For three days and nights, the Conomi Islands, starting with Cocoyashi Village, revel in an unbroken feast.
Having won their freedom and broken Arlong's tyranny, the villagers are wreathed in smiles, basking in liberty's glow. Laughter never ceases, the clamor a stark contrast to the past's oppression.
They've rediscovered the joy of living.
The Marine warship arrives as the festivities begin to calm, summoned not by the villagers but by Arlong's crew.
Arlong's reign persisted due to Marine collaborators. The call is unusual: a portion of the usual tribute, a minor issue, and a need to talk, the contact claims.
Colonel Mouse, seated in the captain's cabin, wears a sour expression. "What's Arlong thinking, summoning me on his whim? Why should I bother listening to that brute?"
Grumbling, he counts stacks of gold.
The bribes he's pocketed are countless. A Marine second, a greedy man first, his ties with Arlong's crew are built on coin. There's no camaraderie, no desire for it—only disdain.
Fishmen, rare in East Blue, grate on him. Why do they act so superior?
He's never liked this arrangement. Without the promise of gold, he wouldn't have come. It's a chore, nothing more.
A Marine enters to report. "Colonel Mouse, we've arrived at Arlong Park."
"Finally," Mouse snaps.
"But something's odd…"
"What?" Mouse demands.
"The building… it's—"
"Tacky? I've known that," Mouse interrupts, standing irritably.
Pushing past the hesitant Marine, he exits the cabin. The familiar path to the deck is short, and he gazes at the island's silhouette.
Then he notices. The scenery is the same, but Arlong Park—where it should stand—is gone, reduced to rubble.
His expression shifts slightly. Without turning, he asks, "What's this?"
"We don't know. It's just… a pile of debris," the Marine replies.
"So that's the trouble. Arlong better not drag me into his mess," Mouse mutters, scanning the sea.
It's empty. Something else is missing.
"Where's that octopus? He's supposed to meet us," Mouse says.
"No sign of him. The Den Den Mushi's dead too," the Marine reports.
"Damn it. Fine, lower the boats," Mouse orders.
"Yes, sir!"
"Add the labor to their bill. Tsk tsk tsk, a cash cow like this is pure profit," Mouse sneers.
At his command, Marines prepare several small boats. Mouse boards one, joined by about twenty men.
The warship anchors offshore to avoid suspicion of collusion between Marines and pirates. They maintain plausible deniability.
The boats approach the island, rocking gently as they near the ruins of Arlong Park.
It's a grim sight. The once-grand tower is a heap of rubble, devoid of its former glory. It screams downfall.
Arlong sits before the wreckage on a miraculously intact white chair, head in hands, visibly shaken. Beside him stands a woman with short orange hair—Nami. No other fishmen are in sight.
"What happened? Partnering with him was a mistake…" Mouse mutters from the boat.
The boats—three in total—reach the shore, and the men disembark.
Mouse, hands clasped behind his back, stands tall, smirking at the defeated Arlong. "Well, Arlong, my boy. In good spirits?"
"Look around. I'm in a foul mood," Arlong growls.
"What happened? Your precious Arlong Park is in ruins," Mouse taunts.
"Some damn pirates showed up. You get the picture," Arlong snaps.
Bandages cover Arlong's body, evidence of a brutal fight. For fishmen, supposedly superior to humans, he's in rough shape.
Mouse chuckles, unconcerned. Their bond is purely financial. "Oh my, the mighty fishmen reduced to this? Your castle's gone, too. The gold's safe, though, right?"
"Tch, like it's not your problem," Arlong mutters. "Talk first. Gold later."
"No, gold first. We can't keep the ship waiting. I'll count it while we chat," Mouse insists.
"No gold. The pirates who trashed this place took it," Arlong says.
"What!?" Mouse's eyes widen.
Fury surges. No gold? Why's he even here? Anger shifts from Arlong to the thieves. Moments ago, it was their problem—now it's his. "Who stole my gold!? I'll lock those pirates up and take it back!"
"That'd be me," a voice calls.
Mouse spins toward the gate. A lone figure stands, wearing a straw hat—Luffy.
A kid? Mouse can't believe it. He knows Arlong's crew's strength. Fishmen dominate sea battles, capable of crushing seasoned Marines. Yet this scrawny, bandaged kid, moving lightly despite likely fighting Arlong, beat them? He looks unfazed.
