Smooth like a Bubble 3 - Or 'The Most Dangerous Cleaner of the Ocean is now a Pirate' (One Piece, SI)
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Cocoyasi Village.
I had my doubts things were going to be tame as we arrived to the nearest port to the island. I had to agree with Deuce that we had to be wary of the steps we took there. One thing was to wander into a Marine-owned location such as Loguetown, another was to dwell in a pirate-controlled settlement.
Arlong Park was visible from the place where we docked, and Ace was instantly intrigued by the distant sight.
"That's literally where the big bad has made his base," I pointed out, drawing Deuce and Ace's gazes on me. "If you plan to go there, at least make sure that you know what you are going against. Arlong is scum, and he has a thing for enslaving humans."
I think that statement only made Ace pumped up on facing the guy, and I couldn't blame me. Why, I had delivered that line with that in mind: if Ace could clear out the pirates there early on, it would be easy for us to get a proper ship, and perhaps some good rep with the locals. It would definitely change some of the plot but... I was aware that things were bound to change with me around so...
Better to be the one in charge of the changes, than the one subjected to the ramifications of those early on.
What I hadn't predicted was that I couldn't linger to guard the small boat. While it made sense for someone to keep behind and protect our only way out if things went south, Deuce argued that it was best to have someone to look into the local situation. Maybe to prevent any surprises while he and Ace took care of Arlong.
I felt reasonably displeased by the idea, but I knew that refusing it was not an option. Plus... I agreed that a potential retaliation in case some of Arlong's pirates survived the massacre got to the village and tried to milk it dry one last time before bailing on it.
So, despite feeling quite unsure about this idea, I took off to check the village while Ace and Deuce took the boat to approach Arlong's Park without getting spotted by anyone posted by the road.
It was just me, a bag of essential items, and a few coins on my name to get food and water if needed.
And as I arrived at the village, I felt quite displeased by the sight I was met with. The entire place, already simplistic in its design, had been stripped and wrecked of some of its homely fashion. Broken houses, the road was irregular due to a lack of maintenance, and the people were wandering around with tattered clothes.
It looked like a warzone, but the truth was that this was the result of pirates setting up a racket. One that was quite ill-planned considering that this place wasn't that rich. But I doubt that Arlong wanted immediate riches, he just wanted 'peace and safety'- especially after facing the man known as Borsalino in the not-so distant past.
I found the nearest bar, and I took to see how things were there. The indoors weren't any better than the outdoor display, but the place was functional enough for people to find solace within these hours. I asked at the counter for a glass of orange juice, and then I took a seat.
I didn't order any food just yet, taking a seat and looking around. Instantly noticing the eyes on me- I was a stranger by all means. And while I did get a similar treatment in Loguetown, it never got to this level of interest. It was less about my 'presence' there, and more on the fact that I could become the new victim of the Arlong's pirates.
Not even a few minutes sitting that I was approached by someone.
"Can I share the table with you?"
The question came from a certain blue-haired lady.
Nojiko looked mostly the same as far as I remember from the show, maybe her curves were bigger here but... oh, her hair was a bit longer. I guess she would eventually cut it short for convenience but right now she looked a bit more 'older' than she should be.
"You may."
She sat down by the chair right in front of me and ordered some orange juice too. I thought she would have taken her time to slowly slipped a warning but-
"Do you know this place is far from safe, sir?"
I blinked, offering her a glance at her tense look. "I am aware of Arlong. But he is of no concern to me."
A frown soon adorned her face. "It is... not?"
"I am not exactly a civilian. My friends are currently making their way to the Park and... some stuff may get a bit roasted," I hummed, still studying her whirlwind of emotions within her eyes. "I am Joestar Joules."
"N-Nojiko."
I nodded. "To put it bluntly, I am not here to entertain the notion of being a victim to scum. My friends and I are here to just get a boat, some supplies and, if possible, 'clean up the seafood dirtying this village'."
I could tell others were now listening some more. "If it is possible... does any of you have something flammable that can be used to burn two large fishmen's corpses?"
