A week earlier, two strange guests had arrived in Cocoyasi Village and settled in peacefully.
The weather was clear and sunny, perfect for growing tangerines. Doflamingo had been living here for a while, bored out of his mind. He had seen Nami, her adoptive mother, and her sister, but he hadn't interfered with their lives. Instead, he waited patiently for Arlong and his crew to arrive.
Doflamingo had thought Arlong would arrive quickly, but he was surprised it had taken this long. It seemed he had overestimated their speed; they were slow even when it came to conquering a village of defenseless people.
Arlong, the object of Doflamingo's attention, had no idea someone was waiting for them. During this time, through their relentless efforts, they had conquered a number of villages. However, their brazen methods had also caught the attention of the Marines—specifically, the infamous Captain Nezumi.
In the office of the 16th Marine Branch in the East Blue, Captain Nezumi sat behind his desk, reviewing reports about the rampant Arlong Pirates.
"Captain, what should we do? The Arlong Pirates are coming on strong," a Marine subordinate asked respectfully.
"I know. I'll handle it," Nezumi said with an air of authority, putting down the newspaper.
"With you on the case, Captain, I'm sure Arlong and his crew will surrender without a fight," the Marine said excitedly.
"You idiot," Nezumi sneered. "Why would I do something so thankless?"
"But, Captain, we're the Marines. Aren't we supposed to be irreconcilable enemies with pirates?" the Marine asked, confused.
"Let me ask you, why did you join the Marines? Was it really for that pitiful thing called 'justice'?" Nezumi retorted.
"Well..." The Marine was flustered, caught off guard by Nezumi's question, and didn't know how to answer.
"The Marines pay us a pathetic salary. Upholding justice? Is that really your job? Why would you risk your life for such a meager wage?" Nezumi's words were a thunderous wake-up call to the young Marine.
Seeing that his subordinate seemed to have had an epiphany, Nezumi struck while the iron was hot. He said with a smile, "Don't worry. No matter how rampant the Arlong Pirates get, we won't be affected. On the contrary, there are great benefits to be had for us."
The subordinate looked at Nezumi's sinister smile and said nothing, but in his heart, he agreed. The Captain's words had shaken his beliefs. That's right. How much money do I make as a Marine? If it weren't for a steady meal, why would I join this faction to fight pirates? Justice? I don't have such a noble goal. I just want to live a good life. If I could have a little money, that would be even better.
Meanwhile, having just conquered another village, Arlong and his crew were ecstatic.
"Arlong-san, where's our next target?" Hachi asked cheerfully.
"Shahahaha! The next village... let's make it Cocoyasi Village. I've had my eye on that place for a long time. It's time to take it," Arlong answered happily.
"Cocoyasi Village? Excellent!" Chew and the others cheered in agreement.
The residents of the conquered village who overheard their conversation could only look on with bitter expressions, feeling sorry for their neighbors in Cocoyasi. They were all just fish in Arlong's barrel, with no escape.
"Let's party!" Arlong shouted to his men, ignoring the terrified villagers cowering on the ground.
"Hahaha, yeah! Let's party!"
"What are you waiting for? Go prepare a party for us!" Arlong kicked the village chief beside him and said impatiently.
"Y-yes, yes, boss! I'll go right away," the chief stammered, wiping the sweat from his brow, his heart still pounding with fear.
Watching the chief scramble away in terror, Arlong said mockingly, "Look. Doesn't he look like a dog?"
"Huh?" Hearing Arlong's question, Hachi and the others turned their gazes to the retreating village chief.
"He really does!"
"Hahaha!"
Laughter and cheer filled the air among Arlong and his crew.
Two days later, the Arlong Pirates prepared to set off for Cocoyasi Village.
Just as they were leaving, Captain Nezumi sailed from his base, heading towards them.
After sailing for some time, Arlong's crew finally encountered Nezumi's warship.
"Arlong-san, Marines ahead," Hachi said, spotting the approaching ship and alerting Arlong.
"I see them, Hachi. You don't need to tell me," Arlong replied, his face as dark as water, his expression grave.
"What should we do, boss?" Chew and the others asked, looking at Arlong.
"So what if they're Marines? We're not afraid of them," Arlong said fearlessly.
While Arlong was still discussing what to do, Nezumi's warship quickly closed in on their pirate ship. Nezumi stood confidently at the bow, watching the approaching Arlong Pirates.
"Marines? Are you here to eliminate us?" Arlong asked, his voice heavy as he looked at the imposing Captain. Although he had just told his men he wasn't afraid, that was a lie. If he were truly fearless, he wouldn't be hiding out in the East Blue, trying to be a big fish in a small pond.
"Arlong. Captain of the Arlong Pirates. Bounty: 20 million Beri," Nezumi muttered to himself, ignoring Arlong's question.
"So, you're going to oppose us? For the sake of your Marine justice?" Hearing his bounty, Arlong didn't pay it much mind. Since there was no way out, he had to be ready for a fight.
"Justice? How much is that worth?" Nezumi scoffed with a laugh.
Hearing this, Arlong was stunned. "Then what are you doing here today?" he asked, bewildered. "Don't tell me you're just bored and want to get in my way."
"Get in your way? I have no interest in that. I came here to find you because I have a big business deal to discuss," Nezumi replied with a smile.
"A big business deal? What kind of deal? You're a Marine, and I'm a pirate. What business could we possibly have?" Arlong asked, confused.
"Captain Arlong, you're thinking too narrowly," Nezumi said. "Pirate, Marine... none of that matters. We're not going to turn our backs on money, are we?"
Hearing Nezumi's words, the stern expression on Arlong's face relaxed. It seemed this Captain Nezumi was no good person either. He had clearly seen Arlong's strength and wanted a piece of the pie.
However, this is even better. With Nezumi on his side, he could develop his power more easily without worrying about Marine interference. With Nezumi's help, his plan to conquer the East Blue would be much easier to execute.
At this thought, Arlong broke into an excited smile.
"Since my friend is so sincere, it would be rude of me to refuse," Arlong replied.
"Haha, Captain Arlong is truly a kindred spirit," Nezumi said with a satisfied nod upon receiving Arlong's answer.
They were truly two of a kind. With these two colluding, the residents of the East Blue were destined to suffer.
"Well then, Mr. Marine Captain, let's discuss this properly," Arlong said, extending an invitation.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Nezumi threw caution to the wind. Unafraid of Arlong's crew getting violent, he boldly stepped onto the pirate ship.
Indeed, no blades were drawn. Arlong received Captain Nezumi with great courtesy. After all, Nezumi was his ticket to survival in the East Blue. He wasn't about to make an enemy of his own lifeline.
After discussing the details of their cooperation, the two parted, both satisfied. One returned to his base to wait for Arlong's profits, ready to block any intelligence and prevent other Marines from being sent to crush them. The other, carrying Nezumi's financial expectations, continued on his journey to Cocoyasi Village.
"Arlong-san, can that Captain Nezumi really be trusted?" Hachi asked on the pirate ship, voicing the concern of all the crew members.
Arlong glanced at his brothers and explained, "I don't trust him. I trust money. As long as that's involved, our relationship will hold. With Nezumi covering for us, we can do whatever we want in the East Blue. This place... will eventually be ours! Shahahaha!"
Hearing Arlong's laughter, Hachi and the others cast aside their worries and joined in.
"Let's go, boys! To Cocoyasi Village!"