Chương 83: "Tides of Betrayal and Resolve"
As the salty breeze swept across the deck of the ship, Yosaku stood with a serious expression, casting a wary glance at Luffy, Raja, and Sanji. "Nami's heading to Arlong Park," he announced, the name hanging ominously in the air. "That's the base of the notorious pirate, Arlong."
Luffy's brow furrowed, intrigued yet unfazed. Sanji, busy preparing lunch, paused to listen. Yosaku continued, "I suspect she's after Arlong's bounty. But let me warn you—Arlong is not just any pirate. He's a fish-man from the Grand Line, with strength that surpasses even Krieg."
Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement, but the gravity of Yosaku's warning lingered. The crew soon retreated to the galley, the atmosphere lightening as they settled down for lunch, momentarily pushing aside the impending danger.
Meanwhile, Nami had reached Arlong Park. The sight before her was daunting, and she quickly found herself in the middle of a shady deal. Arlong, the very embodiment of menace, was engaged in bribery with a corrupt Marine officer. With a flash of determination, she confronted a child attempting to challenge Arlong, demonstrating her own strength and fearlessness.
Back at sea, Zoro had his own plans as he prepared to storm Arlong Park. However, his ambitions were thwarted by Usopp and Johnny, who, in a misguided attempt to protect him, tied him up and set sail around the island. Their miscalculation soon proved dire.
As they sailed, Zoro's predicament worsened. Arlong's fish-men spotted their ship, leading Usopp and Johnny to abandon it in a panic. Zoro, still bound, was captured by the Arlong Pirates, his fierce spirit now at the mercy of the fish-men.
In the dimly lit chambers of Arlong Park, Zoro found himself face-to-face with Arlong. The pirate boasted of his superiority over humans, highlighting the strength of his kind and their ability to thrive underwater. Zoro remained silent, absorbing the arrogance of his captor.
Moments later, Nami entered the scene, her presence electrifying. She confronted Zoro, revealing a shocking truth: she was not just an ally; she was an officer and cartographer for Arlong himself. Zoro's eyes widened in disbelief, the betrayal cutting deep.
Meanwhile, Usopp and Johnny arrived at Gosa Village, only to be met with a scene of devastation. Houses were overturned, a testament to the chaos wrought by the Arlong Pirates' monstrous sea creature, Momoo. A resident fish-man explained the tragedy that unfolded after the villagers dared to protest against Arlong's tyranny.
As they processed the grim reality, The Resident fish-man reveals himself as Arlong Pirate attempts to capture Usopp. Johnny manages to hide himself, while Usopp is attacked by the boy from earlier, who mistakes him for a Fishman and a purple-haired young woman named Nojiko save them. Usopp and Johnny then visit Nojiko's house for refuge.
The sun glinted off the waves as Luffy, Raja, Sanji, and Yosaku settled down on the deck, their meal in full swing. Plates of grilled fish, fresh fruit, and Sanji's famous rice balls spread across the table, filling the air with a tempting aroma. Raja grinned, watching Luffy stuff his face with boundless enthusiasm.
"Captain, slow down!" Sanji scolded, though a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You're gonna eat everything before the rest of us get a taste!"
But Luffy was oblivious, too busy piling up his plate. Raja chuckled, taking a bite from his rice ball when a strange shadow passed over them, casting the deck in a sudden gloom.
"What's that?" Yosaku muttered, peering over the side of the ship. His eyes widened. "It's... Momoo!"
The gigantic sea cow, Momoo, loomed above them, its dark eyes fixed on their feast with a hungry glint. With a bellow, it surged forward, jaws wide open, aiming straight for their food.
"Oh no, you don't!" Luffy shouted, leaping up and stretching his arm back. "Gomu Gomu no... Punch!"
He sent a powerful punch right into Momoo's face, sending the beast recoiling. Sanji dashed forward, spinning into a fierce kick that landed squarely on Momoo's snout. The sea cow wailed, splashing backward in a defeated arc before disappearing beneath the waves.
