Chapter 25: Cocoyashi

"…seriously?"

"I can't help it… it was so touching…"

"Dude, just… stop."

I raised an eyebrow at Yosaku's continuous sobbing, which he had been doing ever since we left Baratie several hours ago. I mean, I understand being so touched by a scene that you want to cry, but the bounty hunter had been crying for so long since then.

We can't even see the restaurant anymore! How many more tears was he going to shed!?

"Say…" The bounty hunter rubbed away the last of his tears and looked at Gin for a moment; the ex-pirate flinched under his gaze as he asked, "I feel like I should recognise him somewhere. Do I know you?"

"Um…"

"Ah. Yosaku, this is Gi-Mm!"

"Ghim! His name is Ghim!" I quickly placed my hand on his mouth to prevent exposing Gin's identity by Luffy's inability to lie, "He's a stowaway that somehow ended up on Krieg's ship. Seeing as he has no place to go, we decided to let him see our captain to see if he could join our crew?"

"Oh… okay."

Gin and Gord gave me a pointed look, which I returned at full force. Hey, Gin needs a cover story and that's the best I can come up at the time!

I pressed my dragon knuckles into Luffy's rubbery forehead. It is like pushing against an inflated balloon, "Keep your lips sealed about Gin, got it!?" I only let go of when he nodded.

"Ah man, now I want to hurry and get Nami back…!" Luffy impatiently stated, "Then we can finally head for the Grand Line!"

"What, with just five people?" Gord noted, "That's the worst idea anyone can have. At least get a dozen guys and a frigate before attempting it."

"I agree." Gin nodded, "You're severely underestimating the terrors of the Grand Line. Even Don-I mean, former Don Krieg had trouble in it with a fleet of more than a dozen ships."

"Eh, I'll get more people once I enter Paradise."

"That's just irresponsible—wait, paradise?"

"Yeah. The old man told me before we left, that the Grand Line is often called 'Paradise' as well."

"Paradise, Huh? That old geezer said that?" Sanji noted with a goofy grin, "Well, as long as the charming Nami is with us, it doesn't really matter."

"You must be dreaming!" Yosaku shouted at the two of them, "Big Bro Luffy, Big Bro Sanji, you are underestimating how dangerous the pirate graveyard really is! If Big Bro Zoro knew too, maybe he would be more cautious! Not just that, the place where Big Sis Nami is going is just as dangerous!"

"Sanji, dinner please!"

"Coming right up. Any requests?"

"Listen to me, damn it!"

"Before heading there, mind dropping us at some place that's not dangerous?" Sen asked.

"Sure, no problem." Luffy nodded, "We can afford a small detour. Right, Yosaku?"

"Big Bro Luffy, at least let me explain the dangers of where we are going first." The bounty hunter groaned. Everyone kept quiet and he explained, "First, let me explain why the Grand Line is called the pirates graveyard."

"Insane weather patterns, insanely large sea monsters, physically impossible ocean currents, impossibly massive sea monsters, sudden typhoons, sudden sea monsters attacks…"

Sen just started listing down several things the Grand Line was feared for, with almost all of them having to do with sea monsters. Not sure if he meant the Sea Kings or something else entirely.

"…riiiight." Yosaku dumbly nodded before adding on, "But also, it is split among three factions. One of them is the Seven Warlords of the Sea. They are seven pirates that have been granted legal freedom from the Marines and World Government."

"The World Government legalised pirates?"

"These pirates have the legal rights to carry on pirating with certain restrictions, and often invade other barbaric islands for the World Government. The people have coined the term, 'Government Dogs' to describe them, but they are really powerful. Dracule Mihawk is one such individual."

"Whoa, so there are seven people just as powerful as him!?" Luffy said in awe, "That's so cool!"

"That's where the real problem lies." Yosaku grimaced, "One of the Warlords is Jimbei of the Fishman Pirates."

"Fishman? Like him?" Luffy points to Kris in the water swimming along just under the water surface so that we can vaguely make out his figure.

"That's right." He nodded, "Jinbei, in exchange of becoming a Warlord, unleashed a dangerous monster into the East Blue. That monster, Arlong's home base is where we are heading right now. And Arlong is said to be as strong as the Warlord Jimbei himself-"

"No, he is not."

