LORDS OF CREATION

Outside a house surrounded by tangerine trees, a text box reads, "THIS IS... NAMI'S HOME!?" Inside, Usopp and Nojiko sit across from each other at a table. Nojiko explains, "THAT'S RIGHT... SHE AND I ARE ORPHANS. WE WERE ADOPTED AND RAISED IN THIS HOUSE. THE ONE WHO RAISED US HAS LONG BEEN DEAD NOW BUT... THE 3 OF US USED TO LIVE HERE HAPPILY IN COCOYASHI VILLAGE." Usopp looks shocked and confused. "THIS VILLAGE...? THEN WHY DID SHE JOIN THE ARLONG PIRATES WHO NOW RULE OVER THIS VERY SAME VILLAGE? DID SHE BETRAY HER OWN HOMETOWN!?" Nojiko rests her head on her hand, smiling slightly. "WELL, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. A REAL WITCH, RIGHT?"

Usopp stands up abruptly, looking angry. Nojiko asks, "SO? WHAT'S YOUR BUSINESS WITH THAT WITCH, CPT. USOPP?" Usopp replies, "WELL, AFTER WHAT YOU JUST SAID, I'VE GOT MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO THINK ABOUT. SO THEN... SHE'S BEEN DECEIVING US ALL ALONG... SHE MUST'VE ONLY BEEN AIMING FOR THE TREASURE RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING!" He clenches his fist, trembling with rage. "WHEN I THINK THAT... IT PISSES ME OFF SO DAMN MUCH! THAT GIRL!!!" A flashback shows Nami laughing happily. Usopp continues, "EVEN THOUGH SHE HELPED PROTECT MY VILLAGE... AND LAUGHED SO HAPPILY WHEN SAILING TOGETHER WITH US...! INSIDE HER MIND, SHE WAS ALWAYS PLANNING ON HOW TO STEAL OUR MONEY AND DITCH US...!" Nojiko looks at him calmly. "LAUGHING HAPPILY...? HER?" Usopp yells, "WHY THAT EVIL WITCH! A PERSON LIKE HER DESERVES AN ATTACK OF THE SPIRITUAL ORDER! I'LL COMPLETELY IGNORE HER FROM NOW ON!" Nojiko warns him again, "I TOLD YOU ALREADY, DON'T START ANY TROUBLE WITH THE ARLONG PIRATES."

Nojiko says, "WELL, AS LONG AS I CAN GET BACK MY SHIP, IT'S ALL FINE. AND SINCE I'VE FOUND THE SHIP ALREADY, I GUESS I SHOULD HURRY UP AND LEAVE." Usopp agrees, sitting back down. "WELL, THAT WOULD BE THE WISE THING TO DO. MESS WITH THE ARLONG PIRATES AND IT WON'T END WITH MERE INJURIES." Nojiko points her thumb toward the window. "BY THE WAY, IS THAT THE SHIP YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT?" Usopp looks out the window and his eyes bug out in shock. "AHH! THE GOING MERRY! WHAT IS IT DOING OVER THERE...!?" A map is shown detailing the area: Arlong Park to the west, Cocoyasi Village in the center, their current location, and Gosa Village to the east. The Going Merry is docked near Arlong Park. Usopp thinks, "WAIT A MINUTE, THAT MEANS... ALRIGHT, I'VE GRASPED THE BASIC GEOGRAPHY OF THIS AREA. I DO REMEMBER THERE BEING A VILLAGE TO THE WEST OF HERE. THAT MUST BE THE COCOYASHI VILLAGE CENTER.. THAT'S WHERE I SAW THOSE FISHMEN."

Usopp looks panicked, sweating profusely. Nojiko asks, "WHAT'S WRONG?" Usopp replies, "I FORGOT THAT ONE OF MY CREWMATES, GOT HIMSELF UNFORTUNATELY CAUGHT BY THE FISHMEN...! AND HE WAS ALREADY ON THE VERGE OF DEATH... I JUST HOPE HE DIDN'T PROVOKE THEM AND GET HIMSELF KILLED..." The scene shifts to a large view of the imposing gates of Arlong Park. Inside, Zoro is sitting on the ground, his hands and feet tied with thick ropes. He glares fiercely. "I TOLD YOU ALREADY, I CAME HERE LOOKING FOR A SINGLE WOMAN! YOU HALF-FISH MUTANT!"

