Chapter 10
Just as Arlong was about to finish Luffy off for good,
A blinding bolt of lightning suddenly tore across the clear sky.
BOOM—CRACK!
Rolling black clouds instantly swallowed the sun, turning day into twilight.
That heart-stopping sensation surged through Arlong again—far stronger and more terrifying than before.
Here it comes. I knew someone was lurking in the shadows!
Arlong could feel it clearly: if he dared to use even a fraction more force, he would die right in front of Luffy.
"Looks like rain… I still have laundry hanging out," Arlong muttered aloud.
Inside, he was cursing.
Damn second-generation tourist protagonist. That kind of entrance could only mean Luffy's dad.
The leader of the Revolutionary Army, secretly tailing his son like a bodyguard. Real productive use of time.
Do your subordinates know you're on a taxpayer-funded vacation?
Arlong grumbled inwardly, then casually tossed Luffy aside like trash.
In a flash he appeared beside Nami and Nojiko, tucked one under each arm, and strode off toward Nojiko's house.
A ferocious gust of wind whipped up behind him. In a few breaths, Arlong vanished over the horizon.
The thunder stopped. The clouds dispersed. Everything returned to calm.
Arlong glanced back. Luffy and the others had vanished without a trace.
Efficient cleanup crew.
He silently swore to himself: Dragon… one day I'll personally show you who the real dragon is!
After settling the sisters, Arlong returned and woke his three cadres with a kick each.
Hatchan groggily got up and looked around in confusion.
"Big Bro Arlong, what just happened? Where's that swordsman? We weren't done fighting!"
"Not done? Hatchan, doesn't your chest hurt?"
Kuroobi pointed at Hatchan's torso.
Hatchan looked down—an X-shaped wound was still bleeding.
He let out a horrified scream: "AHH! I'm injured! Doctor! I need a doctor!"
Arlong: [●′?｀●] Kuroobi: (ノ￣ー￣)ノノ(o_oノ)
"Big Bro Arlong, where did the Straw Hats go?"
Chew, now fully awake and scowling, asked darkly.
Today had been the most humiliating day since arriving in the East Blue.
"They've left."
How they left, Arlong didn't say—and didn't need to.
Was he supposed to tell them to go cry to Dragon for revenge?
Seeing Chew still fuming, Arlong patted his shoulder.
"Losing once isn't bad. You've all gotten too comfortable these past eight years. No progress at all—your strength is the same as when we first came to the East Blue."
Chew's face flushed with shame, then he vowed,
"Big Bro Arlong, from now on I'll train hard!"
"I will too," Kuroobi added.
"Good."
Arlong nodded. "I'll teach you the Rokushiki later. Don't let me down."
These were brothers who grew up with him—no worry about betrayal.
"Thank you, Big Bro Arlong!"
The prospect of learning the legendary Six Powers thrilled them. It was a secret technique even within the Marines.
As for how Arlong knew it, they assumed it came from a deal with Colonel Nezumi—they had just paid the rat a hundred million berries a few days ago.
"Don't celebrate yet. You have one month at most."
Arlong warned, "I plan to head back to the Grand Line. Anyone who hasn't mastered it by then stays in the East Blue. Otherwise you'll just die out there."
Only one month. The pressure instantly doubled.
Chew looked worried.
"Big Bro Arlong, our ship took heavy damage. It probably can't sail the Grand Line anymore!"
"I've already arranged for some Treasure Tree Adam. It should arrive in the next couple of days."
"Adam?!"
The three stared at Arlong in shock.
┌(.Д.)┐
Treasure Tree Adam was one of the rarest materials in the world. Insanely expensive—and money alone couldn't always buy it.
How did a 20-million-berry pirate like Arlong pull strings like that?
They were starting to worry he'd been scammed.
Hatchan, blunt as ever, opened his mouth: "Big Bro Arlong, the connection you used—"
Chew instantly clamped a hand over Hatchan's mouth.
"Enough. Go treat the wounded."
Arlong didn't bother explaining and sent them off.
Behind him, Hatchan complained, "Chew, why'd you cover my mouth?"
"Some things we just keep to ourselves. Saying it to his face would embarrass Big Bro Arlong. He already feels bad about being tricked—do you have to rub salt in the wound?"
"Oh, right!"
Arlong: (/?Д?)/ Chew knows how to act, but not much else!
…
Gen-san's head was still spinning. Before he fully regained his senses, a huge shadow loomed over him.
He looked up—Arlong towered above.
Terror and deep despair filled Gen-san's eyes.
The strength Arlong had displayed today could not be overcome by numbers.
"For Nami and Nojiko's sake, Cocoyasi Village only needs to pay ten percent from now on."
Arlong gave his order and turned to leave.
He could have waived it entirely, but he had promised Nami he would protect the village.
He would plant his pirate flag and claim the island as his territory.
A symbolic tribute was still required.
Gen-san froze. Then tears poured down his face.
They say real men don't cry easily—only because the pain hasn't cut deep enough.
Eight years of struggle had finally ended in victory.
But the victory had been bought with the bodies of Nami and Nojiko.
If not for the villagers, Gen-san would rather have died than accept this.
Watching Arlong's retreating back, Gen-san dropped to his knees and slammed his forehead into the ground.
Blood seeped from the wound, but he felt no pain.
"Please, Lord Arlong… take good care of those two girls."
"My women don't need reminders from you."
"Nami… Nojiko… you have to be happy…"
Gen-san whispered, voice breaking.
…
Back home, the sisters were already awake.
Arlong told them his decision and that he would soon set sail for the Grand Line.
They were stunned for a moment—then burst into joyful tears.
〒▽〒 (Ｔ▽Ｔ)
Nami Affection +5 Nojiko Affection +3
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. Nojiko's affection has reached 90. Reward: 1 Silver Treasure Chest.]
A Silver chest!
Arlong grinned inwardly.
Time for a blind box!
"Big Bro Arlong… can we go out for a bit?"
Nami wiped her tears and looked at him pleadingly. She wanted to tell Bellmere the good news right away.
"Go ahead."
Arlong waved them off.
Women only slow down the speed of opening loot boxes!
In his mind he commanded, "System, open the chest!"
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