Kris cut into the explanation as he poked his head of the water and gave us a firm stare, "Arlong would never match up to Jimbei. Be it skills or strength."

"You talked like you knew them personally." Sanji noted, "Were you acquainted with them?"

"Once." The fishman stated, "But not anymore."

"Wait a minute, how do you know that this Nami lady is heading there?" Gord asked, "She could be going to plenty of other places."

"That was what we originally thought, but based on her actions prior and the direction she is heading, there's little doubt that Arlong Park is where she is heading. There has to be a connection between her and Arlong."

"Oh, maybe Nami was secretly a mermaid~!" Sanji swooned, "I've heard that mermaids are some of the most beautiful beings in the world, and Nami fit that bill perfectly~"

"What, like this?"

"SNRK!"

"I'll kill you for that!"

I hold back a snort at Luffy's hilarious drawing of what a Nami mermaid would look like, although fishman would be a more appropriate term for the fish with arms and legs.

"Don't any of you understand anything I've just explained!?" Yosaku cried out, "These fishmen are really, really strong!"

"We'll see about that when we arrive." Sanji noted as he got up to head to the cabin/kitchen, "Do any of you have any requests for dinner?"

"Meat!"

"Fried beans!"

"Some sandwiches would be nice!"

"Got any seafood?"

Sanji got to cooking with Gord joining him in the kitchen, while everyone waited anxiously for our meal to be made. I looked over the edge and talked with Kris.

"Kris, I didn't know you were familiar with Arlong and Jinbei."

"We were… acquaintances, once. Arlong may be strong and brutal as he is cunning and sly, but he could never be Jimbei's equal."

"I see…" I nodded. After looking around to make sure no one was watching and/or hearing me, I leaned over the boat's edge and whispered, "Were you part of the Sun Pirates at one point?"

"…!" His flinch means that I've guessed right.

To know both Jimbei and Arlong at any point is to either have known them growing up, or been part of the Sun Pirates with Fisher Tiger. And judging by Kris's and Jimbei's age, it was obvious that Kris wasn't old enough to be considered their childhood friend, thus the pirate angle.

"So was I right?"

"…yes, you are." He sighed, "I was a member of the Sun Pirates, but I've left that life behind me a long time ago. If we encounter Arlong, be assured that I'll be the one to punch him first."

"Ah, okay." I nodded, "It's not like it changes anything, but I think I can understand your dream a bit better now."

"…thank you."

Food soon got to the table and we chow down on our dinner.

It would a day away till we reached anywhere near Cocoyashi and Arlong Park.

How did I know that we were close? Well…

"A-AH! MONSTER!"

Rising up from waves next to us, was the large Cow-like Sea King that is Momoo the Sea Cow. He was as massive as the manga had shown, easily towering over us with its massive fish-like body.

"What a big cow." Luffy commented.

"When can cows swim? No, it must be a hippo." Sanji noted.

"No, it's a Sea Cow." Sen told them, "They are one of the many massive sea creatures native to the Grand Line. Although by its size, this looked to on the young side. A child even."

"That's a child!?" Gord cried out, "How big is the adult!?"

"More important than that, what's a monster from the Grand Line doing in the East Blue!?" Gin asked worriedly.

The cow leaned down towards us causing most of us to freak out. I look down at the plates of steaming food on our table before remembering the reason for this guy's appearance.

"I think the guy's hungry."

"Really!? Quick throw him our food-!"

"Gum-Gum Pistol!"

And of course Luffy had to react to Yosaku's plan with a rubber fist to the poor beast's face, sending it flying on impact.

"Don't you dare touch my food!"

"Not exactly the plan, but amazing work, Big Bro Luffy!"

"Okay, now this is peculiar.".

"What is?" Gord asked Sen.

"A normal hungry Sea King would just launch themselves at us to try and eat us together with the boat and food." My mentor noted, "But that fellow didn't do that. If anything, he's acting like a tamed animal."

"Tamed!? You mean this huge monster can be tamed!?"

"What's so surprising about that? Despite the massive size, it is still an animal. And any animal can be tamed."

"Well, yeah, but…"

"MOOOOOOOOO!"

Momoo roared out in anger and came charging back at full speed. "He's coming right for us!" Yosaku cried out.

"Want some more!? Here's another! Gum-Gum-Guoh!"

