After some time, Nami had already finished packing her things. When she saw the bundles of treasure from yesterday, she asked Nojiko why they were there and what had happened.
Nojiko replied that it was their boyfriend's doing.
That startled Nami.
"N-no, not even you…" Nami said to her sister.
But then she shook her head.
"Nojiko, I'll leave this treasure here—for the village."
Nojiko stared at her sister.
"Are you sure? You risked your life for this, Nami."
Nami smiled softly.
"Well, the village needs it. And my man has more gold," she whispered the last words.
Nojiko heard her anyway and teased her.
"Look at you~"
"S-stop!" Nami said, covering her sister's mouth.
♤
At the dock, Luffy, Usopp, Zoro, and Sanji were still patiently waiting.
Many villagers had gathered there, saying their goodbyes.
Then they heard Nami's voice shouting,
"Set sail!"
Everyone on deck smiled.
Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp set the sails, and slowly the Going Merry began to move.
All the villagers turned to look at Nami.
Nami ran toward the crowd. And she did what she was best at—she stole their pockets and the windmill from Genzo's head.
The Merry was already far from the dock, but Nami didn't care.
She jumped.
Everyone gasped.
"She's going to fall!" Genzo shouted.
The villagers were shocked and terrified. Why did she jump?
Then they saw it—out of nowhere.
Black, angel-like wings spread wide. Feathers fell through the air, and they saw a man carrying Nami in his arms.
"You're late," Nami said.
The man flapped his wide black wings and soared toward the Merry.
The villagers watched as the two of them disappeared into the horizon. They all smiled.
Genzo grabbed his head but felt nothing. The windmill was gone.
"I guess she wasn't scared anymore," he said.
One by one, the villagers checked their pockets. They were empty—but no one complained. They all knew Nami had stolen from them, but who cared? Compared to everything she had done, something so small didn't matter.
Nojiko stepped forward.
"Everyone, Nami left us a gift."
They saw it then—the bloodied bundles of treasure. Of course they recognized it. It was the treasure Nami had been saving for eight years, the one the Marines had stolen.
Nojiko continued,
"And a man told me that the Navy from Marine Headquarters will be coming. They'll be asking for information and details."
"What? Marines again?" one villager asked. "What are they going to do here?"
"Are they going to repeat what that rat did?" another villager said.
Nojiko pulled out a Video Den Den Mushi and played it.
"Well, someone gave this to me. Apparently, this video has been scattered all across the East Blue."
The villagers watched. The video showed Arlong and Nezumi plotting, along with many other illegal dealings. Then it showed Marines—bruised and bloodied—confessing everything they knew about the deals. Many Marines were caught in the footage. Almost two hundred of them spoke, revealing everything they knew.
After the video ended, Genzo spoke.
"With this spreading across the East Blue, I doubt the Marines will dare do something reckless like that rat."
Nojiko picked up the snail.
"Well, that's about it."
"But who did this?" a villager asked. "Who could spread a video like this across the whole East Blue?"
No one answered.
But one thing was certain. Now that everyone had seen it, people would be more aware—not just of pirates, but of the corruption within the Marines themselves.
Nojiko actually had two snails.
And the other one… was for someone she was still waiting to call.
♤
Far away from Cocoyasi Village—
Luffy was standing at the bow, still waiting and staring out at the sea.
Sanji was smoking quietly in the corner.
Zoro leaned against the railing, half-asleep.
Usopp was busy cleaning his weapons.
Then Luffy spotted something in the distance—a black, bird-like shape approaching their boat. He laughed and grinned.
"They're here!"
The other three looked up as well.
And there they saw it—Nami being carried in the bandage man's arms.
Slowly, the man descended onto the deck. Carefully, gently, he set Nami down, as if afraid even the slightest movement might hurt her.
"Hahahaha!" Luffy laughed, smiling widely.
Zoro simply closed his eyes again and went back to sleep.
Usopp grinned and flicked his nose proudly.
Sanji, meanwhile, sulked in the corner, clearly jealous at the sight.
Nami straightened her posture and looked at Luffy.
"So, where are we heading?"
"Shishishishi! Oh right—we're heading back to Baratie! We're going to say goodbye!" Luffy said, then pointed straight at Sanji.
Sanji immediately fixed his collar and tie, then rushed toward Nami.
"Nami-chwaaaan~! Would you like some juice? No—wait! I'll make it right now!"
And just like that, he vanished, sprinting straight to the kitchen.