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Chapter 42: Arlong Park
At the entrance of Nami and Nojiko's house, Nami stood at the door with a large bundle on her back, bidding farewell to everyone.
"As planned, I'll take the Berries back to Arlong Park first. You all must wait until Luffy and Zoro arrive before you come out."
"Mhm." Everyone nodded in unison, watching Nami leave.
It wasn't until Nami's figure had gradually disappeared from view that Nojiko turned around with a smile and said to the others:
"Would you like some more drinks? Or perhaps some oranges?"
After learning that Nami's pirate crew not only had two Devil Fruit users but also a powerful figure with a bounty of tens of millions, her anxiety had greatly eased.
To put Nami's mind at ease, she decided to place all her hopes on Nami and her partners and not do anything unnecessary.
After all, even if they couldn't shake Arlong, and even if the whole village gathered, it would likely only increase the casualties.
"Let's have some oranges! I noticed the tangerine grove when I came in, they look so good!" Usopp said.
"Those were planted by my and Nami's mother, Belle-mère."
Nojiko led everyone towards the tangerine grove, her tone tinged with nostalgia. "Back then, she managed to raise the two of us thanks to the harvest from these tangerine trees..."
She skillfully picked a few plump, golden-yellow oranges and distributed them to everyone.
Ganyu took one and was about to peel it herself when she saw Nojiko had already peeled one and was naturally holding it to her mouth.
"Hm?"
Ganyu paused, looking up to meet Nojiko's smiling gaze. She immediately understood Nojiko's kind intentions and obediently opened her mouth. "Ah~"
The sweet juice burst in her mouth, and Ganyu savored it, her eyes involuntarily squinting.
"So sweet~~"
It really was sweet, but I don't know if it was because the orange itself was sweet, or because a beautiful lady was feeding me.
"If it's sweet, have some more. Nami also loved oranges just like you when she was little." Nojiko reached out and ruffled Ganyu's hair, then touched the small horns on her head.
"!" Ganyu's body trembled, a strange tingling sensation coming from the tips of her horns. She subconsciously shrank her neck, covering her horns with her hands, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Nojiko, I'm actually much older than I look..."
She realized that Nojiko seemed to be treating her like a little sister who needed protection, which made her feel a bit helpless.
Nojiko was at most twenty, and Nami was only eighteen.
Before crossing over, she was a college student of 21 or 22, but this body belonged to a young woman over 4,000 years old.
Therefore, both Nami and Nojiko were just little sisters in front of her.
"Huh? You look sixteen or seventeen at most, right?" Nojiko asked in disbelief. Ganyu looked a few years younger than Nami.
Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku all nodded in agreement.
In Usopp's eyes, Ganyu and Kaya should be about the same age. Kaya was seventeen, and Ganyu was probably only sixteen.
"..." Ganyu sighed silently in her heart and gave up explaining.
As an adult who had lived for over four thousand years, she couldn't be bothered to argue with these little kids, whose combined ages didn't even match hers.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
Nojiko frowned and called towards the door, "Who's there?"
"It's me." A deep male voice rang out.
"Uncle Genzo!" Nojiko's expression relaxed, and she introduced Genzo to Ganyu and the others.
Genzo was a police officer in Cocoa Village who had been enduring pressure from the Arlong Pirates for many years.
After opening the door.
A middle-aged man stood there, wearing a pinwheel hat and a slightly old but clean police uniform, his face clearly showing anxiety.
"Nojiko, a Marine warship is attacking the Arlong Pirates. Remind Nami..."
He was stunned when he saw so many people surrounding Nojiko.
"This is..."
"They are friends Nami met on the outside, they're here to help Nami," Nojiko quickly explained.
"Hello, my name is Ganyu, I'm Nami's companion." Ganyu greeted her politely, giving a simple and ordinary self-introduction.
But the remaining three were very dramatic.
"I am Captain Usopp, with 8,000 soldiers under my command. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"I'm Johnny, and this is my brother Yosaku. We are the best bounty hunter duo, and we're here to take Arlong's head!"
Genzo was speechless, stunned by this series of "bold words." He opened his mouth but forgot what he was originally going to say.
Where did these audacious guys come from?
