Captain Nezumi and Captain Smoker—just hearing their titles, one might think they were equals.
But everyone in the Navy knows:
The rank of a Headquarters officer holds weight three levels above that of a Branch officer, both in terms of individual strength and authority.
So, Captain Nezumi, this phony Captain from the 16th Branch of the East Blue, could only grovel before a true elite like Smoker, a Headquarters Captain.
Smoker, stationed in Loguetown, was essentially the highest-ranking naval officer in the East Blue—the governor-general of the sea.
Caught red-handed in the middle of shady business, Captain Nezumi was naturally trembling in fear, walking on eggshells.
"You..."
Smoker's voice, laced with an ominous edge, echoed in Nezumi's ear, "What are you doing in Cocoyashi Village?"
"I…"
Nezumi's body stiffened. His usually silver tongue now seemed hopelessly tied in knots.
What was he doing in Cocoyashi Village? Could he really tell his superior that?
Could he say he was here on an outreach mission, deepening civilian-military relations with local "model citizen" Arlong?
Cold sweat poured from Nezumi's forehead in big, fat drops.
Thinking a bit deeper… Smoker was the stationed officer in Loguetown, the elite vanguard of the East Blue Navy, tasked with guarding the entrance to the Grand Line—he wouldn't leave his post for just any reason.
Why would the most elite forces of the East Blue show up in some remote village like Cocoyashi?
If he used his brain at all, Nezumi could only conclude one thing:
The Arlong Pirates—those fish-faced freaks born with taunting expressions—must've exposed themselves!
And now, here he was, a Navy Captain, standing dead center in Arlong's territory… The shady deal behind this practically screamed itself out loud.
"What's wrong?"
Smoker pressed even harder, his tone like gunpowder waiting to ignite. "Cat got your tongue?!"
Behind him, Smoker's subordinates subtly tightened their grips on their weapons.
Nami, meanwhile, glared at Nezumi with unbridled fury—
She had already realized that this sleazy Navy officer was one of the true culprits behind years of Arlong's tyrannical rule over her homeland.
"I-I…"
Amidst the oppressive atmosphere, Nezumi desperately fumbled for words.
Then, gritting his teeth, he straightened his spine—previously bent too low in false humility—and forced his lecherous face into a mask of righteous resolve.
Finally, he shouted:
"I received a civilian report! I came to investigate the Arlong Pirates' atrocities in Cocoyashi Village!"
He got more into character the more he spoke, and by the end, those beady little eyes of his even mustered up a flicker of righteous indignation:
"Protecting the people and eliminating bandits is the sacred duty of the East Blue Navy's 16th Branch!"
"I came here… to wipe out the pirates!"
"Hah?!"
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
The voices came from Nami, Garen, Smoker's subordinates… even Nezumi's own men.
Nami's eyes, burning with pure rage, seemed to scream: "I've never seen someone so shameless in my life!"
Garen didn't bother to hide his scorn:
"Captain Nezumi, is it really appropriate for someone like you to say that?"
Despite the glares and mockery, Nezumi stood his ground, forcing out more nonsense:
"Sir… I may not look like the ideal Navy officer, but my heart is full of justice!"
It was a gamble—
He was betting that they had no hard evidence of his collusion with the pirates.
Sure, there were plenty of holes in his story, but it might just buy him a bit of time.
"Heh…"
Smoker chuckled coldly and raised his hand, ready to strike him down with a Ten Hands blow.
He'd had enough of these rotten scumbags who tainted the Navy's name—like festering tumors on an otherwise healthy body.
And Nezumi's shady behavior had already confirmed Garen's claims.
So, with or without evidence, Smoker had decided—this man was going down.
"Hold up!"
Garen stepped in just in time, intercepting Smoker's attack with a smile.
Smoker gave him a questioning look.
Garen clapped a hand on Nezumi's shoulder and said:
"We're here under direct orders from Vice Admiral Garp to eliminate the Arlong Pirates."
"V-Vice Admiral Garp?!"
Nezumi gasped in horror.
