The small boat carrying Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku cut through the gloomy waters as Conomi Islands came closer into view.
Heavy clouds collected over the land, casting long shadows that stretched across the ocean like dark fingers. Even the wind felt hesitant, thinning into a cold whisper the closer they drew.
Luffy sat at the bow, hat tilted low, eyes fixed on the distant shore.
He didn't smile.
He didn't laugh.
He was thinking of Nami.
Zoro noticed.
Sanji noticed.
Even Usopp swallowed his fear long enough to feel the pressure building behind their captain's silence.
Johnny and Yosaku rowed harder than they ever had, both tense and anxious, glancing over their shoulders with every pull.
And behind them—
Jinbe, Warlord of the Sea, rode atop the surface itself, swimming alongside the tiny vessel. His massive frame glided half-submerged, barely making a ripple.
Every time Johnny's oar clacked against the boat's edge, he jumped in fright. "H-He's really still there…"
Yosaku whispered, "A-Aniki… we're sailing with a WARLORD…!"
Usopp made a strangled noise, hugging the mast. "If he sneezes wrong we die."
Sanji rolled his eyes. "Relax, he's not here for us."
Zoro cracked his neck. "If he wants a fight, he can have one."
Usopp slapped him. "STOP SAYING THINGS LIKE THAT!!"
Jinbe looked up calmly. "Fear not. I have no intention of harming any of you."
Usopp fainted.
No one bothered catching him.
——————
As they neared the shoreline, houses came into view—worn down, patched with scraps, windows boarded or broken. Nothing about the village felt alive.
No children playing.
No vendors calling.
No music.
Not even a dog barking.
Just… silence.
The boat drifted into the shallows.
Villagers peeked from behind shuttered windows. Others froze mid-step, staring with wide, terrified eyes. Mothers pulled their children behind them. Men grabbed whatever makeshift weapons they could find.
But it wasn't the ragged crew of young pirates they were staring at—
It was Jinbe.
A collective gasp rippled through the village.
"T-T-T-That's… that's Jinbe…"
"The Knight of the Sea…"
"A Warlord… here?! Why?!"
"RUN—!"
People scrambled. Doors slammed. Shutters clattered. A panicked hush fell over everything.
Usopp began trembling again. "S-S-See?! They're scared! THEY KNOW WHAT HE CAN DO!"
Luffy scratched his cheek. "He seems nice enough."
Zoro smirked. "He is strong."
Sanji blew out a puff of smoke. "Let's hope he's useful."
Johnny elbowed Yosaku. "Bro… this whole island's shaking."
"'Course it is," Yosaku whispered. "A Warlord walking into your hometown? Who wouldn't be scared?"
Jinbe walked calmly past all of it, gaze steady, expression solemn.
He didn't lift a hand.
He didn't show a threat.
But the weight of who he was pressed down like an extra storm cloud.
A gun suddenly cocked.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
The crew whirled around.
A tall, broad man with a pinwheel on his hat and a belt full of bullets stood in the middle of the street—gun aimed directly at Luffy's group.
His name was—
Genzo.
The sheriff of Cocoyasi Village.
His hands trembled, but his stance never wavered.
"What are you pirates doing here?!" he barked.
Luffy blinked. "We're looking for—"
"DON'T MOVE!" Genzo roared.
Luffy froze mid-step.
Zoro tensed instantly, hand resting on his sword. Sanji stepped forward, glaring.
But Genzo wasn't looking at them anymore.
His gaze slid past them…
…and landed on Jinbe.
The sheriff's face drained of color. "You… You're… Jinbe… of the Seven Warlords…"
Around them, villagers whispered frantically.
"Why is he here?"
"Is he here to kill us?"
"Are we already dead?"
Genzo swallowed hard, lowering the gun slightly—but his voice was louder than ever.
"Why have you come here?!"
Jinbe's expression softened.
And then—
He did something no one expected.
He bowed.
A deep, full bow.
A warrior's bow.
A bow of shame.
The villagers gasped.
Even Zoro's eyebrow rose.
Usopp screamed silently.
Sanji's cigarette fell from his lips.
Luffy scratched his head. "Huh?"
Jinbe's voice was low, heavy, and sincere. "I am deeply sorry for what Arlong has done to your people."
The entire village froze.
"I share in the responsibility," Jinbe continued. "When Arlong left Fishman Island, we did not stop him. We believed he would calm down. We believed he would cause no great harm."
