The sun set in the west.
Night shrouded the earth.
After dawdling for an hour, taking advantage of the night's cover, Nami finally brought the ship to the back side of the island.
"Follow this small path upward, through the orange grove, and that's my house!"
Nami pointed to the small house glowing with light on the mountain.
"Wow~ Is this orange grove yours, Nami?"
Kuina asked.
"Not exactly. This belongs to everyone in the village, but I can make decisions too. You can eat as many as you want!"
Nami patted her chest and declared confidently.
"Then let's come pick oranges tomorrow. Tonight, let's first visit Nami's house!"
Tohru said.
"Uh..."
Nami froze.
According to her plan, she was going to entertain Sora and the others while it was dark.
Then pick enough oranges as return gifts and send them away before dawn tomorrow.
This way, she could minimize the chance of being discovered by fish-man Arlong's crew.
"What's wrong? Are we making things difficult for you, Nami? If so, we can pay for them!"
Kuina said somewhat uneasily, thinking Nami couldn't really make decisions about this orange grove.
"No, no, no, not at all. Feel free to pick them!"
Nami steeled herself.
She secretly prayed that if their activities were limited to the orange grove, they might not necessarily be discovered.
Under normal circumstances, the fish-men wouldn't specifically come to the orange grove. As long as they were careful, it should be fine.
"Alright, it's getting late. Let's hurry home!"
Nami pushed the three up the mountain while nervously looking around.
But...
Even though Nami was already alert enough, she still couldn't detect the 'little tail' in the sea.
Just after Nami and Sora's group went up the mountain.
Splash~
A blue head emerged from the sea surface.
...
...
Arlong Park.
Located at the main port of Cocoyasi Village.
Seven years ago, fish-man Arlong, exiled to the East Blue, invaded Cocoyasi Village.
Afterward, he made this village his base, gradually occupying the surrounding twenty villages, becoming the local tyrant of this sea area.
Using money extorted from the villagers, Arlong's crew built Arlong Park, a place of enjoyment for fish-men.
Tonight.
Arlong Park was still filled with singing and dancing, quite lively.
At a certain moment.
"Boss, Nami's back!"
Carp fish-man Takeshi leaped from the water and reported to the leader Arlong, who was lying on a lounge chair eating meat.
"Nami's back? When? I was fishing at the main port the whole time and didn't see her!"
Fish-man officer Hatchan spoke up in confusion.
"Because Nami didn't come through the main entrance. She quietly brought her ship to the back of the island, and this time she didn't come back alone!"
Carp fish-man Takeshi said.
"Not alone? What's going on? Has Nami grown bold? Did she find reinforcements outside, wanting to oppose us?"
Officer Kuroobi said.
"Hehe, even if it really is some kind of external help, it probably isn't anything special. Otherwise, they would have come head-on long ago! Takeshi, tell us, how many people are there in total?"
Officer Chew laughed.
"I only saw three people—one man, one woman, and a kid!"
Takeshi answered.
Hearing this.
The fish-men looked at each other, then burst into thunderous laughter.
Just three people, and one was even a child—nothing to fear at all.
Wanting to shake their position with three humans was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, an ant trying to shake a tree.
"They're probably Nami's friends, here to visit. Don't worry about it, don't worry about it!"
The simple-minded octopus Hatchan guessed.
"Hahaha."
Arlong, the leader of the fish-man crew who had been silent for a long time, suddenly laughed.
"Whether they're reinforcements or friends doesn't matter. This island is my territory—not just any random cats and dogs can set foot here. Once they step on this island, their life and death are no longer in their control. We must let them know the price of illegal entry!"
Arlong grinned, his mouth corners curving into a cruel arc.
"Big Brother Arlong is right!"
"We must make those humans pay the price!"
"Boss, I thought of an interesting game..."
"Tomorrow morning, we'll..."
The fish-men chattered away.
In the end, all the fish-men couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
...
...
At this moment.
The orange cottage on the mountaintop.
Nami knew nothing about the fish-men's schemes.
Right now, she was being pulled aside by her sister Nojiko for a talk.
"Nami, I'm happy that you've made friends, but how could you bring them back to the island? If Arlong's crew discovers them..."
Nojiko was secretly anxious.
"I know it's dangerous too, but... anyway, I came back very secretly. The fish-men won't know. As long as we get through tonight, I'll send them away tomorrow!"
Nami said.
In the dining room.
A sumptuous feast was laid out.
However, neither Sora, Tohru, nor Kuina had started eating, waiting for the Nami and Nojiko sisters to take their seats.
"Big brother, that... Nami's sister doesn't seem to welcome us very much, does she? And Nami..."
Kuina asked with a troubled expression.
Although she was young, because she had grown up in the dojo interacting with many people.
She was much more perceptive and sophisticated in dealing with people than Tohru, who was tens of thousands of years old.
"Don't think too much about it. You just need to know that Nami is our friend. When friends don't want to talk, we shouldn't press them. Let's just wait and see—everything will become clear tomorrow!"
Sora smiled.
"Oh, I understand!"
Kuina nodded obediently.
"By the way, Tohru, after dinner, go to the ship and prepare..."
The night passed pleasantly.
Despite having many concerns, Nojiko and Nami still did their utmost to fulfill their duties as hosts.
The only slightly awkward moment was in the latter half of the night when Sora was dragged by Tohru to the orange grove to experience the outdoors...
Getting a bit too carried away, they were caught red-handed by Nojiko, who had come to patrol because she was worried about the fish-men.
Of course, since everyone was adults, no one said much about it.
The next morning, everything was swept under the rug.
Both sides tacitly agreed not to mention it.
"Let's go, everyone~"
Nami, dressed in fruit-picking clothes, was spirited and ready to take Tohru and Kuina to experience the joy of orange picking.
However...
Before the three had gone far.
Ring ring ring~
Ring ring ring~
The sound of bicycle bells rang out.
On the mountain path from the other direction.
A middle-aged man wearing a pinwheel hat and covered in scars was pedaling his bicycle with all his might, sparks almost flying from the chain.
"Nami, quickly take your friends and leave! The fish-men... the fish-men somehow got the news and are heading this way!"