Arlong, you bastard—what did you do to get even the Hero of the Navy after you?! You're so screwed!
Garen continued calmly,
"Since Captain Nezumi's forces are also here to eliminate pirates, then why not…"
"Join forces with us and wipe them out together?"
"Uh…"
Nezumi froze for a second, then quickly nodded:
"You're absolutely right, sir!"
"I'm willing to fight alongside Captain Smoker to bring Arlong to justice!"
"Well, what are we waiting for?"
Garen patted his shoulder again and grinned,
"Go make preparations. Let's advance on Arlong's turf—together."
"Yes, sir!"
Nezumi replied solemnly, turning to order his men to prepare for battle.
And he meant it.
He'd just figured things out—
The rest of the 16th Branch were just as dirty as him. There was no way they'd rat him out.
The only one who could incriminate him now… was Arlong.
So, he had to kill him.
He had to shut that fishy mouth for good.
His eyes now showed a rare flicker of determination.
Meanwhile, Smoker leaned toward Garen, still puzzled:
"Garen, what's your plan here?"
Garen watched Nezumi fire up his troops and smirked:
"He said he came to take down Arlong, didn't he?"
"Well, let's make him prove it."
…
After sailing a while, the two warships arrived side by side near Arlong's territory.
Nami stared at the familiar scene before her.
Nightmarish memories and fragile hope swirled together in her mind.
"That building…"
Smoker frowned at the tall structure inside Arlong Park.
"It looks a lot like the ones on Sabaody Archipelago."
"Figures. They're fish-men from the Grand Line, after all."
"Heh," Garen sneered.
"They call themselves a superior race, but they've learned all the worst indulgences of humans better than humans themselves."
"Open fire," Smoker ordered flatly.
"Have Captain Nezumi's men join in, too."
The Navy artillery crews, already raring to go, lit the cannons.
Soon, the deck rumbled with thunder as the warships' cannon batteries let loose.
Nezumi was quick to obey.
He frantically ordered his men to unleash hell on the fish-men.
"Fire! Fire!"
He waved his command saber furiously, yelling at his subordinates.
Right now, he might've been the one who wanted Arlong dead the most.
Shells rained from the sky onto Arlong Park.
The luxurious compound, built with years of extorted protection money, was instantly reduced to rubble and smoke.
"Finally…"
Nami watched it all unfold, tears welling in her amber eyes.
After the bombardment, some of the fish-men suffered casualties—but only to a limited extent.
Fish-men, with their superior physiques and ability to dive deep for cover, weren't easy to kill with cannon fire.
And once the shelling stopped, they launched their counterattack.
Dozens of tall, muscular fish-men, armed to the teeth, charged the warships with wild howls.
And then—
"W-what the hell is that?!"
Nezumi's manic expression froze.
Because right in front of his ship… a monstrous beast appeared.
It was Arlong's special weapon from the Grand Line—
The sea beast Momoo.
Momoo was a sea cow—
Its tail and half its body were fish-like, but its upper half resembled a big, dumb dairy cow.
But no matter how dopey it looked, its sheer size—twice that of the Navy's ships—made it a terrifying sea monster in Nezumi's eyes.
"Arlong… had a trump card like this?!"
Nezumi muttered in panic, instinctively turning to Smoker's ship for help.
But Smoker's vessel had quietly pulled back several hundred meters.
Even worse—its cannons were now aimed directly at Nezumi's ship.
"Captain Nezumi!!"
Garen called out from afar, watching Nezumi break into a cold sweat with great amusement:
"Seeing your determination and noble spirit, Captain Smoker is deeply moved!"
"Headquarters has made a decision!"
"You'll be the vanguard of this operation!"
"Wha?!"
Nezumi's face turned pitch black.
He glanced at the sea monster getting closer, then at the friendly cannons aimed at his back.
"This is an official order!"
Smoker barked sternly,
"Any unauthorized retreat will be punished by death!"
Nezumi looked at the monstrous beast before him, then at the sparkling cannon muzzles behind.
His thoughts twisted into a hopeless mess, all stuck in his throat—
"I…"
(End of Chapter)