Not long ago, in the waters near Cocoyasi Village.
Nami stood at the bow of the warship, gazing into the distance at the still-empty horizon.
The sea breeze from her homeland brushed gently against her face, tousling her neatly combed hair into slightly messy layers.
But Nami paid no mind to her appearance. Her thoughts were complicated as she stared toward the homeland that was drawing ever closer.
"How's it looking?"
Smoker walked up beside her and asked, "How far out are we?"
Nami quietly sensed the air currents around her and listened to the pulse of the sea beneath her feet. Drawing on her innate talent as a navigator, she made a precise judgment almost immediately.
"At full speed, we'll arrive in twenty minutes."
"Good!"
Smoker turned without hesitation and bellowed to the crew, "All hands, prepare for battle!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Navy soldiers responded in unison, their voices thunderous with determination.
Blades were drawn, bullets chambered, and dozens of cannons extended from the hull of the massive warship like the snarling fangs of a beast.
At last, the colossal vessel revealed its deadly edge.
The ship's lookout sharpened his focus to the extreme, keeping constant watch over their heading.
Smoker hefted his heavy jitte. Sergeant Tashigi quietly rested her hand on the hilt of her prized sword, Shigure. Wallace was ready with the Den Den Mushi, manning the front lines of the news. Even Nami tightened her grip around her trusty defensive staff.
(TN: I got Tashigi rank wrong, she's apparently a sergeant. MB)
Only Garen remained in his usual white suit, standing calmly next to Nami—after all, his armor and greatsword could be summoned at a moment's notice.
"Stay sharp, everyone!"
Smoker took a deep drag of his cigar, then warned his subordinates in a grave tone,
"This time, we're not dealing with some petty East Blue pirates. These are Fish-Men from the Grand Line!"
"Be careful not to die out there!"
Fish-Men were born ten times stronger than humans, posing a serious threat to ordinary soldiers—especially to those who had just been transferred from the local bases to Loguetown.
Not to mention, Garen had recently analyzed Arlong as someone who'd brushed shoulders with the Warlords of the Sea and even crossed blades with Admirals.
"Garen?"
After inspecting the crew's preparations, Smoker returned to ask seriously,
"That Arlong Pirate Crew—do they really have ties to the Sun Pirates?"
"They do," Garen replied firmly.
"In fact, several members of the Arlong Pirates were once foot soldiers on the Sun Pirates' ship."
Smoker's expression grew even more grim.
He knew all too well what kind of power the Sun Pirates once wielded.
"Don't worry too much!"
A scornful smile appeared on Garen's face.
"Compared to their old captain, the Fish-Man Hero Fisher Tiger, Arlong's just a second-rate thug."
"Fish-Man Hero? Sun Pirates?"
Nami, quietly listening to their conversation, could no longer hold back her question.
"You mentioned those names before. What exactly is Arlong's background?"
"Well..."
Garen glanced at her and explained in a low voice,
"Fisher Tiger, captain of the Sun Pirates, was once Arlong's leader."
"But unlike that scum Arlong, he was a true hero."
Smoker remained silent. As a Navy officer, he couldn't openly agree with such a statement, though deep down, he didn't disagree.
"A hero?"
Nami frowned, clearly skeptical.
To her, Fish-Men were synonymous with devils and scum. To pair that word with "hero" felt jarring.
"That's right," Garen said earnestly.
"He once launched an assault on the World Nobles and freed hundreds of Fish-Men and human slaves from their clutches."
"Fish-Man slaves?"
Nami echoed in disbelief. "But don't they call themselves a superior race?"
"Hmph."
Smoker scoffed, his tone full of disdain.
"In the Grand Line, Fish-Men aren't considered any kind of 'superior race.'"
"On the contrary," Garen continued from Smoker,
"They're one of the most discriminated groups among humans."
"They're not even allowed to set foot on land in many places, and they're prime targets for slave traders."
He paused, then offered a comparison that wasn't entirely appropriate:
"In fact, the conditions of Fish-Men in the Grand Line are no better than the villagers back in your homeland who are oppressed by them."
"And the majority of the Sun Pirates were once slaves abused by the World Nobles."
"W-What?"
Nami muttered in shock, her eyes flickering with confusion.
"Hey, hey!"
Sensing her wavering, Garen quickly said,
"Don't tell me you're starting to feel sorry for those punks?"
