24 Chapter 24
The vicious and bloody battle finally met its end with the complete collapse of Arlong Park. Nami watched its downfall with tears in her eyes, reminiscing the hard time she experience in the cartography room.
However, it wasn't over. Nojiko, Genzo, Nako, and all the other villagers, they raised their caution and prepared themselves for the worst—the possibility of Rowan having lost, that is.
"...Please," Nojiko whispered as her grip on a sword—attained from one fish-man's corpse—tightened, "Don't you dare die on us, Rowan."
The villagers' eyes locked onto the wriggles of the rubble that rolled from the force generated underneath.
Genzo stood in a stern manner. Nako held his chest and tried to calm his rapidly beating heart. Sam wiped his sweat, but it didn't stop the flow. Nami unconsciously took a step forth, filled with anticipation.
As the ruins shook once more, the villagers flinched. The worry overwhelmed their minds, and some wondered if they should start running. However, in the end, none of them ran away, placing their trust in one of their own.
And at last,
BOOM.
a hand broke through the rubble. It was bleeding and evidently fractured. However, through the bloody red was the peach-coloured skin instead of blue. The villagers' breathing stopped, before Nami cried,
"ROWAN!!!"
All villagers simultaneously ran, dropping whatever weapon they were holding. Shouting Rowan's name, they watched in excitement as Rowan, groaning, slowly pulled himself out of the ruin.
"Huff... huff..."
His whole body screamed in pain as the adrenaline rush ended. Receiving the huge surge of exhaustion that struck upon him, Rowan stood at the top of the ruin and stared up at the sky.
"Huff... huff..." Rowan swallowed a little bit of saliva in his mouth and mumbled dryly, "...I won."
The sky was no longer so dark. The moon disappeared, and there only remained the early morning's chill and dark-blue sky. Then, turning to his right, Rowan saw a yellow light beyond the horizon, brightening up the sky and signaling the start of another day.
'Hey, old man,'
Feeling that his vision wobbled—probably due to the fatigue getting to him—Rowan spoke in his mind,
'I did it. I killed all those pirates. I returned in the exact same manner... of what he did to you back then.'
Having experienced a death before, Rowan didn't believe for a second that Yanric would've heard him. But he nonetheless thought,
'Rest in peace, you loveable father of mine.'
Thud. The strength in his legs gave away, causing him to fall to his back. As the concerned shouts were heard from all around, the consciousness slowly drifted away from Rowan, before he blacked out.
__________
__________
[Logue Town; One Week After]
"...It's been a week," Muttered Jerrymad as he walked back and forth in his office, "Nezumi is yet to contact, and the money hasn't been delivered yet."
As far as Jerrymad knew, Nezumi was to arrive here, Logue Town, two days ago. Considering how the man last contacted him a week ago, Jerrymad estimated that he was at the location that was five days away from Logue Town time-wise.
"...Did something happen? Did Arlong... betray us?"
Of course, Jerrymad wasn't the man without a brain—or so he thought. He's long figured out that the so-called 'mysterious benefactor' that contributed to inflating his wealth was none other than Arlong himself.
Nonetheless, he stayed quiet about it. After all, the Marine Captain's salary wasn't satisfying enough, and he was aware through one letter sent from his peer at Marineford... that Arlong was related to Jinbe, one of the Seven Warlords.
"Ah, speaking of the letter," Jerrymad hummed, "I wonder where it went. I swear that it was there a week ago or so, but—"
While in process of drifting away from the main topic of concern, Jerrymad suddenly whispered in realization,
"...Hold on."
Jerrymad assembled the clues together, "Nezumi. Arlong. Five days."
Placing his hand over his chin, he reached for the Den Den Mushi and swiftly called,
<<Purururu—yes, this is Marine 77th branch. How may I help you?>>
"This is Captain Jerrymad of Logue Town. I've called to request Captain Mitciv for an investigation at Conami island—one that's situated near your location. It is based on my suspicion, but Captain Nezumi of the 16th branch isn't answering the call, and—"
<<Forgive my rudeness, Captain, but I want to ask,>> The voice, trembling in underlying anger, interrupted Jerrymad, <<Are you trying to mock us?>>
"...What?" Jerrymad frowned, "Who do you think you are? What's your name and rank—"
<<CAPTAIN MITCIV WAS KILLED!!! BY ARLONG THE 'SAW'!!!>>
"—Eh?" That's when Jerrymad found himself dumbfounded.
