So the training continued into the next day. Meditation, sparring, and getting clobbered by Usopp's infamous "10-Ton Hammer." Mario took it all—gritting his teeth through every swing. Zoro oversaw his regimen, pushing him relentlessly.
"Again," Zoro barked. "Until your arms feel like they're about to fall off."
Meanwhile, Mario sweated through every movement, his muscles burning. He didn't complain. He couldn't—not with the swordsman watching.
On the second day, worn and aching, Mario retreated into the small cabin of the ship. He flipped through the CP0 manual Usopp had found—pages filled with espionage tactics, combat stances, and mental conditioning. But exhaustion took over. His head drooped. Eyes closed.
The next morning…
Mario's body groaned in protest. Every joint creaked. Every muscle screamed.
"Ugh... feels like I got run over by a Sea Train."
He rolled out of bed and staggered to his feet. "Johnny and Usopp... they really didn't hold back."
Stretching with a wince, he muttered, "I wonder if we're close to Arlong Park by now…"
He opened the cabin door—and froze.
Wide-eyed. Disbelieving.
They were already docked. The Going Merry swayed gently in the shallows nearby. Palm trees rustled in the wind.
But something was wrong.
No voices. No footsteps. No crew.
"Wait... Where is everyone?"
Then it hit him like a cannonball.
"Those two IDIOTS—!"
He slapped his forehead.
"No—I'm the idiot! I overslept! For god's sake—they ran off while Zoro got KIDNAPPED by two Fish-Men?!"
He sprinted out of the cabin, heart pounding.
Mario's heart sank.
"That's gotta be Arlong Park."
He sprinted toward the chaos, thoughts racing.
Zoro's been captured. Nami's gone who-knows-where.
Johnny and Usopp probably ran in like headless chickens.
"Did I sleep that soundly?" Mario muttered, jogging across the deck. His jaw clenched. "Damn it... Zoro probably saw the situation and protected me by not giving away I was in the cabin…"
He paused, fist tightening.
"That stupid marimo-head..."
There was no time to dwell on it. He took a deep breath, scanning the coast.
"I need to assess the situation—fast."
Moments later, Mario set foot on the shores of Conomi Islands. The wind hit his face, heavy with smoke and salt. His boots slammed against the dock as he bolted toward the nearby town. His legs ached with each step, still sore from training, but he didn't slow down.
He reached the outskirts of Cocoyasi Village, panting—and then froze.
"What the hell..."
The village was a mess.
Homes torn apart. Rooftops flipped upside down like broken shells. Smoke rose from several buildings, and pieces of shattered furniture were scattered across the streets like flotsam after a storm.
"Damn it, Arlong…" Mario whispered, his voice low. "That guy's insane…"
A scream echoed from deeper in the village—sharp and full of fear.
Mario didn't hesitate. He dashed toward the sound, weaving through the wreckage. As he turned a corner, he spotted a young boy hiding behind an overturned cart, trembling. Standing over him were two Fish-Men, both towering and muscular, laughing cruelly.
"Not gonna run this time, kid?" one of them sneered, raising a jagged spear.
Mario skidded to a halt, eyes blazing.
"Hey, tuna breath!"
The Fish-Men turned—just in time to see Mario charging full-speed.
"Soru."
The word slipped from Mario's mouth like a whisper, but the effect was explosive.
He vanished in a blur—not quite disappearing, but moving so fast it might as well have been teleportation. The Fish-Men barely had time to blink.
CRACK!
Mario's shoulder collided with both of them like a cannonball. The sheer force knocked them clean off their feet, slamming them into the rubble of a broken wall. Bricks shattered. Dust rose. Neither of them got back up.
Mario landed awkwardly, stumbling slightly as he caught himself.
"Ouch… That hurt," he muttered, rolling his shoulder. "I really need to learn how to control this thing better…"
He turned to the young boy, who was still frozen behind the cart, wide-eyed.
"You okay, kid?"
The boy blinked, slowly nodding. "Y-Yeah... Are you a Marine?"
Mario laughed, waving his hand. "Heck no. I'm just... helping out a friend."
The kid's lip quivered again. "Are you with that long-nosed guy?"
Mario's eyes narrowed, just a bit. "Usopp? Yeah, he's with me. Loud, annoying, kind of useless in a real fight, but... he's got guts."
"Have you also seen Nami?" he asked quickly.
The boy nodded frantically. "Nami... she's with Arlong. Everyone says she betrayed us, but... but I don't believe it! She's not like that!"
Mario knelt, placing a reassuring hand on the kid's shoulder. "She hasn't betrayed anyone. Trust me."
He stood and looked toward the jungle beyond the village, where the dark silhouette of Arlong Park loomed in the distance, its shark-fin towers cutting through the haze like blades.
A grim thought crept into his mind.
"Where's my friend Usopp?"
The boy hesitated. "Nojiko took him. After she knocked him out... with another kid who tried to fight the Fish-Men."
Mario blinked. "She knocked him out?"
The boy nodded.
