BUSINESS

Inside Arlong Park, Arlong holds a terrified Usopp by the face. Arlong boasts, 'The bounty on my head is the highest in all of East Blue at 20 million Beli. Considering that, it's only natural that a well-known bounty hunter would come for me.' The scene shifts to an exterior view of the large, multi-story Arlong Park building with its distinctive curved roofs. Arlong's voice booms from inside, 'So where is this Roronoa Zoro hiding...!? He's not the most classy guy, if he thinks he can sneak in here and cut down my brethren while I'm out...!' Back inside, Arlong holds Usopp dangling over a large indoor pool. Usopp flails his legs and cries out in panic, 'I... I don't know! I really have nothing to do with this Zoro guy you're talking about! Please let me go!' Several Fishman Pirates stand around the pool, watching the interrogation.

Chew, a fishman with prominent lips, points at Usopp and says, 'Chu! I'd advise you to stop with the bad lies. It's undeniable that you personally attacked Arlong as well. There's not a chance that we'd let you free.' Usopp flinches, sweating profusely. Realizing his lie failed, Usopp changes tactics and yells, 'Alright, I admit it! M-me and Zoro are real tight bros! S-s-so you better not lay a single finger on me! Or else Zoro will come and kill all of you!' A fishman in the background mutters, 'Talk about a change in attitude.' Arlong brings his large, jagged sword close to Usopp's face, grinning menacingly. 'Oh? So you mean to say that Zoro will come if I kill you?' Usopp panics even more, waving his hands frantically. 'Wha!? N-no! That's not it! Killing me would be the wrong thing to do! If you keep me alive, Zoro should definitely come to save me! In fact, if you don't keep me alive, he'll never come! Hey Nami! Say something!' Nami stands nearby, looking serious and silent. Arlong glances at her and says, 'What's wrong, Nami? You look a little troubled, no? It seems like you're still doubting me quite a bit...!'

Arlong continues to scrutinize Nami, saying, 'It's because I know what you're like that I'm doubting you. You're a little too cunning.' Nami glares back, thinking to herself, '...Damn it! I'm not going to let myself be killed because of some stupid misunderstanding!' She looks down, her expression tense as she thinks, 'Why does everything need to go wrong now of all times...!? Just when I'm so close to achieving my goal...!' Meanwhile, Usopp, still held by Arlong, yells angrily at her, 'Nami! I'm real disappointed in you! You witch!' Nami turns her head slightly to listen as Usopp continues to shout, 'Luffy didn't doubt you for a single second, even after he heard you ran away!'

Usopp continues his angry tirade, tears streaming down his face as he yells at Nami, 'He completely trusts you! Even now! But to think you've been deceiving him all along without even batting an eye!' Nami turns to face him fully, a cold, confident smile on her face. She replies dismissively, 'Sorry, but the only thing I trust is money. Blame his idiocy for being duped.' Usopp's jaw drops in utter shock at her callous words, and he stammers, 'What did you just say!?' A moment later, Usopp is thrown into the pool with a huge splash.

Hatchan, the octopus fishman, suddenly arrives at the courtyard, waving his multiple arms. 'Yo! Why's everyone all gathered here?' A fishman turns to him and says, 'Nyu!? Arlong, you're back! Welcome back!' Hatchan walks further in and is shocked to see several fishmen lying unconscious on the ground. 'What's this!?' he exclaims. Arlong, looking annoyed, replies, 'It's the work of that infamous pirate hunter Zoro. Where were you, Hachi? If you were only here, this would've never happened.'