Arlong's face is shown up close, his sharp teeth bared in an angry grin. "OH? AN INFERIOR HUMAN DARES SLIGHT ME...? I'LL FORGIVE YOU JUST THIS ONCE BUT DON'T YOU EVER CALL US HALF-FISH AGAIN! WE FISHMEN ARE 'EVOLVED HUMANS' WHO HAVE GAINED THE ABILITY TO BREATHE IN THE SEA. WITH OUR ABILITIES, WE'RE BEINGS OF A HIGHER ORDER THAN YOU PUNY HUMANS!" Arlong is sitting in a large chair in the courtyard of Arlong Park, with Zoro tied up on the ground before him. "OUR INNATE STRENGTH WHICH FAR EXCEEDS THAT OF HUMANS IS VERY PROOF OF THAT! IN SHORT, WE ARE 'LORDS OF CREATION!' GET THAT THROUGH YOUR DENSE HEAD!" Arlong stands up, crossing his arms. "AND SO, A HUMAN WHO DEFIES A FISHMAN, IS ESSENTIALLY DEFYING THE 'DIVINE PROVIDENCE OF NATURE!'" Nami is seen walking up behind Arlong.

Nami stands behind Arlong, looking unamused. "I'M SICK OF HEARING YOU BLAB ON ABOUT THAT STUPID PET THEORY OF YOURS, ARLONG." Zoro looks up, shocked to see her. "NA...!!?" Arlong laughs, turning to her. "NO NEED TO MAKE SUCH A SCARY FACE, NAMI! YOU'RE A DIFFERENT CASE, OF COURSE! YOU'RE THE ARLONG PIRATES' PRIZED 'CARTOGRAPHER.' YOU MAKE THE MOST ACCURATE NAUTICAL CHARTS!" Nami smiles confidently. "OF COURSE! MY BRAIN'S OF A MUCH 'HIGHER ORDER' THAN ANY OF YOURS!" Zoro glares at Nami, sweating. "CARTOGRAPHER..!? HEY, NAMI! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SO CHUMMY WITH THESE GUYS FOR...!?"

Arlong looks back at Zoro. "WHAT, ARE YOU TWO ACQUAINTANCES?" Nami dismisses the idea. "DON'T BE SILLY, HE'S JUST ONE OF MY VICTIMS. I WAS ABLE TO SWINDLE A HUGE FORTUNE FROM THESE GUYS DURING MY MOST RECENT HAUL." Zoro looks surprised. Nami walks over and crouches down to face Zoro. "I KNEW YOU GUYS WERE CHASING AFTER ME TO A CERTAIN POINT, BUT TO THINK YOU'D ACTUALLY MAKE IT HERE..." Zoro stares at her intensely. "IS THIS YOUR TRUE SELF?" Nami smiles wickedly. "THAT'S RIGHT. SURPRISED? I'M AN OFFICER OF THE ARLONG PIRATES. I WAS ALREADY A PIRATE WHEN WE MET."

Arlong laughs uproariously. "SHAHA HAHA! SHE HAD YOU COMPLETELY STRUNG-ALONG! THIS GIRL RIGHT HERE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR THE SAKE OF MONEY. EVEN FORGET THE DEATH OF HER OWN PARENT! SHE'S A REAL COLD-BLOODED WITCH!" Nami looks slightly distressed for a moment, a drop of sweat on her face, but she quickly hides it. Zoro smirks knowingly. "TRICKING PEOPLE TO SWINDLE THEM IS LIKE HER SECOND NATURE! MOREOVER, SHE'S GOT US AS HER BACKUP!" Zoro sits tied up, looking calm. "I SEE... WELL, IT'S NOT LIKE I REALLY TRUSTED HER ANYWAYS. WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME EVEN IF SHE TURNED OUT TO BE A DEVILISH CUTTHROAT."

