The Going Merry dropped anchor just outside Cocoyasi Village, the waters eerily calm. The lush green landscape gave no hint of the tyranny lurking within.
Nami sat on a crate near the ship's edge, holding a bag filled with 100 million berries—the entire fortune she'd worked for, all to buy back her village.
"I just… if I give this to Arlong before we confront him," she said hesitantly, "maybe we can avoid fighting him altogether.
Nami's voice cracked slightly. "We're strong, but not strong enough. Arlong is a different league. I need to try this first."
Vihaan crouched beside her, elbows resting on his knees. "You're not wrong to try. But if he betrays you…"
She nodded, gripping the bag tightly. "Then we'll fight. But let me try first."
With a somber nod from the crew, Nami leapt off the ship and made her way inland, determination etched into every step.
While the rest of the crew waited near the ship, Vihaan quietly created a small mirror gate on the deck and vanished through it, reappearing outside the Cocoyasi Village Marine Base.
The building stood tall, but the uniforms inside stank of corruption. Vihaan narrowed his eyes.
He stepped through the entrance casually, his long coat trailing behind. The marines at the desk looked up.
"Can I help you?" the senior officer asked.
"Yes," Vihaan said smoothly. "By resigning. Today."
"Excuse me?"
Vihaan lifted his hand. A small mirror panel formed above his palm.
"I know what you are," he said, stepping forward. "You're not marines. You're Arlong's lapdogs in uniform."
The officer's expression darkened. "You've made a mistake."
Four marines stood from behind the desk, each armed with rifles. But before they could aim, Vihaan slid into a mirror warp and reappeared behind them, landing a mirror punch in the gut of the first.
"Not fast enough," he muttered, then twisted and swept the legs of the second. The third managed to get a shot off, but it passed through a mirror wall.
The fourth tried to grab a den den mushi to call for backup.
Vihaan's voice echoed behind him, low and icy. "I wouldn't."
With a mirror shard forming like a dagger in his hand, he pressed it against the marine's neck. "Tell me where the bribe money is stored."
"B-back vault!" the marine gasped.
Vihaan sighed and knocked him out with the hilt of the shard.
"I really hate corruption."
Back at arlong park
Nami was heading to arlong to tell him she had the money ready when
Suddenly, a small fishman messenger rushed in. "Captain Arlong! It's done! We already took the money from her hiding spot."
Nami froze. "What…?"
"Oh?" Arlong said with mock surprise. "Looks like you've only brought me… a bag of lies."
Nami's heart dropped. "Y-you said—"
"I said a lot of things," Arlong interrupted coldly. "But you're just a human. I'm not bound by my word to your kind."
Realization struck Nami like a punch to the gut. "You never intended to free the village…!"
Arlong stood tall, towering over her. "Of course not."
Tears welled in her eyes as she turned and ran, barefoot, her mind spinning. She had trusted him. Again.
Meanwhile…
Vihaan stood inside the back vault of the marine base. Dozens of chests of money—clearly tributes to Arlong—lay stacked in piles. His hands trembled slightly as he saw the scale of it.
He slammed his palm down, a mirror gateway opening to a secret cliffside spot near the coast. He started pushing the money through the gate, one chest at a time.
"Let's level the field," he muttered.
Suddenly, he heard a noise from the main hall. More corrupt marines had arrived, and they weren't looking to chat.
Vihaan stepped out calmly, forming mirrored discs along his arms. "Let's get this over with."
Back at the Going Merry
Nami sprinted up the dock, her legs aching, her face drenched in tears. The crew, waiting silently, all looked up.
"He betrayed me," she choked. "He never planned to let my village go."
Luffy stood, straw hat casting a shadow over his eyes. "Let's go."
Zoro cracked his neck. "Finally."
Sanji lit a cigarette, exhaling slowly. "Time to make fish stew."
Usopp gulped, but raised his slingshot. "For the village."
Nami's knees buckled slightly, but she felt Vihaan's hand catch her from a mirror portal opening beside her. He gave her a reassuring nod.
"I knew he'd betray you. I just needed you to see it for yourself."
She wiped her tears. "Let's end this."
The Straw Hat crew marched toward Arlong Park.