"Nice work, guys!" Raja cheered, giving them a thumbs-up. But Luffy, eyes sparkling with mischief, had an idea.
"Hey, why don't we make Momoo our ride?" he said, grinning. Before anyone could argue, Luffy stretched out his arm, catching hold of Momoo as it resurfaced, dazed but obedient. "Come on, big guy. Take us to Arlong Park!"
The crew held on as Momoo, reluctantly submitting to Luffy's command, began to carry the ship through the waves toward Arlong's lair.
Meanwhile, in a small house at Cocoyasi Village, Usopp was nursing his injuries. Nojiko, Nami's adopted sister, tended to his bruises, and a young boy named Chabo watched from the corner, his face a mix of anger and grief.
"That monster, Arlong… he killed my father when he destroyed Gosa Village," Chabo said, fists clenched.
Usopp swallowed hard, his gaze darkening. "Arlong… the same Arlong who's got Nami working for him?"
Nojiko nodded solemnly. "Yes. She's been part of his crew for years now. She's not… like you think she is."
Usopp's heart sank. He had believed in Nami, convinced that whatever she was doing, she still cared about the crew. But the more he heard, the more it felt like betrayal.
"She never meant to stay," he muttered, almost to himself. "But... she always seemed like she enjoyed it."
Nojiko laid a hand on his shoulder. "Nami's been through things you can't imagine, Usopp. She's trying to protect her village."
In Arlong Park, Zoro was bound tightly with ropes, but even restrained, he glared defiantly at his captors. Arlong and Nami stood before him, and Zoro watched Nami carefully, noting her reaction as Arlong mentioned her mother's death.
Her face tightened, and she looked away, eyes clouded with pain. Zoro filed this away, seeing a sliver of vulnerability in the otherwise unshakable navigator.
He took his chance, diving into the nearby pool, hoping to escape despite his bindings. But without his arms free, swimming was impossible. Just as he began to sink, Nami jumped in after him, hauling him to the surface. She called for the fish-men to imprison him, her voice cold.
"Lock him up," she commanded, though something flickered in her expression that gave Zoro pause.
At that moment, a fish-man ran over, breathless. "Arlong! We spotted someone near Cocoyasi Village – a long-nose human."
A dark grin spread across Arlong's face. "Well, well. It's time we pay Cocoyasi a visit."
With Arlong gone, Zoro didn't waste any time. With fierce determination, he broke free of his restraints and launched into a battle with the fish-men, taking down every last one stationed at Arlong Park.
In Cocoyasi Village, Usopp and Nojiko hid, watching as Arlong confronted Genzo, the village's beloved sheriff. Genzo faced Arlong defiantly, though fear was clear in his eyes.
"You humans think you can rebel?" Arlong sneered, catching sight of a weapon hidden under Genzo's cloak. "Possessing a weapon is as good as declaring war."
Nojiko whispered to Usopp, "Arlong sees humans as tools, pawns. We pay him monthly tribute just to survive. He destroyed Gosa Village because one person couldn't pay."
Usopp clenched his fists, fury building as Arlong continued, "With your money, I'll conquer all of East Blue."
Seeing Arlong lift his weapon to execute Genzo, Usopp's rage boiled over. He stepped out from his hiding spot, his slingshot drawn. "Hey, Arlong! Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
He released his shot, hitting Arlong square in the face. Arlong roared, lifting an entire house in his fury and slamming it down in the middle of the village. His crew scrambled to hold him back, fearing the destruction of their income stream.
As the dust settled, Genzo's wounds were treated, and the village slowly returned to a tense calm. Nami, her face set in grim determination, visited a grave marked on a cliff overlooking the sea.
"One hundred million bellies," she murmured, tracing the letters carved into the stone. "I'll raise it... and I'll buy our freedom."
The crew's journey to Arlong Park was anything but ordinary, as they sailed on the back of Momoo, the gigantic sea cow under the Arlong Pirates' control. Luffy, Raja, Sanji, and Yosaku grinned, watching the waves rush past as Momoo propelled them forward. The sun shone brightly, reflecting off the water, and the wind seemed almost eager to push them faster.