"You idiots! Didn't Ms Liya day he was hungry!?" Sanji scolded while kicking his rubber captain in the head, "You don't have to hurt him, just give him some food! We still have plenty of supplies! No need to be stingy!"

I decided to ignore the fact that Sanji just called me Ms and picked up the plate filled to the brim with stacks of grilled pork chops. Momoo loves roast pork, right?

"You want this, right~?" I cooed to it as the cow monster swam up to me, "Here you go. Open up~"

"Moowaaa-AH!?"

"SCREW OFF!"

Then Sanji proceeds to ruin the moment by landing an upwards kick into the poor animal's chin, knocking it back like Luffy did.

"Sanji, what the hell!?" I shouted at him.

"Ms Liya, he was about to eat you with the plate!" Sanji tried to defend his actions, but I am having none of it.

"He's letting me pour the food into his mouth! His mouth is the size of the entire ship!"

"MOOOOOOO!"

Momoo has decided that enough is enough and charges right at us with every intention to sink and kill us. So much for the more pacifist approach…

"I'll finish him off!" Luffy declared.

"No, allow me." Sanji noted.

"Seriously… and they want to go to the Grand Line…" Sen sighed as he walked past them and pulled them behind him, "There are more graceful ways to deal with giant sea monsters besides beating it into submission."

He then took a deep breath…

"MOOOO-"

"GRRRRWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

And bellows out a loud roar that shook the waves and the air itself. We all had to cover our ears in a futile attempt to block it out, and the dampened roar still left our ears ringing.

Momoo, however, took the roar head on and was left trembling and looking as pale a sea monster of his size can be.

"…How is that any graceful…?" I asked while still feeling groggy from his shout.

"It just is."

"No, it is not!"

The poor cow monster starts to slick away, clearly fearing my mentor more than it wants to fill his stomach. Sen then cracks a knuckle and it freezes in place. "You're going to help pull us towards Arlong Park, understand? If you don't…"

The threat was left unsaid but it was clear that Sen freaked out Momoo as he obediently let him tie some rope to its horns.

Kris finally decided to make himself known as he surfaced next to Momoo, gently patting its face which prompted it to rub back to him.

"…I kind of feel bad for the poor thing." Gin noted.

"Me too, Ghim. Me too." Yosaku nodded.

Got to say, having Momoo pull us is probably one of the best ideas Sen could have. Because despite being a Sea Cow, he is really fast when he wants to be.

"Yahoo! We are soaring!" Luffy cheered as he sat by the bow, "Go, Sea Cow, go!"

Kris decided to come aboard when Momoo became our mount as he and I sat on the roof of the cabin just enjoying the breeze.

"This feels nice…" I sighed happily. I don't know what makes the feeling wind blowing against your skin and hair so good, but I'm glad that's a thing.

"…" Kris had been oddly quiet since Momoo arrived.

"Is something the matter, Kris?"

"…Sen said that this monster is tamed." He stated, "Taming a Grand Line beast is no easy feat, especially for anyone in the East Blue."

Well, naturally, since it was Arlong that tamed Momoo. The only people that could possibly tame Sea Kings in the East Blue are Garp and the future Luffy once he learns Haki. But I can exactly said that, can I?

"Oh, I see land, dead ahead!"

We are here already!? It has only been like half an hour or so! Holy shit, having a Sea King mount really make going to places a whole lot quicker! Maybe after this arc is over, we can use it to pull the Silver Fang!

I peered over the horizon to see forest over a steep cliff that is steadily getting closer with each passing moment. There's the iconic pagoda-esque building of Arlong Park on the left, which we quickly zoomed by and is quickly approaching the cliff.

"Wait, wait, we're going too fast!"

"We're going to hit the coast!"

Moments after Yosaku screamed that, Momoo slammed into the coast and our boat was sent flying into the air. Me and Kris nearly fell off as we hung onto the mast for dear life with Yosaku.

"Yahoo! We're flying!" Luffy laughed.

"This isn't funny at all!" Sanji cried out.

"Well, this is a pickle." Sen noted very calmly.

"How can you remain calm at a time like this!?" Gin cried out.

Sadly, we didn't hang in the air for long as we crashed into the forest hard, skidding on the soil and not stopping ever the slightest.

"Everyone hang on!" Gord shouted to us.

