On the way to Arlong Park, Nami walked ahead, an orange in her hand as she stuffed the peeled fruit into her mouth.
Hachi followed behind, pulling a cart; their pace was much faster than when they had first come.
"Belle-mere! Look! These are the oranges I just picked! Taste them and see if they're sweet!"
As Nami ate the sweet, delicious orange, a scene flashed before her eyes.
Her younger self, clutching an orange, had run into the kitchen with a pitter-patter of feet. She tugged at Belle-mere's trouser leg and looked up, revealing a pair of newly grown teeth.
"Oh my, since our little Nami picked it, it must be very sweet."
Stopping her work, Belle-mere wiped her hands on her apron before leaning down to pat Nami's head and taking the orange.
She carefully peeled it and broke off a piece of the fruit, putting it in her mouth.
"Mmm! It's so sweet!"
"Really, Belle-mere?!"
Little Nami beamed a bright smile, her eyes curving like two shining crescents.
...
The memory vanished in an instant, leaving Nami with a tinge of sadness.
Belle-mere, are you doing well in the other world?
...
Splash!!
Amidst the turbulent sea, a ten-year-old Nami gritted her teeth, struggling to keep her small boat from being capsized by the wind and waves.
To earn the unreachable sum of one hundred million Berries, she had resolutely chosen to go to sea, fighting against the world's most unpredictable force of nature.
"I—I can do this! I'll definitely earn a hundred million Berries and save everyone!"
Veins popped on her thin arms as she exerted every ounce of strength to reel in the snapping sails.
The fierce sea wind was like a mocking demon surrounding her, breath whistling as it toyed with her at will.
The ocean at night was like a dark hell waiting to devour its prey. The surging waves hammered the fragile hull, threatening to tear it to pieces at any moment.
If that happened, her small body would be dragged down into the abyss, never to see the light of day again.
...
"Kill that brat! How dare she steal our money!"
On the streets, six or seven pirates armed with weapons chased someone in a fury.
In front of them, a twelve-year-old Nami ran for her life, clutching a cloth bag filled with tens of thousands of Berries.
Sweat poured off her, soaking a large patch of her worn-out tank top, and bruises and scars were clearly visible on her exposed arms.
Beads of sweat stung her eyes, but she had no time to wipe them away; she simply sprinted toward her planned escape route.
Suddenly, a stray piece of fruit peel caught her off guard, throwing her off balance.
She crashed to the ground but scrambled back up without a word, clutching the money bag and continuing her desperate run.
Where she had fallen, a shocking smear of red blood remained.
...
As memories of the past flickered by, Nami's lips curled into a bitter smile. Looking at Arlong Park appearing ahead, she thought to herself:
Belle-mere, I'm so close to saving the village. But you... you're already gone.
I'm sorry, Belle-mere. I can save the villagers, but I couldn't save you, and I can't even avenge you.
Will you forgive me?
The image of the woman who always wore a sunny smile seemed to appear before her, saying something in her memory.
Nami's hollow eyes suddenly regained their spark, and a faint smile surfaced on her face.
That's right. Belle-mere loved us so much; how could she ever not forgive me?
Seeing that Arlong Park was less than fifty meters away, she quickened her pace and called out to Hachi, "Hachi, let's move a little faster."
"Okay, Nami."
Hachi nodded and increased his speed.
But just as they were within ten meters of the entrance, a group of Marines suddenly emerged from the woods on the side, blocking their path.
"Kishishishi! If it isn't the 'Cat Burglar' Nami. I've finally caught you."
At the head of the group was a Marine Colonel with a face as wretched as a rodent's. His name happened to be Nezumi, and he let out a distinct, sinister laugh.
"Marines?! What are you doing here?"
Nami's pupils shrank, a sense of unease washing over her for no reason.
Why were the Marines here?
And why were they blocking them?
"What are we doing? Heh, you'll find out soon enough." Nezumi sneered, then looked at Hachi behind her. "Hey, what's in that cart?"
Hachi replied without thinking, "Nyu, it's Nami's money."
"Money? Kishishishi! I've been searching for your stolen loot all these years, and I've finally caught you red-handed today!"
Nezumi's cunning, predatory eyes locked onto Nami.
Having received word from Arlong that fifty million Berries would be coming his way, he hadn't hesitated to lead his subordinates here.
Fortunately, he had made it in time. Now he had another fortune to squander as he pleased. Kishishishi!!
