Nojiko stared at the man before her, a quiet heaviness settling in her chest. In her mind, she could only assume the worst. For someone like him, someone with power and presence far beyond ordinary pirates, the only value she and her sister still had would be their bodies.
And with that level of strength, he wouldn't need to pretend he was here to buy tangerines just to get what he wanted.
But in the face of despair, she had no choice but to cling to the hope that Rolan truly meant what he said.
Her thoughts spiraled uneasily. Strong men always had unpredictable temperaments. If they couldn't produce one hundred million berries worth of tangerines, who knew what he would demand.
At normal market price, the entire orchard wasn't worth more than two hundred thousand berries.
Still, she could only try to delay things.
"I'm not sure how many we still have," Nojiko said carefully. "Nami and I will go up the mountain and pick them for you."
Inside, she added silently, Every second we delay is a second earned. Maybe if we act pitiful enough, he won't push things.
"I'll help too," Rolan said casually, tossing the last segment of tangerine into his mouth as he stood.
A faint breeze rustled through the orchard, carrying the smell of citrus and sea salt. Rolan glanced at the sisters' wary expressions, noticing the subtle tremble in Nojiko's fingers. He wondered how many years they had survived like this—alone, scared, forced to bargain with monsters. For a brief moment, he felt something unfamiliar and heavy loosen in his chest.
"Hey, Rolan, look over there," Lina whispered, pointing with a tense hand. "Those two look strange. Their skin is green, and they have gills on their necks."
Rolan followed her gaze. Two figures walked through the grove with furtive movements, disappearing toward the coastal path.
Zoro narrowed his eyes. "Fish-Men. I can smell the stench from here." His left hand slid toward his sword, instincts sharpening.
Just as Rolan broke a branch from a nearby tree to use as a makeshift weapon, someone grabbed his wrist.
"Rolan, come this way before they notice us," Nami whispered urgently.
Rolan blinked in surprise. The warmth in her grip caught him off guard. Even knowing who he was, she wasn't treating him like a monster. A faint warmth slipped into his chest.
Nojiko stepped close and whispered, "They're Fish-Men from Arlong Park. If they find us together, all of us will be in danger."
The sisters didn't know Rolan's strength. They only knew Arlong's terrifying reputation, carved into their memories for years.
Rolan didn't resist. He let himself be guided away. The others followed quietly.
Once they reached a relatively safe clearing, Nojiko carefully scanned the surroundings to ensure they weren't being followed.
Lina tilted her head. "Are those Fish-Men really that dangerous?" She couldn't understand their fear. With her Observation Haki, she could deal with those two without trouble.
"You must have seen the state of the village," Nojiko said, voice trembling slightly as she checked behind her again.
Rolan and his crew nodded.
"That was Arlong…" Nojiko began explaining everything. The occupation of Coco Yashi Village. Belle-mère's death. Nami's forced servitude. Years of oppression.
When she finished, Zoro's jaw was tight. Lina's fists shook with fury. Even Kuto's expression darkened, pushing his glasses up sharply.
They had imagined something terrible. The truth was far worse.
A cold silence hung between them after the explanation. Even the distant waves seemed quieter, as if the island itself held its breath. Rolan felt an old, buried anger stir inside him—an anger he didn't feel often, but one he had never fully forgotten. Oppressors… slavers… tyrants. No matter the world, they all smelled the same.
Lina snapped first. "I'm going to roast all of them and feed them to wild dogs!"
Zoro snorted. "Wild dogs would spit that fishy garbage out."
"Keep your voices down!" Nojiko hissed, panicked. "Fish-Men can hear several times better than humans!"
Kuro spoke next. "Since Arlong took over the village, have you never considered leaving the island?"
Nojiko sighed heavily. "Leaving the only home we've ever known isn't simple. And besides…" Her gaze softened as she looked at Nami.
"But I'm about to succeed!" Nami suddenly said, fire in her eyes.
"Oh? What's going to succeed? Do you have a plan?" Lina asked curiously.
Nami nodded and explained her deal with Arlong, the promise that she could buy back the village for one hundred million berries.
Kuro listened calmly before responding. "Given their behavior, I doubt he will honor the agreement. They might even sabotage your progress."
"No, he'll keep his word." Her voice was firm, but her eyes betrayed hesitation.
Deep down, she didn't believe Arlong either. But the weak didn't get the luxury of doubt.
She drew in a breath and turned to Rolan. "By the way, how many tangerines do you actually need? We can pick them, but you should leave the island before Arlong or his crew find out."
Rolan looked at her. Her determination, her fear, her exhaustion. This innocent young girl was carrying the weight of an entire village on her shoulders.
He couldn't help the slow burn rising in his chest. He couldn't help but think about his past life, If he had a kid, a daughter ,specifically and someone treated her this way, how would he feel?
The image of a child—a blurry concept from a life he no longer had—flashed through his mind. Small hands. A bright laugh. A sense of protectiveness he had long thought dead. It hit him harder than expected. Maybe it was Nami's stubborn courage, or Nojiko's quiet desperation, but something about this moment felt painfully familiar.
Sensing his gaze, Nami lowered her head slightly. A faint blush colored her cheeks. "I… let's just pick the tangerines."
Rolan turned to Nojiko and asked, "Aren't you afraid we'll take the tangerines and run? We're pirates."
Nojiko froze. It was a worry she had, but she had no power to stop them if they chose that path.
Nami lifted her head and said simply, "I believe you won't."
Rolan snorted softly. Fool. How can you be this naive…
He reached into his system inventory, the interface appearing before him briefly in a faint blue glow. [Inventory accessed] Then he pulled out a black box and handed it to her.
Nami blinked, stunned. She took the box mechanically.
"This is one hundred million berries," Rolan said calmly.
Nami stared at the box in disbelief. "But… our whole orchard is only worth around two hundred thousand! Maybe three at best!"
"I ate your tangerines earlier. They're the best I've tasted in this entire world," Rolan said with a slight smile. "On the right islands, tangerines of this quality would cost ten million berries for a small basket."
He gently pushed the box into her hands.
Nami trembled, unable to speak.
Rolan bent down slightly and placed a hand on her head, his touch gentle. "Take the money, Nami. Go buy your village back first. It will be easier for you to pick tangerines for us after that."
Zoro, Lina, and Kuro all smiled quietly.
"Rolan…" Nami whispered, voice shaky. She couldn't stop her eyes from misting. At first she thought he wanted something from them. Something physical. But when she looked into his eyes, she saw nothing like that. Only sincerity.
"Go," Rolan said softly. "We'll wait."
Nami took a deep breath, nodded, and ran off with the box, determination burning fiercely in her steps.
Rolan watched her small back disappear among the trees.
For reasons he didn't fully understand, his chest ached.
He exhaled slowly, running a thumb along the branch he still held. The orchard felt emptier without her small figure darting between the trees. Zoro cracked his neck and muttered something under his breath, but even he didn't disturb the quiet moment. They all sensed it—this wasn't just another island, another problem. This was personal for their captain in a way none of them had expected. Rolan kept staring at the path Nami had taken, the ache in his chest deepening into something colder, sharper. A promise forming without words.
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