Hatchan clenches his fists angrily. 'Damn right! Like I would ever let the guy who offed my crewmates go scot-free! Why that Zoro! I'll kill him!' Arlong asks him, 'So you don't know anything about where Zoro could've gone to?' Hatchan replies casually, 'Nope, nothing! The only one I remember meeting was this rather suspicious lone swordsman.' Suddenly, Hatchan's eyes widen in realization. 'Could it have been him!?' Arlong yells furiously, 'So you did meet him, you dumbass!' Arlong demands, 'Where did he go!?' Hatchan, sweating nervously, answers, 'I just gave him a ride to Cocoyashi Village...' Arlong is incredulous, 'You gave him a ride!?' Hatchan tries to explain, 'B-but... it was only because I thought he was Arlong's guest, that I gave him a ride to the village so he could meet you. I never thought you'd come back here so soon.'

Arlong smirks, his sharp teeth showing. 'Then that means there's no need for us to rush. Because he's looking for me too...!' Usopp, still dangling, thinks in panic, 'Zoro's looking for Arlong!? What's he planning? He shouldn't have any reason to fight Arlong...' Hatchan then points at Usopp and asks, 'By the way, who's he?' Someone explains, 'He's Zoro's companion. Even though he's just a human, he thought he could take on us fishmen.' Nami realizes the situation is escalating and thinks, '...If I let things get any more out of hand than this, then I'll really be in trouble!' She quickly grabs her staff and swings it hard, striking Usopp directly in the face. Usopp cries out in pain as the blow lands.

Usopp is knocked backward by Nami's strike, yelling 'Ughh!' as he falls. Arlong and the other fishmen look on in surprise, exclaiming 'Nami!' and 'You...!' Usopp recovers slightly and glares at her, 'You wanna fight, is that it!?' Nami stands over him, holding her staff, her expression cold. 'You're a nuisance... It's your own fault for going against Arlong...' Usopp looks up at her, stunned. Nami continues, 'It's my fault that I let you guys follow me this far. But there are certain rules on this island that you're all ignorant of. I can't let you ruin the business I've been running for the past 8 years. Everything was going without a hitch until you guys got here.'

Nami looks down at Usopp with a chilling gaze. 'That's why the least I can do, is kill you with my own hands.' Usopp repeats in disbelief, 'Kill?' Nami replies, 'It'd be best for your own safety, to not think of me as me anymore...!' Arlong watches with a wide grin, laughing, 'Oh... looks like she's become quite the pirate. Kil'im, Nami!' Usopp, sweating but determined, thinks to himself, 'Hahaha, don't make me laugh! I may not be the strongest guy out there, but there's no way I'd be weak enough to be killed by you!' He quickly reaches into his satchel, thinking, 'Now's my chance! If I stayed here any longer, I would've been killed for sure! Certain kill...'

Usopp pulls out his slingshot and fires a projectile, yelling 'Smoke Star!' The pellet explodes, creating a massive cloud of thick smoke that engulfs the area. The fishmen cough and shout in confusion, 'That bastard! He used a smoke bomb!' 'Surround the place! Don't let him escape!' Nami immediately dashes into the smoke, saying, 'I thought you might try something like that.' Meanwhile, Usopp runs frantically toward the edge of the pool, thinking, 'All I have to do now is escape by water!' Just as he reaches the edge, he looks back in shock as Nami emerges from the smoke right behind him. She says coldly, 'Ah...! How typical.'

Nami lunges toward Usopp with a dagger while Usopp's eyes widen in terror and he stammers, 'W-w-wait!' In the smoke and confusion, she makes it look as if she has stabbed him, but the blood is from her own hand. Usopp gasps and staggers backward, understanding that she is faking his death in front of the Arlong Pirates.

Usopp, now smeared with blood from Nami's hand, looks up at her and whispers, 'Nami...' then starts to ask, 'Could you...' Nami stands over him, breathing hard, blood dripping from her own wounded hand. She says, 'For the sake of my business, this was the only way.' She then raises her leg and delivers a swift kick to Usopp's body, saying, 'Now go to your grave quietly...!' The kick sends Usopp tumbling backward, and he falls into the deep pool of water with a large splash.