Mario sighed and rubbed his temple. "Yup, sounds about right. Probably ran in shouting something heroic and got clobbered before his plan could fall apart."
He looked down at the boy again, more serious this time.
"Can you take me to her house?"
The kid nodded quickly. "It's not far from here. Follow me!"
The path twisted past broken fences and half-burned crops, but the house the boy led him to still stood—worn but sturdy. A few villagers lingered nearby, giving Mario cautious looks. They'd seen too many strange faces lately.
The boy pointed toward the porch. "That's her."
Mario looked up to see Nojiko, arms crossed, leaning against the doorway. Her expression was calm, but there was a hardness in her eyes—tired from pain, from fighting, from holding together what little was left.
"You the guy who came with the long nose?" she asked flatly.
Mario raised a hand. "Name's Mario. And yeah, Usopp's my crewmate."
Nojiko tilted her head slightly. "He's inside. Still breathing—somehow."
"Sounds about right."
Mario stepped up onto the porch. "Thanks for keeping him safe. And the kid, too."
Usopp was lying on a futon with an ice pack on his head, groaning.
Mario walked over and nudged him with his boot.
Usopp cracked one eye open. "Tell my story... to the next generation…"
"You got knocked out by a girl and a child," Mario said dryly. Usopp sat up immediately. "I let them hit me, okay?! Tactical retreat!"
Mario smirked. "Glad you're alive, brave warrior."
Then he turned toward the door, his expression shifting—no longer playful, but sharp and accusatory.
"Now… ARE YOU INSANE?! Leaving me and Zoro behind for the Fish-Men?"
Usopp held up his hands defensively. "Tactical retreat! And besides, I knew you could handle yourself! Zoro too! I needed to gather intel!"
Mario crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Right. Because intel requires getting knocked out cold by a civilian girl and a toddler."
Usopp pointed a finger. "That girl was way stronger than she looks! And the kid had a sword! A real one!"
Mario pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly. "Sigh... What am I gonna do with you…"
Usopp grinned sheepishly. "Let me tell the story later as if I single-handedly infiltrated Arlong Park?"
Mario gave him a flat look. "No."
"Worth a shot."
Mario shook his head, then turned toward the window. From here, he could barely see the distant spires of Arlong Park above the treetops. His voice dropped.
"Luffy's is comming. Zoro's probably still captive. And Nami… she's caught in the middle of this mess. We can't waste time." Usopp stood up, rubbing his bruised head.
"You're right. This whole place is about to explode."
His expression darkened. "That THIEF Nami… that evil witch! She stole our money!"
He threw his hands in the air, already imagining how he'd rewrite the tale with himself as the tragic victim.
But Nojiko's voice cut through the room—calm but heavy with something deeper.
"She's not a thief by choice."
Mario glanced at her, then nodded silently. Right…
He already knew the truth but Usopp didn't.
He turned to her. "Can you tell us what's going on?"
Nojiko studied them both for a moment. Then sighed.
"Alright. I don't see why not. But I'm only telling you so you don't go charging to your deaths."
She leaned back against the wall, folding her arms as her voice grew quiet—almost bitter.
"Arlong controls everything on this island. The villages, the people, the sea. For eight years he's ruled over us with his Fish-Men crew. Anyone who resists… dies."
Usopp went pale.
Nojiko continued, eyes fixed on the floor as if reliving every moment.
"He's not just some thug. Arlong has a vision. From here, he plans to expand—take over the entire East Blue. And no one's been able to stop him. Marines don't touch him. The World Government turns a blind eye."
Mario clenched his fists.
"He has Fish-Men under his command—brutal, loyal, and far stronger than anything most humans can handle. Even the weakest among them could toss a cannon like it was a rock."
Usopp looked like he wanted to sink into the floor. "Okay... okay… maybe tactical retreat was the right call after all…"
Nojiko's voice softened now, more personal.
"Nami… she's been working for Arlong. Drawing sea charts. Since she was a kid. He uses her skills to expand his reach, plan his conquests."
"But why would she help him?" Usopp asked, disbelief and confusion twisting his face.
"She made a deal," Nojiko said, voice tight. "If she collects 100 million berries… he promised to buy back our village. To leave us alone. She's been stealing, cheating pirates, risking everything… for us."
Mario exhaled slowly. "She's been playing the long game. And everyone thought she was the villain."
Nojiko nodded. "And now… she's almost there. She's been so close."
Usopp was silent. For once, he had nothing clever to say.
Then Mario spoke, voice firm. "That money she stole… it was meant to free this village, wasn't it?"
Nojiko looked away. "Yes. And if Arlong betrays her... she has nothing left."
There was a long silence in the room.
Then Mario stood up. His voice was steady—controlled, but brimming with purpose.
"Then we're taking him down."
Usopp looked up. "You mean... two of us? Against them?"
Mario turned toward the door. "Zoro's already in danger. Luffy's on his way. Nami's still playing both sides, but if Arlong crosses the line…"
He paused.
"We finish it."
Nojiko's eyes widened slightly, but she said nothing. Just watched them go.