TinyNose's Past (2)

And so the news was sent all around Conomi Islands that Arlong was dead.

The people couldn't believe it until they saw it with their own eyes so they traveled to Arlong Park to see its state.

They then went to Cocoyasi Village to thank their savior and party together.

................

At midnight, everyone were celebrating their new freedom with laughter, dancing, and generally having the time of their lives.

Masterson sat there looking at everyone dancing and having fun with a downcast look in his eyes while drinking some booze,

'if only I came sooner...'

After he came here, he regretted not coming sooner to help them, especially after he learned from Genzo what Arlong did to that little girl called Nami.

How Arlong killed her mother and then forced her to draw maps for him while threatening to kill everyone in the village if she didn't do it.

He even learned about the deal between Arlong and Nami to buy her village for 100 million berries.

How she stole from the pirates to gather enough money to buy the village and about the Marine captain of the 16th Branch, Captain Nezumi.

Who covered up the vast majority of Arlong's actions in the Conomi Islands in exchange for bribe money.

If only...

If only he came here, 5 years ago.

If he haven't trusted the fake information that Captain Nezumi has spread around, if only...

If he had come, Nami would've had a relatively normal life without carrying such a heavy responsibility for so long.

Who as luck would have it appeared before Masterson.

Nami walked toward him and said while pointing at the empty chair beside Masterson.

"Hm... can I sit there"

"Whohoho! Of course, sit, sit"

Masterson said as he patted the chair happily, making Nami relax a little bit, she then sat on the chair and looked at the villagers, who were happily dancing with a gentle expression on her face that stabbed Masterson's consciousness.

He felt even more guilty, shame, pity, and more emotion stirring in his chest to the point that he couldn't help himself as he blurted, "I'm Sorry..."

"What? What did you say Mr. Sniper?" Snapping Nami from her thoughts, which were filled with ways to thank and repay this man as she was looking at the ongoing party

"Call me Masterson or Daniel whatever you like, and as for what I said..."

Mr. Sniper paused for a moment as he collected himself, and then bowed toward Nami while saying "I'm sorry! if only I had come sooner! You and everybody wouldn't have suffered for this long!"

Which surprised the orange-haired girl, who didn't think her savior would bow down to her, and so she quickly tried to stop him from bowing while saying.

"Stop! you don't need to bow, I forgive you! So stop this! and besides, did you even know what was happening here, right?"

"...No" Masterson shook his head, as Captain Nezumi did a really good job of covering it, Nami smiled when she heard what he said, she then replied,

"Then why are you blaming yourself? and besides, if someone is to be blamed it would..." Nami paused at the end, her smile became bitter and within her eyes Self-blame could be seen as she continued saying.

"It would be my fault for not looking for you or anybody else for help..."

"No! it's not your fault, you did the best you could've done if it were anybody's fault it would've been Arlong's and The Marine's fault" Masterson quickly replied with a solemn expression, as he still couldn't believe that Captain Nezumi would let an entire island suffer for money.

He has already let Mr.1 submit all the evidence he gathered about Captain Nezumi's involvement to the Marines, and even shared it with Morgan to spread this around the world to see.

"Ahh.." Nami cried when she heard what Materson said making him shocked, he quickly hugged her and patted her back while saying.

"There, there, you did the best you could've done"

"Ahhh"

Which made Nami cry even more as she released all her pent-up emotions, that she held inside for these 6 long years.

"There, there, you did good" Masterson continued hugging her as tears gathered in his eyes as he patted the brave girl.

"There, there..."

The two didn't know that Genzo and Carol were hiding behind a wall as they listened quietly to Nami cry.

"Shii..." Genzo placed a finger on his mouth, signaling to Carol to not speak or do anything, she understood it and quietly looked at Nami.

................

3 days later.

In Cocoyasi Village's port.

We can see many people were busy carrying barrels and boxes onto a ship that had B. W insignia on it.

