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"Really?" Nojiko and Genzo looked up, their faces alight with joy.
"Yes," Jin said. "However, I will be temporarily commandeering this island for a while. And if any of my crew come into the village to shop, don't be afraid. They will pay for what they take. If they don't, you can come find me."
His warm smile, his gentle tone... in that moment, to Nojiko, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
The handsomeness of a savior.
Her affection for him soared.
Nojiko and Genzo ran back to the village to spread the news.
"Really?"
At first, the villagers were skeptical.
Arlong's crew... wiped out?
Then, Nojiko had a flash of inspiration. She ran back to Arlong Park and borrowed Arlong's noseless head.
"He's dead!"
"Arlong is dead!"
"It's a miracle!"
The villagers finally believed.
"That bastard... is he finally dead?"
They crowded around, kicking Arlong's head, venting their years of frustration until it was a bloody, unrecognizable mess.
Finally, they decided to build a bonfire and burn Arlong and his pirate flag.
The firelight danced in their eyes.
"Arlong's evil reign is over!" Genzo shouted.
"A great king has saved Cocoyasi Village!"
"We're saved! Long live the king!"
As if waking from a dream, the villagers joined in the cheer.
"LONG LIVE THE KING!"
Arlong was gone, and a new ruler had arrived. No matter what he had promised, they had to find a way to get on his good side. This was their chance to show their loyalty.
Resist?
They couldn't even resist Arlong. How could they possibly stand up to the man who had defeated him?
—————————
From the top floor of Arlong Park, you could see Cocoyasi Village, could hear their jubilant cheers and celebrations.
Jin stood with his arms crossed, a smile on his face. "If they knew what I was really planning, would they be cursing my name right now? Accusing me of bringing more pirates to their shores?"
Robin smiled faintly. "Perhaps. But as long as you eliminate all the pirates who come, Your Majesty, their cheers will only grow louder. They will worship you as a god."
Jin nodded. He turned to her. "And what about you, Miss Robin? Will you cheer for me?"
Robin froze. The king's gaze was intense, and she could feel a blush creeping up her cheeks. She was flustered.
"Ahem... I think the meat is ready. I'll just go get it..." she said, making a hasty retreat.
"Oh ho? Miss Robin is a tough one to crack."
Reiju was sitting on the roof outside, her white dress revealing her long legs. Her tone was teasing.
Jin looked at her. "What are you doing out here? Eavesdropping? Or are you jealous?"
"Isn't it said that even a fruit plucked by force can quench a thirst?" Reiju purred. "'So go on. Pluck one.'"
Jin's arm suddenly stretched, like candy, and he pulled Reiju toward him.
"Alright," he said, wrapping his arms around her. "I'll pluck one for you."
Reiju blushed, a mixture of embarrassment and anger. "I didn't say it had to be me!"
"Then you shouldn't have offered," Jin replied.
"Let me go, you tyrant! There are people right below us! If they hear, what will happen to your image?"
"Good point," Jin said. "Soundproof wall."
He deployed his zone of silence.
"There. Now we're all set."
Reiju was dumbfounded.
Damn it! That works too?
—————————
East Blue, a certain sea.
Near an island, a large fleet of pirate ships was gathered. On the shore, the pirates were cheering and feasting.
"Captain-Admiral!" a pirate shouted, bursting into a tent. "There's big news!"
The Captain-Admiral—Don Krieg—was playing cards with his subordinate captains.
The sudden interruption drew everyone's attention.
WHAM!
The intruder was driven straight through the floorboards, blood seeping out from under him.
A man with a bandana and a deadpan expression was crouched over him, holding two tonfas with iron balls on the ends. One of them was slowly spinning, while the other was pressing the intruder's head into the floor.
"Hey. You know the rules," Gin said, his voice cold.
Krieg set down his cards. "Alright, Gin. Let's hear this 'big news' of his."
"Yes, Captain-Admiral Krieg," Gin replied. He let up on the tonfa and pulled the intruder up by his head. "Talk. If you don't want to die."
The intruder, ignoring the pain, relayed the news he had heard.
"Woonan's golden treasure?" Krieg said, surprised.
The other captains all leaned in.
"Really?"
"They say it's enough to buy a kingdom!"
"But no one's ever found it."
"Is it true?"
"Where did you hear this?"
"The news came from the Marines in Loguetown."
"The Marines? It's a trap."
"No. A pirate accidentally overheard Captain Smoker's conversation..."
"The Conomi Islands... a crew of Fish-Man pirates from the Grand Line... they're the ones who found the clue. They say they were once part of the Sun Pirates. They found a treasure map, and that's why they came to the East Blue. They're even working with the Marines. Otherwise, they would have been captured by now. They're planning on keeping the treasure for themselves. And they've already found it."
The captains all swallowed hard.
"It sounds suspicious... it could be a Marine trap..."
"But then again, a crew of Fish-Man pirates from the Grand Line showing up in the East Blue... that's suspicious in itself. And that Smoker... he came to the East Blue around the same time as the Fish-Men, didn't he? Or maybe a little later. But if it was for the treasure, then it all makes sense."
They all started talking at once.
Treasure... enough to buy a kingdom... it was too tempting to resist, especially for a group of greedy pirates.
Krieg's own greed was evident, but he still had a sliver of reason.
"Gin," he said, "go check it out."
Gin nodded.
The same scene was playing out on pirate ships all across the East Blue.
The entire sea was in an uproar.
The golden treasure of Woonan the Great Pirate had been found.
The reckless had already set sail.
The rational were still waiting, watching.
—————————
Marine Base 16.
"What? Golden treasure??" Captain Nezumi was shocked.
"Yes, Captain!" a subordinate reported. "They say a pirate accidentally overheard a conversation between Captain Smoker in Loguetown and Arlong's crew. Now, all the pirates in the East Blue are going crazy."
Nezumi was dumbfounded.
"Holy shit! How come I didn't know about this? And Arlong's crew is in contact with Smoker? That Smoker! With his righteous facade... so he's the biggest traitor in the Marines after all! You've betrayed justice too? I never would have guessed... you're even more treacherous than I am!"
Nezumi stroked his mustache, a glint of "wisdom" in his eyes.
"I knew it! A crew of Fish-Man pirates from the Grand Line... they didn't come all the way to the East Blue to build a park! Their real purpose was the treasure! Let's go! Get the men! We're going to Cocoyasi Village! This Captain is going to have a little chat with Arlong about his cut of the profits. And he'd better make up for what he owes me... in gold!"
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On a pirate ship, Nami and her partner from her thieving days, Carina, were hiding, waiting for the pirates to get drunk so they could make their move.
"Cocoyasi Village?"
Suddenly, Nami's ears perked up. She had heard a few words that sounded familiar.
"They say all the pirates in the East Blue are heading there now, to get their hands on that massive treasure. With even a little bit of that treasure, you could live happily for the rest of your life."
"Wuhahaha! Let's go too!" the drunken pirates laughed and cheered.
"Our village... has Woonan's golden treasure??"
Nami was completely floored.
"Nami," Carina said, surprised, "Cocoyasi Village... that's where you live? There's really treasure there? Woonan... he was a famous gold thief. Does that mean your village is built on a mountain of gold?"
"I don't know!" Nami said, bewildered.
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