On a coast of Cocoyasi Village, Nami stared at the tall ship before her, her expression dazed, her watery eyes trembling, utterly confused.
She had betrayed someone again.
Jotaro saved her life, and she repaid kindness with enmity, silently stealing his ship and occupying his wealth.
Although in her heart she kept consoling herself with "they're just a bunch of pirates, those things were taken from others anyway, what I did isn't really a big deal," her heavy mood was not relieved.
Because she knew very clearly that Jotaro and his group were absolutely not bad people; his help to Orange Town's residents had no ulterior motive, it was purely from his own sense of justice.
"Sorry…"
Nami wore a tragic smile on her face.
For the village she loved, even if it meant stabbing her benefactor in the back, she had no choice but to do it.
The gold, silver, and jewels on Jotaro's ship were far more than the assets of the Arlong Pirates, multiples more. She couldn't at all imagine where Jotaro had amassed such wealth from.
After Jotaro seized the ship from the Rat, besides replacing the basic canvas of the vessel, he also dismantled all the cannons installed on it.
Weapons like that had no use in his eyes; it was more practical to reduce weight and increase speed.
Therefore, although the ship's shape still resembled a naval warship, its specific exterior had been refurbished by Jotaro.
All useless decorations had been removed.
So even now, Nami hadn't realized that the tall ship before her was a warship.
She didn't overthink it. Once she docked at Cocoyasi Village, she hid the ship's wealth as quickly as possible.
After ensuring absolute security, her struggling heart finally gained a moment of peace.
With that huge sum credited, her dream had taken a major step forward.
The 100 million Berries that once seemed unreachable was now within arm's reach.
All thanks to the enormity of Jotaro's assets.
"No wonder he looked down on that money… If you count that amount, I could probably buy the entire Cocoyasi Village now." Nami muttered quietly.
She wasn't discouraged; the remaining shortfall could be made up by going out to sea one or two more times.
"At that time, if he still hasn't left Orange Town, I'll take the initiative to go to him, apologize, and serve as his navigator for free."
"He should forgive me, right…"
Nami thought silently, clapped her hands, and headed toward Arlong Park.
Looking at the magnificent building before her, her emotions were very complicated.
After standing outside for so long, she finally exhaled and pushed open the door.
"Yo! Look who's back! Hahahahaha…" Arlong threw back his head and let out a loud laugh, then after a while gradually stopped.
He bared his teeth, stared at Nami, and asked, "Why are you back so soon? Didn't your last trip go well? No gains?"
Nami forced out a smile. "How could that be! I got a lot this time!"
"Oh?" Arlong, with eyes like a venomous snake, scrutinized her, suspiciously asking, "Is that so? Then why does your face look so terrible?"
Nami, "…"
"You're not feeling guilty, are you?" Arlong laughed again. "Isn't betrayal your best trick, Nami? Showing that ugly expression over something small, hahahaha…"
The grating laughter was like a needle stabbing into Nami's chest.
Momentarily choked, she forced a smile and said, "Arlong, you're so interesting to think that way…"
"Actually this expression is because I'm upset."
"I could've saved up that 100 million Berries this time to buy the whole village from you, like we agreed."
Upon hearing this, Arlong's face suddenly changed; a ruthless glint passed through his bell-like eyes.
"What's wrong with you?" Nami asked in surprise. "I told you, I got a lot this time."
"I'm only a fraction away from the agreed 100 million Berries. I hope when the time comes you'll keep your promise and return Cocoyasi Village to me!"
Arlong was stunned for a moment, but soon the dark sharpness faded from his face, replaced by a confident smile.
"Hahaha, don't worry, Nami, I'll definitely keep the promise." He laughed wildly, then murmured, "I hope that day comes soon."
Nami crossed her arms and sneered, "I thought so. You're a pirate, but you're someone who can be negotiated with. After all, you deal in money."
"That's one of your few advantages."
With Arlong's commitment, Nami's heart finally steadied, so much so that she didn't notice the strange glint flashing in his eyes.
Nami, no matter what, you can't escape my palm! Arlong thought secretly, but outwardly called to his companions, "Welcome Nami home! Prepare to celebrate!"
"Woooohhh!!!" The fishmen responded enthusiastically, "Long live Arlong! Long live Fishmen!!"
———
After fetching water, Nojiko and Genzo arrived at a hidden cave.
The cave was pitch black and looked extremely gloomy.
"Right in there. Let's go in." Genzo led the way deeper into the cave, with Nojiko close behind.
As they went further in, her brows couldn't help but furrow.
"The smell of blood is so thick…"
Inside the cave, wounded lay everywhere. The dim light cast over their pale, bloodless faces.
Most still had signs of life, but all were on the very brink of danger.
Blood continuously poured from their wounds, congealing into dark viscous clots in the damp cave.
Nojiko felt her heart race, covering her mouth; her beautiful eyes filled with pain and sympathy.
"How can it be so cruel!"
Genzo sighed. "Being alive is already a kind of luck."
Many others had already turned into white bones under the overwhelming wrath of the fishmen.
"You're here." The village doctor, who had been treating the wounded, lifted his head, wiped the sweat from his brow. His name was Nako, an old man with graying hair.
Handling so many wounded had already exhausted him.
Yet the medical conditions were so poor that he couldn't afford to slack off; he had to stay fully alert.
"Genzo, our situation is very bad right now." Nako glanced at the patients waiting behind him, hesitated a long time, and then spoke with difficulty, "We have no choice but to give up on some people."
Genzo's pupils contracted, the corner of his eye twitched slightly. He let out a long sigh, said nothing, as if he had already anticipated this outcome.
Sensing Nojiko's strange expression, he explained, "We don't want this either, but with only Cocoyasi Village's medical resources, we simply can't treat so many people."
Nako's thin body trembled; making this decision was the most painful thing for him.
"The hemostatic medicine left is only enough for three people. That means at most we can save three. The others can only leave it to fate."
He said "at most," not "definitely."
Because with the horrific injuries these people had, even if the bleeding stopped, survival wasn't certain.
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