"What a peaceful village," Ikki remarked as he strolled through the streets of Cocoyasi Village, observing the fruit vendors hawking their wares along both sides of the road. "Looking at the surface, you'd never imagine this village is ruled by pirates."
While Ikki observed the villagers around him, they too were studying this unfamiliar visitor with curiosity and caution.
Ignoring their whispers, Ikki approached a man wearing a pinwheel hat and asked for directions to Arlong Park.
"You're... not from this village. Why would you want to go to Arlong Park?" The scarred-faced middle-aged man frowned, eyeing Ikki warily.
Ikki recognized the man as Genzo, who served as both Nami and Nojiko's adoptive father and Cocoyasi Village's sheriff. As the village's law enforcement, Genzo knew everyone in Cocoyasi, so naturally, he'd be suspicious of a stranger asking about Arlong Park.
"You're right, I'm not from here," Ikki nodded. "I'm Nami's sailing partner. I want to see Arlong Park because I'm curious about the pirate who's controlled Nami for so many years."
To gain Genzo's trust, Ikki explained that Nami was currently training aboard his ship.
"Nami's back and training on your ship?" Genzo blinked in surprise. Like Nojiko, he was astonished that Nami would willingly bring someone to the village.
"If you don't believe me, you can check the coast behind the mountain. My ship is docked there. Both Nami and Nojiko are aboard," Ikki smiled, holding nothing back from someone so close to the sisters.
Genzo frowned slightly, considering whether to believe Ikki's claims.
At that moment, cries of pain reached their ears. Following the sound, they spotted a massive fishman wearing a kimono, standing about three meters tall with protruding lips, walking down the street. Behind him, a villager lay writhing on the ground, clutching his abdomen in agony.
"Oh no, it's Chew, one of Arlong's officers!" Genzo exclaimed. "Young man, come with me quickly before he notices you."
He grabbed Ikki's arm, trying to pull him away. Though he wasn't yet sure if Ikki's story was true, Genzo didn't want to see an outsider discovered by the Arlong Pirates.
According to their usual practice, when outsiders came to the island, they were either killed or forced to stay permanently, paying regular fees to the Arlong Pirates.
However, despite Genzo's efforts, he couldn't budge Ikki.
"No need, Sheriff," Ikki said calmly. "He's already spotted me."
Ikki stepped toward Chew just as Genzo realized the fishman had indeed noticed them and was approaching. A look of regret crossed Genzo's face as he slapped his thigh, wishing he'd managed to get Ikki away sooner. Fearing Ikki might be killed, Genzo's heart sank.
...
"I don't recognize your face," Chew remarked, hands in his pockets as he approached. "Are you a foreigner?"
Ikki briefly glanced at Chew before shifting his gaze to the injured villager.
'At least it's not a fatal wound,' Ikki noted to himself with relief. If any Cocoyasi villagers were killed by the Arlong Pirates during his visit, he'd have difficulty explaining it to Nami.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Chew frowned at Ikki's silence and reached out to grab his head.
"You talk too much," Ikki murmured, turning away from the watching villagers. With lightning speed, he appeared behind Chew before the fishman could react, seized his head, and slammed it into the ground with enough force to instantly render him unconscious.
"What?!" The Cocoyasi villagers, including Genzo, gasped in shock.
Quickly recovering his wits, Genzo rushed to Ikki's side.
"You actually defeated one of Arlong's officers!" he exclaimed. "You need to leave immediately. If Arlong discovers this, he'll kill you for sure."
Ikki shook his head and replied in a low voice, "The Arlong Pirates don't have the ability to harm me. If I wasn't focused on training Nami and Nojiko, I could eliminate them all right now."
"Sheriff, don't tell Nami and Nojiko about this fishman if they haven't completed their training. I don't want to disrupt their progress," Ikki continued. "I'll take this officer to Arlong Park myself. Could you point me in the right direction?"
As he spoke, Ikki grabbed Chew by his clothing.
"I don't understand," Genzo said, puzzled. "If you're training Nami and Nojiko to face the Arlong Pirates, why go to Arlong Park now? Won't that create unnecessary conflict?"
"I only plan to confine them to Arlong Park," Ikki explained with a smile, glancing up the street where another fishman was approaching. "As long as they can't leave Arlong Park, incidents like this won't happen again."
"I think I'll just ask that fishman for directions," Ikki added, stepping forward.
With the speed granted by his 4000 Life Force points, Ikki moved faster than Genzo could follow. Within seconds, he had already reached the other fishman pirate, holding Chew's unconscious form in one hand.
"Hey, could you take me to meet your boss?" Ikki asked with a bright smile, one hand holding Chew while the other gripped the startled fishman's shoulder.
...
Meanwhile, at Arlong Park.
Captain Arlong of the Arlong Pirates and Captain Nezumi of the Marine branch sat opposite each other, chatting amicably.
Neither of them realized that trouble was headed their way, carrying two unconscious fishmen and approaching Arlong Park with determined steps.