BELLEMERE

In a tropical village street lined with palm trees and buildings, several fishmen stand among gathered villagers. A large speech bubble declares, “100,000 BELI FOR ONE HUMAN ADULT, AND 50,000 BELI FOR ONE HUMAN CHILD.” Arlong, tall with a saw-like nose and striped pants, stands with arms crossed. Another fishman with a spotted shirt gestures while speaking. A close-up shows a fishman with sharp teeth asking, “HOW MANY HAVE WE COLLECTED SO FAR,” while another replies, “CONSIDERING THAT WE CAME WITH NO NOTICE, WE’LL ONLY KILL THOSE WHO CAN’T PAY UP RIGHT NOW…!” A sweating man with a headband looks down in distress as the fishman grins, “THIS IS… TOO MUCH…” and another exclaims, “EXCELLENT!” A final bubble notes, “ALMOST 25 MILLION…”

Two short-haired girls stand near trees overlooking the village, one saying, “THEY WON’T BE ABLE TO SEE OUR HOUSE SINCE WE CAN’T SEE IT HERE FROM THE VILLAGE.” The other replies, “DON’T WORRY. WHAT DO WE DO, NOJIKO… DO YOU THINK BELLEMERE’S ALRIGHTI” Nearby villagers discuss, “JUST BEAR WITH IT FOR NOW… FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WILL BE KILLED THIS TIME. HOW’RE WE SUPPOSED TO MAKE A LIVING, IF WE HAVE TO PAY THAT MUCH EVERY MONTH…!” A sweating Marine officer with a large mustache sweats while saying, “WITH HER AND HER 2 KIDS, THEY’D HAVE TO PAY 200,000 BELI… THERE’S NO WAY SHE’D HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY SAVED UP…” Another villager suggests, “NOW PLEASE JUST GO BACK WITHOUT NOTICING BELLEMERE’S HOME!” The Marine continues, “I GUESS WE SHOULD CONSIDER OURSELVES FORTUNATE IF WE CAN SOLVE THIS CRISIS WITH MONEY ALONE… THEY’VE TOOK COMPLETE CONTROL OF OUR VILLAGE…” He then shouts, “LET’S PULL BACK FOR TODAY, BRETHREN!” as villagers scatter and a fishman looms in the background.

The Marine officer reacts in shock, shouting “NO…!” with sweat flying as a fishman looms over him saying “HMMI” A fishman in the distance yells, “ARLONG! THERE SEEMS TO BE A HOUSE A LITTLE AWAY FROM THE VILLAGE!” The officer sweats heavily. In another panel, Nojiko and a girl with pigtails shout “BELLEMERE!” in alarm. Nearby villagers look worried. Smoke rises from a house as someone notes, “THAT SMOKE MUST BE COMING FROM SOMEONE’S HOME.” A fishman declares, “OVER THERE.” A large close-up shows a grinning fishman saying, “WE ALMOST MISSED IT…” with sound effect “ゴルオッ…”. In a kitchen, a woman with a bun hairstyle hums “MM HMM HM. ♪” while cooking at a stove as a small creature watches, with sound effects “ジュワァ” and “ワァァ”.

Nami beams while stirring a large pot, declaring, "AS EXPECTED OF MY SPECIAL ORANGE SAUCE!" She licks her finger with satisfaction, saying "MN!" and "IT'S ALMOST TOO GOOD!" In the kitchen she continues planning the meal aloud: "I MIGHT AS WELL GIVE THEM A LITTLE ALCOHOL TOO," "WELL, IF THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GONNA BE," "THE STEW'S STILL BOILING SO ALL I NEED TO MAKE NOW IS THE OMURICE," and "LET'S SEE... THE DUCK STILL NEEDS 10 MORE MINUTES IN THE OVEN BEFORE I ADD THE VEGETABLES." She adds, "OUR HOUSEHOLD FINANCES ARE GOING TO TAKE QUITE A HIT AFTER THIS." The scene shifts to Arlong Park where Arlong stands with hands on hips, surrounded by his crew and terrified villagers. He growls, "NOPE, NOT A SINGLE ONE. NOT THE MOST USEFUL VILLAGE, IS IT..." and asks, "BY THE WAY, HAVE YOU FOUND ANY SEA CHARTSI"

Panicked villagers shout across the street: "EVEN WE BARELY MANAGED TO PAY THEM OFF, SO HOW COULD SHE EVER COME UP WITH ENOUGH MONEY!I WHAT DO WE DO!I" and "THIS IS BAD! THE PIRATES ARE HEADED TO BELLE-MÈRE'S HOME!" A group including Genzo and a Marine yells, "OH NO, WE'VE GOTTA STOP THEM! THEY MUST'VE TOOK THE BACK ROUTE TO THEIR HOME! THEY SHOULD BE HIDING IN THE FORESTS BUT THEY'RE NOT THERE! WHAT IS IT GENZO!I AND THE CHILDREN...!I DOC, WE'VE GOT TROUBLE!" Nojiko sprints forward yelling "I KNOW! NOJIKO, HURRY UP!" while Nami, cigarette in mouth, asks "ARE THEY BACKI" as a loud "DON DON!!" echoes from the door and an unseen voice responds "OHI"