I immediately changed to my half-dragon form and braced myself, as did everyone else except Luffy, who was hollering cheerfully as ever.

"Yeeeaaaaah-Oh, Zoro!"

"Luffy-BWAH!?"

I saw a glimpse of moss green hair before the ship crashed into the trees.

"What the hell you think you're doing!?"

"What do you mean? We've obviously come to get Nami back."

I let out a groan as I got out the wreckage of timber with nothing but bruises; as did everyone else miraculously.

"Everyone alright?" I asked.

Sen's completely unscathed as he dusted the wood splinters off of him. Gin looks to be okay, as did Gord and Kris.

"T-That's a…!"

"Ah! Big Bro Zoro, wait!"

The moment Zoro saw Kris, he immediately drew Wado Ichimonji despite Yosaku's pleas and slashed at him. Kris easily duck under his strike and swept his legs, knocking the swordsman to the ground.

"I have no quarrel with you, Roronoa Zoro."

"Big Bro Zoro, he's not part of Arlong's crew." Yosaku told him.

"I… I see…"

"So, have you found her yet?" Luffy asked, "And where's Usopp and Johnny?"

"Oh shit, Usopp!" Zoro immediately got back up, "I have no time for this!"

"Eh? Did something happen to him?" Luffy asked.

"He got captured by Arlong! If we don't hurry, he will be killed-"

"He was already killed!"

Johnny shouted that as he walked up to us with trembling shoulders and a few drops of tears dripping past his sunglasses, "Big Bro Usopp was killed by Big Sis Nami!"

"Liar!" Luffy yelled angrily as he tackled Johnny to the ground, "Say that again, and I'll beat the crap out of you!"

"Luffy, calm down!" Zoro struggled to pull his captain off his former partner, "Let Johnny explain himself first!"

"Explain what!? That Nami has killed Usopp? That's a lie!"

"It's the truth!" Johnny shouted in frustration, "I've seen her do it with my own eyes!"

"Then you need to get your eyes checked!" Luffy shouted, "Nami will do such a thing! We're crewmates!"

"Who is your crewmate now, Luffy?"

Right on cue, Nami appeared standing on the dirt path acting like the stone-cold bitch she is trying to be.

Orange bob cut with a curvy figure, she is just like in the manga. On one of her exposed shoulders is the blue tattoo mark of the Arlong Pirates's Jolly Roger, and a glove covering the injured hand that she stabbed to help Usopp escape Arlong.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Isn't it obvious? You're my crewmate." Luffy stated, "I've come to take you back."

"You give me such a headache…" She sighed, "Crewmate? Don't kid yourself. I was never part of your crew."

Her eyes glanced at Kris, her eyes twitched for a second before calming down. Does she think that Kris is a member for Arlong's crew?"

"Nami~! It's me~!" Sanji swooned over the navigator, as expected, "Do you remember me? Let's set sail together~!"

"Shut up! You're making things even more complicated!" Zoro shouted at the cook.

"Huh!? Don't know you know that 'love is like a hurricane'!?"

"This is not the right time and place for that phrase…" Gin sighed, "This is the guy that I owe my life to…?"

"And you think Sam is bad." Gord whispered to me.

"Yeah…" At least the guy knows when not to be a casanova. Not sure what to say about Sanji here…

"I told you so! She's a cruel woman!" Johnny exclaimed, "If it meant that she can get her hands on the treasure underneath her village, she gladly joins hands with Arlong and kills anyone that gets in her way! And I saw, with my own two eyes, this cold-hearted witch killed Big Bro Usopp! She had us all fooled!"

"Is that all you have to say?" Nami asked.

"W-What!?"

"Let me tell you something; Arlong really wanted to kill Zoro and his companions." She explained, "Even if your strength is as strong as monsters, it couldn't be compared to a real monster."

"That's beyond the point. Where's Usopp?"

"At the bottom of the ocean."

A line can be heard snapping as Zoro charged at her for her answer, "Oh, I have had it with you!"

"And I had it with you!" Sanji interrupted his attack with a kick to the head, "What kind of swordsman attacks a lady?"

"None of your damn business, cook! Get out of my way!"

"You know, you have become quite an irritable person after your shameful loss."

"Huh!? Watch your tongue. Or your head might come flying off."

"Oh, tough words. Can you back up, moss head?"

