One Piece Chapter 74: Business

Arlong looms over a terrified man wearing a net on his head, pressing a blade close while declaring, “CONSIDERING THAT, IT’S ONLY NATURAL THAT A WELL-KNOWN BOUNTY HUNTER WOULD COME FOR ME. THE BOUNTY ON MY HEAD IS THE HIGHEST IN ALL OF EAST BLUE AT 20 MILLION BELI.” Below, the wide view of Arlong Park shows the fish-man captain continuing, “IF HE THINKS HE CAN SNEAK IN HERE AND CUT DOWN MY BRETHREN WHILE I’M OUT…! HE’S NOT THE MOST CLASSY GUY, SO WHERE IS THIS RORONOA ZORO HIDING…!I” The bound captive desperately pleads, “I… I DON’T KNOW! I REALLY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS ZORO GUY YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT! PLEASE LET ME GO!” while several fish-men stand guard around the pool.

Usopp, sweating and wide-eyed, blurts out, “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 fish-man retorts, “THERE’S NOT A CHANCE THAT WE’D LET YOU FREE. IT’S UNDENIABLE THAT YOU PERSONALLY ATTACKED ARLONG AS WELL.” Another fish-man named Chew adds, “CHU! I’D ADVISE YOU TO STOP WITH THE BAD LIES.” Usopp panics further, “IN FACT, IF YOU DON’T KEEP ME ALIVE, HE’LL NEVER COME! IF YOU KEEP ME ALIVE, ZORO DEFINITELY COME TO SAVE ME!” Arlong counters, “WHAT!I N-NO! THAT’S NOT IT! KILLING ME WOULD BE THE WRONG THING TO DO!” while an unseen fish-man asks, “OHI SO YOU MEAN TO SAY THAT ZORO WILL COME IF I KILL YOUI” Usopp yells, “HEY NAMI! SAY SOMETHING!” Nami stands silently with a troubled expression as a fish-man asks her, “WHAT’S WRONG, NAMII YOU LOOK A LITTLE TROUBLED, NOI” and another remarks, “IT SEEMS LIKE YOU’RE STILL DOUBTING ME QUITE A BIT…!”

Nami’s face is shown in close-up as she thinks, “I’M NOT GOING TO LET MYSELF BE KILLED BECAUSE OF SOME STUPID MISUNDERSTANDING! …DAMN IT!” Arlong’s glaring face appears beside her, stating, “IT’S BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE LIKE THAT I’M DOUBTING YOU. YOU’RE A LITTLE TOO CUNNING.” Nami continues internally, “JUST WHEN I’M SO CLOSE TO ACHIEVING MY GOAL…! WHY DOES EVERYTHING NEED TO GO WRONG NOW OF ALL TIMES…!I” In the final wide panel Luffy suddenly appears, shouting, “EVEN AFTER HE HEARD YOU RAN AWAY! LUFFY DIDN’T DOUBT YOU FOR A SINGLE SECOND,” while Arlong roars, “YOU WITCH! NAMI! I’M REAL DISAPPOINTED IN YOU!” Nami stares back in shock.

Arlong looms in a massive close-up, eyes bulging and mouth wide as he roars at Nami, "BUT TO THINK YOU'VE BEEN DECEIVING HIM ALL ALONG WITHOUT EVEN BATTING AN EYE!" and "HE COMPLETELY TRUSTS YOU! EVEN NOW!" Sweat flies from his face amid dramatic speed lines. Nami stands calmly with a slight smile and replies, "BLAME HIS IDIOCY FOR BEING DUPED." She adds in the next panel, "SORRY, BUT THE ONLY THING I TRUST IS MONEY." Arlong's head snaps back in shock as a huge impact erupts behind him with debris and motion lines; he bellows, "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!I" Nami stands with arms crossed, unfazed by the outburst.

Arlong strides into Arlong Park with arms raised, greeted by cheering fishmen who shout "NYU!I ARLONG, YOU'RE BACK!" and "WELCOME BACK!" One fishman asks, "WHY'S EVERYONE ALL GATHERED HEREI" The mood shifts as Arlong enters a hall filled with fallen bodies sprawled across the floor. He freezes, sweat pouring down his face, and yells, "WHAT'S THIS!I" A close-up shows his furious expression as he growls, "IF YOU WERE ONLY HERE, THIS WOULD'VE NEVER HAPPENED." Another fishman replies, "IT'S THE WORK OF THAT INFAMOUS PIRATE HUNTER ZORO. WHERE WERE YOU, HACHII"

