OP: My Aircraft Carrier Evolves#100+101: Nami and Nojiko! A Golden Treasure That Drives the Pirates of East Blue to a Frenzy!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

CRASH!

The sound of explosions ripping through Arlong Park startled the people of Cocoyasi Village—and Nojiko, in her mikan grove.

They were all at a loss.

"Hey, what was that?"

"I don't know!"

"Could it be... the Marines? Are they finally here to take down Arlong and his crew?"

"The Marines? No way. Not a single Marine has set foot on this island since Arlong's crew set up camp here."

The villagers murmured amongst themselves, stealing fearful glances toward the commotion. Some simply locked their doors and pretended they'd heard nothing.

What they couldn't hear couldn't hurt them.

After a few moments, the sounds died down.

Outside her small house, Nojiko gazed toward the park, a knot of unease tightening in her stomach.

She didn't know if Nami had already set out to sea. To raise the money to save their home, Nami often went away for long stretches.

She stole from pirates—their money, their treasure.

Worry gnawed at her.

Despite her fear, Nojiko started running toward Arlong Park. Along the way, she ran into Genzo, the town's sheriff.

Genzo was an older man who always wore a pinwheel on his hat. It might have looked silly, but he was a gentle soul.

He'd worn it ever since Nami was a little girl—just because it made her smile.

He was also one of the few people who knew the truth: that Nami had only joined Arlong's crew to save them all.

In fact, everyone knew.

They just pretended they didn't, for her sake.

Together, Nojiko and Genzo crept toward Arlong Park. They peered over a low wall, two heads popping up.

The setting sun hung low over the sea, casting a shimmering, golden-red light that reflected off the surface of the swimming pool—and the blood that filled it.

Genzo and Nojiko's eyes widened in horror.

The bodies of Fish-Men floated in the water, bobbing with the gentle ripples.

Soldiers in identical uniforms were fishing them out, hauling them to a large ship at the mouth of the river.

"Hey..." Genzo whispered, gesturing for Nojiko to look.

There, where the tyrant who had lorded over them for so long should have been, was Arlong.

He was embedded in a wall, his entire body charred black. He looked like a piece of dried, roasted fish.

Nojiko was stunned.

Arlong and his crew... had been wiped out.

She didn't know whether to be happy or terrified.

Happy, because Arlong's crew had committed countless atrocities. They had treated the villagers like slaves. They had murdered her mother, Belle-mere...

Their deaths were a cause for celebration.

But... could this mysterious group who had defeated Arlong be even more ruthless?

If so, the dark cloud that had hung over their village for so long would only grow thicker.

It was a fear that Genzo shared.

"Hey."

A voice suddenly came from behind them.

Nojiko and Genzo froze, a cold sweat breaking out on their foreheads. 'We've been discovered.'

"Are you pirates, or locals?"

Nojiko and Genzo exchanged a look. They both raised their hands to show they were unarmed and slowly, painfully, turned around.

A woman was watching them.

She was beautiful, with an air of intelligent elegance. She wore a purple and black dress. Her skin was fair, her short hair framing her face. Her reddish-brown eyes glinted with wisdom.

She studied them, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips.

Her? She's the one who defeated Arlong's crew?

It seemed impossible.

"You're locals, aren't you?" Robin said, sensing their tension. "Don't be afraid. We..."

Robin paused. For her, the word "we" was a precious thing. It was a kind of acceptance.

"We are the crew of the Winter Blossom Kingdom. Our king heard that a crew of Fish-Man pirates had taken up residence here, and he brought us to deal with them. The Fish-Man pirates have now been... eliminated."

Winter Blossom Kingdom?

They'd never heard of it.

A king?

But the word "eliminated"... it sent a jolt of hope through them. Maybe these people weren't the enemy.

"The king has said that we will be stationed here for a while," Robin continued. "Would you like to meet him?"

She had been with the king for over six months now. She knew him well.

He was merciless toward his enemies—the pirates, the villains, the corrupt.

But to his own crew, his subordinates, his people... he was a good man. Good in every way, except perhaps during training.

He didn't have the arrogance of other kings and nobles. He was approachable, down-to-earth.

He was, in a way, a nearly perfect man.

Except for his weakness for women.

But given his status, his power, that wasn't really a flaw.

It might even have been a strength.

Meet the king?

Genzo and Nojiko hesitated, then nodded. If these people were going to be staying, they would have to interact with them eventually. Better to get a sense of them now.

Robin led them into the park.

Law and Ace, still not having had their fill of fighting, had gone to the beach to duel.

Reiju was lounging under a parasol, sunglasses on, enjoying the sunset.

Tashigi was cleaning the blood from her beloved sword.