Zoro smirks at Nami. "RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, I HAD A FEELING YOU WERE A GOOD-FOR-NOTHING WOMAN. HEH HEH...!" Nami looks annoyed, turning her head away with a "HMPH...". "WELL THEN THAT MAKES THINGS EASIER. IF YOU'VE REALIZED THAT I WAS ONLY TRICKING YOU, THEN CAN YOU JUST GIVE UP ON YOUR TREASURE AND MY NAVIGATION SKILLS AND DISAPPEAR ALREADY? YOU'RE AN EYESORE!" Suddenly, Zoro pushes himself backward with his tied feet. He launches himself toward the large pool of water in the courtyard. He falls in with a massive splash. Nami looks on in absolute shock. "HUH... W-WHAT!?"

The fishmen pirates look confused as bubbles rise from the pool. "WHAT HAPPENED!? WHY'D HE SUDDENLY JUMP BACK LIKE THAT!?" "DID HE FALL OVER LAUGHING?" "NO, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SAID SOMETHING FUNNY." "MAYBE HE'S TRYING TO ESCAPE!" "NO WAY! AS IF A HUMAN WITH HIS HANDS AND LEGS TIED COULD EVER SWIM." Nami stares at the water, looking worried. "THEN MAYBE IT WAS SUICIDE?" Arlong watches calmly. "JUST LEAVE HIM BE...!" Nami looks down, gritting her teeth. "THAT IDIOT..." She quickly kicks off her shoes. Without hesitation, Nami dives into the pool with a splash. The fishmen exclaim, "NAMI!?"

Nami surfaces, pulling a coughing and panting Zoro out of the water onto the edge of the pool. The fishmen watch in surprise. "AH... THEY'RE BACK UP." "HEY, WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS, NAMI!?" Nami pants heavily, glaring down at Zoro. "WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA..." Zoro coughs up water, looking up at her. "I SHOULD ASK YOU THE SAME THING." Zoro glares fiercely at her. "A SMALL-TIME CROOK LIKE YOU WHO CAN'T EVEN LET ONE PERSON DIE, SHOULDN'T BE ACTIN' ALL TOUGH!"

Zoro, still dripping wet, needles Nami: "AND BE QUICKER NEXT TIME, SLOWPOKE. ALMOST THOUGHT I WAS A GONER..." Nami glares, then violently kicks him in the head, shouting, "DON'T YOU GET CHEEKY WITH ME!" Standing over him, Nami warns, "IF YOU GET INVOLVED WITH ME ANYMORE THAN THIS, YOU'RE A DEAD MAN!" Zoro, lying on the ground, starts to notice her wounds and says, "I WONDER..." Nami bends down and throws him again before he can finish. Zoro then says, "...SOME BANDAGES YOU'VE GOT THERE." Nami snaps back, "I JUST DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHANGE OF CLOTHES, THAT'S ALL!"

Nami turns and walks away from Zoro. "LOCK HIM UP FOR NOW! I'LL PUT AN END TO HIM LATER." A fishman asks, "HEY NAMI, WHAT'RE YOU GONNA DO WITH HIM?" Meanwhile, a fishman runs up to Arlong, who is sitting in his chair. "ARLONG!!!" Arlong asks, "WHAT IS IT, MY FELLOW BROTHER?" The fishman reports, "THERE WAS ANOTHER LONG-NOSED HUMAN WHO GOT AWAY!" Zoro, still tied up, looks worried. "...USOPP? DAMN, SO THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT HIM AFTER ALL..." Nami looks shocked. Arlong grins menacingly. "I THINK HE'S PROBABLY HIDING IN COCOYASHI VILLAGE SOMEWHERE... COCOYASHI VILLAGE...? IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT I HAD SOME BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO THERE..."

