Just as the tension faded, Nami suddenly tensed again—
Her body surged with crackling electricity.
"Who's there?!"
One second…
Two seconds…
Silence.
Reno narrowed his eyes slightly, then lazily flicked his hand.
A bolt of lightning blasted a collapsed building to the east.
BOOM—!!
"Wait wait wait—!! I'm coming out!! Don't kill me!!"
A panicked, groveling voice called out.
A moment later, a filthy figure squirmed out from the rubble—
Still clutching a big treasure chest in his arms.
"You?!"
Nami's face instantly frosted over.
Captain Nezumi.
He was the one who had enabled Arlong to tyrannize Cocoyasi Village for so many years,
providing cover and pocketing bribes.
To Nami, he was just as despicable as Arlong.
No—worse.
"P-Please don't kill me! I'm a Marine officer!"
"I beg you! Have mercy!!"
Captain Nezumi dropped to his knees and began kowtowing frantically before Nami.
His forehead thudded against the dirt again and again.
He had seen it with his own eyes—
Nami, single-handedly annihilating the entire Arlong Pirates.
There was no point resisting.
He had thought his hiding spot was clever—
Clearly, not clever enough.
"Oh? You remember fear now?"
Nami's eyes narrowed.
"Where was this remorse when you were shielding Arlong?"
Reno shot him a scornful glance.
Even now, this rat still clung tightly to the money chest.
Pathetic.
"I—I was tricked! It was Arlong's fault!" Nezumi wailed.
"He threatened me! I swear, I'll change! Just spare me!!"
Too late.
People like him didn't deserve second chances.
Letting him live would only bring more harm.
Reno, uninterested in the rat's pleading, raised a hand—
CRACK!!
A bolt of lightning reduced the cowardly officer to ash.
The money chest was confiscated without ceremony.
Reno led the girls out of the ruins of Arlong Park.
Outside, villagers had already begun to gather.
Their expressions were dazed, stunned—
Still reeling from what they had witnessed.
Soon after Reno's group departed, the bolder villagers crept into the shattered remains of the Park.
Once they confirmed Arlong and the fish-men were truly dead…
The village erupted.
"HAHAHA!! Arlong's dead!! We're free!!"
"It's over! We don't have to live in fear anymore!!"
"It was Nami—Nami did it! She fought like a thunder goddess!!"
"Look—the sky's finally clear again!"
That night, Cocoyasi Village would be filled with music, laughter, and lights.
For the first time in years—
They could celebrate.
Meanwhile—
Reno and the others followed Nami to her home.
The moment they entered, Reno was greeted by a girl with short blue hair and sharp, intelligent eyes.
"Nami?!"
Nojiko.
Nami's elder sister.
She rushed over, arms wide, tears of relief in her eyes.
"It's been so long—I was so worried!"
"Sis…"
Nami couldn't hold back.
She threw her arms around Nojiko and held her tight.
"What happened? What's going on?"
Nojiko was completely confused.
"We'll explain inside." Reno said smoothly as he walked past her—
Straight into the house.
Nojiko blinked in shock.
Wait—this is my house, right...?
"C'mon, sis." Nami pulled her in, still holding her hand.
Kaya and Makino followed close behind.
"WHAT?! You killed Arlong?!"
Nojiko looked at Nami, half in disbelief.
It wasn't that she doubted her sister—
It was just… unbelievable.
They both knew how powerful Arlong was.
They had lived under his shadow for eight long years.
"It's true!" Nami said, her eyes sparkling with pride.
"I didn't just kill him—I leveled the entire Arlong Park!"
"The villagers are probably celebrating right now."
She lifted her chin in triumph—
Then suddenly turned to wrap her arm around Reno's.
"But none of it would've been possible without Reno."
"He gave me the Devil Fruit that gave me the power to defeat Arlong."
Nojiko blinked, now carefully observing Reno.
Ever since they arrived, she had felt something was off.
Nami couldn't stop glancing at him.
And those other two girls—Kaya and Makino—hadn't taken their eyes off Reno since they arrived.
Their eyes were practically glowing with affection.
Yikes... that's not just admiration.
That's full-blown lovestruck mode.
"Ahem…"
Nojiko cleared her throat.
"Nami, what exactly is your... relationship with Reno?"
Nami blushed.
"He's my captain. I'm the navigator for the Reno Pirates…"
"She's my woman," Reno cut in with a grin.
Nami's blush deepened instantly.
Geez... not in front of my sister!
"Us too~" Kaya added sweetly, raising her hand.
Makino smiled gently and nodded.
Nojiko's jaw dropped.
Three women?
All beautiful beyond belief?
Well… damn.
She didn't know Kaya or Makino, but for Nami to trust this man so completely—
Reno must be something special.
"Thank you," Nojiko said politely.
"For taking care of my sister."
"She's mine. Looking after her is my job." Reno replied casually.
Nojiko nodded, then turned to Nami again.
"So... now that Arlong's dead, are you leaving with Reno?"
Nami didn't hesitate.
"Yes. I'm his navigator. He needs me."
Makino wasn't surprised.
She could see how deeply Nami relied on Reno.
"You've grown up," Nojiko smiled.
"You've found your own path. I'm happy for you."
"Go, Nami. I'll take care of the house."
But then—
"Actually, sis—there's another reason I brought Reno here…"
Nami hesitated, then looked at Nojiko with clear eyes.
"I want you to join the Reno Pirates too."
Nojiko: "...Huh?"
Reno: "...Huh?"
Reno blinked in surprise.
He had indeed planned to recruit Nojiko eventually—
But he hadn't expected Nami to bring it up herself.
What a thoughtful girl.
She really knows what I like...
Sisters.