Chapter 73: Isn't It Just a Confrontation?
Nami left, taking the money from Arlong's stronghold with her.
Ian felt deeply reluctant—partly because he was loath to see Nami go, and partly because he hated to part with that money. Getting Nami to join the crew was already out of the question, so Ian figured he could at least keep some of the cash, right?
However, Nami, like him, had a love for money, and perhaps even more so than Ian. After a long and heated argument, she refused to budge.
In the end, Tashigi stepped in to speak for Nami. Arlong's money was indeed stolen goods, so Tashigi leaned toward returning it to the wronged villagers. The Arlong Pirates had roamed the East Blue freely for so long while the Marines could do nothing about them—this already filled Tashigi with guilt. Out of a sense of justice, she believed that offering some compensation to the villagers would be the right thing to do.
With Tashigi's support, Nami successfully made off with the money. Though she waved enthusiastically at Ian as she said goodbye, he was convinced it was because she was thrilled about the cash, not out of pure gratitude. This only deepened his melancholy.
Watching this, the Marine soldiers on the ship whispered among themselves: "Look, the instructor's expression is so sad—he must have been dumped!"
"I think so too. Didn't you hear him say she was his type?"
"The instructor's really pitiful, getting his heart broken so young!"
"This is youth!"
Ian didn't catch these remarks; if he had, he might have lost his temper...
The captured members of the Arlong Pirates totaled over 120 people. These fish-man pirates were all escorted onto the warship. Ian searched high and low but couldn't find Hachi, and the so-called sea beast Momoo had yet to appear. Nami had forgotten to mention this to him, leaving Ian utterly confused, unsure of what was going on.
The warship left the dock and set sail back to Loguetown. Marine soldiers who were uninjured or lightly wounded were assigned to guard the fish-man pirates, while the injured gathered on the deck, waiting for the ship's doctor to treat them.
Ian was also helping out. He swapped out the Ryo Takatsuki card for the Shelley card and began treating Tashigi's wrist wound.
Arlong's bite force was astonishing. Though Tashigi had only been bitten once, her wrist bone was crushed. Ian slowly channeled his psychic power, placing his hand over her wrist. A faint white glow emanated, and Tashigi was surprised to find that her wound, which had been numb with pain, now felt a tingling itch as the torn flesh slowly healed.
This was Ian's first time using Shelley's healing skill. He had initially thought it couldn't be used on others, but after testing it, he found it actually worked.
Tashigi adjusted her glasses and looked at Ian with curiosity. She now felt even more strongly that Ian was no ordinary person. She had never even heard of such a healing method.
"Are you a Devil Fruit user?" Tashigi asked Ian. "If so, what kind of fruit do you have?"
"Secret!" Ian replied without looking up.
In this world, Devil Fruit abilities were incredibly varied. Ian could easily make something up, claiming to be a Heal-Heal Fruit user without much issue. The Evil King Flame Slayer Sword could also be passed off as some special sword technique—everything could be explained. However, since Tashigi had seen him fighting while wearing Seastone handcuffs, Ian couldn't tell her the truth.
Ian knew that if he didn't say anything, Tashigi wouldn't press him for answers.
Using Shelley's healing on others seemed only to restore external injuries. After stopping the bleeding and healing Tashigi's wound, Ian called the ship's doctor over to put a splint on her wrist. Judging by her condition, she probably wouldn't be able to wield a sword for several months.
After treating Tashigi, Ian also tended to the other injured Marine soldiers. During this process, he noticed that these soldiers were in high spirits.
Ian had initially worried that the soldiers might hold a grudge against him, since he had tricked them into coming along to fight the Arlong Pirates. The injuries were essentially his fault. But now, it seemed the soldiers bore him no resentment.
What Ian didn't know was that these lower-ranking soldiers didn't overthink things. In their eyes, fighting pirates was their duty as Marines. From the day they joined, they had been taught that. Sure, Ian had coaxed them into this, but it had also given them a real combat experience—a valuable lesson. Moreover, their opponents were the notoriously vicious fish-man pirates, which made it even more remarkable.
Facing such foes and emerging victorious, these soldiers felt an indescribable sense of pride and honor. They were actually glad to have taken part in this battle.
Not long after the warship set sail, the lookout at the top of the mast shouted down to Tashigi: "Sergeant Tashigi! A Marine ship spotted ahead! One vessel! Judging by the flag, it's from Branch 16!"
Ian heard this from below and thought to himself, "Here they come!"
Their warship slowed down, while the Branch 16 vessel sped up to meet them. The two ships soon drew close. A small boat was lowered from the Branch 16 ship, carrying several people who rowed toward Ian's vessel.
Once they reached the side, a man eagerly climbed up the rope ladder. As soon as he boarded, he shouted, "Which branch are you from!? Why are you coming into Branch 16's territory to catch pirates!?"
This man wore a Marine uniform, but his hat had two round ear decorations, and he had a rat-like mustache with shifty eyes. Who else could it be but Captain Mouse of Branch 16?
