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[TIOP] Chapter : 26
🕑 Added 2025-02-09 06:50:47 +0000 UTCCaptain Nezumi let out his signature chittering laugh. "Kekeke! Do you really think finding 100 million berries is as easy as picking an orange? Search thoroughly! And listen up—aside from Nami, anyone who dares to interfere will be shot on the spot!" He smirked, reveling in his authority.
At his words, Nami froze. Her eyes met Nojiko’s, and they both thought of the stranger who had appeared earlier—the man who claimed to be a navy officer. He had warned them that Nezumi was in cahoots with Arlong, yet she had driven him away.
Before she could process her thoughts, a soldier shouted, "Found it!" The marines uncovered the buried treasure.
"Don’t touch that!" Nojiko lunged forward to stop them, but a gunshot rang out. She gasped, clutching her wound as she fell to the ground.
"Nojiko!" Genzo and Nami rushed to her side, panic flashing in their eyes.
Nezumi sneered down at them. "Kekeke, Since you stole these from pirates, I’ll overlook the theft charge. But as for these 'stolen goods'—the navy will be confiscating them!" His voice dripped with mockery.
Nami trembled with rage. Her fists clenched as she glared up at him. "It’s Arlong, isn’t it?! He never intended to honor our deal! He sent you here, didn’t he?!"
At the accusation, Nezumi’s smug expression faltered. "What nonsense are you spouting? Who is this ‘Arlong’? I’ve never even heard of him!" He quickly averted his gaze, but his unease was obvious.
At that moment, Nami’s heart was a storm of anger and self-reproach. If she hadn't driven away that marine earlier, he might have already dealt with Nezumi by now. For some reason, she had a gut feeling that he was capable of handling the situation.
Meanwhile, the villagers, drawn by the commotion, arrived one after another, their voices filled with concern. "Genzo! Genzo! What happened?!" they asked anxiously. A doctor was quickly summoned to tend to Nojiko’s wound, but Nami had no time to linger—her only thought was to confront Arlong.
Just as she turned to leave, a familiar voice called out.
"Hey, Nami! Need any help?"
Luffy, strolling by without a care in the world, waved cheerfully at her.
But Nami’s patience had already snapped. "Why are you still here?! Didn’t I tell you to leave?! Just get out of here already!" she shouted, grabbing Luffy by the collar before shoving him aside. Without another word, she took off, running straight toward Arlong Park.
Luffy blinked, utterly confused. He pouted and muttered, "Jeez… all I did was say hello. Why so mean?"
Meanwhile, at the port of Gosa village, Jack spotted a warship bearing the insignia of the 16th branch. A smirk crossed his face as he stepped aboard to observe.
Before long, Captain Nezumi returned with his squad of marines, his voice filled with glee as he boasted to his subordinates about today’s haul.
"I can't stop laughing! There’s actually 93 million Berries here! And 30% of it belongs to me!" Captain Nezumi’s grating voice echoed across the deck, reaching Jack’s ears.
"Captain, the money is filthy—it's covered in blood, mud, and who knows what else. It's practically falling apart," one of the marines reported while inspecting the loot.
"You fool! Money is money! Kekekeke!" Captain Nezumi sneered, paying no mind to the condition of his ill-gotten gains.
Inside the cabin, Jack leaned back with a smirk, surrounded by a group of bound and gagged marines. "Looks like someone’s been up to no good," he mused to himself.
Meanwhile, on the deck, Nezumi remained oblivious to the fact that something was amiss with his warship.
"Wait… where is everyone? Captain, the soldiers we left behind—they’re gone!" A marine finally noticed the eerie absence of their crew.
"Are you looking for them?"
Jack emerged from the cabin at just the right moment, his expression nonchalant. He gestured toward the open door, revealing the captured marines inside, struggling against their restraints.
Captain Nezumi’s eyes widened in shock. "Who the hell are you?"
Jack tilted his head and grinned. "Just a guy here to deliver some real justice… not the kind you pretend to uphold."
"Justice? Kekekeke. I am Captain Nezumi of the 16th Division of the Navy! Our navy—"
Bang!
Before he could finish, Jack’s fist connected with his face, sending him flying.
"Don’t disgrace the navy with your filth," Jack said coldly, looking down at the fallen officer, who now had blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "I’m Jack, a captain from headquarters. You’ve been colluding with the pirate Arlong and terrorizing the villagers. I’m placing you under arrest. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Nezumi groaned but quickly sneered, his beady eyes flashing with malice. "A headquarters Captain? Kekeke, you expect me to believe that? Shoot him!" He barked, his desperation turning to viciousness.
Jack sighed, pulling out his navy identification. "This is my ID. Or has the entire division rotted to the core, like a nest of rats?" His sharp gaze swept over the surrounding marines.
The marines exchanged uneasy glances, visibly shaken. But Nezumi, ever the schemer, let out another squeaky laugh. "Don’t listen to his nonsense! Kekekeke. If we take him out and blame it on Arlong, we can continue our cushy little arrangement!"
Hesitation flickered across the marines’ faces—but one by one, they raised their rifles, aiming directly at Jack.
"Hu~ I gave you a chance. This was your decision," Jack exhaled, shaking his head. He had hoped that not all the navy officers of the 16th Division had succumbed to corruption, but it seemed that those who had accompanied Nezumi were as tainted as their leader—bought and sold for coin.
