In the original story, when Nami first met Luffy she never imagined asking someone else to take down Arlong.
She'd lived years hopping between pirate ships and never once thought to ask for help.
Why? Because in the East Blue — the weakest of the four seas — Arlong was the strongest, most bountied pirate around. No one outmatched him. His crew, the Arlong Pirates, were the undisputed number-one crew in those waters. Who could Nami possibly turn to? Who would dare help her?
And the Navy? Nami only ever sneered. After her adoptive mother Bell-mère — a retired Navy soldier — was killed by Arlong, the Navy did nothing. The local colonel who ran Cocoyasi Village, a corrupt man known as "Mouse," even colluded with Arlong to abuse the villagers. Nami had lost all faith in the Navy.
There was no help for her — she had only herself. She stole aboard ruthless pirate ships to pay extortion, begged Arlong to spare the villagers, and lived under an unending dark cloud.
But today, Nami finally saw light — finally saw hope. She had met someone who could crush Arlong with a flick of a finger. After much agonizing, she resolved: she would use that powerful person to remove Arlong for her.
Nami didn't dare approach the powerful man herself. She observed and noticed his wife was exceptionally kind and friendly toward her. So Nami staged a scene: at night she cried loudly in her room.
As she suspected, the kind woman came to check on her and asked what had happened. Nami poured out her story, and when her emotions overflowed she cried with real feeling — a long, cleansing sob. Yamato's sympathy welled at once; her eyes reddened, and she promised to help.
That's how the scene from last night happened: Yamato went to Rox, beseeched him, and the plan was set.
The next day Rox ordered Alvida to set course for Cocoyasi Village. Nami, hiding in the ship's cabin, nearly exploded with joy at the realization — her scheme had worked. The kindly Yamato had convinced the fearsome Five-Emperor Rox to help her!
Rox detected the pure delight from behind and let a faint smile play at his lips. "You've been too clever," he thought. "You still don't understand how things truly work."
Alvida obeyed Rox's command without a word, turning the helm; she worked so hard that sweat drenched her brow. Rox's brow tightened at the pitiful sight — she was simply too weak. Fine — if she had all that fat, it must be good for something. He decided to give her a test.
He called Alvida forward and tossed her the lowest-grade tiger-level monster cell. "Eat it. See whether you can withstand it. Your fate will tell."
Alvida trembled with ecstasy. She had never imagined the Five-Emperor would spare her, let alone hand over a precious tiger-level cell. In their world, a tiger-level cell had been once traded for as much as a billion Berries — tens of times higher than Alvida's five million bounty. Even the Slippery Fruit Rox had taken earlier paled in value next to a tiger-level cell.
She kowtowed three times and swallowed it at once. Agony followed — she was too weak; even a tiger-level cell tore her apart. Fortunately, her fat body absorbed much of the shock, and she stabilized. Her power shot up tenfold.
Rox watched the now-excited Alvida dance with newfound strength and said calmly, "Go to the Arlong Pirates' camp. Kill Arlong. Slaughter every fishman who resists to the end."
Then he walked into the cabin. Arlong wasn't worth his direct attention; Rox couldn't be bothered to look at such a man. If anyone were worth fighting, it would be someone like Jinbe — then maybe Rox would step out. For now, he was uninterested.
Alvida accepted the order with trembling fervor. She didn't dare use Rox's name directly — she addressed him respectfully as "Five-Emperor." That title fit: he was truly a Five-Emperor in name and fact.
Alvida set to rowing again, her face twisted into a feral grin. The fishman Arlong had often extorted and bullied her; he'd taken protection money from her — now she would make him pay.
Half a day later the pirate ship pulled up to the small island with Cocoyasi Village. Yamato, hearing there were fishmen nearby, practically glittered with excitement and followed Alvida into the Arlong crew's headquarters. Rox did not go. He watched Nami with a mild, curious look.
Rox asked, "Aren't you going to look? Your enemy's about to die."
To his surprise, Nami was unusually silent. Her usual fear of Rox momentarily vanished. Her fists clenched so tight the fingernails dug into her palms. Rox understood: for someone whose lifelong shadow had been revenge and grief, the moment the cloud lifts can be disorienting.
He rose and said softly, "Then show me around your village."
Nami followed him. As they walked she suddenly realized again how terrifying the man at her side truly was. She'd nearly failed to answer him earlier without even noticing. Her heart lurched and she felt faint.
But she soon noticed the man bore no immediate fury. She edged a careful glance at Rox's face. If not for his terrible power and rank, he might have been handsome. The thought startled her, and she shoved it away.
They arrived near Nami's house. Rox stopped and said, "Stand right here. Don't move. I'll go buy you some oranges."
Nami froze. Oranges — they were a fruit she'd loved since childhood, something she hadn't tasted, not since Bell-mère's death. Rox returned quickly and tossed her the fruits. Nami could barely take them in.
A blue-haired young woman stepped out from the hut and cried in delight, "Nami, you're back!" Then she saw Rox. "Who's this?"
Nami steadied herself, swallowed the sudden flood of emotion stirred by the orange, and whispered a few words into her sister Nokigo's ear. Nokigo's glossy black eyes widened.
"Five-Emperor… Rox?!" she stammered, and rushed to bow.
Rox stepped forward and took Nokigo's wrist. "No need for such formality." With his other hand he took Nami's wrist. "Come inside — let's talk."
Nami and Nokigo, the sister duo — one youthful and lively, the other mature and seductive — were quite a pair. Rox admired them briefly and nodded with satisfaction. His only complaint was that Nami seemed a bit small-minded, not at all what he remembered from his previous life.
Before leaving, Rox told Nami, "You're a bright and confident girl who likes to wear swimsuits. Here — this is my invention: stretchable undergarments with fullness-enhancing tech. Wear them often. I'll come visit you next time."
Nami's face flushed at the odd compliment. She and Nokigo watched him depart, stunned. Nokigo said, "The Five-Emperor isn't as fearsome as the stories said — he's rather kind."
"Whatever the case," Nokigo added, "because of him, you, me, the village, and the whole island are saved. He is our benefactor."
Nami clutched the orange Rox had given her and nodded quietly.
Rox remained in Cocoyasi for two days. He arranged for Zoro to meet Shimotsuki Kengsaburō and Kengshirō. Meanwhile, Alvida — now stronger — scattered the Arlong crew. The corrupt colonel Mouse who'd colluded with Arlong ended up beaten and humiliated. Rox didn't kill him; instead he said, "Keep him alive — he's more useful than dead. Alvida, you'll stay here. Use that old colonel to cover for you; build your power."
Rox had an eye on the future. This tiny island could become a forward base for the Beast Pirates in the East Blue when the massive war against the World Government came. And with Nami and Nokigo safe here, Rox had reason to return.
When everything was done, and Cocoyasi's villagers cheered their deliverers, Rox, Yamato, Zoro and the others set out to return to Wano.
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