The thing Tashigi had feared had come to pass. Going into another branch's jurisdiction to catch pirates was highly improper. Though she was the ship's commander appointed by Smoker, she had no idea how to respond.
Just then, Ian stepped forward. He walked up to Captain Mouse, poked him hard in the chest, and said, "Who are you!? Who do you think you are!? Coming onto this ship and yelling—are you trying to out-shout me!?"
The Marine soldiers stared at Ian in disbelief, unsure how to react. Instructor! Can't you read the rank insignia? He's a captain! A captain! Is it really appropriate to poke him like that?
Ian couldn't care less. His current identity was the sword instructor at the Loguetown Marine Base. Though Mouse was a captain, he had no authority over Ian. And with the backing of the Loguetown Marines, Mouse wouldn't dare act rashly. At worst, Ian could be accused of disrespecting a superior.
Did Ian care about that accusation? Not at all!
So, it was simple from here. Wasn't it just a confrontation?
He kept poking Mouse's chest and said, "What's your reasoning? What do you mean by 'Branch 16's territory'? Don't get it twisted! The entire East Blue is under Marine jurisdiction, and your Branch 16 is just one part of it. Claiming territory like this—what are you trying to do, set up your own kingdom?"
"I..." Mouse was choked by Ian's rapid-fire questions, left speechless. But after a moment, he snapped back, "Even if the whole East Blue is Marine territory, this area is assigned to Branch 16's defense zone! Did you notify me before coming here to make arrests?"
Ian snorted coldly and said, "Why should I notify you? You can't manage your own defense zone properly, letting pirates run rampant. Are you saying no other branch is allowed to catch them? What kind of logic is that!? Is this how you serve as a Marine?"
When it came to arguments, Ian had seen plenty. Facing someone like Mouse, he had no qualms about being unreasonable.
If Tashigi and the other Loguetown Marines had initially been uneasy about stealing the credit and dreaded facing Branch 16's accusations, after hearing Ian's rebuttal, even they found his reasoning sound. Yes, if you can't catch the pirates in your own territory, why shouldn't other Marines step in?
You can't be that possessive, can you?
"You... you!" Captain Mouse was so furious that both sides of his mustache twitched. He stomped his foot and pointed at Ian, cursing, "You're just a bounty hunter! What right do you have to speak to me!?"
This guy Mouse recognized him, which meant he was indeed the one who tipped off the Arlong Pirates!
Ian chuckled and said, "I don't care. My boss is now Captain Smoker, transferred from Marine Headquarters—the famous White Hunter, Captain Smoker. If you have a problem, take it up with him!"
Tashigi and the soldiers couldn't help but cover their faces, unable to watch any longer: Instructor, you're so shameless! When did Captain Smoker become your boss?
Ian wasn't that foolish. He naturally wouldn't discuss these matters with Mouse as a mere bounty hunter. Instead, he redirected the issue to the two Marine branches. This way, the capture of the Arlong Pirates became an internal Marine affair. Whatever arguments Mouse and Smoker had later would be their problem, not Ian's.
So, Ian brazenly dragged Smoker into the mess...
Seeing that Mouse seemed ready to keep arguing, Ian grew impatient. He suddenly kicked Mouse hard in the stomach!
Mouse's eyes bulged from the impact. He had been standing near the railing, and after the kick, he tumbled overboard, falling into the sea from Ian's ship.
Several Marine soldiers from Branch 16 had come aboard with Mouse. Seeing their captain fall into the water, they hurriedly jumped in to rescue him. Seizing the opportunity, Ian shouted, "Set sail!"
The Marine soldiers quickly unfurled the sails and sped away from the spot.
Listening to Mouse's distant curses from the sea, Tashigi said angrily, "Doing this will cause trouble for Captain Smoker!"
Ian shook his head, pointed to his head, and said to Tashigi, "Think carefully. Why were we able to enter Arlong Park so easily?"
Tashigi wasn't stupid. The fact that the Arlong Pirates' ship didn't fire on them but led them into Arlong Park, and how smoothly Arlong had placed the money on the table—these scenes connected in her mind, and she suddenly understood. Surprised, she said, "You mean..."
"No evidence, so what can you say?" Ian shook his head. "In any case, Arlong can't be handed over to Branch 16."
Tashigi glanced reluctantly in the direction of Captain Mouse. Her sense of justice told her that things might indeed be as she suspected. She felt intense hatred for such corrupt elements within the Marines, and for a moment, she secretly felt a bit of satisfaction at Ian kicking Mouse into the sea.
As for Ian, he was now starting to feel a vague worry.
Though he had successfully captured Arlong, he couldn't arrest Mouse. With Mouse's greedy nature, who knew if, without Arlong, he would cultivate another pirate crew as his cash cow?
This wasn't an exaggeration; it was entirely possible. If that happened, Nami's Cocoyasi Village and the surrounding villages would be in danger. After the Arlong Pirates were gone, new pirates might emerge to continue plundering them... Thinking this, Ian felt helpless. This was the era of the great pirate age—pirates kept appearing, and ordinary people were the ones who suffered. He wondered what Roger had been thinking back then. Was this really a good thing?