<<Huff... huff... my deepest apologies for losing my composure, Captain Jerrymad. Here is my suggestion, 'sir.'>> The voice, sighing, said, <<You should call the 16th branch; they probably know more about it than us.>>
"...Oh!" Jerrymad exclaimed, "That's a good idea!"
Though the marine on the other side didn't say any further, he probably was wondering just how Jerrymad managed to reach the rank of Marine Captain.
Bam.
Slamming the dial down and ending the call immediately, Jerrymad raised it up once more while ignoring the pained cry of the Den Den Mushi.
<<Purururu, Purururu, Purururu, Purururu,>>
"Lazy bastards," Jerrymad cursed, "Pick it up already!"
<<Purururu—Ah, t-t-t-t-this is 16th branch!>>
"This is Captain Jerrymad of Logue Town!" Jerrymad stated with annoyance, "I've called Captain Nezumi multiple times, but he didn't respond! Did something happen to him?"
<<Ah, C-C-C-C-Captain Jerrymad!>> The voice reported in a trembling tone, <<We are in the same situation as you! Ever since Captain Nezumi's departure to Conami island, he hasn't contacted us! Currently, we ourselves are in the process of heading to the island to attain specific details!>>
__________
Party. That was the second thing that the villagers of Cocoyasi did after the Arlong Pirates' fall.
"Here's some ham melon!! Everything's free tonight, so enjoy!!"
After seeing galloons of blood, and after mourning for the dead, there only existed relief and a sense of freedom.
"I-Is... is Arlong truly dead?!"
And those from the other villages, such as the neighbouring Gosa Village, gathered upon receiving the news from those of Cocoyasi,
"W-we don't have to pay for our lives anymore?!!"
People cried. They fell on their knees and let out all their anguish up until now. Then, filled with joy to the brim, they stood back up and celebrated together,
"""CHEERS!!!"""
From the outside, there was Rowan, wrapped around by bandages from head to toe, forming a soft smile as he gazed at the indoors. It was a scenery that he hasn't seen for years, and he had to admit, watching it was quite pleasant.
Getting his back off of the wall, Rowan slowly walked through the road. As the people's laughter and shouts were no longer heard, Rowan was now standing at Bell-mere's tomb. Nami was sitting in front of it with a thoughtful expression.
"So you've come, huh," At some distance away from Nami, Genzo and Nojiko stood. Noticing Rowan's arrival, Nojiko greeted him, "Are you feeling better now?"
Rowan raised his hand up and wriggled it, "The bandages are excessive. I'm already fully healed, you know."
"Well... still, keep it on just in case." Nojiko said worriedly, "Dr. Nako said that you shouldn't even be moving right now."
Spectating Rowan and Nojiko's interaction, Genzo then smiled while letting out a light sigh. Adjusting his cap, Genzo then opened his mouth,
"Rowan." Rowan turned to the man, and Genzo said, "As the village's sheriff and mayor, I sincerely thank you."
Genzo bowed his head at Rowan. Rowan shifted his eyes up at the sky and replied,
"No need to thank me, Genzo-san. I simply did it for my sake."
Genzo sighed once more, but this time without a smile. Raising his head back up, he asked Rowan,
"...And also, those marines' corpses at the coast..."
"Yep. That was me."
Nojiko's expressions darkened, knowing that further troubles will follow. Genzo, nodding in response, then opened his mouth again with a grim determination—
"And that's why I came here. To say goodbye."
Genzo froze midway, unable to voice out. Nojiko's eyes widened as they locked onto Rowan, wordlessly asking what he was talking about.
