"Marines?!"
The moment Bell-mère saw the figures ahead—and those familiar uniforms—her eyes lit up with hope.
She ran toward them, shouting urgently:
"Officers! Over here—there are pirates!!"
Standing before her was indeed a Marine squad.
At the front—
A young man in a Marine coat, wearing the insignia of a branch Major.
Hearing her cry, the man frowned slightly.
He wasn't from Loguetown.
He was Major Nezumi, from Marine Branch 16—here to attend the arrival of a newly appointed East Blue overseeing Colonel.
"Go check it out."
After a brief pause, he gave the order.
More than ten Marines rushed forward instantly.
"Stop."
They intercepted Bell-mère.
"Quick! Arrest them—they're pirates!"
Bell-mère turned and pointed at the men chasing her.
But—
Strangely—
Those men didn't flee at all.
Instead, they approached confidently.
"Ha! Major Nezumi, long time no see!"
The middle-aged man stepped forward with a grin, greeting him like an old acquaintance.
Nezumi.
The most promising officer in Branch 16.
The future commanding officer—no doubt about it.
"It's you?"
Nezumi glanced at the man, then shifted his gaze to Bell-mère.
"What's going on here?"
"This is your lucky day, Major."
The man chuckled. "Do you know who she is?"
"She's a Marine deserter from seven years ago—Bell-mère."
"Deserter…?"
Bell-mère's eyes tightened.
He wasn't wrong.
Back then, she had left the battlefield after finding Nami and Nojiko.
By Marine standards—
That was desertion.
"Is that so?"
Nezumi tilted his head, looking at her with interest.
"Got proof?"
"Of course."
The man casually pulled out a stack of Beli and placed it in Nezumi's hand.
"We've worked together for years. Would I lie to you?"
"I guarantee—she's the deserter Bell-mère."
"If you hand her over to the new Colonel… that's a huge achievement."
He leaned closer, voice lowering.
"And if she… loses the ability to speak before that…"
"…even better."
Nezumi glanced at the money.
Then smiled.
"Seems she knows quite a bit about you."
He nodded slowly. "Don't worry. I know how to handle it."
At that moment—
Bell-mère fully understood.
This wasn't just corruption.
This was collusion.
A former notorious pirate—
Now a "legal" official in Loguetown.
And a Marine Major—
Working hand in hand with him.
She had walked straight into a trap.
"Men!"
Nezumi pocketed the money and gave the order without hesitation.
"Arrest her. Take her away!"
Click—
In an instant—
Every rifle was aimed at Bell-mère.
If she resisted even slightly—
She'd be riddled with bullets.
So she didn't move.
Didn't argue.
Didn't explain.
Because she knew—
Words were useless here.
The more she spoke, the worse it would get.
Right now—
Staying calm was her only option.
A Marine stepped forward, preparing to cuff her.
Then—
A voice cut through the tension.
"You all… what exactly are you doing?"
Bell-mère froze.
That voice—
The one she wanted to hear most.
She turned—
And saw him.
Arashi.
Standing there calmly, walking toward them.
"Mr. Arashi…!"
In that moment—
Relief flooded her.
Like someone drowning finally seeing land.
Like a lifeline thrown at the last second.
At the same time—
Nezumi turned sharply, his gaze cold.
"Stop."
He stepped forward, voice heavy with authority.
"One more step—and I'll arrest you too."
Arashi didn't respond.
But—
He didn't stop walking either.
On his way here, he had heard rumors of trouble on the street.
At first, he didn't care.
He rarely involved himself in such matters.
But then—
He saw Bell-mère.
Surrounded.
Cornered.
And that was enough.
Without hesitation—
He came.
Seeing Arashi ignore him completely—
A flicker of anger flashed in Nezumi's eyes.
"I said—STOP!"
His voice turned sharp.
Immediately—
The rifles that had been aimed at Bell-mère—
Shifted.
All of them—
Locked onto Arashi.
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