Outside the house a crowd gathers while large onomatopoeia "ゴォォォォォ" rumbles. A voice calls "COME IN. IT SHOULD BE OPEN." Inside, a long-haired man in a black coat turns with "HMI" as another figure bows and says "EXCUSE ME THEN." Suddenly the scene erupts into violent motion: the long-haired man is struck and sent flying backward with impact lines and "ガチャ" sounds as Nami appears holding a rifle, the attacker’s limbs flailing wildly.

Nami leaps high and delivers a powerful flying kick to a fishman’s face, sending him crashing down with huge impact lettering "ドン" and "!!!I". The fishman, dazed, mutters "WHAT'S A PIRATE FROM THE GRAND LINE DOING ALL THE WAY OUT HERE" while Nami glares and replies, "UNFORTUNATELY FOR YOU, I USED TO BE A MARINE." In the background villagers react in shock as one asks "OF COCO YASHI...I" and Arlong’s crew laughs with booming "オォォォォ" laughter. Arlong himself declares, "IN THIS LITTLE VILLAGE,"

In a village street lined with palm trees, a man holding a bat laughs loudly alongside a group of fishmen. "HAHA HAHA!" "SHAHA HAHA!" Arlong looms among them. The scene erupts into violence as a fishman delivers a brutal punch, sending debris flying. "WHAT'S SO FUNNY!I" a voice demands. A marine-like figure grits his teeth, "DAMN IT! WHY DID THINGS HAVE TO TURN OUT THIS WAY!I" Close-ups show the fishman's savage expression and the words "OF YOUR INFERIOR RACE." "THE INCOMPETENCE," while a young man with spiky hair stares in horror, "WHA...!I"

Young Nojiko and Nami flee toward a house, Nojiko shouting, "BUT... WHAT IF THE PIRATES ARE ALREADY HEREI" "TO ESCAPE WITH BELLEMERE!" "LET'S USE THE BACK DOOR," while Nami cries "DON'T WORRY!" They pant heavily outside. A doctor kneels before the girls, warning, "THIS MAY BE TOO CRUEL TO HEAR FOR YOU GIRLS, BUT LISTEN CAREFULLY..." Suddenly Bellemere is violently kicked to the ground by Arlong. "UAG-HHH!" "AHH!" "BELLÈMERE!" the girls scream as blood pools beneath her.

Nojiko and Nami sob on the ground, tears streaming. "NOJIKO... NAMI...!" Bellemere cries out. Arlong stands over the fallen Bellemere, roaring, "YOU CAN SOLVE IT WITH MONEY ALONE!" "DON'T THROW YOUR LIFE AWAY JUST BECAUSE OF SOME INANE SENSE OF JUSTICE!" "THIS IS A MEANINGLESS FIGHT!" "BELLÈMERE, YOU FOOL!" Bellemere, bloodied, answers weakly, "NOT NEARLY ENOUGH..." "BELLÈMERE, HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE SAVED UPI" Arlong demands. She replies, "EVEN WITH MY SECRET SAVINGS, I BARELY HAVE 100 GRAND..." Arlong explains the rule: "100 GRAND FOR ONE HUMAN ADULT, AND 50 GRAND FOR ONE HUMAN CHILD..." Genzo watches in shock, "GEN...!"

Bellemere kneels before Arlong, pleading, "YOU INVITED ME FOR TONIGHT'S DINNER, RIGHT!I" "JUST PAY THE AMOUNT FOR ONE ADULT." Arlong retorts, "THERE'S A MEAL SET UP FOR 3 PEOPLE INSIDE!" "3 PEOPLE MUST BE LIVING HERE!" Villagers gather as Arlong declares, "THAT'LL BE 100,000 BELI THEN. ARE YOU GOING TO PAY UP OR WOULD YOU RATHER DIE INSTEADI" Genzo steps forward with a document, stating, "ACCORDING TO THE TOWN REGISTRY, THIS WOMAN'S NEVER BEEN MARRIED NOR HAD ANY CHILDREN." Bellemere looks up in anguish while the crowd watches tensely.

