Chapter 475: Nami escape

"Alright," I said, my eyes not leaving the distant sea as it shimmered under the moonlight. "The short version is this: Arlong Park is controlled by a fishman named Arlong. He’s a warlord who used to be with the Sun Pirates. Strong, smart, and cruel. Years ago, he came to the Conomi Islands, took over, and imposed a brutal rule."

I paused, letting the weight settle before continuing. "He kills humans like they’re nothing. Enslaved an entire village. Nami’s village."

Zoro’s expression didn’t change, but I could feel the temperature shift. Usopp’s mouth opened slightly in shock, then closed.

"She’s been working for him all this time, trying to buy her village’s freedom with stolen treasure. That’s why she was so desperate for money back in Orange Town. Why she joined us in the first place. She’s not a thief because she wants to be... she’s a thief because she has to be."

Zoro looked down, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "So we fuck up this Arlong guy, and we will be on our way, right?"

"Right."

"Sounds easy enough." Zoro said. "Well then, I will go get a nap."

After some time they left. I heard water splashing sound. I went to the origin of the sound, and I saw that it was Nami. She pushed one of the small boats to the water. She also has a large sack, probably the treasure she stole from this ship. From the looks of it, she is running away.

"Don’t you think Luffy will be sad if you leave without even saying goodbye?"

Nami froze.

Her foot was already on the small boat, one hand gripping the sack that clinked with stolen treasure. The moonlight caught the shimmer of sweat on her skin, but it was the tension in her shoulders that stood out the most.

Slowly, she turned around.

I stood on the dock, arms crossed, watching her with a quiet gaze. The gentle splash of waves against the side of the Going Merry filled the silence.

"How long have you been standing there?" she asked, voice low and wary.

"Long enough," I said.

Her eyes flicked down to the sack, then back up to me. "I’m only taking what I brought in. You don’t need to stop me. I’ll leave without a fight."

"I’m not here to stop you," I replied calmly. "I just wanted to ask something."

She didn’t respond, but she didn’t leave either.

"Did you ever consider telling us?" I asked.

Nami’s grip on the sack tightened. "You wouldn’t understand."

"You think so?"

"I know so!" Her voice cracked, louder than intended. "You don’t know what it’s like! Watching your family die, living with monsters, and lying and stealing just so you can keep people alive. You don’t know what it’s like to sell your soul for hope that never comes."

I let the words hang in the air before I stepped forward.

"I do," I said softly. "More than you think."

She blinked, confused—but didn’t ask. Maybe she saw something in my eyes that told her I wasn’t lying. Maybe she didn’t want to know what horrors I was speaking of.

Instead, she turned away again, facing the small boat rocking in the water. "I can’t let you all die. Arlong’s too strong."

"You think we’ll die?"

"I know you will," she hissed, spinning around. "You think you’re strong, but Arlong’s different. He’s not like the pirates you’ve fought. He’s not even like Buggy or Kuro. He’s a monster. You can’t beat him."

"Well, I am a monster too, but I’m not the one who needs to beat him," I said.

Her brow furrowed. "Then who—?"

"We will," I said, cutting her off. "Together. All of us. You’re not alone anymore, Nami."

She looked down again. "Don’t say that like it means something."

"It does," I said. "It means we’ve got your back. Zoro, Usopp, Luffy—even if he doesn’t understand everything, he gets you. And I’m not about to let you walk into hell on your own."

Her shoulders trembled.

"I... I made a deal with him," she whispered. "Arlong. If I brought him 100 million beli, he’d free my village. I’m so close... I’ve almost got it. And if you show up, if he thinks I brought pirates—he’ll go back on everything."

"I know," I said.

She stared at me. "Then why won’t you let me leave?"

"Because you’re not going to make it," I said gently. "Not alone. He’ll take the money. And then he’ll kill you. Or he’ll keep the village enslaved anyway. You already know that, don’t you?"

She clenched her jaw. Her fingers curled into fists.

"You can’t change him by playing his game," I said. "You can only win by breaking the rules."

~~~