Despite the suddenness of the request, I soon found some people raising their hands at this. I had to explain my plan, with a couple of individuals skeptical over how I was meant to take down the two tax-collectors meant to visit the bar very soon. They still gave me their trust since it was a chance. And as they all took to resume their usual chores while I stood by the counter to work as a waiter.
A hour into the waiting game and two individuals from the Arlong's crew arrived at the bar. I think their names were Pisaro and Kaneshiro. They weren't alone as I saw little Nami with them. Compared to all versions I was familiar of the girl, Nami with long hair spread in twintails sure looked kind of adorable.
She already had the tattoo on her arm, which was quite saddening, but at least the kid could be freed together with the rest of the village within these very few days. The orangette spotted her sister, and, while the fishmen looked unsure, they decided to let her go back to her as Nojiko asked to have Nami sit with her.
As Nami got out of 'range', I got to the fishmen's table.
"Good day, good sirs. My name is Joestar Joules and I will be your personal waiter for today. Would you like something to eat?"
The two looked up at me with surprised eyes. "And who are you?"
"I am a young waiter that moved out of home when I heard that the true heirs to the Sun Pirates have set their base here," I answered carefully, trying to sound 'admiring' but not too much. I saw shock flash by their gazes as I brought up such a relevant aspect of the Arlong Pirates. "The Spirit of the Adventurer lives with Arlong, after all! So, I joined this humble place to provide you and other heirs the chance to experience traditional Fishman food since I understand the locals are not aware of such customs."
Their shock turned into delight as I provided some examples I heard from Loguetown, with the duo ordering a fair amount of food I nodded at.
"May I bring you some beverages while I get the kitchen moving?"
More nods, and I provided them with some of the remaining wine around. As I walked out of sight, I kept by the doorstep leading to the kitchen. I saw eyes on me as I lifted three fingers.
3.
2.
1.
And the fishmen started to choke. It wasn't sudden or abrupt, with the process taking a careful effort to go as intended. The wine I had given the bastards was filled with tiny bubbles I had control over. Once inside their throats, I stopped those and inflated them with the liquid within their bodies. Not only those bubbles expanded due to the intake, but they also started to grow thicker in their texture and resilient to pressure as they started to clog their throats.
The fishmen started to panic as they felt like growing balls within their windpipes, one even rushed to retrieve a flask to try and bring the 'ball' down, but it only expanded it some more.
The sight was surreal to so many - the pirates that once were thought impossible to beat were now dying before their own eyes. And soon, two corpses remained on the ground. It was time to 'clean up'.
"So, about that lamp oil... who wants to lit the fishes up?"
To my surprise (or maybe not), I saw a tiny hand shoot up, and I noticed the guilty look on Nojiko's face as I realized that she told her sister what was up.
"Me! I wanna burn them!"
Man, so tiny and already so murderous. I shrugged and got helped in carrying the bodies out in the open for others to see and... set them on fire. A macabre sight, one that Nami had to look away at some point, but most people just stared with hope rising the more the carcasses burned to nothingness.
After this fiery spectacle, I explained the situation. This wasn't a 'coup', the village would reclaim its freedom, and that my crew and I were only staying around to get a ship, some supplies, and the basic resources to survive while staying there. No fees, no taxes, no more enslaving people.
That being said, Ace and Deuce arrived at Cocoyasi Village around dinnertime. The former was hungry as fuck after scorching the entire Arlong Crew, freeing the people, and pretty much getting scowled at by Deuce for almost setting the storage house ablaze.
After a proper introduction, we finalized the deal with the Cocoyasi Village's elders: we would get our ship and the required supplies to eventually set sails, but we were to work as the village's protectors from anyone trying to force any unwanted taxes on the recovering settlement.
Sounded like a fair deal and, while I couldn't see it at the moment...
It gave a certain bluette the chance to 'get comfortable' around her newest crush.
AN
Yarrr! It's back, and next time Nojiko gets looded! Well, she pushes the loods, and may encourage a 'big family' project much to the MC's tiny chagrin. Also, Nami gets headpatted! And told about Luffy early on!
Also, once again I wish to remind the readers I have a Ko-Fi now and supporting me through it would be really helpful. I understand the economy is fucky, but I am not asking for huge contributions. All support is good support!