Arlong throws his head back and laughs uproariously, 'Shahahaha! An excellent revenge, indeed!' The other Fishman Pirates cheer and raise their arms in celebration, shouting, 'That's an Arlong Pirate's crew officer for ya!' Arlong smirks, satisfied with the outcome, muttering, 'Hmph...' Outside the gates of Arlong Park, Johnny is hiding behind a wall, having witnessed the entire scene. He is trembling and sweating profusely, thinking, 'This is bad...!' Tears stream down Johnny's face as he cries out in horror and disbelief, 'A-ahhhhh....! B-b-brother Usopp... was... killed by... Sister Nami! How can this be!?'

Nami stands at the edge of the pool, holding the bloody dagger, as the water ripples where Usopp fell. Arlong laughs from behind her, 'Wasn't it your dream to die in the sea..?' He then addresses Nami, 'My apologies for doubting you. You truly are one of us.' Nami turns her head slightly to look back at him, her expression serious. 'One of you? Don't lump me together with the likes of you. There's only one reason why I joined this crew!' She turns fully to face Arlong, stating firmly, 'And that's to raise 100 million Beli, and buy Cocoyashi Village from you. Consider me as more of an ally.'

Arlong looks down at Nami, questioning her motives. 'You've betrayed both your fellow villagers and your mother.. And so I've always wondered why you, who believes in nothing else but money, would want to buy a crummy little village.' He then pulls out a piece of paper, adding, 'That is, until I found this in your room.' Nami's eyes widen in shock and panic as she recognizes the paper, thinking, 'That's my...!' Arlong holds up the paper, which is a map, and says mockingly, 'Hm? What is it? Your what? Don't you seem quite flustered.' He points to the map with a grin, 'This is a worn-out treasure map! A map of this island that, without a doubt, points specifically at Cocoyashi Village!'

The Fishman Pirates erupt in excitement upon hearing about the map. 'H-hidden treasure!? A treasure trove!? That's amazing!' they cheer, clamoring, 'Let me see, let me see!' Arlong holds the map in his mouth, teasing Nami. Nami demands, 'Give it back. That's Nami's map.' She quickly steps forward and snatches the map from Arlong's grasp, yelling, 'Don't you dare touch it! This is mine!' Nami glares fiercely at Arlong and says, 'I've had enough of your stupid suspicions. I really don't care whether you trust me or not but I do care about our promise. You wouldn't just call it off after all these years, would you?' Arlong sits back in his chair, resting his chin on his hand, and replies confidently, 'Of course not. I would rather die than break a promise involving money. That's the kind of man I am...!'

The bloody dagger is shown stabbed into the stone floor, blood dripping from its hilt. Nami turns and walks away, saying over her shoulder, 'As expected. You're a reasonable man, Arlong.' She then calls his name, 'Arlong...' Arlong watches her go and bursts into laughter, 'Shahahaha! Such an unpleasant woman... I'd say she's turned into a fine woman!' Outside Arlong Park, Johnny is running away as fast as he can, tears streaming down his face. He thinks frantically, 'I must... tell Brother Zoro...! That she's... A witch!'

Out at sea, a small boat is being pulled at high speed by Momoo, the giant sea cow. Momoo looks completely exhausted, panting heavily with a bruised face. On the boat, Sanji yells, 'Hey! Don't get tired now, you hippo!' Luffy replies, 'I think it might have something to do with your kicks...' Yosaku points ahead excitedly, 'I can see Arlong Park!' As they approach the shore, Yosaku realizes they are going too fast and in the wrong direction. 'It's this building! Hey! You're swimming the wrong way! Turn to the left! We're gonna crash into the shore!' The boat violently crashes into the land, sending Luffy, Yosaku, and Sanji flying through the air, screaming 'Aghhhh!' Nearby, Zoro is running through the village and stops, hearing the loud crash. 'Hmm? What's that sound...?' A narration box reads, 'Luffy, Yosaku, Sanji have arrived.'

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