For a long time, no one spoke.
The air above Cocoyasi Island still smelled of ozone and smoke. Ash drifted lazily through the sky, settling on broken stone and scorched earth where Arlong Park had once stood. Where there had been walls, towers, and fear—there was now nothing but silence.
The villagers stood frozen.
Some clutched weapons they no longer needed. Others stared at the empty space ahead, eyes wide, as if the truth refused to settle into their bones.
Arlong was gone.
Not defeated.
Gone.
For eight long years, they had lived under his shadow. Every sunrise had meant tribute. Every smile had been forced. Every laugh had been borrowed time. They had buried children, swallowed pride, and convinced themselves that this was simply how the world worked.
And now—
The monster was ash.
A sob broke the silence.
Then another.
Then many.
People fell to their knees. Some laughed hysterically. Others wept openly, pressing their foreheads to the ground as if afraid that standing upright would somehow undo reality.
Genzo stood stiffly, windmill hat trembling as his shoulders shook.
"It's… over," he whispered.
Luffy didn't wait for celebration.
He walked.
Hands in his coat pockets, straw hat tilted low, boots crunching softly against broken stone as he passed through the stunned villagers. He didn't smile. He didn't look back at the ruins.
To him, the fight was finished.
As he stepped toward the road leading back to the village, a thin, unpleasant sound crept into the air.
"Chichichichi…"
Luffy stopped.
Slowly, he turned.
A Marine officer stepped forward from behind a line of armed soldiers. Short. Thin. Face twisted into a perpetual sneer. A mouse-faced man with sharp eyes and a long nose that twitched as he smiled.
Captain Nezumi.
Marine Branch 16.
"Well, well," Nezumi said smugly, hands behind his back. "What a sight. Pirates defeating Fishmen. Truly miraculous."
Luffy's eyes narrowed.
Nezumi raised a hand.
"Stop right there!"
At his signal, Marines snapped their rifles upward—not at Luffy, but at the villagers.
Gasps erupted.
"Today," Nezumi continued, "I witnessed the entire battle. I can officially record this as a… tragic accident. Fishmen infighting, perhaps."
He grinned wider.
"I never imagined a small-time pirate like you could handle Arlong. You and your crew did very good work."
Luffy took one step forward.
Nezumi didn't notice.
"However," Nezumi said smoothly, "now that Arlong is gone, the money he was supposed to give me—along with all treasure in Arlong Park—will be confiscated by the Marines."
The villagers stiffened.
"What—!?"
"That's—!"
Nezumi raised his voice.
"Drop your weapons! Captain Nezumi of Marine Branch 16 will now take control of this victory!"
Luffy moved.
In a blink, he crossed the distance.
His fist came down like judgment.
CRACK.
Nezumi flew face-first into the dirt, unconscious before he even understood what happened.
The Marines froze.
Then chaos.
"Captain!"
"Fire!"
Rifles snapped toward Luffy and the villagers.
Luffy didn't look impressed.
A pressure rolled outward.
Invisible.
Crushing.
Conqueror's Haki slammed into the Marines like a tidal wave. One by one, they collapsed, eyes rolling back, bodies hitting the ground with dull thuds, white foam spilling from their mouths.
Silence returned.
"Sorry," Luffy said flatly. "That money belongs to this village."
He turned to Nami.
"Is there a Marine base nearby?"
Nami blinked, then nodded. "Northeast. Marine Branch 16."
Luffy nodded once and turned.
"Sanji."
Sanji straightened.
"You, Johnny, and Yosaku. Search that Marine ship."
He pointed casually.
"Everything you find goes to the village. Bring the Marines back here."
Sanji exhaled smoke. "And the ones still on the ship?"
Luffy didn't hesitate.
"Do whatever you want."
Johnny and Yosaku grinned nervously and nodded.
A thundercloud descended at Luffy's call. The three leapt aboard and vanished toward the anchored ship.
Luffy turned back.
"Nami. Usopp."
"Yes?" they answered together.
"Search Arlong Park's—"
He looked at the ashes.
Paused.
"…Never mind."
Everyone sweated.
Luffy sighed and turned to Zoro.
"Can you fight?"
Zoro bristled. "What kind of question is that?"
Luffy laughed.
At the shoreline, the Marine ship began moving again.
Minutes later, it returned.
Johnny and Yosaku staggered off first, carrying a massive black box overflowing with Beli. Behind them came battered Marines, crying and trembling under sacks filled with treasure.
Sanji followed, hands in pockets, cigarette lit.
Luffy chuckled.
"That's… a lot."
"You should see what they didn't report," Sanji replied.
Luffy turned to Genzo and gestured.
"This is yours."
Genzo stared. "That's more than enough… please, take some."
Luffy smiled faintly.
"Oh, we'll get paid."
He bent down, grabbed Nezumi by the collar, and started dragging him.
"Zoro. Sanji. With me."
They boarded the ship.
Zoro looked curious. "Where are we going, Captain?"
Luffy smirked.
"We're robbing a Marine base."
Nezumi whimpered.
"And if you behave," Luffy added softly, eyes cold, "you live."
Nezumi nodded violently.
"Good," Luffy said, patting his shoulder.
"Now take us to your vault."
He turned to his crew.
"While I empty it—find gunpowder and ammo."
The ship turned northeast.
Toward Marine Branch 16..