Hearing Tom say he was here to take Nami back, Nojiko frowned, released his collar, and asked him for the full story.
Tom had taken advantage of Nami many times before, whether intentional or not—that was a fact. Now, facing this woman who claimed to be Nami's sister, he became unusually honest and laid out his purpose without reserve.
At first, Tom suspected Nojiko was lying. But when he entered her house and saw a photograph on the table, he believed her.
It was a picture of a young Nami with Bell-mère and Nojiko. Sitting in a chair, Tom pointed at the photo and grinned. "Didn't expect Nami to be so cute as a kid."
"Be serious! I'm asking you questions!" Nojiko said, rubbing her forehead with a headache. According to Tom, Nami was part of their crew. He was here to retrieve Nami, who had suddenly left the group, and to get their ship back.
Regarding Nami's affairs, Nojiko understood better than anyone. What Nami wanted least was for people like Tom and his friends to help her. If they got hurt or killed because of it, Nami would never be happy.
"You don't need to worry. After we find Nami, we'll leave here quickly. We won't cause you any trouble," Tom said, seeing Nojiko's troubled look and assuming she was worried about Nami's safety at sea. He thumped his chest. "I promise you, I'll do everything I can to protect her from harm. And the others on our ship are reliable too; they won't let her down."
"You're bold to say that. But I think Nami won't go with you. You should give up," Nojiko told him. "Your ship is docked over there; you can take it back anytime. Forget about Nami."
"Huh? Isn't that our Merry Go?" Tom looked out the window and saw a ship anchored by the distant shore, a straw hat Jolly Roger flying from its mast.
"See? Take your ship and leave this place. Don't appear before Nami again."
As soon as Nojiko said this, Tom responded, "You're the one who doesn't understand. We're taking the ship and Nami. We're not giving up! Tell me, where is that woman?"
"Fine. If you insist, I'll show you a place. After that, you won't think this way anymore." Seeing she couldn't persuade him, Nojiko spoke with resignation.
And so, Tom followed Nojiko out. He casually picked a few more oranges to eat, irritating Nojiko to the point of wanting to hit him.
As they walked, Nojiko asked how Tom had found her place. Tom gave a rough account.
Hearing Tom had run to her house from a place with nothing, Nojiko's expression turned strange again. "You didn't come from Mizuko Village, did you?"
"Mizuko Village?" Tom shook his head. "I don't know. The place was just empty, desolate."
"That must be it. Mizuko Village used to be a lively town. It had that name because there were many children there," Nojiko said as they walked forward. "Later, the village was destroyed by the fish-men who rule here. Everything was wiped clean, nothing left. Now do you understand the terror of the fish-men?"
"How scary fish-men are, I don't know. But mermen are truly terrifying!" Tom was reminded of the "merman" Yosaku, feeling his stomach churn, nearly vomiting on the spot.
But according to Nojiko, those fish-men were truly brutal. To just massacre a village with many children... it was downright inhuman.
Thinking this, Tom became even more determined to find Nami.
"You really don't grasp the situation. Nami must have had a hard time with you," Nojiko said, looking at Tom. It was hard to imagine someone so thick-headed being on good terms with Nami. How could she stand him?
"What nonsense. When I was with Nami, I often saw her laugh happily. How could it be hard?" Tom recalled Nami's bright, sunny smile and suddenly felt an even stronger desire to see her.
"Really? Nami laughed happily?" Nojiko's expression changed, and she asked Tom urgently.
"Why would I lie? It's the truth." As Tom said this to Nojiko, he thought to himself: I'm not Usopp. Why would I spin you a tale?
"Alright. Then let me ask you, how many days did it take you to get here from Mizuko Village?" Hearing that Nami had laughed happily with Tom and the others, Nojiko felt much better. She smiled as she asked.
This woman really is Nami's sister. Her brain works differently from normal people's. They're both idiots. Otherwise, how could she ask such an absurd question? Tom stared dumbly at Nojiko, barely stopping himself from voicing his thoughts. "If I had to say... it took me about twenty-something minutes to run to your place."
"What?" Nojiko's keen eyes widened as she stared blankly at Tom in shock. "That's impossible! If I walked to Mizuko Village, it would take at least two days."
After a moment of silence, Tom scratched his head and laughed. "So you walk that slowly? But you're a girl, I won't make fun of you. Hahahaha!"
"You're already making fun of me, you freak!" Nojiko glared angrily at the laughing Tom, her face red with anger.
"Nami called me a freak too. She must be jealous of my good health. I don't mind at all," Tom said magnanimously.
