Chapter seven

Location: East Blue

Island: Momoshi Island, Milk Village

Ten Years Later…

"Thank you for purchases and come again!" an employee called out happily to their leaving customer. A customer who is a young girl, with shoulder-length orange hair, sparkly brown eyes, and fair skin. She wears white and blue striped shirt, her trademark orange mini-skirt and brown high-heeled boots. Her left side of her "skirt" is tied up in a knot to show off her blue thigh-holster to carried her three sperate pieces of orange bo staff, a brown belt with gun holster on her left side with her precious silver revolver tucked in, and red cowboy hat with black band around it. She also wears a silver choker with a pendant that reached above her chest, leather-made braided with black and orange tiger strips entwined bracelet wrapped around her right wrist.

An eighteen years old girl who is known as Nami, shrug a red backpack over her shoulder as she tipped her hat at the employee with a smile. "See ya." She left the clothing store. Good thing they have extra fabric and travel sewing kit that she needed for her journey. Nami walked down the path, dodge the crowded people from bumping until she reached to the dock. She placed her backpack in the boat, climbed in, and untied the rope. 'Now, according to the rumors, the nearby island, there is a famous criminal that was captured by marines. Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro.' Nami mused.

She took out a map and compass from her backpack. "Let's see… Shells Town, located in the Yotsuba Island Region. If I remember correctly, this island is a Marine Base, The 153rd Branch." She recalled the information from the books and reports. 'And I remember that's a start when Luffy meet Zoro as his first mate. After that, they need the navigator.' She mused.

Nami: "Soon, mom… Nojiko… I will come and free you all from them. We will defeat Arlong."

Location: East Blue

Island: Shells Town

Nami arrived at the island after she tied her boat with the dock. She walked down the path with her backpack. Her brown eyes observed her surroundings. She noted that Luffy hasn't come yet so she arrived a bit early. 'Although, I don't know how long I'll have to wait.' She mused with anxious. She really doesn't want to wait in the tense and quiet town.

When she found a restaurant, she walked inside and saw a few chatter customers enjoying their meals. Nami walked to the bar, placed a backpack down next to her, and sat on a stool. A bartender woman has brown hair, tied back, and wears a light green dress over a dark green shirt. "Hello, my name is Ririka and welcome to my bar. What can I get for you?" Ririka asked with a friendly smile as she is busying cleaning the empty glass with a clean rag.

"I'll have your special lunch and a sake, please." Nami ordered with a warm smile.

"Coming right up." Ririka went to inform the cooker and fetch the empty mug and filled the sake. After that, she handed the mug to her customer. "I never saw you before, are you a traveler?" she asked with curiosity.

Nami took a sip from her sake. "You could say that."

???: "What brings you here?"

The orange-haired lady cupped her mug as she rested her elbows against the cool counter. "I'm waiting for someone." She answered, mysteriously. Then she glanced around to make sure there are no marines around. She leaned forward to the bartender. "I heard that infamous Demon Pirate Hunter is in prison. Is that true?" she whispered softly.

Ririka bit her lip. She also glanced around in cautioned then leaned forward.

???: "It is true."

Nami hummed. "I find it strange. Why would marines capture a pirate hunter? Aren't they supposedly "ally" with each other, even though they don't share the same justice." She is aware of what she is doing, she is 'snooping' the information about marines' background. Nami knew that Marines are corrupted and did unspeakable unlawful things, in the dark shadow, hidden from the world. However, after ten years thinking about World Government, the Celestial Dragons, corrupted Marines, and a bunch of nasty, dirty dark secrets that were hiding from the world.

She is going to unleash them.

After all, this world deserves to know the real truth. And in order to do that, she has to gather proves facts and real hard-ass evidence. Basically, she is going on rebellion behind the shadow. And how to do that? She'll figures it out along the way. After all, in her other life, she wasn't known as cold stone-heart soon-to-be lawyer for nothing. Her mother always wanted her to become one instead of a nurse Too bad, she died before she could become a real full-time lawyer for her mother. Oh well. Move on.

Ririka furrowed her eyebrows. "…now that you mention. From what I know, bounty hunters were hired or commissioned by the government to hunt down criminals."

"That's correct, unlike mercenaries or assassins, they do work outside the law to capture criminals. Normally, they capture criminals alive rather then kill them, because they could lose up to thirty percent of the bounty if they killed their target. While most bounty hunters operate for money, some seek the fame that results from taking down infamous pirates, such as Jean Ango." Nami explained, remembered the information from the books, thanks to the library and her former teacher.

"Then, wouldn't they know that he is a bounty hunter? I mean, true that his reputation is a bit terrifying. But, if he hunts down the bounty pirates… then… that's odd." Ririka put the clean glasses away in the shelf. "I think I remembered my brother told me there are many bounty hunters on the island… I think it's called… Sab-something?"

"Sabaody Archipelago?" Nami offered the name and the bartender nodded her head that it was the name of that island. "Of course, there are many bounty hunters stationed on it. Due to the large numbers of pirates there." Then Ririka told her to on hold, went to the kitchen and return with a plate of foods. "Thank you." Nami grabbed a fork and ate some of the meat and vegetables while the bartender makes sure other customers are satisfied with their meals and drinks.

