One Piece: Revenge of the Slaves

Fear and anxiety hung heavy in the air.

Alistair jumped onto a nearby crate. "How long has Arlong ruled you? Who can answer?"

"Five years," Genzo said calmly, standing beside Alistair. He'd seen the Marines in their justice coats but noticed their handcuffs; they weren't allied with this group. He didn't shout for help but simply stated the facts.

"How much have you paid Arlong to buy your lives?" Alistair asked loudly.

The villagers' faces fell.

"Adults 100,000, children 50,000, monthly…" Genzo whispered. "For five years…"

"So you're pretty wealthy," Ace said, picking his nose, nonchalantly highlighting the core issue. 100,000 for adults, 50,000 for children; a family of three paid 250,000 monthly; there were about a hundred people; that's at least 700,000 monthly, 8.4 million yearly, 42 million over five years in the East Blue; Arlong's bounty was only 20 million.

The villagers' faces paled; he'd hit a nerve.

"Ah, I see," Alistair said, understanding. "Nami, that little thief, stole the money for you. Shameless," he said casually, goading them.

Nojiko couldn't contain herself; she pushed forward, shouting, "You know nothing! Don't judge!"

"Oh, should I know more?" Alistair looked down at the blue-haired girl. "Enlighten me."

Nojiko bit her lip, clutching her clothes; she glared at Genzo, who was signaling her to calm down; she said, "I don't need to explain."

Initially, they thought Nami had betrayed them, Bellemere, and Nojiko. But then, the inexplicable money appeared; if they didn't understand, they were unworthy.

"Is this how it continues?" Alistair's voice was low but clear. "Letting her bear the burden of your lives, becoming Arlong's slave? Shameful." He chuckled softly.

"You know nothing!" someone shouted. "You don't know Arlong's strength! Humans can't fight fish-men! There's a huge difference! What can we do?! The 16th branch is nearby; have you tried them?"

Alistair skillfully shifted the conversation. He sat on the crate, discussing how to drive Arlong out.

"Impossible; we have no ship," they said; Arlong had destroyed their boats.

"Merchants pass by; why not tell them, inform the Navy?"

"We did, but nothing happened; the Navy didn't react," the villagers complained.

"Oh, I remember," Alistair said, slapping his head. "Arlong bribed the 16th branch; they suppressed any news against him, keeping his bounty at 20 million…a number even Navy Headquarters ignores." He chuckled.

"You're mocking us!" Nojiko shouted.

"Oh, you're still here," Alistair looked at her dismissively. "Don't interrupt our strategy session."

"What strategy?!" Nojiko shouted. "No strength, no weapons, no help; we survive only thanks to Nami! You outsiders know nothing!!"

This resonated; their suffering was real; outsiders wouldn't understand. The wealthy could leave with merchants; those remaining were too poor, relying on Nami.

"No one will help you?" Alistair laughed. "I'm here!"

"No weapons?" Alistair snapped his fingers. "Robin!"

"Always me," Robin muttered, hands emerging from the port, passing weapons and ammunition from the ship.

"No more complaints?" Alistair asked dismissively. "Let's see your choices, your resolve. Are you truly as strong as you say? Will you rely on Nami for life? Cowards!"

Silence fell upon the port…

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