Even Genzo and Nojiko exchanged complicated looks as they stared at the little girl before them.She stood there, with the breeze tugging at her orange hair, completely unaware of the gravity of what she'd done.
Although the girl clearly possessed some strength, her situation was dire.To kill a Marine officer—even one as corrupt as Colonel Mouse—meant a lifetime of pursuit.No matter how fast she ran, the Navy's reach would follow her to the ends of the sea.
But the little girl, Mina, didn't seem worried in the slightest.
She tilted her head, eyes bright with innocent defiance, and said in a calm, almost casual tone,
"It's okay. It's just Marine. I'm not panicking at all."
Then, as if remembering something important, she added with the straightest face imaginable,
"Though… maybe my father will blame me for this."
She clasped her hands behind her back, looked at Nami seriously, and declared:
"So, Sister Nami, you'll have to come home with me and marry my father. That way, maybe my punishment will be lighter!""I snuck out to play by myself this time."
"...Huh!?" Nami froze, blinking twice in disbelief.Was now really the time to be talking about marriage!?
For a moment, she didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or grab the girl by the shoulders and shake her.If anything, Nami thought, your father's probably going to hang you upside down when he hears about this mess.
Even if she did marry that mysterious father of hers, there's no way it would erase the fact that Mina had killed a Marine colonel.That wasn't something anyone could "talk their way out of."
Nami sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping. "What should I do now...?"
She wasn't even thinking about the 7 million Bellies she'd lost earlier.That money seemed so insignificant compared to the storm that was about to hit.More than anything, this incident had shattered the last fragile piece of trust she had in Arlong.
Even if she collected the full 100 million Bellies, she now understood that Arlong would never let her or her village go.He'd break his promise without hesitation.
Genzo and Nojiko could only exchange helpless glances, listening to Mina's absurdly serious "marriage proposal."
They didn't expect this strange little girl to be so straightforward—no, shamelessly straightforward.
Nojiko, who wasn't even married herself, almost choked.
Wait… if Nami marries her father… doesn't that mean my younger sister gets married before me!?The thought made her twitch in silent frustration.
But now was hardly the time to argue about that.Nojiko took a deep breath, forcing her mind back to the grim reality before them.
"Nami," she said firmly, "you need to take the money and run. You know as well as I do—even if you hand the full hundred million to Arlong, he won't let you go.""Leave with the money. Don't give that bastard the satisfaction of taking everything from you. And…"Her eyes softened, glancing at Mina."Make sure this kid gets home safely. We can't do anything about her killing a Marine colonel, but maybe her father has some influence.""After all… the Marine she killed was scum anyway."
It was the only faint comfort she could offer herself.
But everyone knew the truth—killing a Marine officer, no matter how corrupt, was a capital offense.Even if the higher-ups knew Mouse was rotten, they couldn't afford to lose face.Someone had to take the blame.
And it would be them.
Nami bit her lip hard, frustration and fear swirling inside her chest.
"I want to leave," she whispered, "but what will happen to you after I'm gone?"Her voice cracked slightly."Arlong's a cruel and cunning monster. If he finds out I escaped, he'll destroy the village. He'll kill everyone."
Her hands clenched at her sides.
"I can't just watch that happen."
This was her home—her roots.If her roots were destroyed, what meaning would freedom have?
She'd had countless chances to flee—to sail beyond Arlong's reach, live quietly in some distant sea.But she couldn't.She could never abandon Cocoyasi Village.
Genzo and Nojiko both fell silent.They understood Nami's pain.Even if they wanted her to run, to live, asking her to leave her home behind was cruel beyond measure.
This was Nami's world—her past, her present, her everything.But now, they were trapped.When Arlong learned what had happened, he'd surely lead his crew to seize Nami's treasure and use the Marine's death as blackmail.
The future ahead of them was painted in despair.
Then, Mina suddenly spoke again, breaking the silence.
"Sister Nami," she said, tilting her head with that same innocent look,"If I help you kill Arlong, will you come with me and marry my father?"
Nami blinked, utterly speechless.
Genzo nearly fell over.Nojiko facepalmed.
Nami let out a long, tired sigh.
"Even if you could defeat Colonel Mouse," she said carefully, "you can't beat Arlong. He's a fish-man—ten times stronger than a human. His strength and speed are monstrous.""He's not just some pirate. He's under the protection of a Shichibukai."
Her tone carried the weight of hopelessness.
Genzo and Nojiko nodded grimly.They had both seen Arlong's power firsthand.Even well-armed Marines had fallen before him, their bullets bouncing harmlessly off his skin.
No child, no matter how strange or strong, could possibly stand against that.
But Mina's expression didn't change.Instead, she crossed her arms, looking unusually serious for once.
"What Sister Nami said makes sense," she admitted. "So I'll just try. If I can't beat him…"Her eyes gleamed with quiet confidence."Then I'll call Brother Snake. He'll definitely be able to kill Arlong. Even if Arlong's as strong as a Shichibukai, Brother Snake won't lose."
Her tone was so casual it made Nami's head spin.
Brother Snake? Who in the world is that?
Genzo and Nojiko looked at each other, startled.If this little girl really had a brother that strong… could there be hope?
Nami's heart flickered with a fragile spark of light.If her brother truly existed—and if he was really that powerful—maybe, just maybe, Arlong could be defeated.
But the next second, logic crushed that hope.
Even if he's real, where would I find him? The sea is endless. By the time I do, the village will already be gone.
And Mina… she was clearly not from around here.Her way of speaking, her strange abilities—everything about her screamed "outsider."
Mina noticed the doubt on Nami's face.She smiled faintly, her tone softening.
"Don't worry, Sister Nami. Even if I can't beat him, I can still escape. You saw it, right? My teleportation ability?"
Nami froze. She had seen it—how Mina had vanished and reappeared effortlessly, like a flicker of light.
"So I'll just go see for myself," Mina said brightly, stepping back and clapping her hands together."If Arlong's really as scary as you say, I'll run away. But if he's just another bad guy—then I'll beat him up!"
Before anyone could stop her, she turned on her heel and sprinted toward Arlong Park.
"W–Wait! Mina, stop!" Nami shouted, panic rising in her voice.But the little girl was already gone, her laughter echoing faintly in the distance.
The wind rustled through the trees.Nami stared toward the dark silhouette of Arlong Park far across the coast—the place everyone in Cocoyasi called "the devil's den."
And now that devil was about to meet the most reckless child in the East Blue.