After that, the bartender came back to Nami and leaned against the counter with a thoughtful face. "Now I've thought about it. He shouldn't be in prison, he is a harmless young man. However, this is a different situation."

What do you mean?" Nami asked with curious after she swallowed her food.

The bartender sighed softly as she glanced around in caution. "He wasn't captured at all. He gave himself up in order to protect my daughter and people here." She explains softly, but loud enough for Nami to hear. "Helmeppo, he is a son of Captain Morgan of the Marine 153rd Branch. He had a wild wolf as a pet, it scared everyone. That wolf was too untamed and nearly bite off children. It would have killed my daughter if it wasn't for that hunter. Helmeppo likes to use his father's title and reputation to get what he wants, bringing everyone down to their knees and made a deal with the hunter. The deal was that, instead of us getting in jail and execution, the hunter will take our place and stay in jail for a month. No food, and no water." Ririka frowned deeply. "It's been nearly three weeks since then, I've heard that the hunter is tied up in the middle of the courtyard. Poor thing, underneath the scorching hot sun and cold night moon." She added, sadly.

Nami finished her meal, cupped around her mug and took a few sips during Ririka's explanation. "I see. If that's true, then what does Captain Marine thinks?" she asked with curious while she really wants to shoot daddy's son with her favorite pistol who she named, 'Belle'.

"…he doesn't care. He believes himself to be strong ever since he gained fame and higher rank. He has a habit of punishing those who disobeyed him…" Ririka leaned forward to whisper. "…even killing his own men. For three years, he has left the charge of a Marine base on this island. Not only that, we have to pay for taxes."

The orange-haired lady narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "How much?"

"We have to pay sixty percentage of taxes once a month, thirty percentages of bills and ten percentages that we keep in order to survive." Ririka released the small info that made Nami nearly want to storm up to the Marine Base and shoot the motherfucking Captain Shitty and his shitty-ass son.

"I see." Nami gritted her teeth as she lifted her mug and drank it all at once. Then set it down. "Thanks for the meal and information, Ririka-san." Nami smiles at the woman as she stood up from the stool. She left beli and generous tips which surprise the bartender. "See ya around." Nami grabbed her backpack and left the bar.

Ririka blinked. "A-ah… thank you!"

When Nami is outside as she walks down the path while thinking deeply. 'So, the marines didn't do anything except being cowards behind Captain Shitty's shadow. They didn't even attempt to contact another Marine base or Admiral about this. They stay down, all because they were afraid of that Captain Shitty. I wonder if he keeps the report about taxes? If I have that information, I could use it against him and this Marine Base.' She mused, if she has her hands on those reports, she could release Marine 153rd Branch's dirty secret to the world. It would be a start.

Her brown eyes founded the Marine Base and made a disgusted face. 'Marines are disgusting… especially with the art styles… no sense of fashion whatsoever.' She shuddered.

.

.

.

Moisture fell from his forehead. He wasn't sure he should be grateful or regret to leave his bandana wrapped around his head. The foul odor coming from his sweating body all because of the scorching hot sun. 'Ten days… only ten days left…' his stomach was growling for food and his dry throat is begging for water.

Suddenly, he felt the presence that he snapped his eyes above, straight ahead where the tall fence is. He blinked, adjusted the bright as his blurriness fade away. On top of the fence, is a young lady with a red cowboy hat sitting on top with her legs crossed, her elbow rested on the knee with her chin on palm while her other hand rested on the fence next to her.

"…who the hell are you?" he demanded, raspy through the quiet courtyard. Wondering how long she has been sitting on the fence, watching him. As if he's some kind of display which it pissed him off. "Go away."

The young lady hummed then jumped down. She adjusted her backpack and walked straight to him. "Roronoa, Zoro. The famous Demon Pirates Hunter, and Three-Swords Style Swordsman." She knew who he is and his titles.

"Who are you?" Zoro demanded once again, then forced to cough dryly. He mentally cursed to show his vulnerable and weak side to a stranger.

Suddenly, cold water splashes toward his heat body then a rim circle pressed against his mouth. "Drink." Zoro couldn't help it but drink the cold water with greedy. After that, his throat is in relief and satisfied for now. He blinked a few times and observed the young woman in front of him.

"I believe you did ask who I am, my name is Nami." Nami slightly flicks her cowboy hat up to show her bright brown eyes. "I came here for business." Her eyes glanced over at the Marine Base. "They have some information I'm looking for."

Zoro noticed the weapons on Nami's hip and her thigh. "A pistol and bo-staff… are you a bounty hunter or something?"

"More of something." Nami half-grinned at the swordsman. "Now, as much as I would love to stay and chat more with you, Mister Swordsman. I have a business I must tend to." She placed the water bottle back in her backpack. "Before I forget, you will be released soon." Then she walked away.

"…release soon?" Zoro frowned as his eyebrow furrowed with curious. "…what a strange girl."