Ganyu said helplessly, "Those three are not mentally stable, you don't need to worry about them. If you need anything, just talk to me and Nojiko."
"Oh, alright." Genzo seemed to be influenced by Ganyu's calm demeanor, as if he had forgotten what he just heard, and his anxious expression returned.
"A Marine warship suddenly appeared and is bombarding Arlong Park! I just saw Nami heading in that direction; it's too dangerous for her to be there!"
"Marines?"
Nojiko's expression changed, and she immediately became worried. "Why at this time of all times..."
She was somewhat troubled. Just as they had formulated a plan to deal with Arlong and his crew, a group of Marines suddenly appeared.
Ganyu pondered for a moment, quickly recalling the original story, but her memory was very fuzzy.
She forgot if this group of Marines was in the original story, but even if they were, they probably wouldn't be able to break through Arlong Park in the end and would likely be dealt with by Arlong's crew.
So.
"Uncle Genzo, let's go to the shore first," Ganyu said calmly.
"This..." Genzo hesitated, feeling it was dangerous to take such a young girl along.
"Take us there, Uncle Genzo. They are all very capable, they are the helpers Nami brought back from the outside seas!" Nojiko said.
"Alright, follow me." Genzo looked at Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku, figured the three who had just been bragging must have some skills, and nodded in agreement.
...
A few minutes later, the group arrived at the shore.
A Marine warship flying the seagull flag was breaking through the waves, approaching its target. Flames spewed from the cannon at its bow, and shells were fired towards the strangely shaped Arlong Park in the distance, the explosions echoing between the water and the buildings.
"Are the Marines really here to wipe them out? Doesn't that mean we're not needed anymore?" Usopp shouted in surprise.
Nojiko looked, then shook her head. "The Marines have attacked the Arlong Pirates many times over the years, but so far, not a single attempt has been successful."
"What?! They're that strong?" Usopp asked in disbelief.
"You'll see soon enough." Nojiko didn't say more, her gaze drifting towards Arlong Park, as if searching for Nami.
At the same time.
On the deck of a Marine warship, a Marine officer wearing a coat emblazoned with "Justice" was passionately giving a pre-battle mobilization to his soldiers:
"Our mission this time is to go to Gosa Village, which was destroyed by Arlong and his crew, rescue the surviving townspeople, and lead them safely away from here!"
At his most emotional, he drew his sword from his waist, its tip pointing straight at Arlong Park, his voice suddenly rising in pitch:
"Although that's what I'm thinking! But to stand by and do nothing while watching these pirates occupy the village at will, can our sense of justice allow us to do that?!"
"NO!!!"
The Marine soldiers, filled with righteous indignation, roared in unison.
"Alright, continue bombarding Arlong Park! Be careful not to let them get into the water; these guys are twice as powerful in the water as they are on land!"
The Marine officer gave his orders loudly.
Right in the heart of Arlong Park.
A Fish-Man with blue skin and a long, serrated nose sat on the highest seat, watching the approaching Marine warship from afar.
"Brother Arlong, I've already confirmed with Colonel Nezumi. The people who have come are from the Navy's 77th Branch, they are not under his jurisdiction."
A Fish-Man stepped forward and reported the information he had just obtained via Den Den Mushi.
"Oh? Not his jurisdiction..."
A fierce smile tugged at Arlong's lips, his jagged teeth glinting coldly. "So... we can go all out and have a big fight now, can't we?"
He looked around at his eager subordinates, his gaze finally landing on three Fish-Men whose auras were clearly stronger:
"Hatchan, Kuroobi, and Chew! The three of you, go tear that Marine warship to pieces!"
"Alright, Brother Arlong!"
Hearing this, an octopus-like Fish-Man with six arms, a muscular ray-like Fish-Man, and a kissing-gourami-like Fish-Man with protruding lips stepped forward.
"Wow! The three top officers are attacking at the same time, this is going to be a great fight!"
"If they can get into the water, that ship probably won't last three minutes!"
A burst of excited cheers erupted from the Fish-Man crowd, eagerly anticipating the performance of the Arlong Pirates' three top officers.
In a corner of the Fish-Man world, an out-of-place orange-haired girl calmly watched everything unfolding on the sea.