One Piece: Revenge of the Slaves

"There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand readers' eyes," Alistair began. "A thousand interpretations of justice in a thousand righteous hearts."

Akainu's justice was absolute; anyone obstructing him was killed, regardless of civilian or pirate status. Was Smoker and Aokiji's justice the same as Akainu's? Was Dragon's justice the same as the Navy's? And what was Tashigi's justice?

"Let's avoid bloodshed," Robin said, her hands clasped, smiling. The next moment, the villagers' weapons were disarmed by hands emerging from her body.

"I know you fear retaliation, or retribution for Nami…" Alistair smiled, walking forward; the pitchforks and muskets, now under Robin's control, were pointed at their owners. Forced to yield, they let Alistair pass. "I'm not your enemy."

Seeing the sharp pitchforks and the grotesque hands holding the cocked muskets, they swallowed nervously, following the group into the village.

Most villagers had been demoralized by Arlong; only a few, like Genzo, maintained order; but once Genzo and the others were subdued, most hid in their houses, watching the newcomers, hoping Arlong would drive them away. Human nature is complex.

"You're the village's protector, right? What's your name?" Alistair asked Genzo. "Gather everyone; I have questions."

"Genzo. Your attitude won't encourage cooperation," Genzo replied. He'd defied Arlong and been spared thanks to Nami's plea; he still had spirit. He looked at the pointed musket.

He didn't know what this power was, but it was insurmountable, like Arlong and the fish-men. Could these newcomers defeat them? If so, perhaps they'd be better rulers. He didn't just exploit them; he drained them dry, treating them as class enemies. Without Nami, they would have been slaughtered; they lived on the other side of the island, growing oranges fish-men didn't like; without Nami's protection and exorbitant taxes, they wouldn't have survived Bellemeremer's death.

Alistair gestured, and Robin released them. Two farmers fled, abandoning their pitchforks. Genzo remained, not picking up his gun; he knew firearms were useless against them.

He faced Alistair. "Who are you? What do you want? How do you know Nami? I won't cooperate until I know."

Alistair chuckled, pointing at Genzo to Tashigi. "Don't you find him brave and righteous, fighting 'evil'?".

Tashigi hesitated, lacking confidence in the face of Alistair's sarcasm. "Isn't he?" she whispered.

Alistair laughed. "If you knew what he'd done, what he'd endured, you wouldn't feel the same."

Alistair looked at Genzo, not bothering to explain his knowledge.

"Were we too accommodating? Creating this illusion? Submissive to Arlong, defiant to us?" Alistair's words shocked Genzo; he hadn't expected Alistair to know about his behavior under Arlong's rule; his current defiance was laughable.

"Who are you?! How do you know?!" Genzo had lost Bellemere and Nami; he'd lost his courage; his defiance was pathetic.

"No more talk. Gather everyone; if I wanted to, I would have killed you already," Alistair said, his focus not on Genzo but the entire village. He would teach Hina, Smoker, and Tashigi a lesson about justice.

Genzo, uneasy, blew his whistle.

"What's going on…" Nojiko, hearing the whistle, emerged from her house. "The fish-men were here recently. Damn it, Nami's not back." She grabbed a musket and ran towards the town.

The villagers emerged, most anxious; only a few like Genzo and Nojiko had responsibility and courage; they cautiously gathered at the port; they were ordinary orange farmers, belonging to no kingdom or lord, relying on marine trade.

"Navy?" Nojiko's sharp eyes spotted Smoker and Hina; their large "Justice" emblems were imposing.

"Why are the Navy here?" Even seeing the Navy, the villagers felt no safety or trust, looking anxiously at Genzo, standing beside Alistair. Someone began whispering about Alistair's group; they weren't Navy…

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