyasi knew. We agreed to act ignorant, so our hopes wouldn’t weigh you down if you ever wanted to run.”
“So… that’s how it was…” Nami’s resolve wavered, tears spilling down her cheeks despite her earlier ferocity.
Nezumi’s voice cut through, sharp and mocking. “What’s this? The whole village is in on it? Sounds like you’re all her accomplices.” His eyes glinted cruelly. “Guess I’ll have to arrest every last one of you.”
“We just want to live!” Nojiko snapped, stepping forward, her voice raw with anger. “If you won’t do your job, then stay out of our way! We don’t need you. Get out of this village, you spineless rats, before Arlong’s crew sets their sights on you!”
“Arlong’s crew? Hmm, who’s to say?” Nezumi shrugged, his tone evasive. He turned to his men, who were tearing through the grove like scavengers. “Hey! Found it yet? It’s not a needle—it’s 100 million beri! Move it!”
His words froze Nami, Nojiko, and Genzo. Genzo’s eyes narrowed, stepping closer. “How do you know the exact amount?” he demanded.
Nezumi hugged his shoulders, smirking. “Oh, just a guess. Sounds about right, doesn’t it?”
Even a fool could see the truth now. Nami’s eyes widened, her fists clenching so tightly her knuckles whitened. It hit her like a blade to the gut—Arlong had never intended to honor their deal. He’d never meant for her to reach that 100 million beri.
“You’re working for Arlong!” she spat, her voice trembling with rage.
Nezumi’s lips curled. “Don’t slander me, thief. We’re just here to deal with a criminal like you. The law’s the law—even if you only steal from pirates.”
“You corrupt bastard!” Nami screamed.
“You’re in bed with those Fishmen!” Genzo roared.
Nojiko’s curses echoed, but Nezumi ignored them, his thick skin impervious to their fury. A man who’d stoop to this was beyond shame.
“Found it!” a Marine shouted from the grove. Between two rows of orange trees, they unearthed a long chest, prying it open to reveal stacks of beri and glittering gold.
Nezumi’s eyes gleamed like a predator’s. He scurried over, grabbing fistfuls of coins, caressing them like a long-lost lover. “Well, well! A little girl like you, raking in this much?”
“It’s… covered in blood, sir. And most of it’s tattered,” a Marine muttered, grimacing at the stained, torn bills.
“Blood? Who cares?” Nezumi cackled, his voice a shrill squeak. “It’s money! Pirate loot’s supposed to be bloody!”
Nami’s vision blurred with rage as she watched them defile her life’s work. Eight years of sacrifice, of risking her life on the seas, reduced to a Navy officer’s greedy haul. Her reason crumbled, fury consuming her. She stalked toward Nezumi, each step heavy with intent. “Don’t touch my money,” she growled. “Don’t. Touch. It!”
Her scream tore through the grove as she charged, gripping her blood-slick staff. Nezumi snorted, pulling a pistol from his coat and aiming it at her chest. “Back off, thief.”
Nami didn’t stop, her eyes blazing, heedless of the gun. She swung her staff, aiming to crush his skull. The grove erupted in chaos. A Marine lunged, blade flashing. Nami sidestepped, her staff smashing his wrist with a wet crack, bones splintering, blood spurting as the blade fell. He screamed, clutching the mangled limb.
Another Marine fired, the bullet grazing Nami’s arm, tearing flesh. Blood dripped, but she didn’t flinch, slamming her staff into his throat. Cartilage collapsed with a sickening crunch, and he choked, blood frothing from his mouth as he fell, twitching in the dirt.
“Nami, stop!” Genzo shouted, lunging to grab her arm, yanking her back. Nojiko threw herself in front, pinning Nami’s shoulders to shield her.
Bang! A gunshot rang out. Nojiko gasped, stumbling as a bullet tore through her shoulder, missing vital organs but gushing blood. She crumpled, clutching the wound, crimson soaking her shirt.
“Nojiko!” Nami and Genzo dropped to their knees, frantic, checking her injury. Nojiko gritted her teeth, face pale but defiant. “I’m… fine,” she rasped.
Nezumi sneered, holstering his pistol. “Take it,” he barked at his men, gesturing to the chest. “We’re done here.”
“Yes, sir!” The Marines hoisted the chest, bloodied bills spilling as they followed Nezumi out of the grove, leaving a trail of destruction—torn earth, splintered trees, and wounded bodies.
They didn’t arrest Nami, likely because Arlong had already greased Nezumi’s palms. The Fishmen still needed her navigation skills for their charts. But as Nami knelt beside Nojiko, blood pooling beneath them, her hope bled out too, replaced by a burning resolve for vengeance.
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