Nojiko's face darkened. But she was also deeply surprised. If Tom was telling the truth, his speed was incredible, far beyond ordinary people. His strength must be considerable too. No wonder he dared to come for Nami. But was he really stronger than Arlong?
Preoccupied, Nojiko fell silent. She had meant to ask how Tom ended up at Mizuko Village but lost the mood. Who asked Tom to be so cutting? She didn't want to suffer more.
Some time later, Nojiko led Tom to a village.
"What's with this village?" Tom stood beside Nojiko. The buildings in the village were all upside down. He felt very confused. "Is this an upside-down village? Or do the people here like living in inverted houses?"
"This is Kessa Village. They resisted the fish-men's rule. Weeks ago, the fish-men attacked, and it became like this," Nojiko said, her forehead lined with dark frustration. "You see? All the houses have been flipped over. This is the power of the fish-men who came from the Grand Line. Seeing such a terrifying scene, aren't you afraid at all?"
"What's to be afraid of? It's just a destroyed village. If I'm honest, our pirate crew could do that too," Tom told Nojiko beside him. "And if this is the fish-men's destructive power, I feel it's inferior to the Buggy Ball."
Remembering how Buggy in Orange Town blasted an entire row of town buildings to dust with one shot, Tom found that far more shocking than the sight of flipped houses.
"You don't mean Buggy the Clown, do you?" Nojiko asked, astonished. She had heard of Buggy the Clown.
"Yep, that big red nose. But Luffy punched him flying in the end. Don't know if he's still alive." Tom's words stunned Nojiko. She hadn't expected Tom's group to have such strength, to have defeated the 15 million berry bounty Buggy.
"Who is Luffy? Where is he now?" Nojiko asked Tom urgently. She thought that anyone who could punch Buggy flying must be very strong. Maybe he could really help them.
"He's our captain. You'd recognize him at a glance—he always wears a straw hat," Tom told Nojiko. "I think he might come here later."
"Aren't you all together? Why isn't he with you? And the other members? I've only seen you." Nojiko almost asked if Tom was the least reliable of the group but held back.
"Can't be helped. Luffy still has to punch that Don Krieg guy flying. So we had to set off first to chase Nami." Tom looked serious at Nojiko. "Now should you tell me where Nami is? Also, what's her relationship with the fish-men?"
"Don Krieg?" Nojiko couldn't stay calm, ignoring Tom's question. "The one called the strongest in the East Blue? He's very powerful! Can your captain handle him?"
"Of course. He's the man who will become the Pirate King. There's no way he'd lose to some guy who crawled back defeated from the Grand Line." Tom then said dissatisfied to Nojiko, "You've asked a bunch of questions. Why aren't you answering mine?"
"The Pirate King?!" Nojiko exclaimed, feeling utterly shaken. "Then your captain's strength must be incredibly powerful?"
"Hmm, to be honest, we're actually all still pretty weak right now," Tom said, stroking his chin. The words seemed aimed at Nojiko but sounded more like talking to himself.
"Are you deliberately messing with me?" Nojiko's skin was a healthy wheat color, somewhat tanned. Hearing Tom's words, her face now looked so dark it could drip ink.
This was no surprise. Tom's earlier words had undoubtedly raised hope in Nojiko's heart, making her think this "Luffy" he spoke of could help them defeat Arlong.
But just as Nojiko saw that glimmer of hope, Tom said they were actually still pretty weak. This sudden shift from hope to despair was something no one could bear.
"I don't do boring things like that. I'm just stating facts," Tom said to the depressed Nojiko. "Luffy, Zoro, and I... all three of us were defeated by the same person. Even teaming up with Luffy, we were completely outmatched. So I'm saying our strength really isn't enough yet."
"You said your captain could even defeat Don Krieg. How could you lose to someone else?" Nojiko questioned. She couldn't understand. Don Krieg's strength was among the top in the East Blue. How could they lose even when teaming up? She sincerely felt Tom was boasting.
"You're really a woman with short hair and short insight," Tom said to the blue-haired Nojiko.
This comment immediately angered Nojiko, but before she could vent her rage, Tom continued, "The person we fought was the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk. Comparing our current strength to his... we're pathetically weak."
Now Nojiko was completely stunned. She had naturally heard of the world's greatest swordsman. To her, he was practically a legendary figure.
But from what Tom said, they had actually faced Mihawk. Regardless of their strength, just that courage far exceeded ordinary people.
Knowing they lost to the current world's greatest swordsman, Nojiko felt relieved. That was completely normal. It would be strange if unheard-of people like them could win.
"Ah!!" Nojiko shrieked, startling the deeply thinking Tom. Seeing a mouse happen to run by not far away, he said, "You're scared of mice too? Such a small courage, can't compare to Nami."