"Almost there!" Luffy grinned, looking out toward the distant shore where Arlong Park lay in wait. "Hold on tight, everyone!"
Raja chuckled, feeling the anticipation bubbling up in him. "Ready as ever, Captain."
Meanwhile, Zoro had been busy clearing Arlong's base of all enemy pirates. The last of them lay sprawled across the ground, defeated and unconscious. Zoro wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced around, wondering where everyone else had ended up.
Just then, Hatchan, one of Arlong's officers, appeared. He blinked in surprise at Zoro, assuming he was a visiting guest, completely unaware that Zoro had been a prisoner just moments ago.
"Hey there! Need a lift?" Hatchan asked with a friendly grin, his six arms flexing in a welcoming gesture.
Zoro raised an eyebrow, but shrugged, figuring he'd use the opportunity. "Sure. I need to get to Cocoyasi Village."
"Alright!" Hatchan said cheerfully, unaware of the chaos Zoro had just caused. As Zoro climbed on, they set off.
Moments after Zoro left with Hatchan, Arlong returned to the base, taking in the destruction that had turned his stronghold into a wreck. His jaw clenched as he learned the full extent of the damage.
"The prisoner… it was Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro," one of his crew members reported, trembling slightly.
Arlong's fury was palpable. "Find him," he snarled, his eyes darkening. "And bring him back here. Alive."
Meanwhile, Usopp was doing his best to evade the Arlong Pirates who pursued him relentlessly. He darted through the jungle, ducking under branches and scrambling over rocks. He was almost clear when his foot slipped, and he tumbled down a cliffside, crashing into the underbrush below. Dazed, he struggled to sit up, only to find himself face-to-face with Chew, one of Arlong's officers.
"Well, well," Chew sneered, grabbing Usopp by the collar. "Seems like we caught ourselves a little intruder."
With that, Chew dragged Usopp back toward Arlong Park, ignoring Usopp's struggles and protests.
Back at the base, Kuroobi, another of Arlong's officers, glared at Nami as she arrived. Suspicion was evident in his gaze.
"Nami," he said coldly, "we have reason to believe you lured that swordsman here and then helped him escape."
Nami raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "Is that so?"
Kuroobi crossed his arms, unimpressed by her calm demeanor. "We also found this." He held up a treasure map he'd taken from her home. "Explain why you're hiding treasures in Cocoyasi Village."
Nami's gaze shifted, her jaw tightening slightly. But without hesitation, she approached Usopp, who was now tied up and at the mercy of Arlong's officers.
To everyone's shock, Nami pulled out her knife and, with a determined glint in her eyes, stabbed Usopp in the stomach. Usopp's face contorted with pain as he toppled backward, splashing into the pool behind him.
Arlong and his officers exchanged approving looks, their suspicions of Nami's loyalty apparently put to rest. Kuroobi gave her a nod, clearly convinced. "You're free to go, Nami."
Nami turned on her heel, hiding the turmoil in her eyes as she left the scene and headed to her office, though her expression was strained. She had to stay strong, even as she carried the weight of betrayal.
In her office, Nami looked out the window, where she saw something unexpected: Luffy's ship arriving at Arlong Park, perched precariously atop Momoo's back. Her eyes widened as the sea cow flung its head, launching the ship high into the sky.
The ship hurtled through the air before coming crashing down, bouncing off the forest trees and finally coming to a halt in a muddy paddy field.
Zoro, who had been nearby, watched in astonishment. He'd barely escaped the base, and now Luffy and the rest of the crew had made a wild entrance of their own.
As the dust settled, Johnny burst into view, breathless and pale. "Zoro! It's terrible! I saw… I saw Nami… she… she stabbed Usopp!"
Zoro's eyes widened, his grip tightening on his sword. "What did you say?"
Johnny's voice was shaky. "She… she killed him, Zoro. Usopp is dead."
Zoro's jaw clenched, and he exchanged a knowing look with Luffy, who had already hopped out of the wrecked ship, dusting himself off.
The crew knew one thing for sure—this fight was far from over.
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