Nami in Despair**
The figure standing in the doorway wasn't the blue-haired girl Yang Ning expected—but **Genzo**, the village constable.
He was panting heavily, face flushed, clearly under immense stress.
Yang Ning calmly set down his fork and smiled.
"How much are *you* willing to pay?"
"I—"
Genzo faltered. Just days ago, he'd been bled dry by Arlong's "life-saving fee." Like the rest of Cocoyasi, he didn't have a single Belly to his name.
Then—*thud!*—a stack of coins slammed onto the table.
The chubby restaurant owner stepped forward, placing **8,000 Berries**—the exact amount Yang Ning had prepaid for their meal—right in the center.
He didn't keep a single coin.
Genzo kept his head down. Even he knew 8,000 Berries was nothing—certainly not enough to hire pirates to wage war on the Arlong Pirates.
The cook knew it too. But it was all he had.
Yang Ning burst out laughing—not mocking, but amused.
He didn't accept the "contract"… but he didn't refuse it either.
*Not yet. When recruiting allies, win their hearts first.*
After finishing their oddly citrus-heavy meal, Yang Ning and his crew strolled through Cocoyasi Village.
Beyond the palm trees, **orange groves** blanketed the hills—vibrant, fragrant, and heartbreakingly peaceful.
Suddenly, **Willie** came sprinting from the docks, kicking up dust, eyes wide with panic.
"Oh no, Captain! Oh no!"
Everyone turned. Willie had been left aboard the *Windbreaker*.
"What's wrong?" Yang Ning asked calmly. "Did the Fish-Men attack?"
Willie shook his head frantically.
"No! A **female con artist** tricked me off the ship—and **sailed away with it!**"
"Our ship… is *gone*."
The crew froze.
On the Grand Line—or even the East Blue—a ship wasn't just transport. It was your legs, your home, your lifeline. Losing it was like losing your soul.
Everyone tensed—everyone except Yang Ning.
He *laughed*.
In his mind, a vivid image appeared: a petite girl with **orange hair**, sharp eyes, and a map-roller in hand.
*A con artist who stole a pirate ship?*
She'd practically delivered herself right into his lap.
*Sorry, Luffy… but this little thief cat? She's mine now.*
After calming Willie, Yang Ning led his crew straight toward **Nojiko's orange grove**.
How did they find it? Simple. Yang Ning had a knack for "asking directions"—especially from honest, terrified locals.
In the grove, **Nojiko**—tall, blue-haired, flintlock spear raised—eyed them like invaders.
She had **zero** trust in pirates. Tourist or not, they were all the same to her.
"Are you Arlong's men? Why are you looking for me?"
Yang Ning ignored the weapon, leaning in to peer down the muzzle of her antique spear-gun.
"Hmm… Does this thing even fire? What kind of ammo does it use? What's the range? Muzzle velocity?"
Nojiko blinked, completely thrown off.
*Is this pirate… inspecting my weapon?*
Before she could react, Yang Ning straightened and said with cheerful bluntness:
"Your sister **Nami** stole our ship. We're here to collect our debt."
Nojiko went pale. She *knew* Nami's habits. Stealing a pirate vessel? Entirely possible.
Panic flickered in her eyes. She had no money. No boat.
Tentatively, she offered:
"How about… you take some oranges instead?"
***Click.***
Esdeath's greatsword slid halfway from its sheath.
To her, these villagers were the worst kind of fools—**stupid *and* helpless**. She'd felt pity earlier… now, only contempt.
Yang Ning raised a hand to stop her, still smiling.
"No need to panic. We're not rushing you for payment."
"But since we're shipless… we'll need somewhere to stay. Mind if we bunk here a few days?"
He added lightly, "You *wouldn't* want us tracking your sister across the world, would you?"
It was reasonable. Logical. And utterly inescapable.
Nojiko gritted her teeth and nodded.
Genzo, trailing behind, opened his mouth several times—but what could he say?
*A pirate just negotiated like a diplomat… what's left to argue?*
And so, without resistance, Yang Ning's crew moved into **Nami and Nojiko's cabin** deep in the grove.
Esdeath shot Yang Ning a look of pure disdain—as if she'd misjudged his motives entirely.
*Unfair!* Yang Ning silently protested.
*Heaven and earth bear witness: this has nothing to do with lusting after Nojiko's beauty!*
He was here for one reason: **Nezumi, the Rat Colonel**.
Canonically, Nezumi's betrayal happened *after* Luffy's arrival—roughly six months from now—triggered when Nami finally saved **100 million Berries**.
But now? With the *Windbreaker*'s treasure chest in her hands, Nami might hit that sum **early**.
Which meant **Nezumi would come sooner**.
And Yang Ning intended to be ready.
---
**His prediction was dead-on.**
Thanks to Arlong's tip-off, **Colonel Nezumi** was already en route.
Aboard a Navy warship cutting through the waves, the weaselly commander stood at the bow, hood drawn, eyes gleaming.
He held a Den Den Mushi to his ear.
> "Are you *sure* that little girl has 100 million Berries?"
> *"Positive. Go dig it up. We split it 50/50."*
> "Three times seven—I take **seven**."
> Nezumi stroked his whiskers, smirking.
> "Hahahaha! You're a disgrace to the Navy… but I accept!"
Meanwhile, in Cocoyasi, Nami waited—**hopeful, oblivious**.
She'd just pulled off the heist of her life: stealing the *Windbreaker* (a "speedboat pirate ship," in her eyes) and its chest of treasure.
Now, at last, the total reached **100 million Berries**.
*Finally!*
*A-Jian… Nojiko… we're free!*
She ran to Arlong's tower, heart pounding, only to find the shark-man lounging on a beach chair in slippers.
Her smile died the moment he spoke.
"Ah, Nami. What do you want?"
She forced a stiff grin.
"Arlong… we had a deal. 100 million Berries—and you sell me Cocoyasi Village. You leave us alone forever."
"**Oh?**"
Arlong tilted his head, feigning confusion.
"I don't recall making that agreement."
"**Arlong, you—!**"
Eight years of sacrifice. Every map drawn in blood and shame. All for this moment—**shattered**.
But worse was coming.
"And where," Arlong sneered, "did you get 100 million Berries? The **Navy** just seized your 'treasure,' didn't they?"
***Navy?!***
Nami's breath hitched. Her pupils shrank to pinpricks.
*Of course.* Arlong and Nezumi were in cahoots.
Her treasure wasn't gone—it was **stolen before she even had it**.
Fury overrode reason.
She lunged at the towering Fish-Man, screaming:
"**You bastard!**"
Arlong didn't even stand.
He reached out, grabbed her head like a doll, and spoke coldly:
"If you weren't still useful, a filthy human like you wouldn't even be *allowed* to stand before me."
"Know your place. And bury those foolish dreams."
With a flick of his wrist, he hurled her aside like trash.
Nami hit the ground—broken, betrayed, and utterly alone.