Nami dared to steal from pirates. That courage indeed wasn't something ordinary people could match.
"Who's scared of a little mouse?! I just remembered... the 'Zoro' you mentioned earlier, could he be that Pirate Hunter?" At first, Nojiko had only felt the name "Zoro" was vaguely familiar. Now it suddenly hit her: there was a famous pirate hunter in the East Blue whose name seemed to be Zoro. That's why she had cried out in shock.
After all, the name Pirate Hunter Zoro was quite well-known in the East Blue. If someone like that was with Tom's group, they might really be able to stand against the Arlong Pirates.
"You're right. So what?" Tom wondered where Zoro and Usopp had gone. Not a shadow in sight. With me not on the ship, did Zoro take charge of navigation and get them all lost at sea?
"If you could team up with your captain, your own strength can't be too bad, right?" With even the famous Pirate Hunter in their group, hope reignited in Nojiko's heart. Her lovely face brightened with a smile again as she asked Tom.
Hmm, her smile is so like Nami's. Behind their smiles lies a resilience most people can't match. That kind of smile really has a special charm, like it makes you feel it's good to be alive.
Tom realized that ever since Nami left, he kept unconsciously thinking of things related to her. It puzzled him: Is it because I haven't paid back the money I owe her?
I really am too responsible. A debt must be repaid. Thinking this, Tom said to Nojiko, "By my estimate, my current strength is about the same as Luffy's and Zoro's."
Back in Orange Town during their duel, the result was mutual defeat, but overall, Tom had been at a slight disadvantage.
But if they fought now, Tom didn't think Luffy could easily gain the upper hand. He also didn't have 100% confidence he could defeat Luffy. Their strength should be roughly even.
After the battles at Syrup Village, Tom clearly felt he had become stronger than before. Plus, now he had proper weapons. That's why he had the confidence to say that to Nojiko.
As for Zoro, having trained with him often, Tom understood his strength well. If they truly fought to the death, Tom even felt there was a high chance they'd both end up dead.
"You're not bragging, are you? You're really that strong?" Nojiko had thought Tom might have about 60% of Zoro's strength. The answer she heard far exceeded her expectations.
If this guy was telling the truth, their captain could defeat Don Krieg, and there were three people in the group capable of that... they might really be able to wipe out the Arlong Pirates.
Nojiko carefully sized up Tom, covered in bandages. Her gaze grew increasingly intense, making Tom uncomfortable.
"I don't lie. Even if you don't believe me, it doesn't affect me." Just as Tom was about to press Nojiko for details about Nami, he heard a familiar voice.
"Can you catch me? I'll have you know, I'm the fastest man in the world! My speed leaves people all over the world gasping in awe! Come and get me if you dare!"
Isn't that Usopp's voice?
Tom and Nojiko were talking beside a house when Usopp's voice suddenly rang out. Tom peeked out and saw Usopp running down the main road, chased by a tall, fat figure.
Looking closer, Tom saw the pursuer was a fish-man.
The fish-man had pale blue skin, protruding fangs from its lower jaw, stood over two meters tall, looked huge, had fins on its head, and was incredibly ugly.
"Oh no, he's an outsider. He'll be killed. We have to help him," Nojiko said urgently to Tom as she saw Usopp turn his head to boast at the fish-man, even pulling out his slingshot. "Remember, a fish-man's arm strength is ten times a human's. Don't engage them for now—"
Unfortunately, before Nojiko finished, Tom rushed out. "I understand! That's my companion! Of course I'll help him!"
Before Nojiko could shout after the charging Tom, she saw him deliver a powerful punch to the fish-man's round belly. "Don't get in the way! Get lost!"
BOOM!
The tall, fat fish-man was sent flying in a straight line by Tom's punch, all the way to the distant shoreline, where it fell into the sea.
Nojiko saw from afar the fish-man, now belly-up, floating weakly on the sea surface, silent, unsure if it was dead or alive.
This left Nojiko dumbstruck. She hadn't expected Tom's seemingly casual punch to have such power.
This guy really wasn't lying. He does have the strength to oppose fish-men.
Nojiko looked at Tom, now talking with Usopp, and no longer doubted his words.
But when Tom charged out earlier, he'd said he understood. Yet seeing him punch the fish-man flying, it was clear he hadn't heard her subsequent warning. This made Nojiko a little angry.
If they angered the fish-men now and the fish-men took it out on her village, things would get troublesome.
Nojiko walked over, intending to scold Tom, when a little boy holding a dagger ran out. He looked at Tom with excitement and admiration. "Mister, you're amazing! You took out a fish-man with one punch!"