"Tomorrow, I leave this village. For a long time." Rowan chuckled, "Now that Arlong's been taken care of, there is nothing that's holding Nami back. She doesn't have to put herself in danger anymore; she can live the life of a 12-year-old girl that she deserves."
The air was refreshing, Rowan thought, as he filled his mind with calmness. His tone contained a wisp of happiness, born from the fact that Nami doesn't have to steal and live the life of a thief any longer.
Nami, whose back was facing the three of them, flinched. With panic in her eyes, she turned her head back and looked at Rowan in disbelief. Rowan gave her a genuine grin,
"You were the best partner that I could ask for, Nami. Good work for the past 2 years, vahaha."
Nami immediately stood up and gazed at Rowan with shaking eyes. She gulped before opening her mouth, trying to speak but to no avail. Her body trembled as she watched Rowan turn around and began walking away.
Genzo stared at Rowan, dumbfounded, before falling to his butt. But Nojiko, on the other hand, was looking at Nami in a stern manner,
"So," Nojiko asked, "What are you going to do?"
__________
[One Day After]
"Marines will come, and the news will spread."
In a grassy plain right outside the wooden house, Rowan said to himself while in a lying position. His entire body was wrapped around by bandages, but judging by the state, he seemed to have recovered by a fair amount.
"I killed Arlong Pirates, but so did those marines."
Rowan wasn't an expert when it came to deceiving others. Whether by those unique devil fruit abilities or by some unknown means, he believed that the truth will eventually be released.
A bounty will be placed on him—that was for sure. If so, the least that he could do at the current moment was to ensure that the rest of the villagers don't receive any blame for his doings.
'...Hu.'
Taking in a deep breath, Rowan stood up and walked into the wooden house. Fishing rod. Bed. Furnace. He looked around his home that's been sheltering him for years. He slid his hands against those textures, feeling them for the final time.
"...You two." Rowan then gazed at the pictures of his father and mother, "It seems that I'll be going for an adventure of my own. And I may not return."
He then turned to look at the black coat hanging.
"Becoming a pirate, huh."
Pirates in his past world were nothing but criminals. And frankly speaking, ones that he's seen until now weren't much different.
However, Rowan's seen the potential beyond those despicable qualities. In those degenerates' eyes existed a sense of freedom—one that he didn't have up until now.
'Arlong has been dealt with. What are you going to do now?' Gazing back at him from the picture frame, his mother seemed to be saying to him, slyly.
'Great.' His father, looking at him with that lazy-looking eyes of his, seemed to be saying, 'You screwed up. Hard. Nice one, kid.'
"Vahahaha..."
He was supposed to be scared, right? There were many monsters out in the sea. Pirates, marines, bounty hunters, and many more; a bounty on his head will drift his life away from the peacefulness that he wished for in the past.
But there was no fear in him, not at all. Instead, there was excitement.
'Hunting for treasures,'
Just like that occasion in the Mine Village.
'Honing my strength, clashing against strong foes,'
Just like how he fought against Mad Treasure, Krieg, and Arlong.
'And most importantly,'
One Piece. The greatest treasure of the world that no one even knows if it exists, one that all his enemies pursued after. The cause that gave rise to the Great Age of Pirates.
"...So this the adventure that you valued, I see."
Grinning, Rowan ripped away the bandages and grabbed the black coat, before draped it around his shoulders. Looking at two pictures for the final time, Rowan said,
"Watch me."
A newfound goal was blazing in his heart, one that he was willing to give his life for.
"So what if there exists Monkey D. Luffy?" Rowan's eyes gleamed brilliantly,
"I'll become the King of the Pirates."
The extra wishing for an average life was no more, as the man with the black coat walked out of the wooden house, out of the forest that lied on the outskirts of the Cocoyasi Village.
"Zzz…"
"Mommm, gah, zzz… I down't want to eat broccoli!!!"
The street of Cocoyasi Village was filled with drunken ones, snoring without any care. With silent steps, the man of black coat passed through, toward the coast where his boat was waiting by.
And meanwhile,
"Huff… huff…!"
There lies one orange-haired girl, running with all her might.
