Half an hour later, on the coast of Cocoyasi Village, as the Going Merry slowly came to a stop, the Straw Hat Pirates jumped off the ship, ready to head to Nami's house first.
Everyone followed Nami. "Nojiko, I'm back!" she shouted happily at the door.
Two people stepped out of the house: Nojiko and Genzo.
Nami threw herself into Nojiko's arms, softly crying. "Nojiko, I've found my true companions. I'm planning to go out to sea with them. But before that, my friends will defeat the Arlong Pirates. They're incredibly strong."
Hearing her words, Nojiko turned to look at Luffy and the others who had come in with her, her gaze lingering on Shin'ya for a few extra seconds.
"Nami has really found some amazing companions," Nojiko said to the group. "From now on, please take care of her."
Genzo looked at Shin'ya, his face full of excitement. He rushed over and grabbed his hand.
"Oh my, oh my! This must be the renowned pirate rookie, the Thousand-Armed Zen Master – Shin'ya, with a bounty of 500 million Berries! Thank you so much for coming to save us and the 20 nearby villages. Come, come, come! Please come inside and sit. I'll pour you some water."
He then turned to Nojiko. "Oh my! Nojiko, how can you let guests stand at the door? Quickly, wash some fruit and bring it for Nami's companions to taste!"
"Come, come, let's go inside." Genzo pulled Shin'ya and Luffy in as he talked. "Have you eaten? Are you hungry? How about eating and resting first before going to deal with the Arlong Pirates?"
Shin'ya was baffled by the overenthusiasm, his face twitching slightly. "Genzo, did you say I have a bounty? And it's 500 million Berries? Why don't I know about this?"
"Oh, that? The bounty poster just arrived today. You probably didn't run into a News Coo on your way here, right? The news about your fight with Mihawk is already all over the world." As he spoke, he pulled a newspaper out from his coat and handed it over.
Shin'ya took it and read the headline, shaking his head. Morgans was definitely a master of exaggeration.
> "Shocking! Unknown Pirate Crew Member in East Blue Brutally Defeats Warlord Mihawk! Mihawk Forced to Hand Over Haki Training Method to Save His Life!"
"It's a miracle Morgans hasn't been assassinated yet," Shin'ya muttered.
Luffy shouted in surprise, "What?! Shin'ya has a bounty now, and it's 500 million Berries?! I don't believe it! Why don't I have a bounty?"
Nami's eyes sparkled. "Shin'ya, I have an idea. Since you're so valuable, what if we turn you over to the Marines for the bounty, and then you escape afterward?"
Zoro also lit up. "That's not a bad idea. I need new swords."
Sanji chimed in, "Works for me. We need new cooking utensils on the ship—fridge, oven, a bunch of things."
Usopp cautiously raised his hand. "I also need to restock my ammunition and buy some tools."
Shin'ya rubbed his forehead but started to consider it. "It's a decent plan, but the Marine bases in East Blue probably can't afford that kind of money. Maybe we try it in the Grand Line."
As they chatted, two fish-men entered the village. They leaned back, hands in their pockets, swaying side to side arrogantly as they walked.
They went house to house collecting this month's "life money." When they reached the house next to Nojiko's, an argument broke out.
"Baka yaro! Old hag, cough up this month's money or die!" the seaweed-headed fish-man barked.
An elderly woman cried out, "Fish-man big brother! I'm still short this month! Please give me a bit more time—I'll go borrow it now!"
She then shuffled toward Nojiko's house at a snail's pace.
Chu, seeing her slow movement, grew irritated. "Baka! At your pace, you'll be dead before you get there! You're already old, just die!"
"Die, slow old hag! Fish-man Secret Art – Water Cannon!" Chu's face puffed up as he unleashed two high-pressure water balls.
Just as the water bullets fired, Luffy and the others stepped out and saw what was happening. Luffy reached out quickly, grabbed the old woman, and pulled her to safety, handing her over to Genzo.
The two fish-men eyed the unfamiliar group warily. "Who are you people? This is Arlong Park territory. Hand that hag over! She didn't pay her life money, so we're going to beat her to death!"
Sanji looked at them with disgust. "You look like neither men nor fish, and you're still this arrogant? Pathetic."
Genzo, angry, stepped forward. "You said if we paid, we'd be left alone! Even if she's short, we can help her cover it. You can't even give her time to borrow money?!"
"Oh, enough already," Shin'ya said flatly. "We're here to solve this. Why waste words? Just attack."
The Straw Hats agreed in unison. "That's right! Time to crash this party!"
They jumped into action.
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"
"Ittoryu: Hiryu Kaen!"
"Diable Jambe: Collier!"
"Hissatsu: Tabasco Star!"
Chu scoffed. "Ahaha! Humans can't hurt us! Fish-men are seven times stronger than you!"
He fired back. "Water Cannon Barrage!"
Dozens of water cannons flew toward the crew—but were quickly intercepted.
"Ah! Impossible!" Chu screamed as his mouth was slashed by Zoro, chest crushed by Sanji, nose shattered by Luffy, and eyes burning from Usopp's chili powder.
He writhed silently in agony, unable to speak with his severed mouth.
Seeing his partner down, the seaweed fish-man turned to flee.
Shin'ya raised his hands. "Wood Release: Thorn Armor!"
A suit of armor grew around the fish-man, but the thorns were inside. As they pierced his body, he froze in place, too terrified to move an inch.
"Done," Shin'ya said calmly.
The villagers, watching the once-fearsome fish-men crumble, were filled with joy.
"Oh my! As expected of the crew that even the Thousand-Armed Zen Master travels with! Amazing, amazing, incredible! My admiration for the Straw Hat Pirates is like a surging river—never-ending—and like the Grand Line, filled with infinite mystery… (1 million words omitted)," Genzo gushed.
Luffy, Zoro, and the others were nearly swept away by the flattery, ready to challenge a Yonko.
Nami slapped Genzo. "Enough! Any more and they'll actually go fight the World Government."
Genzo chuckled sheepishly and shut up.
"We should head to Arlong Park now before they hear about this and escape," Shin'ya suggested.
Luffy and the others nodded. "Right, let's go."
Nami pointed toward a tall wall in the distance. "That's Arlong Park. I'll go too."
Genzo added, "We'll go as well."
A large group marched toward the park.
After ten minutes, they arrived at the main gate.
Shin'ya paused, looking at the wall that connected to the sea. "Hold on. The sea beyond the wall connects to the inside. Let me block off their escape route."
Zoro nodded. "Yeah, if any get away and come back after we leave, it'll be bad. Let's finish this in one go."
Everyone agreed.
Shin'ya clapped his hands. "Wood Release: Thorny Forest!"
A forest of thorns rose from the seabed, encircling the island entirely. It grew past the island's height by a hundred meters before stopping.
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