Cocoyashi Village
Buggy
Ozz blinked and carefully read the newspaper again, line by line, just to make sure he had not misread it.
The location was indeed correct.
But how were those two words even appearing in the same sentence
His gaze slid down to the photo. Buggy still had that same bright red nose, looking a little more mature than before, but just as loud and ridiculous as ever.
His face was swollen and bruised, a few teeth missing, clothes torn and dirty.
Yet facing the camera, he was still sticking his tongue out and grinning arrogantly. Behind him, a bunch of crewmen dressed like circus performers were hauling baskets of something away.
In the corner of the picture, villagers were gathered together, eyes full of anger and helplessness as they watched the pirates plundering their home.
"That figure…"
Buggy looked a bit miserable, but still very much alive and kicking. Ozz frowned in curiosity.
In the corner, a woman with injuries on her body was shielding two small children.
Was that… Nami's family
He had some free time anyway.
Might as well go take a look.
The rest of the paper was nothing but random small scale chaos around East Blue. Ozz did not bother to keep reading. He folded the newspaper, then casually stuffed it back into the Seagull King's pouch.
"Done reading. You can still sell it, you know."
He continued walking on the sea, heading deeper into East Blue.
…
(Continuing the special pirate flashback)
A few days earlier.
Cocoyashi Village.
"All right Then while the navy is not around, it is time to head out and do something big, boys"
"Ohhhh"
"Captain Buggy"
The underlings roared back with fiery enthusiasm.
They were all veterans who had followed Captain Buggy for a long time. Ever since they learned that "that man" was the captain's close friend, and even hinted he intended to support Buggy in the race for the One Piece, they had gone from loyal to downright fanatical.
He was a man destined to become the Pirate King
Any order from Captain Buggy was absolute. Taking down a little place like Cocoyashi Village…
Piece of cake.
They had investigated already. The nearest marine base was quite far. Even if someone called for help, it would take a long time for reinforcements to arrive.
More than enough time to plunder to their hearts' content.
At the same time, at the dock of Cocoyashi Village.
A fish shaped pirate ship with jagged teeth carved along the bow slowly cut through the waves and came to a stop at the shore.
"Sha ha ha ha ha… I will prove that Jinbe's ideals are wrong. Only fish men are the noblest race in this world"
Ever since Ozz set off on his journey, the flag of the Black Moon that flew over Fish-Man Island had needed a representative.
Jinbe, born from that faction, passed the screening to become a Warlord of the Sea.
Enel had no interest in any so called "Seven Warlords" title, so after some simple maneuvering, Jinbe officially expressed to the World Government and the other Warlords that he would never go against Ozz's will.
In the same year, the Empress of Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock, found herself under heavy pressure from the navy and the World Government.
As Ozz's former slave, the navy, the Government, and even the hounds of the underworld would not allow Hancock to continue roaming freely across the sea.
Her existence was a blow to the Government's prestige. Her identity was even more sensitive. Among everyone who had escaped from Ozz's chains, she was the first one they wanted to drag back.
But thanks to Hancock's formidable strength and the inconvenient fact that Amazon Lily was located in the Calm Belt, the World Government compromised and accepted her request.
After all, being a former slave of Ozz practically made you a natural fit for the Shichibukai. Loyal background guaranteed.
As part of the shuffle, they kicked Hanafuda out of the Seven Warlords.
In return, Hancock's personal safety and the safety of Amazon Lily were guaranteed.
Jinbe successfully joined the Shichibukai as well, and as a trade off, the Government agreed to release Arlong and the other surviving remnants of the Sun Pirates they had captured.
After one last brutal fight, Arlong and Jinbe parted ways.
Knowing he could not survive in the Grand Line, having been beaten half dead by monsters like Ozz and the marine admirals, Arlong decided to head for East Blue and stomp through the lowest of low elo.
He could not beat monsters.
But ordinary villagers
"Greetings, you boring humans"
"From now on, this island belongs to us"
Arlong and his crew, beaten and battered in the big leagues, came to the lowest of the low and began throwing their weight around.
Here, they rediscovered the taste of dominating humans.
Arlong looked down on the villagers who had no idea what to do and began setting his own rules.
"Ten thousand Berries per adult. Five thousand per child. This time we will only kill those who cannot pay."
They went from house to house, counting heads and collecting money, until they finally arrived at Belle-Mère's place.
Belle-Mère was in the middle of making dinner when she heard the commotion outside. She grabbed her rifle, kicked the door open, and shoved the barrel straight into Arlong's mouth.
He bit the gun in half.
"Ah…"
Her arm was stamped hard underfoot until the bone snapped. Little Nami and Nojiko ran over from a distance and saw everything from the shadows.
"Idiot Belle-Mère"
Genzo, the village officer, saw this and roared at her.
"There are things you can settle with money"
In the end, Arlong took ten thousand Berries from Belle-Mère. Enough to cover two children or one adult.
Just as Arlong turned to leave…
Belle-Mère grit her teeth and clutched her broken arm.
"Wait That is my daughters' share"
"I cannot say… that I do not have a family"
"Even if I lose my life. Even if it is only in words. I still want to be a mother."
Tears streamed down Belle-Mère's face, yet she smiled through them.
Nami and Nojiko's eyes were overflowing with tears as well. The two little girls clung to her and cried, arms wrapped tight around her waist.
The three of them sobbed and clung to one another.
"I am sorry. I never did my duty as a mother properly."
Arlong did not care.
Human sentiment meant nothing to him. He would not be moved to pity by the so called bonds of family. He raised his pistol and pointed it at Belle-Mère's head.
"In that case, you can die quietly."
"Your death will serve as the first warning."
Just as Arlong was about to pull the trigger, a voice rang out across the orchard. The tone was arrogant and ridiculous, but to Nami at that moment, it sounded like hope itself.
Because Arlong stopped.
His attention shifted, his gaze turning toward a different direction.
"Who owns this orange grove Get out here"
The villagers turned to look.
A man dressed like a circus performer swaggered into view, his blue hair tied up, his bright red nose shining, an entire group of henchmen in clownish outfits marching behind him with chests puffed out.
Buggy the Clown.
He acted like none of the gathered villagers mattered to him, let alone the tall, muscular fish men. His posture screamed arrogance.
Only when he saw Nami standing beside Belle-Mère, timidly raising her hand, did he seem to notice Arlong, who still had his gun aimed at her head.
In an instant, veins bulged on Buggy's forehead. Rage twisted his face as he opened his mouth and roared.
"Who the hell are you Trying to kill my target"
"Do you have any idea…"
"Who these oranges are for"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The tides are shifting, and secrets linger in the dark... Step into the shadows early on P@treon, where the next chapter awaits before the world sees it.
[email protected]/_theon
Change @ to "a"