Chapter 20 — Nami and Koby's Choice
Should he adhere to his original resolve and join the Navy, using his limited strength to try and reform its corruption from within? Or should he follow Lord Jack's advice, remain by his side, and become a partner in true justice?
The next actions of Colonel Mouse would determine whether the Navy would gain a new rising star, or whether the seas would see another prodigy struggling forward to uphold genuine justice.
"Other than this treasure, did you find anything else?" Colonel Mouse asked casually, his gaze flickering as he spoke.
"All that was found is here," Aken replied respectfully.
Colonel Mouse nodded, appearing to accept the answer. However, his deputy leaned closer and whispered, "We searched thoroughly. Nothing else was found. It must have been hidden."
A sinister smile slowly spread across Colonel Mouse's face. "In that case, don't blame me for being ruthless."
He raised his voice. "You audacious villagers, did you really think you could fool a Navy colonel? As remnants of the Arlong Pirates, all of you will die here today!"
The villagers froze in shock. Remnants of the Arlong Pirates? So this was his intent—to erase everyone and cover up the truth. Jack glanced at Nami. Her expression was twisted with hesitation and pain as she struggled internally, and he watched quietly, curious to see what choice she would make.
At the moment the Marines raised their rifles, Nami suddenly stepped forward.
"Wait! What you're looking for is with me!"
She threw the ledger straight toward Colonel Mouse. He caught it, flipped through several pages, and nodded with satisfaction. "Good. You're sensible."
Then his expression hardened. "Fire!"
Gunshots rang out in rapid succession. In the stunned eyes of Nami, Koby, and the villagers, the Navy that was supposed to protect them turned their guns on unarmed civilians and pulled the trigger. After a single volley, many villagers fell into pools of blood. Who could have imagined that after destroying Arlong's crew, they would face a Navy even more ruthless than pirates?
Those who fell died unwillingly, their eyes wide with resentment and despair.
Amidst all the chaos.
"Save me…!"
"Kill them all…!"
"I was wrong… I shouldn't have trusted luck…"
"What am I even doing…"
Nami's broken voice was heard.
Tears streamed down Nami's face as she grabbed Jack's arm tightly. Jack's voice remained calm—too calm actually, as if he's a different person entirely.
"I told you already—no matter what choice you make, I'll help you see it through. Not a single one of these Navy scum will escape."
Even Jack hadn't expected Colonel Mouse to order an immediate massacre so suddenly without hesitation, but now there was no need for restraint.
Rage surged through him. With or without Nami's plea, he would have erased this filth.
In a furious burst, Jack activated both his Honey Badger Devil Fruit and Slip-Slip Fruit abilities. His figure blurred as he sprinted across the battlefield at extreme speed, intercepting every line of fire before it could reach the surviving villagers. Each time he appeared, panic spread through the Marine ranks, their formation collapsing under the pressure of his overwhelming presence.
"C-can't hit him!"
"Someone help me! I'm not ready to die!"
"Don't come closer, you monster—!"
Colonel Mouse narrowed his eyes, forcing himself to stay calm as he tracked Jack's movements. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, "You're that pirate hunter, aren't you? Do you even know what you're doing?! Attacking the Navy is a grave crime!"
"Stop now," he continued loudly, trying to project authority, "and I can let you leave safely and pretend none of this ever happened!"
Jack answered him with action.
His claw swept out in a savage arc.
As a colonel from a branch headquarters, Mouse was not without skill. Drawing his long sword, he barely managed to block Jack's high-speed strike, sparks exploding at the point of impact.
"Just a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user!" Mouse sneered. "Don't think I'm one of those low-class fishmen!"
Jack couldn't help but feel amused. This lecherous man couldn't even defeat Arlong, yet he still dared to bark so confidently.
"Don't make me laugh," Jack said coldly. "You're far weaker than Arlong."
Power surged through his arm. With a sharp crack, Jack's claw cleaved straight through the blade, shattering it into fragments, then continued forward without slowing, severing one of Colonel Mouse's arms at the shoulder.
"My hand—my hand!!" Mouse screamed, staggering back. "I'll make you pay! All of you will die! Dare attack the Navy, and no one in the world can save you!"
Jack ignored the empty threats. In the next instant, he appeared directly in front of Mouse, his right claw driving forward and piercing straight through his chest.
Colonel Mouse's eyes widened with hatred and disbelief, as if he wanted to curse Jack one last time. But before a single word could escape, darkness swallowed him as his heart was crushed.
Jack flicked his claw, tossing the lifeless body aside. The infinity Gauntlet remained spotless, not a single drop of blood staining its surface.
But the slaughter was not yet over.
He had promised Nami that every executioner would pay, and Jack never broke his word.
No matter how desperately the remaining Marines begged or screamed, he remained unmoved. The moment they chose to fire on innocent villagers, their fate had already been decided.
When everything finally fell silent, the sea breeze no longer carried the familiar scent of salt. Instead, it was thick with the metallic stench of blood and rust.
The horrific scene made many villagers retch.
Nami felt none of it. Her face was streaked with tears as she moved frantically among the wounded, tearing cloth and bandaging injuries with trembling hands.
"Lord Jack…" Koby approached slowly after the battle, his body shaking as he clenched his fists. Awe, confusion, and despair twisted together in his voice. "Is this… the Navy? Is this my dream?"
"No," Jack replied calmly. "Your dream is to become a righteous Navy officer. Not this kind of despicable worm."
Koby's eyes brightened slightly. "Then… are there many Navy officers like that? Truly righteous ones?"
Jack paused. "Yes. Many stand on the side of justice. Many more are corrupt, preying on villages and colluding with pirates. And some are nothing more than dogs for the powerful, sent to do their dirty work. There are plenty of those too."
Koby froze. He had never realized that, in Jack's eyes, the Navy could be divided so clearly into different kinds of people.
"So," Jack continued, looking directly at him, "tell me your choice. Will you go to the Navy and try to reform it from within, or will you follow me and uphold justice in another way?"
Koby looked around at the battlefield. The wounded lay groaning on the ground, the dead unmoving. The sharp metallic smell lingered in the air. Slowly, his gaze hardened.
"With my strength and personality, reforming the Navy from within is too difficult," he said firmly. "So I choose the second path. I hope that under your guidance, I can gain the strength and resolve to spread justice."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Even if that means becoming a pirate?"
"Justice has nothing to do with one's occupation," Koby replied without hesitation. "Even if the Navy hunts us after today, I will still believe what my own eyes have seen."
Jack laughed softly. "Good. I don't know whether your choice is wise—but I hope that your future self won't regret the decision you made today!"
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