Cocoyasi Village**
Cocoyasi Village wasn't far from where they'd landed—but the locals were *so* "hospitable" that Yang Ning had no choice but to "politely insist" the old fisherman guide them himself.
After circling two small islands, they arrived at one scented faintly with citrus.
The old man, utterly defeated, glanced back at Yang Ning.
"Sir… Cocoyasi Village is on this island. Could you *please* let me go now?"
Yang Ning laughed, releasing the collar of the fisherman's shirt.
"Thanks for the escort!"
"You son of a—!"
The moment he was free, the old man flailed wildly—then plunged straight into the sea.
Fortunately, he was a strong swimmer. Moments later, his family pulled up in a small skiff to retrieve him.
Even before stepping ashore, Yang Ning could already spot **Arlong Park** from the water.
Perched atop a four-story tower, a pirate flag fluttered in the wind: blood-red, bearing an abstract swordfish hovering over crossed white bones.
Yang Ning glanced at it—then up at his own hand-painted Jolly Roger.
*Ugly. Crude. Sloppy.*
"We'll need a real artist to redesign that thing."
Just then, the *Windbreaker* rocked slightly.
Two dark shapes surged from the sea, leaping onto the deck with wet splashes.
The first was **Jin Cheng**—yellow-skinned, gold tattoos on his forehead and chest, hair sharply parted. He sneered:
"Hey! Human pirates! Got some nerve showing up here. Don't you know this is **Arlong Pirates' territory**?"
Beside him, another Fish-Man twirled a cleaver, stuck out his long tongue, and licked his lips lewdly at Yang Ning's crew.
"You ignorant landlubbers! Since you barged in, you won't leave without paying a price!"
Yang Ning didn't recognize either of them—they were clearly low-tier grunts.
*Where'd they get the guts to act this bold?*
Instead of drawing his sword, Yang Ning crossed his arms, amused.
"Oh? And what, exactly, do you want from us?"
The two Fish-Men exchanged smug glances—assuming he'd backed down.
"Hehehe!" Jin Cheng gloated. "By Arlong's decree: **all treasure on your ship is ours**, half your supplies too. And as for you humans—**100,000 Belly per head**. Pay up, and you walk."
Yang Ning's eye twitched.
*Ghost? Seriously?*
Beside him, Esdeath silently planted her greatsword upright in front of her.
Even the Sylvester brothers—usually grinning like fools—stood stone-faced, fists clenched.
Only Old Johnny remained unfazed, calmly finishing up the mooring lines as if nothing were happening.
Yang Ning clapped slowly, mockingly.
"Wow. So we sail in with a ship… and leave with a *rowboat*? Impressive logic."
"Huh?!" Jin Cheng's eyes bulged. He jabbed his knife toward Yang Ning's face. "You dare defy the Arlong Pirates?!"
"The Arlong Pirates?" Yang Ning snorted. "*That* powerful?"
He didn't even draw *Kotetsu*.
Instead, he activated **Soul Furnace Shield**, then lashed out with a single, brutal kick.
His passive damage bonuses had stacked to **980 points**—nearly a thousand.
***CRUNCH.***
The kick struck Jin Cheng square in the gut, folding him into a perfect **V**. Blood sprayed from his nose and mouth as he rocketed backward—vanishing into the distance with only a faint vortex and spreading ripples to mark his final trajectory.
The second Fish-Man froze, tongue retracted, cleaver trembling in his grip.
"W-wait! Our boss is a **dragon**! Hurt us, and Arlong'll crush you like an insect!"
"Ohhh?" Yang Ning feigned terror. "*So scary.*"
Then he kicked the second grunt like a ragdoll—launching him in a graceful arc back into the sea.
With both nuisances disposed of, Old Johnny finished docking.
"We're here! Wonder what local delicacies they've got."
Rubbing his hands together like an excited tourist, Yang Ning led his crew ashore—as if he'd just swatted away two flies, not Fish-Man pirates.
The island was lush and tropical—palm trees swaying, warm breeze carrying the scent of salt and citrus.
Not far inland, scattered buildings gave way to **Cocoyasi Village**.
But the place felt hollow.
Everyone moved with slumped shoulders, faces gray with exhaustion—just like Blood King Island before Yang Ning's arrival.
Esdeath's hand drifted to her sword hilt.
"The outside world… really is like this."
Yang Ning shrugged.
"Not always. Shimotsuki Village wasn't bad, right? This place is just… unlucky. Like your hometown—overrun by pirates."
Just then—
**"Stop! Who are you?!"**
A scar-faced man with a windmill in his hair stepped into their path.
He wore a dark brown constable's uniform, hand resting on his sword, eyes sharp with suspicion.
**Genzo**—village policeman, and the closest thing Nami had to a father.
A good man. Just tragically weak.
Yang Ning raised his hands with a disarming smile.
"We're the kind of pirates who travel to tick off tourist spots."
"...Wh-what?"
Genzo knew the words "pirate" and "tourism"—but not together.
"There's nothing left to steal here," he said firmly. "The Arlong Pirates took everything. Don't make enemies of them for a village with no treasure."
Yang Ning simply walked past him, clapping him gently on the shoulder.
"Relax. We **pay** for our meals."
And as for the Arlong Pirates?
"If you can afford the commission… we might even **take them out** for you."
Genzo blinked. A question mark practically floated over his head.
*These pirates… aren't like the others.*
---
After wandering the half-dead village—most shops shuttered—they finally found an open restaurant.
The owner, a portly cook with deep worry lines, lit up the moment Yang Ning **paid upfront**.
Soon, a feast of Cocoyasi specialties covered the table: grain-heavy dishes, candied fruits, and—most notably—**orange everything**.
It wasn't *bad*… but—
"What *is* this fried orange nonsense?!" Yang Ning groaned, poking at a glistening mound.
"And is this *supposed* to be sweet-and-sour pork? It tastes like someone stewed pork in orange juice!"
His crew nodded in solemn agreement.
***BANG!***
The restaurant door flew open.
Framed in the doorway, backlit by daylight, stood a short, blue-haired girl—eyes blazing, fists clenched.
She stomped to their table and slammed her palms down.
**"How much?!**
**How much to take down the Arlong Pirates?!"**