Chapter 22 Brutal! The Arlong Pirates!
"You idiot! Brother Arlong, let me go! I will definitely find that woman who killed our people!" Kuro exclaimed excitedly.
"Unforgivable!" Chu also said.
"Hmph, that woman is injured, she can't have gone far. It seems someone rescued her and hid her."
Arlong's eyes flashed with a fierce light: "These stupid and weak inferior races dare to disobey our orders. It seems the lesson from last time wasn't enough. Kuroobi, Chu, take some of your people and tell them that if they don't hand over that woman before nightfall, everyone's living expenses will double, and anyone who can't pay will be killed!"
Orange grove, log cabin.
Kuina opened her eyes. The unfamiliar surroundings made her sit up instinctively. The sudden movement aggravated her wound, causing her to wince in pain.
"We're saved?"
She was wrapped in bandages, and her wounds had been professionally treated. Just then, she heard footsteps outside. She instinctively reached for her sword, "Raikiri," but grasped only air.
That was a famous sword she obtained from the collection of a royal nobleman during one of her missions. It belonged to the 21st grade of Great Swords and was named for the cloud and thunder patterns on its blade.
The girl who came to the door was a little girl with short light blue hair and a red headband.
"Big sister, you're awake?"
"Hmm, you saved me?" Kuina loosened her clenched hands. Even though she was injured, she didn't feel that the little girl in front of her had the power to harm her.
"Mmm..." The little girl shook her head and said, "My name is Nojiko. Nami and Grandpa Genzo saved you."
"Nami?"
"She's my sister!"
Kuina remembered that just before she lost consciousness, a little girl with short orange hair suddenly appeared. Her expression softened, and she said, "Thank you, thank you for saving me."
"It's alright. You're badly injured. Grandpa Doctor said you need to rest and recuperate," Nojiko said.
"Oh no! Oh no!"
Shouts came from outside the door, and then the door was pushed open. Dr. Naga ran into the house and said, "Nokhigo, those fishmen have come to the village and are demanding that we hand over the escaped woman before dark, or else everyone's living expenses will double!"
"Huh?" Nojiko exclaimed in horror.
"Fishmen? That's right, those bastards, I must kill them!" Kuina clenched her fists, images of merchant ship passengers being killed one after another flashing through her mind.
A year ago, Kuina, codenamed "Penguin," became a bounty hunter. In just six months, she captured seven or eight "great pirates" with bounties of nearly ten million, making a name for herself in the East Blue.
Last week, Black Cat Kuro contacted her, asking for her help in escorting a group of vicious fish-man pirates to Loguetown because a merchant ship was passing through the 16th Division waters.
Kuina had also heard of the fish-man pirates who had suddenly appeared in the East Blue. She did not refuse them. After a year of honing her skills, she could no longer find any worthy opponents in this sea. The fish-man pirates from the Grand Line were a whetstone to test her strength.
With that in mind, she accepted the commission.
As expected, the Arlong Pirates attacked. Kuina killed more than a dozen fishmen and then faced off against Hachi the Octopus, resulting in a stalemate.
However, the despicable fish-men sank the merchant ship. In the naval battle, Kuina was surrounded and overwhelmed, and was captured by the Arlong Pirates.
To intimidate the island's residents, Arlong hung her on a wooden pole, intending to expose her to the sun until she died.
"Ah, young lady, you're awake!" Naga exclaimed in surprise.
"To be able to wake up so quickly after suffering such serious injuries is truly amazing!"
Kuina snapped out of her daze and quickly said, "Thank you for saving me!"
"No need, no need to thank me. It's all thanks to Nami. If you want to thank someone, thank her!" Dr. Naga said.
"Nami? That child, where is she?" Kuina asked, puzzled.
"Ah, she's with Arlong, right? She's with Arlong now, well, she's a good girl!"
"Huh? By the way, what about the living expenses you mentioned earlier?"
"Sigh, here's what happened, two months ago..."
After hearing the story of Cocoyasi Village, Kuina was furious and said, "Damn it, doesn't the Navy care?"
"The Navy? They won't help. We can only save ourselves," Nami said. That's why she joined Arlong's group and made a deal with him to buy the village for 100 million Berries. Nojiko said.
Kuina was stunned. She had lived in the safe and peaceful Shimotsuki Village since she was a child. This was the first time she had experienced the enormous disaster that pirates brought to ordinary people. At the same time, she was shocked by Nami's determination. Keep in mind, she was still a ten-year-old child.
"Nojiko, Nojiko..."
Another person ran into the house. This was a man with a windmill on his hat and fine stitches sewn into his face.
"Genzo!"
"Oh no, those Fish-men are coming this way!" Genzo said breathlessly.
"What?"
"what to do?"
"Big sister, hide quickly, whatever you do, don't let them find you," Nojiko said.
Bang!
The door was kicked open, and Kuroobi and Chu walked in.
"Hey hey hey, doctor, sheriff, what are you all doing here?"
Chu looked around and asked, "Could it be that someone is hiding here?"
"How is that possible?"
Kuroobi reached out and pushed Doctor and Genzo to the ground, then walked into the inner room.
"Stop! Who gave you permission to barge in? We made a deal with Arlong: if we hand over enough Berries every month, he won't hurt us!" Nojiko shouted, spreading her arms to block the doorway.
"Hahaha..."
The fishmen exchanged glances, then burst into laughter.
Kuroobi slapped Nojiko, sending her flying high into the air, crashing into the wall, and landing on the ground.
"Nojiko!"
Genzo rushed over and hugged her. Blood was flowing from Nojiko's forehead. She glared at the fishmen, gritted her teeth, and told herself to be patient, to be patient, and not to let Nami's efforts be in vain.
"Idiot, we are fish-men, fish-men, the greatest race in this world, how could we possibly make any agreements with such a lowly and inferior race as humans?"
Kuroobi pushed forward with his palm, shattering the door in mid-air and revealing the furnishings of the inner room: a bed, a table, two chairs, and nothing else.
"Hmm? No?" Chu scratched his cheek. He and Kuroobi had circled the village but couldn't find the woman. Hearing from the villagers that they saw the doctor Doctor running this way, they suspected that the woman was hiding here.
Kuroobi grabbed Dr. Nago and said, "Hey, listen, Brother Arlong said that if that woman doesn't show up before dark, something terrible will happen, and maybe even more people will die!"
Kuroobie let go of Dr. Doctor's hand and threw him to the ground.
"Hey, let's go!"
Kuroobi and Chu, Arlongg with the fishmen, left arrogantly.
"Damn it!" Dr. Doctor grabbed the broken plank and threw it away heavily, looking resentful but helpless.
"Nojiko, are you alright?" Genzo wiped the blood from Nojiko's cheek. Fortunately, it was just a scratch and she wasn't seriously injured.
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