Nami didn't respond, but the stiff expression on her face betrayed her conflicted thoughts.
"Listen up!"
Garen's tone grew heavy.
"No matter how tragic their past, it doesn't justify creating new tragedies for others."
His voice dripped with contempt.
"Fisher Tiger dared to challenge the strong—that's what made him a real hero."
"But Arlong? He just takes his pain out on the weak. That's the mark of trash."
"Yeah..."
Nami clenched her fists tightly. Memories of years of suffering flashed through her mind, and the fire in her eyes reignited with resolve.
"Still..."
Smoker spoke up with a hint of confusion.
"If Arlong's crew came from the Grand Line and has ties to the Sun Pirates, how have they managed to stay hidden in the East Blue for so long without being discovered by the Navy?"
The quality of the East Blue Navy was as low as that of its pirates—ignoring small matters and avoiding big ones. But there were certain red lines they couldn't ignore.
Like incidents involving World Government member nations, anything affecting their financial interests, or anything that threatened their global authority. Small issues could be swept under the rug, but big ones? Ignore those, and you'd face serious consequences from above.
And the Sun Pirates were a thorn in the World Government's side. Fish-Men from the Grand Line were also heavily rejected by human kingdoms.
How Arlong's crew—with such glaring connections—had managed to play petty tyrants in East Blue all these years without drawing attention was baffling.
"Well..."
Garen thought for a moment, then replied,
"I actually discovered something while gathering intel."
"What did you find?"
Smoker asked curiously.
"Remember that Commander Hammer?"
Garen said meaningfully. "Arlong has a similar figure covering for him. Someone who's been taking bribes and acting as his protector."
"Name's... Captain Nezumi, I believe."
"What?!"
Smoker's eyes sharpened instantly, his fury boiling over.
"There's a scumbag like that in the East Blue Navy?!"
After the events in Loguetown, Smoker's hatred for corrupt Navy officers had grown even deeper than his hatred for pirates.
"Hah."
Nami sneered.
"'Actually' might not be the right word. This kind of thing is the norm in the East Blue."
A thin fog of smoke drifted around them. Smoker's expression darkened as he slipped into his trademark clouded mood.
Rage fermented in silence.
He gritted his teeth, about to say something—when suddenly the lookout shouted:
"Report! Captain Smoker!"
"We've spotted a ship ahead!"
The lookout paused before adding,
"It's a Navy ship!"
"What? A Navy vessel?"
Smoker was taken aback.
"What's another Navy ship doing here?"
"Could it be...?"
His thoughts flashed back to what Garen had just said, and his expression shifted dramatically.
Then, with a dark face, he ordered,
"Signal them! Identify us as allies!"
"Tell that ship to come over!"
"Yes, sir!"
The sailors saluted and quickly began signaling toward the distant vessel using flags.
The Navy had a special flag code for identifying friendlies.
Every Navy base in the East Blue had its own unique identifier within this system.
And everyone in the East Blue Navy knew that the Loguetown base was the region's highest authority—directly appointed by Navy HQ.
To the other branches, Smoker's unit was the absolute superior force.
Sure enough, after a long moment of hesitation, the distant warship finally followed the instructions and sailed over.
When the two warships met and stabilized, the sailors aboard the other vessel saluted Smoker in unison.
Smoker said nothing. He simply stood coldly on the deck, his sharp eyes fixed on the commanding officer across from him.
It was a sleazy-looking man. The kind of man who exuded creepiness from appearance alone—
A ridiculous mouse-eared cap, a scrawny monkey-like frame, messy whiskers like a cartoon villain…
And two beady eyes, too scared to meet Smoker's gaze, hiding under his cap brim.
Sweat glistened on his brow, and his expression was nothing but nervous flattery.
The word weasel fit him perfectly.
"Navy Headquarters Captain, Smoker."
Smoker said coolly, his piercing gaze locked on the man.
"What unit are you from?"
"E-Eastern Branch 16th Division... Captain..."
The sleazy man stammered as he saluted shakily, his voice trembling as he announced the name that matched his disgraceful face:
"Nezumi."
"Oh? So you're Captain Nezumi?"
Smoker's eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
"Well now... what a pleasure to meet you."
(End of Chapter)
TN: Posted all my translated chapters. I genuinely think this one of the best one piece fanfic I've read and people keep skipping over it.