The fishmen discuss the swordsman: "THE ONLY ONE I REMEMBER MEETING WAS THIS RATHER SUSPICIOUS LONE SWORDSMAN." "NOPE, NOTHING!" "SO YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHERE ZORO COULD'VE GONE TOI" Arlong snarls, "WHY THAT ZORO! I'LL KILL HIM!" and "DAMN RIGHT! LIKE I WOULD EVER LET THE GUY WHO OFFED MY CREWMATES GO SCOT-FREE!" He suddenly realizes, "SO YOU DID MEET HIM, YOU DUMBASS!" and "COULD IT HAVE BEEN HIM!I" Nami, looking tense, admits, "THAT I GAVE HIM A RIDE TO THE VILLAGE SO HE COULD MEET YOU." The fishmen react in shock: "B-BUT... IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS ARLONG'S GUEST," "YOU GAVE HIM A RIDE!I" and "I JUST GAVE HIM A RIDE TO COCO YASHI VILLAGE... WHERE DID HE GO!I" Nami sweats heavily, realizing the danger.

Nami sweats as she thinks, "ZORO'S LOOKING FOR ARLONG!I WHAT'S HE PLANNINGI HE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY REASON TO FIGHT ARLONG... BECAUSE HE'S LOOKING FOR ME TOO...!" A fishman notes, "HE'S ZORO'S COMPANION." Another asks, "BY THE WAY, WHO'S HEI" Nami internally warns herself, "EVEN THOUGH HE'S JUST A HUMAN, HE THOUGHT HE COULD TAKE ON US FISHMEN." She adds, "...IF I LET THINGS GET ANY MORE OUT OF HAND THAN THIS, THEN I'LL REALLY BE IN TROUBLE!" In the next moment a violent struggle erupts; a fishman is grabbed and slammed down with impact lines and "GRAB..." as Nami reaches for her belt in alarm.

The fishman in the checkered hat snarls at the group, "YOU WANNA FIGHT, IS THAT IT!I" A voice calls out "YOU...!" as another shouts "NAMI!" A powerful kick lands with "UGH!!" In the large panel Nami stands with her staff, declaring "IT'S YOUR OWN FAULT FOR GOING AGAINST ARLONG... YOU'RE A NUISANCE..." She continues in the lower panels, "EVERYTHING WAS GOING WITHOUT A HITCH UNTIL YOU GUYS GOT HERE. I CAN'T LET YOU RUIN THE BUSINESS I'VE BEEN RUNNING FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS. 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." The checkered-hatted fishman stares in shock, "!!I"

Nami grips her staff and states coldly, "IS KILL YOU WITH MY OWN HANDS. THAT'S WHY THE LEAST I CAN DO," The fishmen react in the next panels: one yells "KILL'IM, NAMI!" while another laughs "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!" Nami questions "KILLI" The checkered-hatted fishman sees his opening, shouting "NOW'S MY CHANCE! IF I STAYED HERE ANY LONGER, I WOULD'VE BEEN KILLED FOR SURE! CERTAIN KILL..." Nami turns away, saying "TO NOT THINK OF ME AS ME ANYMORE... I'D BE BEST FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY,"

A smoke bomb detonates with a massive "BANG" and the label "SMOKE STAR!" as the checkered-hatted fishman flings it while shouting "FLING!" Nami remarks calmly, "I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT TRY SOMETHING LIKE THAT." The fishmen scramble, one ordering "SURROUND THE PLACE! DON'T LET HIM ESCAPE!" while another yells "THAT BASTARD! HE USED A SMOKE BOMB!" The escaping fishman paddles away on a board, thinking "ALL I HAVE TO DO NOW IS ESCAPE BY WATER!" as he splashes into the water "SPLASH" The remaining crew reacts with "AH...!" and "HOW TYPICAL."

Nami leaps through the smoke and swings her staff down hard, striking the fleeing fishman with a heavy impact "UGH!" He cries out "W-W-WAIT!" as she presses the attack with fierce determination. The fishman is sent flying from the blow, crashing through the air amid motion lines and debris as Nami lands ready for the next strike.

Nami stands over the defeated fishman officer, her face cold and determined. The officer lies sprawled on the ground, bloodied and gasping. She declares, "NOW GO TO YOUR GRAVE QUIETLY...!" Large impact SFX "ドサッ" and motion lines emphasize the final blow. Earlier panels show the officer panting heavily, sweat pouring down his face as he mutters "COULD YOU..." and "NAMI..." while Nami glares back with the line "THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY. FOR THE SAKE OF MY BUSINESS."