As Johnny rushed in to stop their bickering, Sen turned to Nami and asked, "Quick question, which way to the closest village?"

"…down that way."

"Thanks."

With a silent gesture, Sen got us to walk towards the direction Nami has pointed us. "Wait, where are you guys going?" Yosaku asked.

"We came with you guys because we need a ride out of Baratie, remember?" I pointed out to him, "You guys can solve your own problems. We have our own issues to deal with."

"It's been short, but take care."

"Wish you luck."

We all said our farewells and headed towards Cocoyashi. As much as I want to help out, it would be best if we didn't intervene with the plot line as much as we can.

We aren't part of the Straw Hats, after all.

Cocoyashi is a quaint little village. There's nothing else better to describe it as.

Small wooden houses that don't go higher than the occasional second floor, rural would be the best to describe it.

As I had expected, Kris had garnered a lot of attention and glares from the villagers the moment we walked into Cocoyashi. Their eyes narrowed at the sight of the moray eel fishman walking with us.

"I'm surprised they aren't freaking out." Gord noted, "Usually, there would be more screaming."

"This island is Arlong's territory, right?" I pointed out, "They are probably used to the sight of fishmen walking about."

"Krieg has mentioned Arlong once before." Gin told us, "He said to never get involved with him. Even with our numbers and strength, he had never even once considered challenging Arlong."

"He's smart to do so." Kris stated, "Arlong is very strong, stronger than anyone in the East Blue. You guys would have been wiped out."

"That's the Grand Line for you. The sea of monsters breeds more monsters." Gord noted before double backing after realising what he just said, "Ergh! I-I didn't think that you are a monster, Kris! Just…"

"It's okay."

"Ah, excuse me." Sen walked up to one of the villagers and asked, "Is there anyone in town who has a ship we can borrow?"

"…who's asking?"

"Um, me?"

"Yeah, right. What are you guys really after?"

"Huh?" Sen looked pretty confused by the guy's words,"Look, buddy, we just want to get off this island-"

"So do everyone on this island, buddy." The villager told him with a scowl, "Well, too bad for you, because there's not even a dingy left on this island after that bastard Arlong came to this place!"

"Wait, seriously!?"

"Yes, seriously." The villager's friend told us, "We are trapped on this island under his feet, and there's nothing we can do besides endure… until…"

"Until?"

"Is something the matter?"

"Oh, Genzo."

We were greeted by a heavily scarred man in mock military wear with a spinning pinwheel on his hat that is Genzo. He looks just as intimidating as drawn in the manga; his stitched up scars just add to it. His eyes narrowed when he saw Kris, no doubt in anger, especially with how Arlong and his crew of fishmen pirates treated his town.

He was leading a platoon of marines and their commanding officer, who happens to be one Major Nezumi. The rat looks exactly like how Oda drew him, with the whiskers-like facial hair and everything. Even the way they moved was mouse-like.

"Oh, just some travellers asking some things."

"I see. Well, stay out of trouble."

He then led the marines away. I caught that rat Nezumi sneering at Gord before walking away.

"…I take it you know that marine major." Kris noted, "An old colleague?"

"In a sense…" Gord sighed, "That's Captain Nezumi, or Major Nezumi now. He's the bastard that got me excommunicated."

"That's the guy who framed you?"

"One and the same. And apparently, he got a few promotions since then. But what does that corrupt son of a bitch want with this village?"

It finally dawned on me. The treasure Nami hid under the tangerine orchard! This is the part of the plot in which he shoots Nojiko in the gut and 'confiscated' all of Nami's hard earned/stolen money, where Arlong used a loophole in his deal with her to basically make her unable to save her village.

Should I do something? Should I try and stop that corrupt son of a bitch from taking Nami's hope of saving her hometown? But if I do, there's no telling what that would do to the plot. If I know continuity, one small change could have a big impact down the line. I could very well pull the whole plot apart-

"Rein? You there?"

Kris brought me out of my thoughts. I apologised before asking, "Did I miss something?"

"Nothing much. We are discussing whether or not to ask Nezumi to escort us back to Temasek."

"Which I think isn't a good idea." Gord stated, "The fucker's a corrupt money grubbing bastard that would no doubt get us to pay him for the ride and then blackmail us to get more. Just getting involved with him is a bad idea."