He closed his eyes.
"We were wrong."
A ripple of emotion broke through the village crowd—shock, confusion, then anger turned into painful, desperate sorrow.
Women covered their mouths.
Men grit their teeth.
Some villagers cried openly.
They had endured for eight years.
They had suffered under tyranny.
And now… a Warlord bowed to them.
Genzo's hands shook as he lowered his gun fully.
"…Why now?" he whispered. "Why come here now?"
"Because I have heard the reports," Jinbe said. "Arlong has enslaved this island. That cannot be forgiven."
His voice hardened. "And I am here to end it."
Genzo exhaled shakily, then nodded.
"…Follow me."
He led the group through a hidden path behind the village and up a small mountain trail. The climb was steep and overgrown, but it opened into a modest house built on a stone ledge, overlooking the entire village.
Inside, Nojiko prepared tea, her blue hair tied neatly, tattoos visible across her shoulder. She looked up in surprise as the door opened.
"Genzo? What's—"
Her eyes immediately locked on Jinbe.
She nearly dropped the cup. "That's…!"
Genzo raised a hand. "It's okay. He's not here to hurt us."
Nojiko didn't relax, but she didn't reach for a weapon either.
Luffy walked in behind them, holding his hat.
"Where's Nami?"
Nojiko stiffened. "…So you're the ones she left with."
Sanji flicked his lighter. "Where is she now?"
Nojiko sighed deeply, sitting down. "She went to Arlong Park."
Everyone tensed.
While Genzo and Jinbe walked upstairs toward a small room with a Denden Mushi, Nojiko began explaining Nami's story.
Her voice shook at times, but she didn't stop. "Nami… has been working for Arlong since she was a child."
Sanji froze with his lighter half-lit.
Usopp sat up straight.
Zoro's jaw tightened.
Luffy listened closer.
"She made a deal," Nojiko said. "If she brings Arlong 100 million berries… he would free Cocoyasi Village."
Usopp gasped. "A hundred million?! That's insane!"
"No wonder she stole our ship…" Sanji muttered.
"She didn't want to," Nojiko said gently. "But she had no choice."
"Arlong killed our mother," Nojiko added quietly. "Right in front of her."
Silence fell.
Even the wind outside stopped.
Zoro clenched his fists. "That bastard…"
Sanji crushed the cigarette between his fingers. "I'll kick that fish into the sun."
Usopp swallowed hard. "She was doing all that… alone…"
Luffy's voice cut through the quiet. "…Nami never betrayed us."
It wasn't a question.
It wasn't a doubt.
It was pure belief.
Nojiko smiled sadly. "No. She never did."
Luffy stood up. "We're getting her back."
—————
Upstairs—
Genzo led Jinbe to a small wooden room with a single table.
A Denden Mushi sat on it, asleep.
Genzo hesitated. "You… know how to use one?"
Jinbe nodded. "Yes."
He dialed a number.
The snail woke.
Pururururururu… pururururururu…
Genzo watched nervously, wondering who in the seas a Warlord would call.
Then—
Click.
A calm, smooth voice—deep and steady.
"…What is it, Jinbe?"
Genzo's heart stopped.
He knew that voice.
Everyone knew that voice.
Nyx D. Ada.
The woman who stood above all pirates.
The pirate whose flag haunted the seas.
The pirate whose name shook the Grand Line.
The pirate the navy feared the most.
Jinbe bowed instinctively. "I apologize for disturbing you, Captain. But I must report something regarding Arlong."
Genzo's knees nearly gave out.
C-Captain?!
Jinbe's captain was… Ada?!
Jinbe explained the situation quickly but fully—Arlong's rebellion, his tyranny over the island, and the corruption that had grown in his heart after leaving Fishman Island.
Ada listened quietly.
Then she said. "…Do what you believe is right. I trust your judgment."
Jinbe bowed again. "Thank you."
Click.
The Denden Mushi fell asleep.
Genzo stood stiffly, eyes wide, mouth half open.
"Th… That was… Nyx D. Ada…"
Jinbe nodded. "Yes."
Genzo swallowed, struggling to breathe.
"You… You report directly to her?"
"Yes."
"…The strongest pirate alive… gives you orders?"
"Yes."
Genzo nearly passed out.
———————
Downstairs, the crew looked up as Jinbe returned.
"You done with the call?" Luffy asked.
"Yes."
Sanji raised a brow. "Who was it?"