Usopp stares in horror, sweat flying as he realizes the truth. Arlong's crew erupts in laughter with massive "オオオオ" SFX, one shouting "THAT'S AN ARLONG PIRATE'S CREW OFFICER FOR YA!" and another "SHAHAHAHA! AN EXCELLENT REVENGE, INDEED!" Usopp clutches his head, tears streaming, crying "KILLED BY... SISTER NAMI! HOW CAN THIS BE!I" and "B-B-BROTHER USOPP... WAS..." while background shows the devastated village and distant figures.

Nami stands before the Straw Hat crew in Arlong Park. She states firmly, "THERE'S ONLY ONE REASON WHY I JOINED THIS CREW!" Sanji questions her, "ONE OF YOUI DON'T LUMP ME TOGETHER WITH THE LIKES OF YOU." Nami continues, "YOU TRULY ARE ONE OF US." and "MY APOLOGIES FOR DOUBTING YOU." She adds, "CONSIDER ME AS MORE OF AN ALLY. AND BUY COCOYASHI VILLAGE FROM YOU. AND THAT'S TO RAISE 100 MILLION BELI." Luffy's massive kick sends debris flying as he yells "WASN'T IT YOUR DREAM TO DIE IN THE SEA...I"

Arlong looms over Nami, arms crossed, declaring "WOULD WANT TO BUY A CRUMMY LITTLE VILLAGE." and "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," while Nami looks tense. He then pulls out a worn map, pointing at it with a fierce grin: "A MAP OF THIS ISLAND THAT, WITHOUT A DOUBT, POINTS SPECIFICALLY AT COCOYASHI VILLAGE! THIS IS A WORN-OUT TREASURE MAP!" The fishman officer and others react with shock as Nami's eyes widen.

Inside the building, Arlong looms over the scene with his massive jaws open, snarling as he demands, "THAT'S NAMI'S MAP. GIVE IT BACK." Nearby, excited fishmen crowd around shouting "LET ME SEE, LET ME SEE!" and "H-HIDDEN TREASURE!I A TREASURE TROVE!I THAT'S AMAZING!" while sound effects "わぁぁぁぁ" fill the air. Nami stands firm, her eyes sharp, replying to Arlong, "YOU WOULDN'T JUST CALL IT OFF AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, WOULD YOUI 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." Sanji, cigarette in mouth and curly eyebrow visible, clutches a rolled map and snaps, "THIS IS MINE! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH IT!" with a sharp "パシッ!" as he blocks the reach. Arlong sits back on his throne-like chair, arms crossed over his muscular chest, declaring with a fierce grin, "THAT'S THE KIND OF MAN I AM...! OF COURSE NOT. I WOULD RATHER DIE THAN BREAK A PROMISE INVOLVING MONEY."

A dripping dagger is shown in close-up with sound effects "ポタ ポタ...". Nami stands confidently before seated Arlong, saying "ARLON... AS EXPECTED. YOU'RE A REASONABLE MAN, ARLONG." with a slight smile and motion lines "ズク". Arlong's fishman subordinates react in the background. A fishman with a finned head exclaims, "I'D SAY SHE'S TURNED INTO A FINE WOMAN!" while Arlong himself growls, "SHAHAHAHA! SUCH AN UNPLEASANT WOMAN...". In a close-up, a sweating, wide-eyed fishman stares in terror, thinking "A WITCH!" with sweat drops and sound effects "ザク ザク". The final panel shows the exterior of a grand building labeled Arlong Park, with a lone figure standing before its gates.

Momoo the sea cow thrashes in the water near the Going Merry, crying "Maa!" as Luffy's voice calls out, "HEY! DON'T GET TIRED NOW, YOU HIPPO!" and "I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING DO WITH YOUR KICKS..." with sound effects "ブゥ ブゥ ゼイ ゼイ". From the ship, someone shouts, "I CAN SEE ARLONG PARK!" with motion lines. The crew approaches the shore as the grand building comes into view. Usopp points excitedly, "IT'S THIS BUILDING!" while warning, "HEY! YOU'RE SWIMMING THE WRONG WAY! TURN TO THE LEFT!" and the group yells, "WE'RE GONNA CRASH INTO THE SHORE!". On land, Zoro stands alert, hand on his swords, muttering "HMMI WHAT'S THAT SOUND...I" as a loud impact "ドッコォォォオオオ!" erupts. Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji burst from the wreckage with a sign reading "HAVE ARRIVED." and the panel labeled "LUFFY, YOSAKU, SANJI".

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