"That may be, but he's the only one here with a ship." Sen pointed out, "And if this village is any indication, there aren't any boats anywhere else either."

"There's still one. Didn't the Straw Hat have his ship stolen? We could use that one."

"Sure, if you know where it is. Even so, it's that Straw Hat's ship. I don't want to ask one guy for favours if I can."

"Why don't we look around first?" Kris pointed out, "I'm sure someone has hidden a boat somewhere on this island. Not even Arlong would be able to keep an eye on all of the island."

"True that." Gin nodded. "Arlong's crew may be big, but I highly doubt it was on the same scale as Krieg's armada."

"I still think asking the marines is the best move." Sen noted.

"We'll split up." I suggested, "One group can go and ask that Nezumi, while the others go look for any hidden boats."

"Good idea."

"Agreed."

…

As I've suggested, we split up into two groups. Me, Kris and Gord would go ask Nezumi, while Sen and Gin would take a look around for any hidden boats.

"I still think this is a bad idea…" Gord grumbled as we walked up the hill towards the tangerine plantation where that corrupt marine major went with Genzo.

"Well, despite his money grubbing ways, he is still a marine." Kris noted, "If he wants to keep his bribing ways secret, he would need to act like one at times."

"I guess that's true… so, how are we going to go about asking him?"

"I was thinking…"

As they discussed how to negotiate with that rat, my mind went back to the plot line as I tried to recall the happenings and go-ons of this part of the arc.

If I recall correctly, first Nezumi called out on Nami about being a thief, before demanding her stolen goods be 'confiscated' by him. After that, Genzo reveals that he knew her plan, Nojiko comes out to chastise him, and then he reveals Arlong backstabbing before shooting Nojiko.

Since there's no gunshots, then there's a good chance Nezumi still hasn't reached the plantation yet. We could ask him without messing with the plot at all.

Hopefully, the bastard is willing to compromise…

"Oh, there he is."

Kris pointed out the marine uniforms in the distance. Gord took a deep breath, and was about to shout to the marine major when…

"Search for the treasures!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Hey! Don't you dare enter without permission!"

We stopped in our tracks in stunned silence as we saw the uniformed marine soldiers attempting to barge into the plantation house, and being stopped by Nami swinging her staff and bringing down the two soldiers. "What are they…!?" Gord muttered in shock.

We were still a good distance away from the plantation to not get spotted by any of the marine soldiers, but close enough to hear their very word and see their every action.

"What are you marines doing!?" The pirate thief shouted at Nezumi, "Don't you know how many people's lives and homes are ruined by Arlong!? You should be liberating them from that monster, and yet you want to take the treasure from some thief!? What kind of marine are you!?"

Hearing her say that, it was more apparent to me how Arlong, how that bastard had basically made the life of one small girl a living hell, all for his own benefit.

"Arlong, you… how could…"

"Kris?"

Kris was clenching his fists pretty tightly and a fierce scowl over his face. Right, he used to be with the same crew as that son of a bitch. Back when the Sun Pirates stood against the racial subjugation, against what Arlong was doing to this island. Considering what Kris's dream is, he probably can't stand Arlong's rule over these villagers.

"You better watch your mouth, thief." Nezumi scoffed as he turned to his men, "Ignore her, search the place."

"Everyone on this island is expecting help from you!" Nami was screaming at this point, "But you came here and didn't even think about helping anyone!?"

"Sir!" One of the soldiers gestured to the grove of tangerine trees, "There seems to be something buried in the orchard."

"Well, dig it up, then."

"Don't you dare touch Bellemere's trees!"

"Bellemere…!?"

Gord's eyes couldn't get any wider at the mention of that name. Did he know Bellemere in some way? They both were in the marines at one point, so they must have crossed paths a few times before.

My attention went back to Nami as she keeps bashing against the soldiers in a futile attempt to stop them, "I won't give that money to you! That money is for-"

"Her money is for the sake of the village! You marines have no right to it!"

Genzo's words stopped the pirate thief as she looked at the village chief in shock, "Gen… you knew…?"

"We've known for a long while, Nami." He told her, "No one believed you would betray us, so we pressed Nojiko to tell us everything. The whole village knows what you are going through. But we fear that our hope might stop you from leaving this place, so we've kept quiet all this time."

"Everyone… they…"

"So, you are saying that everyone on this island is a thief?" Nezumi said with a snicker, "Do you perhaps want me to arrest all of you?"

