"Sir, this…" The Marine on watch hesitated.
Mouse sensed it, pressing, "Blazer, do this right, and you'll get a share of Arlong's wealth. When I'm promoted, you're the next base commander!"
"Yes, sir!" Blazer replied.
Mouse hung up, recalling Gawain's face and his own past, anger simmering. He grabbed a pen and began writing furiously.
Minutes later, a scathing report with three photos was sent from the 16th Marine Branch to Navy Headquarters.
The headquarters liaison studied the photos, pausing. "This Knight Gawain looks familiar, like from some movie?"
Comparing them to Gawain's wanted poster, he relaxed. "Over seventy percent match. Pirates' looks change in a year or two—no issue. I'm overthinking."
He nodded, reviewed Mouse's report, and sent it for a Vice Admiral's scrutiny.
…
Days later, in Cocoyasi, with Arlong's crew defeated, not only Cocoyasi but dozens of nearby villages were freed from oppression.
The Gawain Pirates' name spread, dubbed "Dragon Slayers." Some villagers even erected a crude statue of Gawain at the port.
"That statue…" Kuro muttered, eyeing it. "Why's it look like that movie guy?"
Gawain's lips twitched, and he hurried away.
At the port, crates of supplies piled onto the ship, pushing it to its draft limit. Gin couldn't stop the villagers from adding more.
"Enough!" Gin shouted. "The ship's full!"
Laughter answered. "You saved our village! We can't let our saviors leave empty-handed!"
"Exactly!" another said. "This is my last bit of cured meat, oh, and some oranges and ale~"
The man produced three huge crates, overwhelming Gin, who couldn't refuse their warmth.
Their genuine smiles made him understand why his Raven Port comrades returned so changed.
Pirates, used to hatred and fear, felt something indescribable when met with sincere gratitude.
In that moment, Gin and the crew felt their actions mattered.
Gawain and Kuro, mobbed by villagers, struggled to board. The port crowd wouldn't relent.
Ajiken, bandaged and barely mobile, watched from the edge. A sea breeze blew, but his pinwheel hat was silent.
As Cocoyasi's sheriff, he should've reported pirates to the Marines, but he'd tossed his Den Den Mushi.
"They're pirates, damn it!" he muttered.
Gawain's voice cut through. "Take this!"
Ajiken caught a thrown object—a Den Den Mushi. His face stiffened. "I don't take pirate stuff!"
"You can contact Nami with it," Gawain said.
"No exceptions!" Ajiken blushed, pocketing it silently.
Nojiko, beside him, smirked. "That man won't make Nami cry, will he?"
"He'd better not!" Ajiken growled, eyes on Gawain. "I checked them out. They protected Raven Port, saved civilians, and they're strong."
"I hate admitting it, and I don't want Nami as a pirate, but Knight Gawain's crew is different. Compared to Arlong, they're a better fit."
"Her dream's to chart the world's seas, after all."
Nojiko raised an eyebrow. "High praise from you. Not easy."
"Hmph!"
As they bantered, Nami's voice rang out. "Hey, everyone!"
Gawain turned. Nami sprinted toward them, clutching charting tools—once symbols of her nightmares under Arlong, now her dream's foundation.
No longer forced to chart for Arlong's ambition, she'd fight for her own dream and her crew's journey.
"I'm not on board yet!" she yelled.
"Late, huh, kid?" Kuro dropped his façade, voice grim.
Nami didn't care. For the first time, she could use her real name, no longer hiding to protect others.
She'd said goodbye to Ajiken. Now, only the sea and the journey ahead mattered.
Thud!
Nami hit the deck, greeted the crew, and rushed to the navigator's room.
She arranged her tools: charting paper, pens, a compass, orange trees from Nojiko, and Ajiken's pinwheel.
Opening the porthole, a sea breeze spun the pinwheel.
Minutes later, she flopped onto the bed, sniffing. The scent was the same as when she left.
"This is my turf now!" she declared.
Passing pirates peeked in, smiling. Nami stuck out her tongue playfully.
About to close the door, she remembered something, rushed to the deck, and spotted Ajiken and Nojiko at the port.
"Hey!" she waved. "When I've charted every sea in the world, I'll come back!"
Ajiken and Nojiko stared, stunned.
"It's been so long since she looked like that," Ajiken said.
"Since Bell-mère died, she hasn't smiled so brightly," Nojiko added.
They waved back as the ship sailed toward the horizon.
Nojiko glanced at the port. A sea breeze whipped a pirate flag, Arlong's head impaled on its pole—a stark symbol.
No villager found it cruel; they only regretted not tearing into his flesh themselves.
"Will the Marines remove that flag?" Nojiko asked.
Ajiken shrugged. "Who cares? Will they bother with this place? Think Mouse has the guts to touch that man's flag?"
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