A view of Cocoyasi Village is shown. Villagers are going about their day when someone shouts, "WHAT!?" "HEY! ARLONG'S COMING THIS WAY!" Genzo, the sheriff with a pinwheel on his hat, stands in the street as villagers gather around him. "WHAT DOES HE NEED FROM US...?" "HE JUST COLLECTED OUR TRIBUTE!" "IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE MY WEAPONS WERE FOUND..." Genzo says, "EVERYONE GO INSIDE YOUR HOMES." A villager says, "GEN..." The large silhouette of Arlong approaches. "HE'S HERE!"

Arlong and his crew arrive in the village. Arlong asks, "ARE YOU THE ONE? THE ONE FOUND IN POSSESSION OF WEAPONS, 3 DAYS AGO?" Genzo sits calmly on a bench, his body covered in scars. "THAT'S RIGHT." A text box identifies him as "COCOYASHI VILLAGE RESIDENT GENZOU". Genzo continues, "CAN'T A PERSON EVEN HAVE A HOBBYIST COLLECTION UNDER YOUR RULE? I'VE ALWAYS LIKED LOOKING AT WEAPONS." Arlong grins evilly. "NO, I'M AFRAID NOT. ONLY VIOLENCE AND EVIL CAN COME FORTH FROM WEAPONS. THEY'RE THE GREATEST THREAT TO PEACE."

Usopp and Nojiko watch the scene from a window. Usopp is terrified, sweating profusely. "HE'S HUGE! SO THAT'S ARLONG!? HE'S INHUMAN! HE IS A FISHMAN." Nojiko observes, "BUT... IT LOOKS LIKE NAMI DIDN'T COME WITH HIM. SHE'S PROBABLY AT ARLONG PARK." Down in the village, Arlong stands towering over Genzo, with his crew behind him. "I'VE GOT 20 VILLAGES UNDER MY RULE... AND 'REBELS' ARE QUITE A NUISANCE FOR US, YOUR RULERS..." Arlong's face is shown up close, looking fierce. "I DESTROYED THE REBELLIOUS PORT TOWN OF GOSA TO TEACH A LESSON TO ALL THE OTHER TOWNS! IF SOMEONE FAILS TO PAY HIS 'TRIBUTE,' THEN THAT MEANS HE INTENDS TO REBEL AGAINST US!"

Usopp asks, "TRIBUTE? WHAT'S HE TALKING ABOUT?" Nojiko explains grimly, "IT'S MONEY WE HAVE TO PAY MONTH AFTER MONTH. WE HAVE TO BUY OUR VERY OWN LIVES FROM THEM WITH MONEY...! ADULTS, KIDS, EVERYONE." Usopp is horrified. "SO IF THERE'S EVEN ONE PERSON IN AN ENTIRE VILLAGE WHO FAILS TO PAY HIS TRIBUTE... EVEN A SINGLE PERSON, HIS ENTIRE VILLAGE WILL BE DESTROYED JUST LIKE GOSA VILLAGE!" An image shows the destroyed, overturned houses of Gosa Village. Usopp yells, "A WHOLE TOWN D-D-DESTROYED BECAUSE OF A SINGLE PERSON...!? TALK ABOUT CRUEL!" Nojiko looks down. "THAT'S LIFE UNDER ARLONG'S RULE. WITH THEIR 'RACIAL DOCTRINE,' THEY DON'T EVEN THINK TWICE ABOUT KILLING A HUMAN."

Arlong shouts to the gathered villagers. "HEAR ME WELL, INFERIOR HUMANS! ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS WORK HARD AND PAY THE TRIBUTE! THERE'S NO NEED TO THINK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE! WHAT I NEED IS AN ENORMOUS SUM OF MONEY!" Arlong throws his head back and yells, "YOUR TRIBUTE WILL SOON BECOME THE CORNERSTONE, OF MY ARLONG EMPIRE THAT WILL RULE ALL OF EAST BLUE!" Meanwhile, back at Arlong Park, Nami uses a knife to cut the ropes binding Zoro's hands. "NOW HURRY UP AND GET OUT OF HERE, BEFORE ARLONG COMES BACK!" Zoro looks at her in surprise. "HMM?"

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