In front of the village building, a man with a sign warns the gathered villagers and two young girls. "Cross the ocean and run away as far as you can. You two need to leave this village... no, this island! So while those pirates are blind to your existence, I'm afraid this is the only way all 3 of you can be saved!" Young Nojiko and Nami stand shocked as the man continues, "There's no proof that you're Bellemere's daughters. Do you understandI Nojiko, Nami...!" Close-up on young Nami's tear-streaked face, she cries out, "Is it because we're poor...I Can't we be Bellemere's daughters anymore...!I No! Why do we have to leave!I I want to stay and live here in this village...!" Genzo, wearing his cap with a cross, shouts angrily, "We can't afford any other alternatives in this crisis! Family or their lives! They might die out there!" Beside him the doctor sweats and replies, "Doc, this is too much for them. We can't just send these young girls off to the sea alone..."

Nojiko turns and declares firmly, "Nojiko! Alright, I'll leave this village! Exactly 100,000 beli." A voice answers, "Good." In the next scene Bellemere appears, cigarette in mouth, and states, "I'll be able to save my two children...! Let's go, Nami! It's fine as long as it means Bellemere will be saved!" Young Nami looks devastated with tears streaming down her face. Bellemere continues speaking to the villagers, "With those 100,000 beli, thank goodness..." The villagers turn away as one says, "That money is my children's share. I don't have enough to pay for myself."

Bellemere faces Genzo, saying "I'm sorry, Gen... I... I just can't bring myself to say that I don't have a family." Genzo reacts with shock, "WHATI" Bellemere stands resolute, "Even if it means I'll lose my life...!" Genzo yells, "How could you do such a stupid thing!I" In a close emotional panel Bellemere smiles through tears while smoking, "Those girls... are my children, aren't theyI Even if it's just mere words, I still want to be called as their mother." Young Nami and Nojiko watch with wide, tear-filled eyes as Bellemere's resolve is shown.

The marine captain Nezumi reacts with fury, "Children...I You have..." Bellemere stands protectively in front of young Nami and Nojiko. She shouts, "I was lying! I... I wish I were adopted by a rich family! No, girls!" The marine captain lunges forward yelling "BELLEMERE!" and strikes her violently. Bellemere cries out in pain as the impact lands. Nami and Nojiko scream, "BELLEMERE! NAMI! NOJIKO!" Bellemere lies wounded on the ground while the girls rush to her side, tears and shock filling the scene as the marine stands over them.

Bellemere clutches Nami and Nojiko tightly in a desperate embrace. "FORGIVE ME... FOR NOT EVER BEING ABLE TO DO ANYTHING MOTHERLY FOR YOU GIRLS..." she cries. "I REALLY WANTED TO BUY YOU GIRLS A LOT OF THINGS... WHETHER IT BE NEW BOOKS OR NEW CLOTHES!" A large SFX "ギュッ...!!!" emphasizes the hug. Genzo watches nearby as Bellemere pleads, "AREN'T YOU A FORMER MARINE, BELLEMEREI YOU'RE STRONG, RIGHTI YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO BEAT THESE GUYS UP NO PROBLEM!" Nojiko and Nami beg, "SO PLEASE STAY WITH US FOREVER! THAT'S NOT TRUE! WE DON'T NEED ANYTHING SO PLEASE DON'T DIE!" Bellemere answers, "YES, THAT'S RIGHT!" while holding her daughters. Genzo asks, "ARE THESE KIDS YOUR DAUGHTERSI" Nami sobs, "I STILL HAVEN'T SHOWN YOU THE MAP OF THE WORLD I'LL DRAW!" and "PLEASE DON'T DIE, BELLE-MERE!"

Arlong's crew erupts in rage with massive SFX "ギャギャギャ!!!" and "キャラキャラ!!!" Arlong roars, "SOMEBODY! PLEASE HELP!" and "YOU'LL BE MY FIRST EXAMPLE TO THE OTHERS...!" while aiming his pistol. A fishman warns, "OF COURSE. THAT IS, AS LONG AS YOU DIE QUIETLY. SO DON'T LAY A FINGER ON THEM, YOU HEARI" Bellemere stands protectively as Arlong fires with a loud "ドンッ" and "バンッ!!!" SFX. The gunshot echoes across Cocoyasi Village. Villagers shout, "TAKE UP ARMS AND FIGHT! LET'S GO SAVE BELLE-MERE!" Nami and Nojiko scream in horror, "NOOOOOO!!!" and "NOJIKO! NAMI!"

Arlong points his gun at Bellemere and declares, "DIE FOR YOUR STUPID LOVE." The trigger clicks. Bellemere stands firm as blood sprays. Arlong sneers, "DEAL WITH THEM APPROPRIATELY BUT DON'T KILL THEM... HMPH, PATHETIC PRIMATES..." Nojiko and Nami cry out desperately, "NOJIKO! NAMI!" and "ARGGHHHH!" Bellemere is shot multiple times with heavy impact SFX "ドンッ!!! ドンッ!!! ドンッ!!!" She falls while whispering, "I LOVE YOU." with a small heart. The girls scream in anguish as the village burns behind them.

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