Chapter 23

POV Nami

After briefly partying with the villagers, I went to warn Luffy and his crew to make sure they don’t fight Arlong; after all the Marines were here. If they find out that this is a battle between two pirate crews, then it’s over. Marines have no mercy for pirates.

I started to panic as I started to see signs of battle in the distance, I then ran as fast as I can towards Arlong Park. What I saw there was surreal.

I saw Luffy standing over an unconscious Arlong and Sanji and Zoro respectively over one of Arlong’s goons. I then saw the Rear Admirals standing behind them. Thankfully it looks like they haven’t found out yet. It makes sense after all, these top dogs from the Marines wouldn’t know about some new pirates in East Blue.

Luffy: NAMI! You are my crew mate, GOT IT?

THAT IDIOT! The Rear Admirals are literally right in front of you! My heart started to race as I started to turn towards Kara to think of an excuse.

Diana: Crew…?

Ahhh… too late! My heart sank as Rear Admiral Diana had a look of understanding on her face. About to cry, I walked up to Luffy and balled up my fists.

Me: Shut up you idiot! *smack*

Was this how about short adventure was going to end? Before even properly setting sail? It’s all this idiot’s fault!

Zoro: Bounty hunters! Bounty Hunter! We’re a bounty hunter crew!

Nice save Zoro! I looked at the Rear Admirals and the other officer (was she called Sarah?) who started nodding. Good, looks like they’re buying the story.

It seems like the Marines just arrived at the scene as well as they were filling up the story to Zoro and Sanji. Technically Luffy was well but does he ever listen properly anyway?

Luffy: Oh~ so you guys are good guys. I thought I might have to beat you up too. hehe

… Oh crap

The air suddenly got colder as the expression of the Rear Admirals. Rear Admiral Diana suddenly gave Luffy a cold smirk.

Diana: Hoh~ Is that so?

The next moment, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Ussop were all on the ground choking, as if pushed down by an invisible pressure. While I wasn’t affected, I felt a shiver on my back as I understood the difference in power between us.

Kara : A word of advice for you Straw Hat wearing guy; don’t try to threaten a high ranking Marine Officer. Some of us will charge you with that as a crime.

With that, the invisible pressure disappeared. Damn it Luffy! How many times do you have to put us at risk before you’re satisfied?

As Zoro stood up shakily, he too had an expression of shock and awe at how easily he was defeated…without even being touched.

Then as if nothing happened, Rear Admiral Diana passed a note to Zoro

Diana: We’ll take the Arlong pirates on our ship to Lougetown. You just need to pass the note to any Marine Base and you’ll get your bounty.

Was their bounties in the 30 millions? Truly tempting… if the Marines don’t know who we are yet, maybe it’s worth a try?

We didn’t get the chance to try. The moment we left my island, we had a bounty on our Captain. To top it off, only an hour after we docked on Lougetown, we had Marines chasing us.

I couldn’t open my eyes clearly in the rain but there was another Marine in front of our ship, away from us, facing the ship.

Ussop: *hihhh!*

*snap*

With a short snap, a pebble flew towards the figure… but why does he/she look so familiar?

Without even looking at the flying pebble, the Marine just simply cocked his/her head to the side and dodged it.

When the Marine turned around, I took in a gasp in shock.

Diana: So, you tricked me Straw Hat Pirates

Crap… why is Rear Admiral Diana here? Does that mean Kara and the rest of her crew is here as well? What can I say… think Nami, think!

Diana: Maybe the others are a lost cause but I’m quite disappointed in you Nami. I thought that by being freed from Arlong’s pirate crew you would stay out of trouble. But it seems that swordsmen told me a lie. You are part of the Straw Hats aren’t you?

I had nothing to say to that. What she told me was the truth. While it may be Luffy who defeated Arlong, it was the World Government that essentially gave the village the resources they would need to rebuild. And what was I doing here? Part of a Pirate Crew.

I thought of everything I could say… I could only think of her sense of Justice. Just like when she agreed to believe that I wasn’t part of Arlong’s crew. Just like when she made a formal apology to the village as a representative of the World Government for their mistake. A REAR ADMIRAL did that!

Me: …yes…but let us go! We haven’t done anything wrong!

It was a gamble. In turth, we did do a lot of wrong things. We fought some other pirates along the way and some unfortunate people got caught in our crossfire…hopefully she doesn’t know that

Diana: False. But it is true you haven’t hurt any innocents. That will be the only reason you are not dead yet.

Will she arrest us for the other charges? I know for her to be someone who upholds justice. Hopefully she’ll let us talk this out more. We still have a chance!

Me: What did we do wrong?

If I can just convince her that whatever we did was inevitable, or the result of an accident, then we’ll be free to go. Come on… my heart beat faster as I waited for her answer. What will she charge against us?

Diana: You haven’t paid for your visa. You docked your ship illegally.

I felt my head go blank for a minute as I let that sink in. *blank* Really? That’s it?

Ussop: Is that really it?

Diana: No. You’ve also beat up some pirates and some people got hurt indirectly. Not to mention that your captain officially has a bounty now.

So she does know now. Well, it looks as if she doesn’t care about the important part. Just one more final push… I just need to push her sense of Justice a little more. Her morals would never allow her to hurt or arrest an innocent. Pirate or not.

Me: Please… let us go! We just want to explore the world.

I begged her, with slight tears in my eyes that I learned from my days as a thief. Interestingly enough, the expression Rear Admiral Diana made was a smirk, as if comparing my teary eyes technique with someone else.

Diana: You do realize that you could’ve joined the Marines right? You can get around the world much faster that way. But for now… I guess I’ll have to wait and decide what to do with you fools. *huff* I don’t like this anymore than you do.

I knew it. She is a person with morals before she is a Marine. I hope I can just show her that we’re innocent in that regard.

Diana & Ussop: *Talking about the corruption that exists within the Marines*

Diana: I’ll let you go. But you owe this city 3000 Berries. That’s for your overdue stay without paying the visa. I’m also going to stay a bit longer to pass on a warning to your other crew members.

I did it! Sure it’s not really a small amount of money but if that’s the only thing we’l need to pay to get away from here safely, it’s a price I would pay everyday… ok maybe not everyday but only when facing someone like Diana.

Me: Thank you…

I meant that. After all, despite us now being enemies by law, she is still the savior of my village and people. Truly, thank you Rear Admiral.

With that, we got on the Going Merry with Sanji, Zoro, and Luffy to soon join and leave.

Me: To the Grand Line!

Finally, the true beginning of our adventure.

Much later at the Island of Jaya, Mock Town

Me: Seriously… Diana, Kara… how much did you trash this place? The Bartender here has a trauma of you guys now.