"We're saying that we cannot expect anything from the marines!" A figure stomped out from the orchard, "That we have to fight for ourselves!"

"Nojiko…!"

Nami's blue haired sister definitely looks as exotic as Oda drew her as. With a matching figure to boot. She then continued, "If you aren't here to help us, then leave this place! If you don't, Arlong is going to sink your ship!"

"Arlong? Do you really think he will sink my ship?"

The meaning of Nezumi's words rings true to everyone listening, including the three of us. Gord himself wasn't that much shaken but looked pretty miffed at the indication. "I knew that bastard was in cahoots with Arlong…!"

"Hey, you still can't find it!?" The corrupt marine scolded his men, "It's a 100 million Beri worth of treasure, not some small seed!"

"Wait, how did you know it's worth 100 million!?" Genzo asked.

"Eh, I had a feeling it might be that much."

"…Did…Did Arlong ask you to come here!?" Nami demanded in anger.

"Oh, that's absurd. We are simply confiscating stolen property."

"You piece of shit!"

"Has the marines lowered themselves to serve a pirate!?"

Nojiko and Genzo's outraged screams resonated with me. Heck, Kris looked like he was about to explode from anger.

In my two years in this world, I have interacted with a few marine officers like Suiren and Fullbody. While the latter is a bit of a wannabe casanova, at least he performed his duty as a marine properly.

This rat? While I knew he was corrupt from the start, reading about it from the manga pages was way different from actually seeing his scummy ways in person. That piece of crap gives every marine in the East Blue a bad rep!

"Disperse them. Don't let them interrupt our search."

At his command, Nezumi's men raised their rifles and aimed at them. When I saw the firing hammer cocked back, all thoughts about accidentally changing the plot flew out the window.

Black powder ignited, lead rounds fired straight towards the three island natives; Genzo rushed towards Nojiko as he attempted to protect her while Nami was still standing there in stunned shock.

I immediately stood in front of them, changed into my half dragon form and crossed my arms. The bullets all bounced off my scales like rain against concrete, completely ineffective and not hurting anyone behind me.

"Gah!"

Unfortunately, due to my lack in height, I wasn't able to properly block all the bullets fired.

"Nojiko!"

"I'm…I'm all right!" She asssured the scarred man, despite the blood dripping from her shoulder, "It just grazed me."

I uncrossed my arms and glared at the damn rat. Plot be damned, I am not letting this scumbag get his way!

"You're the ones from before…!" Genzo noted in stunned awe.

"Who might you be?" He asked with a cocked eyebrow, "Don't you know you are disrupting-"

"NEZUMI!"

Gord's shout caught his attention, as my crewmate ran up to one of the soldiers and tackled him to the ground. Wrenching the rifle free from his grasp, he slammed the rifle's buttstock into the soldier's temple and knocked him out cold, and then aimed its sights right at Nezumi.

The other soldiers all raised their rifles at him, only for Nezumi to wave them down. "I thought I was seeing things moments ago, but I didn't expect for you to be actually here. How are you doing, Gord? How's the civilian life treating you? You do know that pointing a firearm at a marine officer is a serious offence."

"You bastard…!" Gord growled, "Your uniform is for those who swore their lives to the duty of protecting the innocent! How dare you use it to profit off their suffering!"

"Chichihchi! Not everyone that signed up for the marines are like you, Gord." The corrupt marine scoffed, "I joined because the pay was inviting, and the money I got from the bribes were even more so. Money is worth more than just duty. After, I'm a major now, while you're an excommunicated officer."

"At least he didn't let an entire island get enslaved by pirates for eight years." I pointed out.

"Oh please. It's not like they are in any immediate danger."

"Enough talk. I'm putting an end to your ways right here, right now!" Gord cocked the firing hammer back and placed his finger on the trigger.

"Go in ahead. Fire." Nezumi tainted him, "But know that you and your buddies will be hunted for assaulting a marine major. You'll be put away for life."

"Grr…"

"What's the matter? I thought you wanted to put a stop to my-hrgk!"

I couldn't stand his voice anymore and slammed my scaly fist into his face, knocking him into the tangerine trees.

"Major!"

All the soldiers aimed their rifles at me as I drew Nanashi out, ready to strike them down if they attacked.

