Nojiko was tending to her tangerines when a sudden "Good morning," sent a chill up her spine.

She turned around to see Arlong approaching, "What do you want?"

"Oh, why be so hostile?", Arlong smiled, "I mean, with all Nami's done for my crew, we're practically family."

Nojiko was growing all the more furious in his presence, "I asked, what do you want?"

At this tone, Arlong glared, "I want to know where Kiso is."

Nojiko blinked before hurriedly answering, "Haven't seen him."

Arlong growled, "Don't lie to me."

"I swear I haven't seen him in a week."

"Come now, where else would he be hiding than here with you?"

Genzo came running up to the house, "Nojiko, are you alright?! I saw Arlong come this way and-," when he was interrupted by Arlong, "Stay out of this, old man."

"Genzo?," Nojiko whispered fearfully, "Stay back…"

The mayor/sheriff spoke up, "You're looking for the boy, aren't you?"

This caught Arlong's attention, "Yes."

"I don't know where he is, but I have an idea how he left."

"Explain."

"A week ago, an odd man came to the village."

"What did this man look like?"

"He had grey hair, wore blue clothes, and had these strange glasses, shaped like hearts. Folks in the village saw Kiso talking with this man during his 'visit'. And some claim to witness the boy leave with him in his boat."

Arlong huffed before turning to Nojiko, "Just make sure everything's in order for Collection Day," then approached the tangerines.

Nojiko cried, "What are you doing?!"

Arlong nonchalantly plucked one tangerine, "Just inspecting your batch, is all," then began chewing on it.

"Mmmm…" Arlong grinned at the two shuddering humans maliciously, juice dripping down his mouth, "Juicy…"

…

"Keep scrubbing, you scum!", the obese pirate captain Alvida bellowed as she observed her crew cleaning the deck, "Else you'll get a taste of the mace!"

The men shuddered, "Yes, ma'am!", hurrying along with their work.

The captain was seated, her famous iron mace beside her, "Koby!"

The cabin boy rushed to her, carrying a bowl of food, "Here, ma'am!"

Alvida paused before asking, "Who is the most beautiful woman in the world?"

Koby wasted no time in responding, "You are of course, ma'am!"

Alvida nodded before digging into the food.

…

"Alright, now, let's count the straws."

Of the men, one of the lower-ranking crewmates, a blonde, obese man named Clancy had drawn the shortest straw. He weathered under the shadow of his captain.

"Looks like," Buggy glowered at him, "you're it."