Mouse stares, incredulous.
But youth doesn't excuse theft. His gold's at stake. "You're the pirate? Hand over my gold. It's mine," he snarls.
"Nope. It's Cocoyashi's. You took bribes from Arlong, huh?" Luffy says.
"Tsk tsk tsk, so what? I wouldn't deal with filthy fishmen for free! Return it, or it's the brig!" Mouse shouts.
"Nah, I'm keeping it. Want it? Take it. I'm a pirate," Luffy retorts.
"Arrogant brat! Arlong, why're you sitting there!? Kill the punk who wrecked your park!" Mouse yells, turning to Arlong.
Then it hits him. Arlong's too quiet, head bowed, demeanor off.
Mouse recalls his insult—calling fishmen "filthy." Arlong's trigger.
Panicking, he forces a laugh. "I didn't mean that. Got heated, said something I don't believe."
"Yeah, right. That was your real talk," Nami snaps.
"Quiet, woman! Arlong, don't take it seriously. We're partners. Together, we'd rule East Blue, right?" Mouse pleads.
Arlong says nothing, head still down. Nami's glare is icy.
Mouse senses danger. Why's Arlong letting the pirate who destroyed his base stand here? Why's he so quiet?
Doubt swells, then clarity hits.
Arlong's betrayed him. Their deal's broken. He's allied with someone else to crush Mouse.
His face pales, teeth clenching. "So that's it, Arlong! You backstabbing bastard!"
"I'm not your lackey. I do what I want," Arlong growls.
"Tch, just a bunch of scum! You tricked me!" Mouse spits.
"You're done. I'm tired of your smug face," Arlong says, standing, baring his sharp teeth. Despite injuries, his towering presence intimidates.
Mouse recoils, eyes wide with fear, posture weak. A colonel, yes, but no fighter—neglected training or lacking talent, he relies on others, not strength.
So he thinks fast. That's his skill. Why bring a warship? For moments like this.
Pointing at the ship offshore, he boasts, "Big talk, but what can you do? See that? I'm Colonel Mouse! One order, and my ship fires. You're nothing!"
He grins confidently, but Luffy, Arlong, and Nami don't react.
Undeterred, Mouse continues. "You pirate scum are no match! Touch me, and it's treason against the Marines and World Government. No one escapes! One word, and I'll destroy you and your precious Cocoyashi Village! Do nothing, and—"
His triumphant speech is cut short by a deafening explosion. Flames erupt from the warship, black smoke billowing skyward.
"What!?" Mouse turns, stunned.
His ship burns, smoke rising. His mind stalls, unable to process. Speechless, he stares as his symbol of power crumbles.
Chaos erupts aboard the warship. The sudden explosion—clearly sabotage—sends Marines scrambling. "What happened!? Report!" a commander shouts.
"The powder magazine exploded! The stern's heavily damaged!" a Marine reports.
"Why!? Any cause!?" the commander demands.
"No one was near it…" the Marine falters.
"Coming through! Excuse me, pardon!" a carefree voice cuts through.
Two Marines turn. A boy, not in uniform, clearly no Marine, strolls by. His dull blonde hair and large bag catch their eyes. He pulls out a round, black object—a bomb, its fuse lit.
They freeze, realizing too late. He tosses it behind him, toward them.
The bomb lands, fuse shortening. Panic overtakes them. "Get down!" one yells.
They dive, hitting the deck as a massive explosion rocks the ship. The blast shakes everyone aboard, but Kiri, the thrower, is unfazed, earplugs in, smiling as he lights another bomb.
Smoke fills the deck, visibility low. Kiri strolls casually, tossing bombs. "Bombs for sale! Bombs for sale!" he calls.
"Stop! Drop your weapons!" a Marine shouts.
"Huh?" Kiri turns, feigning surprise, and hurls a bomb at the voice. It's deliberate.
"Don't throw it! Drop it!" the Marine screams.
"I did! Make up your mind!" Kiri quips.
The bomb bounces, exploding with a roar, igniting more fires. The ship's hull splinters, already battered by two blasts.
Kiri nods happily, walking on, lighting fuses, tossing bombs into rooms, closing doors, and watching walls blow apart. It's play to him.
"Bombs for sale! Big clearance today!" he sings.