Maya was walking her "cat"—a massive, white-furred saber-toothed tiger that, having been cooped up on the ship for too long, was now tearing around the park with joyful abandon.

Deuce and Mihar of the Spade Pirates were grilling meat.

Skull, the eccentric in the mask, had a penchant for collecting pirate memorabilia. He was currently sawing off Arlong's jagged, saw-toothed nose.

"Definitely a rare find!" he'd said.

Nojiko and Genzo's eyes darted around, searching for Nami.

They were worried.

Robin, with her keen eye for detail, noticed. "What is it? Do you know one of the pirates here?"

Nojiko and Genzo tensed.

They exchanged another look.

Yes, or no?

In the end, Nojiko decided that this woman didn't seem like a bad person. She told her the truth.

"I have a sister," she began, and then she told her everything.

Robin listened, and her expression softened.

It was a sad story. As sad as her own...

"We didn't find her here," Robin said gently. "She must have gone out to sea. I hope she returns safely."

She wasn't here.

Nojiko and Genzo breathed a sigh of relief. They followed Robin into the main building of Arlong Park and saw the king.

He was a handsome young man, bent over a table, drawing something. Beside him was a strange, snail-like creature.

Jin was using the island of the Conomi Archipelago as a template to draw a treasure map, which he planned to distribute throughout the East Blue.

Given the nature of pirates, and with a little help from a few rumors spread by Smoker, it was almost certain to work. At the very least, Eldoraggo, the man obsessed with finding the treasure of Woonan the Great Gold Pirate, would take the bait.

Woonan had been a real person. It was said that he had once possessed a third of the world's gold.

But Jin suspected he had been the previous user of the Gold-Gold Fruit.

"Your Majesty," Robin said, "these are some of the local villagers. They heard the commotion and came to investigate. I found them and brought them here."

Jin looked up.

Genzo and Nojiko bowed nervously.

They didn't know what to say. They just stood there, in awe. Cocoyasi Village had never been visited by such a distinguished personage.

Jin smiled. "Don't worry. I'm not like Arlong and his crew. You can go back and tell the other villagers that from now on, all of Arlong's rules are null and void."

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"Really?" Nojiko and Genzo looked up, their faces alight with joy.

"Yes," Jin said. "However, I will be temporarily commandeering this island for a while. And if any of my crew come into the village to shop, don't be afraid. They will pay for what they take. If they don't, you can come find me."

His warm smile, his gentle tone... in that moment, to Nojiko, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen.

The handsomeness of a savior.

Her affection for him soared.

Nojiko and Genzo ran back to the village to spread the news.

"Really?"

At first, the villagers were skeptical.

Arlong's crew... wiped out?

Then, Nojiko had a flash of inspiration. She ran back to Arlong Park and borrowed Arlong's noseless head.

"He's dead!"

"Arlong is dead!"

"It's a miracle!"

The villagers finally believed.

"That bastard... is he finally dead?"

They crowded around, kicking Arlong's head, venting their years of frustration until it was a bloody, unrecognizable mess.

Finally, they decided to build a bonfire and burn Arlong and his pirate flag.

The firelight danced in their eyes.

"Arlong's evil reign is over!" Genzo shouted.

"A great king has saved Cocoyasi Village!"

"We're saved! Long live the king!"

As if waking from a dream, the villagers joined in the cheer.

"LONG LIVE THE KING!"

Arlong was gone, and a new ruler had arrived. No matter what he had promised, they had to find a way to get on his good side. This was their chance to show their loyalty.

Resist?

They couldn't even resist Arlong. How could they possibly stand up to the man who had defeated him?

—————————

From the top floor of Arlong Park, you could see Cocoyasi Village, could hear their jubilant cheers and celebrations.

Jin stood with his arms crossed, a smile on his face. "If they knew what I was really planning, would they be cursing my name right now? Accusing me of bringing more pirates to their shores?"

Robin smiled faintly. "Perhaps. But as long as you eliminate all the pirates who come, Your Majesty, their cheers will only grow louder. They will worship you as a god."

Jin nodded. He turned to her. "And what about you, Miss Robin? Will you cheer for me?"

Robin froze. The king's gaze was intense, and she could feel a blush creeping up her cheeks. She was flustered.

"Ahem... I think the meat is ready. I'll just go get it..." she said, making a hasty retreat.

"Oh ho? Miss Robin is a tough one to crack."

Reiju was sitting on the roof outside, her white dress revealing her long legs. Her tone was teasing.

Jin looked at her. "What are you doing out here? Eavesdropping? Or are you jealous?"

"Isn't it said that even a fruit plucked by force can quench a thirst?" Reiju purred. "'So go on. Pluck one.'"

Jin's arm suddenly stretched, like candy, and he pulled Reiju toward him.