With a wave of his hand, he barked, "Move in! Confiscate all these ill-gotten gains for the government!"
His subordinates immediately stepped forward, intent on taking the treasure chests.
"Stop!! Don't you dare touch them!!"
Seeing the Marines move for the things she valued more than her own life, Nami reacted like a cornered cat. She whipped out her staff, assembled it, and blocked their path, glaring fiercely at them.
"What? You planning to resist the Marines?" Nezumi asked with a sinister look.
"Do you know who this money belongs to?! It belongs to Arlong!"
Nami glared at them, then turned and shouted toward Arlong Park nearby, "Arlong!! I've brought the hundred million Berries you wanted!! Come out here!!"
But ten seconds passed, and Arlong Park remained silent. No one came out.
Nami's heart pounded with uncertainty. She shouted again, "Arlong!! Did you hear me?! I've brought the money!! If you don't come out, the Marines are going to take it!!"
This time, Arlong's voice finally drifted out from within the park.
"Nami, those are the Marines. How could a pirate like me dare to oppose them?"
Nezumi chimed in at the perfect moment, laughing deviously. "That's right. I suggest you step aside quietly. Don't oppose the Marines, or don't blame me for throwing you in a dungeon!"
Nami froze.
She looked at the blatant smirk on Nezumi's face, then at the empty entrance of Arlong Park, and remembered Hachi's strange behavior earlier. Everything clicked into place.
"Arlong!! You bastard!! Are you breaking our deal?!"
Her face turned red with rage, her nails digging into her palms until they bled, though she didn't feel a thing.
"Breaking the deal? Shahahaha! How could that be?"
Arlong's laughter echoed from deep inside the park.
"I simply don't dare to provoke the Marines, Nami. If you can convince them not to seize the money, then our deal still stands."
Nami's breathing became ragged as her veins bulged with fury. Her entire body began to tremble.
'That bastard!'
'You fear the Marines?'
'You were the one who called them here, weren't you?!'
'You despicable, shameless coward!!!'
Nezumi watched her anger with amusement before giving the order again. "Open the chests. I want to inspect the stolen goods. If this woman keeps interfering... well, I don't need to tell you what to do."
"Yes, Colonel Nezumi!"
Two Marines moved around Nami, heading for the chests behind her.
Snapping back to reality, Nami swung her staff at one of their heads.
But before the blow could land, two other Marines grabbed her arms and shoved her toward the ground.
"This woman is surprisingly strong."
The two Marines exerted all their strength to pin down the struggling Nami. They locked her arms behind her and pressed their knees into her back, stripping her of any ability to resist.
Without a glance at Nami, Nezumi walked past them to the opened chests. The reflections of gold and jewels danced in his eyes.
"Kishishishi! What a massive fortune!"
He crouched down, grabbed a handful of blood-stained Berries, and took a deep sniff, his face full of greed.
Seeing this, Nami, pinned to the ground and unable to move, felt her eyes burn with a murderous glare.
She had spent so many agonizing years saving this money—how could it all end like this?!
"Stop!! You can't take my money!!"
"Stop it right now!!!"
But the Marines completely ignored her screams. Under Nezumi's orders, they began pushing the cart toward the shore.
They planned to secure the money first, then return to Arlong Park later to split the take.
As she watched the money she had slaved for years to earn vanish;
As she saw the chance to buy back her village slip through her fingers;
As the freedom she was just one step away from was snatched away, leaving her shackled once again...
Nami's heart sank into utter despair. Tears fell like a torrential rain that couldn't be stopped.
"No... please, no..."
...
"No!! Belle-mere!!!"
Nami and Nojiko, held back by the villagers, watched in horror as Belle-mere—the woman who had raised them, more precious than any blood relative—had Arlong's gun pressed against her chest. She was on the verge of death, and they could only scream in agony.
"Don't hate this era. No matter what happens, never forget to stay strong with a smile."
Belle-mere turned to look at them, her face lit with that familiar, sun-drenched smile.
"And remember, I will always love you, Nojiko... Nami."
BANG!!!
...
BANG!!!
A massive hole was smashed through the wall.
With his hair bristling with fury, Goku burst through the flying stone debris, charging in the direction Nami had gone.
"That despicable bastard!! How could he do such a thing to Nami!!"
"I'll never forgive him!! I'll never let him get away with this!!"
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]