"It's nothing. I've taken out several fish-men before. They're pretty ordinary, just ugly enough to scare people," Tom said, seeing the dagger-wielding boy with a hat, filthy all over, face bruised, looking quite pitiful. He squatted down to speak to him.
"What did you say? You've already taken out several fish-men?" Nojiko recognized the boy as a survivor from Kessa Village, probably seeking revenge on the fish-men and suffering for it. Hearing Tom, she looked anxious and questioned urgently.
"When I was almost at your house, I ran into some patrolling fish-men. I went up to ask them about Nami. As soon as I asked, they attacked." Tom crossed his arms, speaking very annoyed. "Those fish-men really have no manners. I asked nicely, and they started a fight. So barbaric. I had to take them all out."
"I knew you'd be fine! Mere fish-men. I, Captain Usopp, could handle them easily too!" Usopp, delighted to see Tom alive and well, started bragging again.
Tom was about to ask Usopp where Zoro and Johnny were when Nojiko's face turned very ugly. "We need to leave here, quickly. Hopefully, the fish-men won't discover their men were taken out and connect it to us."
"Why run? If the fish-men dare come looking, even better. I want to ask their boss personally what their relationship with Nami is, why Nami went to them. I won't be finished with those fish-men until I understand this!" Tom directly sat on the ground, eyes fixed on Nojiko. He had sensed earlier that Nojiko was deliberately avoiding his questions, unwilling to tell him about the relationship between the fish-men and Nami. Now his patience had reached its limit.
"Hey, are you crazy? Their boss is Arlong! He's not someone to mess with!" Usopp, thinking they should wait for Luffy and the others to arrive and discuss properly, tried to persuade Tom.
"I'm not someone to mess with either! I don't care if he's some Arlong or a fish-man! If he pisses me off, I'll kick over his entire pirate crew!" After saying this to Usopp, Tom looked at Nojiko again. "You can tell me now. Why is Nami involved with fish-men?!"
Nojiko honestly didn't expect that Tom, who had been so reasonable earlier, could become so stubborn and impossible when determined.
Seeing Tom's firm attitude, Usopp sighed lightly and also sat down beside him, showing his stance.
"If you really must know, I'll tell you!" Nojiko bit her lip, hesitated, and finally sat down too. "Listen."
Next, Nojiko briefly explained Nami's situation. Tom and Usopp reacted differently.
"What? Nami is a member of Arlong's crew? An officer?!" Usopp exclaimed. "Nami betrayed her village to become an officer under Arlong, who controls it? She really is a witch!"
"That witch stopped me from going after the fish-men for revenge! She even hit me with a stick! She's awful!" The filthy boy also sat down, joining Usopp in condemning Nami.
"Nami helped protect my hometown, laughed happily on the ship... but deep down, she just wanted to scheme for our treasure!" Usopp said angrily to Nojiko. "I'm so mad at Nami! I thought she was just a thief, but she was already a pirate! That liar! I won't forgive her! I'll torture her mentally!"
"Say something! Knowing Nami is like this, we don't need to look for her anymore, right?" Usopp asked the silent Tom beside him.
Nojiko looked nervously at Tom, worried he would give up on helping Nami without knowing the full truth.
Even though Nojiko knew Nami wanted to save the village from Arlong through her own efforts, and on the surface seemed close to success, deep down she felt uneasy—a woman's intuition that something bad would happen.
That's why Nojiko hoped someone could completely crush the Arlong Pirates. That was the key to perfectly resolving everything.
Only by defeating Arlong could the shackles on Nami be completely removed, allowing her to truly live for herself.
"Usopp, our original goal in chasing Nami was to bring her back, right?" Tom patted the dust off his clothes and stood up. "Since our goal was clear from the start, we shouldn't feel lost now! So Nami is an officer of the Arlong Pirates? So what? Don't forget, she's also the navigator of our crew!"
"We're all pirates. Many things have to be solved the pirate way. To me, solving Nami's problem is simple." Tom's words left Usopp very confused.
"What do you mean, 'simple'?"
"Right now, Nami the pirate has two identities. First, she's an officer of the Arlong Pirates. Second, she's the navigator of our crew." Tom's lips curled slightly. "Then, we just have to wipe out the Arlong Pirates. That eliminates Nami's identity as an Arlong Pirates officer. Then, she can only be the navigator on our side. Doesn't that solve all the problems and contradictions?"
Hearing Tom state it so lightly, Usopp and Nojiko were both in a petrified state. Even the little boy sitting on the ground tilted his head, wearing a blank expression.
"Good. Tell me where Arlong's base is. I'm going there to talk to Nami!" Tom asked the still-stunned Nojiko.
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T/N :
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