'If I could draw the Totem of Undying, that'd be like having two lives.'
Ren thought to himself, placing the synthesis chest into Chester's mouth. The number of occupied slots increased to seven.
The golden Mazu statue gleamed with divine majesty, yet Ren was certain it wasn't pure gold—only gilded.
As he stared at the statue, he couldn't shake the feeling that Mazu was trying to convey some kind of omen.
Praying to Mazu… out at sea?
The other weapon, however, was simply beyond words.
It looked like a hammer, and in truth, it was a hammer—but one no sane person would ever think to use.
Because the head of this "hammer" was an actual mortar shell, crudely strapped to a wooden handle with duct tape.
A war hammer—of the most suicidal kind.
[Liberator · Hammer of Freedom]
[Origin: War]
[Type: One-time Item]
[Effect: Emits an aura of terror that affects sentient beings. Swing to detonate an explosion spanning several meters. Everything within range—including the user—will be annihilated.]
[Cost: The user.]
[Note:]Suicide infantry? Wrong! Taliban player!
"What the hell, 'user'? Why not just make it a nuclear grenade—throwing range a hundred meters, blast radius one kilometer?"
Ren looked it over again and decided his luck wasn't fit for gambling today.
Instead, he funneled all the treasure he'd dug up from Nami's stash into the roulette funds.
{Chip Balance: 95,000,000 Beli.}
He already has 23 spins on the high-tier VIP roulette.
With that kind of money, hitting a jackpot in the hundred-million range was almost guaranteed—but Ren knew better than to tempt fate.
He decided to hold off on spinning for now. It was time to find some action instead.
[Rider of Fate's Tide]
Ren had long analyzed this special trait. It often granted him items that were "not too outrageous, yet exactly what he needed."
From small things like Health Potions or Invisibility Potions, to great ones like the sentient storage artifact Eye Bone: Chester—this ability was clearly at work.
But now, Ren felt the "good karma" from this trait might have already been exhausted.
If he didn't stir up some real trouble and kept staying still, destiny would probably retaliate with a massive blow.
Conveniently, Nami's next move would definitely draw the attention of the greedy Captain Nezumi.
And Ren happened to have a debt to settle with that rat.
When dawn broke and roosters crowed, Nami—who hadn't slept all night thinking of someone—made her way to the Arlong Pirates' base, the starting point of their so-called empire: Arlong Park.
It was a seaside estate, dominated by a building that screamed Fish-Man architecture.
Within the estate lay a small inner bay where a massive sea creature, Moo Moo, often returned to rest.
Two Fish-Men stood guard at the gate. They were part of Arlong's lowest ranks.
By rules, they were supposed to salute and show respect when a higher-up passed by—and they usually did.
But when they saw Nami, neither spared her a glance.
Only after she entered Arlong Park did both guards sneer in unison.
"Putting on airs… she really thinks she's one of us."
"I'll never understand why Boss Arlong keeps that lowly human around—and even calls her an officer."
They didn't even bother to lower their voices. Their mocking tone carried clearly to Nami's ears.
Her steps faltered for just a moment before she silently continued forward.
She passed the guarded gate and came face-to-face with the source of all her nightmares and suffering—Arlong.
"Well, well, Nami. What brings you here today? Usually you rest for three days after each trip. Are you here to draw charts… or to see him?"
On the artificial beach beside the bay, Arlong lounged comfortably beneath a parasol. Standing beside him was another officer—Kuroobi.
Before them knelt a man covered in blood.
A human—but not from Cocoyasi Village.
Nami froze for a second, unsure what to do.
"Judging from your face, maybe not. But it doesn't matter," Arlong said with a grin.
He reached down and clamped his webbed fingers around the man's throat. "Pathetic, inferior creature. Weak, yet still daring to rely on others."
"Do you know what this one tried to do, Nami?"
"I don't, Arlong. I came here for something else. If you're going to kill someone, don't do it in front of me. It ruins my mood—and that affects the accuracy of my charts."
Nami's cold tone was steady, her fists clenched tightly, pretending to be indifferent.
"Hahahaha! You're so terrifyingly calm and rational, Nami."
Arlong roared with laughter. He pretended not to care, but inside, he relished it—the way humans like her swallowed their anger and fear.
This sense of superiority… it made him feel as though he'd fulfilled his life's goal—to prove Fish-Men stood above humans.
With grotesque satisfaction, he continued, "This guy's from Bok Village. Tried to flee Fish-Man rule—abandoned his wife and kids to run for the Marines."
"But guess what? Before he even found them, a bounty hunter from some island turned him in—for a mere 100,000 Beli."
"You humans are truly entertaining. Sell your own kind for a handful of coins. Disgusting."
Nami couldn't help herself. "And you, Arlong—you probably didn't pay him. You must've killed that bounty hunter instead, right?"
Arlong smirked. "No. That bounty hunter works for a human trading guild—what was it called? Shell Company. They want to build ties with me, get the Arlong Pirates to take out their business rivals."
"They're even plotting to manufacture a famine somewhere."
Arlong's saw-like nose twitched as he grinned. "Since the deal was profitable, I let the guy live."
"Heh."
Nami said no more but couldn't stop glancing at the man kneeling before Arlong.
Noticing her look, Arlong made his next move.
"I was planning to turn him into a dried corpse as a warning to other humans—but since you spoke up, Nami, I'll be merciful. I'll just teach him a lesson and let him live."
With that, Arlong tightened his grip until the man's mouth fell open. Then, with his other hand, he reached in—grabbed his tongue—and ripped.
The man convulsed violently, collapsing to the sand as blood poured from his mouth, staining the beach crimson.
"Moo Moo—snack time."
Arlong looked down at the torn tongue in disgust and tossed it into the bay.
A moment later, the enormous sea creature surfaced and gulped down both seawater and the grisly morsel.
Moo Moo wasn't particularly fond of such tiny snacks—but an order from Arlong was an order.
By now, it had grown accustomed to the taste of human flesh. Crunchy, even.
After shaking the blood off his hands, Arlong turned to Nami with a cheerful smile.
"So then, what business did you come for today?"
"Before I redeem Cocoyasi Village," Nami said, taking a deep breath, "will you hold true to your word?"
Her voice was firm. Her gaze unwavering.
(End of Chapter)