On the deck of the ship, we can see an orange-haired girl walking toward a man who was commending the Agents and villagers on where to place the food supply and another thing they might need for their journey.

"Are you leaving?" Nami asked as she looked at Masterson.

"Yes, since I have a lot of responsibility now that I joined B.W, you place it in the freezer," Masterson said as he told an agent where to place the meat without looking at Nami.

In those three days, the news of Arlong's defeat and what he and Captain Nezumi did in Conomi Islands spread all around The East Blue.

Shocking both the pirates who were quickly attacked by squads of B. W agents, as well as the normal citizens.

Who didn't think that some corrupt marine would let this happen, many started to lose their fate in the Marines

Meanwhile, Baroque Works, the relatively new group, who stopped Arlong rapidly became popular with the citizens of East Blue after this incident.

Mr. 1 used this to his advantage to spread the story of how Mr. 0 the leader of B. W was disappointed with the marines and why they came to the East Blue, without stopping their momentum as they went after one pirate's crew after the other.

Which resonated with many of the people, who got disillusioned by the Marines after the Conomi incident.

The information of this incident even reached the Marine Headquarters, Marineford in the Grandline.

Shocking the Marines, who quickly became in rage by what Captain Nezumi did in Conomi Islands.

And so they quickly made the Marines in the East Blue to apprehend him and sent him to the Grandline where he will be trialed for his crimes.

"You don't need to worry about the safety of the villagers since we will be opening a base here just in case the remaining Arlong pirates return,"

Masterson said when he saw that Nami was standing there with a look of hesitation.

"I see..." Nami said as he grabbed her arms to make herself smaller and safer while looking at the ground.

Masterson turned his head to look at her when he saw that she was like that, he knew that she had something on her mind that she wanted to ask him about and so he says, "What is it dear?"

Startling Nami, who was complimenting how to ask him about her decision, when she so the concern and worry in his eyes it calmed her and made her feel silly for worrying so much when she could have just asked and so she smiled and asked "Could I join you"

What Nami said surprised Masterson, but he quickly replied with a stern, "No!, it's too dangerous for a little girl, and besides, you finally will have a normal life where you can just relax and live happily, so why risk?"

As Masterson spent some time with Nami in those 3 days, he slowly started to see some similarities between her and Carol. Which made him slowly start treating her like his daughter, who he wouldn't have brought with him if he could.

"Come on! you know that I have done a lot of dangerous things before and besides, you will need people that you can trust to leave Carol with" Nami said, while her smile grew when she so Masterson's concern for her, which warmed her heart.

Masterson wanted to refute her when he heard the first half of her sentence but after hearing the last part he closed his mouth unable to deny anything since it is true that he needs people whom he can trust his daughter with.

But still, he didn't want Nami to be in danger because of him.

Nami saw through as she said while looking at the sea with great passion in her eyes " And even if I didn't join you, I will still sail since I'm going to pursue my dream"

"Pursue your Dream?" Masterson had a bewildered and curious look on his face.

"Huh? Haven't I told about it?" Nami was surprised by his question, she looked back at the sea with great passion as she continued saying.

"I want to draw the Map of the World!"

"!!!" Masterson was shocked, he didn't expect that even after everything that Arlong put her through she still loved drawing maps.

"So even if you don't let me sail with you, I would still go out and sail alone through this dangerous se-"

"Whohoho! I see the Map of the World Whohoho!"

Before Nami finished her speaking she got interrupted by Masterson, who broke into laughter.

"Hey! stop laughing it isn't funny!" Nami said as her face reddens a little while punching him on the shoulder.

"Whohoo! Okay then, welcome to Baroque Works Miss. TinyNose" Masteron said while wiping the tears from his eyes,

He decides that since she would sail even if she didn't join him, it would be better to have her near him so that he can protect and train her.

And so like that Nami joined Baroque Works and started to draw Maps of many islands around The East Blue as she grew stronger and closer to Masterson and Carol.