Jinbe answered calmly. "My captain."
Johnny and Yosaku gasped. "Fisher Tiger?!"
Jinbe shook his head. "No. It was Captain Ada."
The room fell dead silent.
Usopp screamed. "ADA?! THE ADA?! NYX D. ADA?!"
Johnny fainted again.
Yosaku slapped him awake. "DON'T FAINT NOW BRO WE'RE WITNESSING HISTORY!"
Sanji dropped his cigarette. "You're telling me… you sail under ADA?!"
Zoro's eyes narrowed. "The woman rumored to crush entire fleets?"
Jinbe nodded solemnly. "She leads the Nyx Pirates. And the Sun Pirates sail under her protection."
Sanji pushed his hair back. "So she's even more monstrous than the stories."
Usopp shook uncontrollably. "We're gonna die. We're so gonna die."
Luffy blinked. "…Who's Ada?"
Everyone stopped.
The entire room stared at him.
"…You don't know?" Usopp whispered.
"Nope."
Sanji facepalmed. "You damn idiot…"
Nojiko stepped forward gently. "Ada is… a living legend. Stronger than almost every pirate alive. Even the Navy fears her. Her name carries weight everywhere."
Johnny added, "If other pirates like Whitebeard and Big Mom are giants—Ada is the shadow standing above them!"
Yosaku pointed dramatically. "Even the Warlords won't provoke her!"
Luffy tilted his head. "…Cool."
Zoro smirked. "This crew of hers sounds exciting."
Zoro then crossed his arms, eyes narrowing with interest. "…What about Mihawk? He's in the same crew as you, right?"
Jinbe paused mid-step, turning toward them. "You know Mihawk?"
Zoro stepped forward, expression deadly calm. "I fought him."
The room froze.
Usopp screamed. "ZORO WHY WOULD YOU JUST DROP THAT LIKE IT'S NORMAL?!"
Jinbe stared, eyes widening slowly — a rare show of pure shock from the calm Warlord.
"You… survived a duel with Dracule Mihawk?"
Zoro smirked. "Barely."
Jinbe exhaled, tension shifting in his shoulders. "That is no small feat. Very few clash with Mihawk and live."
Usopp raised a shaking hand. "W-Wait… Mihawk is part of your crew?!"
Jinbe shook his head firmly. "No. The Sun Pirates sail under the Nyx Pirates. Mihawk, however… is a direct member."
Everyone froze again.
Sanji whistled low. "So he's on the main crew. Not a subordinate like yours."
Zoro's grin widened. "Interesting."
Sanji smirked back. "Yeah… interesting."
Johnny and Yosaku clung to each other. "INTERESTING FOR WHO?! NOT FOR NORMAL PEOPLE!!"
Jinbe continued, voice heavy with respect.
"Mihawk is not just a member. He is the vice-captain of the Nyx Pirates. Nyx D. Ada's right hand… and one of the strongest beings alive."
Silence washed over the room.
Even the air felt heavier.
Usopp's jaw dropped. "THE STRONGEST SWORDSMAN… is serving SOMEONE ELSE?!"
Sanji pushed his hair back, bewildered. "To think someone like him answers to another person…"
Zoro's eyes glowed with excitement.
"That means this Ada… must be even stronger."
Jinbe nodded. "She is. Without question."
Luffy blinked, still clueless. "She must be cool then."
Everyone turned to him.
Usopp shouted, "COOL?! LUFFY SHE'S A WORLD-ENDING MONSTER!!"
Zoro tightened his bandana slightly.
"…I want to meet her someday."
Sanji smirked. "Me too. Out of curiosity — and fear."
Jinbe gave a soft, solemn smile.
"Then grow strong. For standing before Ada is not something just anyone can do."
Jinbe stepped outside. "It is time."
Luffy cracked his knuckles.
Zoro tied his bandana.
Sanji flicked away his cigarette.
Usopp trembled violently but followed anyway.
Nojiko placed a hand on Luffy's hat.
"Please… bring her home."
Luffy smiled softly. "I will."
Johnny and Yosaku stood tall beside him.
Jinbe faced the horizon. "Let us go. Arlong will answer for his crimes."
Luffy nodded.
"We'll beat him up."
Jinbe exhaled.
"If that is your resolve… then fight."
The group stepped forward.
Toward Arlong Park.
Toward the truth.
Toward Nami.
And toward the storm fate had been preparing for years.