"Rein, what are you doing!?" Gord cried out.

"He's already going to screw us over with attempted assault anyways! Might as well go all the way!" I told him.

"But now you're going to be charged for it too!"

"…eh, worth it."

It had been a fun two years working for the East Traders. But if sacrificing all of that meant putting an end to this corrupt bastard's schemes here, then might as well. Someone needs to put the rat in his hole where he belongs.

I wonder if the Straw Hats would let me join them if asked now?

"You bitch!" Nezumi screamed at me as he gestured to his men, "Arrest these criminals for interfering with government duties!"

"Yes, sir!"

The soldiers all aimed their rifles at me and Gord with the express gesture of shooting us. I grabbed one of the rifles by the barrel, pulled its wielder towards me and slammed Nanashi's pommel up into his chin hard, knocking him out.

"You guys get out of here!"

"R-Right! Thank you!"

Genzo pulled Nojiko into his arms and they with Nami ran down the hill towards the village, leaving me and Gord to deal with these corrupt marines.

Changing my grip so that the back of the blade was facing out, I took down two more soldiers by slamming my sword into the back of their heads.

I glanced back to see Gord sweeping one of the soldier's legs before switching grips and swung his rifle like a club, smashing its buttstock into another soldier's face and sending him sprawling on the ground.

"For the love of…" He sighed as we stood back to back with the soldiers surrounding us with some have their cutlasses drawn, "Well, you better watch my back."

"Naturally."

I moved my head so that a lead round fired by one of the soldiers ricocheted off my horn and into his buddy's shoulder. His stunned silence gave me an opening to do a downward strike to his face, knocking him out cold with it.

The other soldiers all fell just as quickly, their skill with the saber isn't all the great, until only Nezumi was left standing and conscious. The rat bastard looked at us with the atmost fear in his eyes.

The line 'that's when he knew, he fucked up.' fits his expression perfectly.

"S-Stop!" Nezumi cried out as he pulled out a pistol on us, "Don't you know what you're doing!? None of you will-EEP!"

Gord fired a round and it clipped on Nezumi's hat, knocking it off his head. "Honestly, I couldn't care less anymore."

"P-Please wait!"

"BANG!"

"YYAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

Nezumi let loose a shrill scream of fear, before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed onto the grass convulsing. And not a single lead round was fired at him.

"Well, that was pathetic." I noted.

"Nezumi has always been all bark and no bite." Gord stated as he tossed the rifle aside, "I bet he made it to Major through bribery alone."

"Yeah, I can see that happening. Right, Kris? …Kris?"

I looked around and saw that fishman nowhere in sight. Huh? Where did he go? He was just here!

"Kris!? Kris!"

I called out to him, but he didn't respond. Damn it, Kris. Where did you run off to?

Come to think of it, he got really upset when Nami brought up what Arlong has done to the island. He looked like he was about to kill someone-

"Oh no…" He couldn't be going to…

"What is it?" Gord asked me.

"I think Kris might have run off to fight Arlong."

"What!? Are you sure about that!?"

"I don't know, but he looked really angry when Arlong was brought up, and then it got worse when Nezumi revealed his corruption."

Anger has the tendency to push people to perform reckless actions before. I would know, considering that I'd tried to punch Garp when I was angered by him. And with how pissed he had looked, there's little doubt that isn't the case here.

"I've got to stop him!"

"Liya, wait!"

Ignoring Gord, I unfurled my wings and took to the air.

Arlong Park's pagoda-esque building can be seen high above all the trees, which was where I headed towards first.

With my top speed, I was able to get to there within minutes. What I saw there was pretty shocking.

All over the courtyard were several unconscious bodies of different kinds of fishmen. I spotted Johnny and Yosaku stumbling towards the destroyed gate.

And held in a sawshark fishman's hand by his throat was Kris, bleeding from his head and bruised all over.

My shock immediately turned to anger. Nezumi's situation was due to his overall scummyness, and only Gord has any real grudge against him.

Here? Plot be damned, this is personal!

"Hands off my partner!"

…
To be continued…

Yeah, finally finished with this chapter!

Whew, I was expecting this to be easy, but man, did I underestimate how much a pain writing this part with my characters can be.

So yeah, Nezumi is out of the picture, so expect some butterflies coming your way.

With that, I thank you all for reading this!