Back in Cocoyasi Village, Leno settled into a carefree, laid-back lifestyle.
"This is the life," Leno said, lounging on a beach chair, sipping juice, and watching the sisters run tirelessly on the sand.
"You big idiot, Leno! You're lying there comfortably while we're working ourselves to death," Nami complained, panting heavily.
When Leno came back, he had replaced their sea stone handcuffs with a higher-purity version, so they could continue their training.
"Come on, Nami, don't whine. Leno's doing this for our own good," Nojiko said.
"Hmph, you always take his side. I can't even complain!" Nami huffed.
"N-No, that's not true!" Nojiko's face flushed as she protested.
Suddenly, Leno waved at the sky, and a news-coo flew down.
"Tch, Tiger, huh? That Fishman hero who freed slaves… he's gone." Leno sighed.
'Not strong enough in the end.' Leno didn't come to this world to be a hero. He just wanted to live freely.
Wander the world, travel with a few beauties, and have the strength to protect those he cared about when the world shook—that was enough.
"Oh? The Seven Warlords of the Sea are going to be implemented?" Leno looked up at the distant sea.
"Little Leno, I knew you'd be here!" Belle-Mère strode over, cigarette in mouth, carefree as ever.
"Hm? What's up, Belle-Mère?"
"Tch, that guy Genzo proposed to me, and I said yes," Belle-Mère said casually.
"What? He had the guts for that?" Despite years of Leno, Nami, and Nojiko playing matchmaker, Genzo had always been clueless.
It had frustrated them all, but who'd have thought he'd pull off something this big—a proposal!
"Pfft, hahaha!" Belle-Mère doubled over laughing.
"If I didn't push him, he'd still be holding back."
Belle-Mère sighed. She'd already set the wedding date and came to tell them.
"Congrats, congrats! The village's most notorious single woman is finally off the market!" Leno cheered…
"You little punk! Show some respect!" Belle-Mère snapped.
"What? Belle-Mère, you're marrying Uncle Genzo? Does that mean Nojiko and I are getting a little brother or sister?" Nami asked excitedly.
Nojiko looked equally hopeful.
"Not that fast!" Belle-Mère smacked her forehead, exasperated.
Over the next few days, with the villagers' help, they tore down Leno's house and built a new villa with a garden.
Leno moved in with Nami's family—his idea.
A newlywed couple needed a new home, and after discussion, everyone agreed.
On the wedding day, Nojiko and Nami trailed Belle-Mère, holding her wedding dress, while Leno stood by Genzo.
"Uncle Genzo, we're entrusting Belle-Mère to you. If you make her unhappy or mistreat her, Nojiko and I will come for you!" Nami and Nojiko's eyes were red.
"Don't worry, I'll cherish her for life," Genzo said solemnly.
Belle-Mère watched her two grown-up girls with deep affection and pride.
"Alright, let's step back and leave the stage to today's stars." Leno pulled the girls away.
As the couple exchanged vows and rings on stage, Nami danced with excitement below. Nojiko watched with envy and longing, stealing glances at Leno before blushing and looking away.
Life didn't change much, except Leno now had two daily wake-up calls.
Bang! The door was kicked open. Before Leno could open his eyes, a figure plopped onto his stomach.
"Stupid Leno, get up! Breakfast's ready!" Nami yelled.
Leno was starting to regret this. Nojiko gently woke him, but Nami was like a hyperactive rabbit.
"Nami, please, just five more minutes… I'm so tired…" Leno groaned, struggling weakly.
"Nope! Up! We've got training!" Nami dug her fingers into his sides, tickling mercilessly.
"Fine, fine, get off me first!" Leno was on the verge of tears.
After tidying up, he reached the dining table, where Nojiko, apron tied around her waist, was setting out dishes. Leno's mood lifted.
"Morning, Nojiko. You're gonna make a great wife someday."
"Morning, Leno," Nojiko replied, steam practically rising from her head.
Six months later,
"Belle-Mère's pregnant!" Genzo rushed over early one morning with the news.
"Really?! That's awesome! We're getting a little brother or sister!" Nami cheered.
The group hurried to Belle-Mère's new home, fussing over her.
"Alright, you little rascals, enough already! I just found out—stop acting like the world's ending!" Belle-Mère groaned, overwhelmed by their fussing.
"No way, we've gotta be extra careful. You're responsible for the baby now!" they said sternly.
Belle-Mère laughed and sighed, blaming Genzo for spilling the news too soon.
Leno and the others decided to ensure Belle-Mère's nutrition was top-notch. To that end, Leno frequently ventured to the Calm Belt to hunt Sea Kings.
As Belle-Mère's belly grew, their excitement and nerves grew too.
Nami and Nojiko's training bore fruit. Both mastered the Six Powers' Shave and Moonwalk, as the techniques were similar.
To Leno's surprise, both also awakened Observation Haki.
'Looks like everything's coming together. Time to work on the Ark Maxim.'
Puru, puru, puru.
"Hey, Nojiko, what's up?" Leno, hauling a Sea King back, answered Nojiko's Den Den Mushi call.
"Leno, where are you? Hurry back—pirates are attacking the village!" Nojiko's voice was frantic.
"What?! Don't panic. Get Belle-Mère to safety. I'm on my way!" Leno was alarmed, urgently instructing Nojiko, especially since Belle-Mère was close to giving birth.
"Okay, we know. Nami and I will hold them off. Hurry back!"
"Alright, stay safe. I'm coming!"
Leno dropped the Sea King carcass. With a sharp crackle of electricity, he vanished in a flash, racing back at top speed.
At Cocoyasi Village, several houses at the entrance were in ruins, flames rising.
"Yahahaha! As of today, this island belongs to the Arlong Pirates! Everyone pays taxes now—50,000 Berries for adults, 10,000 for kids. Refuse, and you'll end up like them!"
Several villagers lay sprawled on the ground, their fates unknown.
Minutes earlier,
"Belle-Mère, stay inside, don't come out. Nami and I will stall them. I've called Leno—he's on his way," Nojiko said, firm despite her panic.
Nami nodded in agreement.
"Don't be ridiculous! I was a Marine—I can't just hide while you two face pirates!" Belle-Mère protested.
"The situation's different now! You're carrying a baby—don't make things worse! Leave this to Nami and me!" Nami insisted, then dashed out the door with Nojiko before Belle-Mère could argue.
"Genzo! Follow them—don't let anything happen to them!"
"Got it. Stay safe!" Genzo grabbed a tool and ran after them.
"Boss, two women are charging at us!" Fishman Chew said to Arlong.
"Yahahaha, perfect! We'll make an example of them. Collecting taxes will be easier after this."
Nami and Nojiko, seeing the fallen villagers and burning village, burned with rage.
"Pirates! Get out of our village!"
"Yahaha! Your village? From now on, this is Arlong Pirates territory!"
Arlong's laughter boomed across the scorched earth.
"Nami, let's go! Show these pirates what we're made of!" Nojiko summoned a pair of black wings and shot toward the pirates like a shadowed arrow.
"Got it, Nojiko. Be careful!" Nami turned into white clouds, soaring above the pirates.
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