Sabotage is Kiri's forte. Destroying a ship single-handedly is his specialty, backed by experience and knowledge. Starting with the powder magazine, his pre-prepared bombs wreak havoc from within. His gleeful demeanor reflects his mastery. Humming, he's the only one smiling amid the chaos, a reaper to those who see him.
His attack signals others. Fishmen, waiting underwater, move.
Chew and Kuroobi, Arlong's officers, hear the explosions and act. Following human orders grates, but Arlong's decision binds them.
"No choice, let's do it," Chew says, smacking his lips.
"Tch, taking human orders," Kuroobi grumbles.
"Don't get it wrong. We follow Arlong, that's it," Chew snaps, surfacing.
Screams and explosions echo from the warship, still ablaze. The chaos is overwhelming, even from outside. Chew shudders—Kiri, that strange, merciless human, is dangerous.
Pushing it aside, Chew inhales seawater, belly swelling, then arcs back and unleashes, "Water Cannon!"
Not a mere water gun, a massive water blast rockets toward the ship, striking the mainmast with a different kind of roar. The mast snaps, plunging the ship into further chaos.
"The mainmast!" a Marine cries.
"Where's this attack coming from!?" another shouts.
Water rains onto the deck, Marines panicking. Chew continues firing, shattering the ship's hull.
Meanwhile, Kuroobi, still underwater, eyes the ship's bottom grimly. Sinking it is simple for a fishman who breathes underwater and knows a ship's weaknesses.
He closes in, fists clenched, and strikes. "No choice… Here!" His Fishman Karate thrust punches a hole in the hull.
The ship lurches. Kuroobi hammers more blows, warping the vessel, hastening its sinking.
As Mouse's boat pulls away, hidden allies emerge. A giant octopus pot, big enough for humans, races across the sea toward the warship, pulled by Hachi, carrying Zoro and Sanji. Their mission: board the ship, ensuring no Marine escapes.
They marvel at the ship's rapid destruction, a thrilling, unfamiliar sight. "Going all out. Didn't know what he was planning, sneaking in alone," Zoro says.
"Weird guy, turning into paper," Sanji adds.
Both itch for battle, grins betraying their eagerness. "Hurry, octopus! He'll finish it before we start!" Zoro urges.
"I'm going full speed!" Hachi replies.
They reach the warship, leaping onto the deck and attacking simultaneously. Their piratical onslaught is ruthless, terrifying. The Marines, caught off-guard, grab weapons but can't stop them.
This isn't looting—it's destruction, amplifying fear. That's the goal: intimidate without killing, overpowering every Marine with sheer force.
They targeted those who hurt their friend.
The assault ends in minutes. The warship sinks completely.
Mouse, watching his ship—his power—sink, is comically stunned, mouth agape, eyes bulging. He underestimated the fishmen and these unknown pirates.
With no ship, escape is impossible. Frozen, he can't speak.
Nami breaks the silence, staff over her shoulder. "What was that about 'this far'?"
Mouse flinches, seeing her flanked by Luffy and Arlong, their presence chilling.
He rallies, gesturing to his twenty Marines. "Don't move! I'm not done! I brought twenty men! You three can't win!"
His shout is cut by an attack. Five small pellets hit the faces of the five Marines behind him, exploding instantly. Within seconds, all five collapse, knocked out by the blasts' force.
Simultaneously, a gust lifts the five rearmost Marines, flinging them into the sea, untouched by others. Mouse freezes completely.
The remaining ten Marines, visibly shaken, search for the attackers.
Two figures stand atop Arlong Park's ruins: Usopp, the sniper, and Silk, the kamaitachi human.
"More allies!?" Mouse stammers.
"That's not all," Arlong mutters, his anger clear.
As if on cue, a splash erupts, and Arlong's crew—outnumbering the Marines—surges from the sea, weapons raised, shouting. The five Marines tossed into the water are already unconscious, carried by Aoka, Kurura, and Tsubo.
Mouse, tears streaming, laughs hysterically, unable to speak or think.
Nami, smiling, speaks. "I've got plenty to say. You're corrupt, stole the village's money, and enabled the fishmen. Nothing good about you. But I might forgive it all."
Her smile, more intimidating than sweet, terrifies. "We've got time. Let's talk slowly."
Mouse squeaks in fear.
Surrounded by pirates, the Marines tremble. The outcome is predictable. Their screams echo skyward, a release of years of rage.
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