"Alright," he said, wrapping his arms around her. "I'll pluck one for you."

Reiju blushed, a mixture of embarrassment and anger. "I didn't say it had to be me!"

"Then you shouldn't have offered," Jin replied.

"Let me go, you tyrant! There are people right below us! If they hear, what will happen to your image?"

"Good point," Jin said. "Soundproof wall."

He deployed his zone of silence.

"There. Now we're all set."

Reiju was dumbfounded.

Damn it! That works too?

—————————

East Blue, a certain sea.

Near an island, a large fleet of pirate ships was gathered. On the shore, the pirates were cheering and feasting.

"Captain-Admiral!" a pirate shouted, bursting into a tent. "There's big news!"

The Captain-Admiral—Don Krieg—was playing cards with his subordinate captains.

The sudden interruption drew everyone's attention.

WHAM!

The intruder was driven straight through the floorboards, blood seeping out from under him.

A man with a bandana and a deadpan expression was crouched over him, holding two tonfas with iron balls on the ends. One of them was slowly spinning, while the other was pressing the intruder's head into the floor.

"Hey. You know the rules," Gin said, his voice cold.

Krieg set down his cards. "Alright, Gin. Let's hear this 'big news' of his."

"Yes, Captain-Admiral Krieg," Gin replied. He let up on the tonfa and pulled the intruder up by his head. "Talk. If you don't want to die."

The intruder, ignoring the pain, relayed the news he had heard.

"Woonan's golden treasure?" Krieg said, surprised.

The other captains all leaned in.

"Really?"

"They say it's enough to buy a kingdom!"

"But no one's ever found it."

"Is it true?"

"Where did you hear this?"

"The news came from the Marines in Loguetown."

"The Marines? It's a trap."

"No. A pirate accidentally overheard Captain Smoker's conversation..."

"The Conomi Islands... a crew of Fish-Man pirates from the Grand Line... they're the ones who found the clue. They say they were once part of the Sun Pirates. They found a treasure map, and that's why they came to the East Blue. They're even working with the Marines. Otherwise, they would have been captured by now. They're planning on keeping the treasure for themselves. And they've already found it."

The captains all swallowed hard.

"It sounds suspicious... it could be a Marine trap..."

"But then again, a crew of Fish-Man pirates from the Grand Line showing up in the East Blue... that's suspicious in itself. And that Smoker... he came to the East Blue around the same time as the Fish-Men, didn't he? Or maybe a little later. But if it was for the treasure, then it all makes sense."

They all started talking at once.

Treasure... enough to buy a kingdom... it was too tempting to resist, especially for a group of greedy pirates.

Krieg's own greed was evident, but he still had a sliver of reason.

"Gin," he said, "go check it out."

Gin nodded.

The same scene was playing out on pirate ships all across the East Blue.

The entire sea was in an uproar.

The golden treasure of Woonan the Great Pirate had been found.

The reckless had already set sail.

The rational were still waiting, watching.

—————————

Marine Base 16.

"What? Golden treasure??" Captain Nezumi was shocked.

"Yes, Captain!" a subordinate reported. "They say a pirate accidentally overheard a conversation between Captain Smoker in Loguetown and Arlong's crew. Now, all the pirates in the East Blue are going crazy."

Nezumi was dumbfounded.

"Holy shit! How come I didn't know about this? And Arlong's crew is in contact with Smoker? That Smoker! With his righteous facade... so he's the biggest traitor in the Marines after all! You've betrayed justice too? I never would have guessed... you're even more treacherous than I am!"

Nezumi stroked his mustache, a glint of "wisdom" in his eyes.

"I knew it! A crew of Fish-Man pirates from the Grand Line... they didn't come all the way to the East Blue to build a park! Their real purpose was the treasure! Let's go! Get the men! We're going to Cocoyasi Village! This Captain is going to have a little chat with Arlong about his cut of the profits. And he'd better make up for what he owes me... in gold!"

—————————

On a pirate ship, Nami and her partner from her thieving days, Carina, were hiding, waiting for the pirates to get drunk so they could make their move.

"Cocoyasi Village?"

Suddenly, Nami's ears perked up. She had heard a few words that sounded familiar.

"They say all the pirates in the East Blue are heading there now, to get their hands on that massive treasure. With even a little bit of that treasure, you could live happily for the rest of your life."

"Wuhahaha! Let's go too!" the drunken pirates laughed and cheered.

"Our village... has Woonan's golden treasure??"

Nami was completely floored.

"Nami," Carina said, surprised, "Cocoyasi Village... that's where you live? There's really treasure there? Woonan... he was a famous gold thief. Does that mean your village is built on a mountain of gold?"

"I don't know!" Nami said, bewildered.