"Shoot!" Nezumi, sensing danger, barked the order in a panic.
"Soru!"
"Aim"
"Take him down!"
In less than three minutes, Jack was perched atop a heap of defeated marines, his Den Den Mushi in hand as he contacted the nearby warship.
"Captain, all officers of the 16th Division have been subdued, and we’ve gathered the necessary evidence," a marine under Smoker’s command saluted, reporting the successful operation.
"Leave the 93 million Berries untouched—that money belongs to the villagers of Cocoyasi. Return it to them." Jack stood, his gaze shifting toward the commotion at the village entrance. "Post a few men to guard the ship. The rest of you, come with me. Arlong's reign ends today."
"Yes, sir!" the marines responded in unison, snapping to attention.
—
At that moment, in Arlong’s territory, Nami rushed back in a panic. Her conversation with Arlong had made everything painfully clear. But with that understanding came an even greater fear—that the villagers, driven by desperation, would throw their lives away in a futile battle.
"We made a pact—so long as Nami doesn’t give up, none of us will. But today—today! Those despicable bastards toyed with her kindness. We can never forgive them. Does anyone object?" Genzo stood at the village entrance, his voice resolute as he addressed the gathered villagers.
"Of course not! Let’s go!"
"How much longer can we endure this?"
"We’re ready to fight—no more hesitation!"
"We won’t let them keep tormenting our little Nami!"
The villagers roared, their anger reaching a fever pitch, their voices the only outlet for years of suffering.
"Please, wait! Just a little longer!" Nami pleaded, forcing a smile to mask her turmoil. "Let me try again—I know what to do this time! It'll be easier now, I promise!"
The villagers fell silent, looking at Nami with sorrow-filled eyes. Their emotions churned, and soon, their vision blurred with unshed tears.
"Nami..."
"Nami-chan..."
They understood her intentions, but—
"Enough." Genzo stepped forward, gently cradling Nami’s head. His voice softened, yet it carried the weight of a final decision. "You have borne this burden alone for too long, endured more than any child ever should. Thank you for your hard work. We know that staying with them has been more painful for you than any wound could be. You don’t have to endure it any longer. Just... leave the village to us."
"What? Gen-san, you..." Nami’s voice trembled as she tried to protest, but before she could say more, Nojiko, despite her injuries, gave her a soft smile and said, "You... you’re always scheming, always dreaming. Go. Go and chase that dream."
"No! Stop this! I don’t want to see anyone else get hurt because of me! I... I’d rather die!" Tears welled in Nami’s eyes as she wrenched herself free from Genzo’s embrace. She pulled out the dagger she always carried and shouted at the villagers.
"I know."
Genzo stepped forward, grabbing the blade with his bare hand. Blood immediately trickled down his palm, making Nami gasp in horror.
"It’s no use, Nami. We’ve already made up our minds." The villagers smiled at her, their eyes filled with unwavering determination.
"Move aside, Nami. We’re going, no matter what. Even if we can’t win, we’ll make sure they know our resolve!" Genzo led the charge, weapon in hand, stepping past a stunned Nami.
"Ohhhhhh! Let them see the price of harming our little Nami!" The villagers roared, their anger and defiance echoing through the night.
Nami collapsed to the ground, powerless to stop them. Her gaze fell on the tattoo of the Arlong Pirates emblazoned on her arm. Fury surged within her. Clutching the dagger tightly, she raised it—and with one swift motion, stabbed at the mark of her suffering.
Before the blade could go any deeper, a strong hand caught her wrist, stopping her in place.
"Why are you still here? Didn't I tell you to leave? This has nothing to do with you! Just go! Go away!" Nami's voice cracked with desperation. She was like a wounded animal—hiding, trying to mend her pain in solitude, refusing to show her weakness to anyone.
But Luffy’s presence shattered the fragile walls she had built around herself. His silence, his unwavering stance behind her, made her panic. She didn’t want him—didn’t want anyone—to see her like this.
Yet, despite her resistance, memories of their adventures together flooded her mind. The laughter, the camaraderie, the moments she had shared with Luffy and the crew. She didn’t want to involve them. She had sworn to handle this alone.
But now… she couldn't.
"Luffy... help me!"
Without hesitation, Luffy took off his straw hat—the treasure he valued more than anything—and gently placed it on Nami’s head.
"Of course~~~!!" he declared, his voice ringing with certainty.
Nami clutched the hat, overwhelmed. She remembered what Luffy had once said—this was his most precious treasure. And now, he was entrusting it to her.
"Let's go!"
"Ohhh~~!!"
Luffy strode forward, heading straight for Arlong’s stronghold with an unstoppable presence. In perfect sync, the Straw Hat Pirates, who had been waiting nearby, rose to their feet and followed their captain without a moment's hesitation.
Nami's tears flowed uncontrollably, as if a dam had finally burst. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop crying.
"Ohh, you’re really looking like a captain now."
A voice came from behind. At some point, Jack had appeared, watching Luffy charge ahead with unwavering determination. With a smile, he draped his "Justice" cloak over Nami's shoulders.
"You…?" Nami gasped, startled, as she turned to see Jack in a navy captain's uniform.
"I heard a little kitten lost something, so I figured I’d return it." Jack tossed a bag at her feet—the very one containing her stolen treasure. Then, as if showing off a prized possession, he gestured at his uniform with a playful grin. "See? I'm a Marine! This is my official uniform!"
