The Marines soon assembled at the dock in full formation and began escorting the prisoners onto the ships in an orderly manner.
True to his incorruptible nature, Captain Smoker didn't accept any extravagant gifts—he merely accepted the local specialty oranges offered by Nami and Nojiko with a smile.
Smoker needed to move quickly to eliminate the remaining influence of the corrupt Captain Nezumi. Naturally, Garen, Nami, and Wallace stayed behind in Cocoyashi Village for the time being.
With the villagers cheering happily all around, both sides had a lively yet heartfelt farewell at the dock.
"Garen!"
Just before departure, Smoker specifically called out to Garen.
"What is it?"
Garen responded kindly to this naval friend he had just recently gotten to know.
"I thought it over carefully…"
Smoker took a deep drag on his cigar, then said seriously:
"That sword strike of yours was certainly persuasive—"
"But I still don't buy into that 'power of justice' nonsense!"
"Power is just power—it has no inherent good or evil!"
"You're absolutely right,"
Garen replied honestly, not bothering to play coy. "Power itself isn't good or evil—only people are."
Smoker looked deeply into Garen's eyes.
"Even so, your actions live up to the word 'justice'—though maybe not quite as perfectly as that reporter wrote."
"I just hope you never stray from the path."
Garen didn't say much more, only replying with two firm words:
"I won't."
Smoker turned and boarded the ship.
But then Tashigi stepped forward, full of admiration, and gave Garen a deep bow.
"Senior Garen!"
"Thank you for your guidance. I won't slack off in my training in the way of the sword."
"Keep it up!"
Garen responded with a proud and encouraging smile, like a mentor pleased with his pupil. He didn't hold back on praise either:
"My sword of justice senses a pure heart in you like I've never seen before."
"Eh?"
Tashigi was a little stunned—she couldn't help but feel a little flustered after receiving such high praise from the senior she admired.
"A heart like yours is one in a million!"
Garen's compliments grew more exaggerated, but he wore such a sincere expression that it was hard to doubt him.
"In you, I see the future of swordsmanship!"
"Senior Garen!"
Tashigi, now visibly emotional, bowed again before finally, and reluctantly, turning to leave.
"Lord Garen…"
Wallace had come over with his notebook in hand, curiosity all over his face.
"What kind of swordsmanship did you pass on to Sergeant Tashigi? Could you share your philosophy?"
"Uh…"
Garen looked a bit awkward.
"I didn't actually teach her any particular sword techniques."
"She just has incredible talent. She figured it all out on her own."
"Oh…"
Wallace nodded thoughtfully and mumbled as he scribbled in his notebook:
"East Blue Knight's secret sword art: Enlightens even Navy sword masters upon witnessing it."
Seeing Wallace's usual writing style, Garen was rendered speechless.
Then something occurred to Garen, and he asked:
"Wallace, aren't you planning to return to Loguetown?"
"No."
Wallace stopped writing and answered earnestly:
"I have a transponder snail and a fax device with me—I can send articles to the newspaper remotely without returning to Loguetown."
"Besides, I want to stay by your side and report on the heroic deeds of you, Lord Garen—the Knight of Justice."
"But…"
Garen sighed softly.
"You heard what Smoker just said, and you've been with me long enough…"
"You should know by now—I'm not exactly a spotless, shining knight of justice, am I?"
Wallace paused for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"You're right. I've more or less seen what kind of person you really are—not a lofty noble, nor a pure and flawless knight…"
"But that doesn't matter."
"I'm looking for a great story to report—and you are the great story."
"As for your concerns…"
"If I write that you're a Knight of Justice, then you are a Knight of Justice."
"…Huh."
Garen looked at Wallace a bit differently after hearing that shameless line.
But Wallace continued seriously:
"News figures are all manufactured. There are countless ways the media manipulates public opinion."
"In that context, truth and lies don't matter as much as the image and influence of the story."
He paused, then added emotionally:
"This sea is full of tales—stories of infamous pirates roaming freely, indulging in every whim."
"The World Government and the Navy keep pushing their legitimacy through their own propaganda."
"But there's never been a true 'hero' in any of these stories."
Wallace stared intently at Garen.
"Real or fake, it doesn't matter."
"This sea is filled with adventurers chasing freedom, selfish pirates hurting others for gain, and navy officers held on a leash by the World Government—but never has there been a knight who spreads justice and lives justice."
"And what I want is to make you, Lord Garen, into that kind of knight. One who stands apart from pirates and the navy—a simple, pure Knight of Justice."
"I want the children of this world, when they shout out their dreams, to have another option: 'A Knight of justice.'"
"I understand."
Garen finally understood Wallace's intentions and nodded with genuine emotion.
"I'll continue playing this role of the Knight of Justice."
Since the air was already clear, Garen decided to speak from the heart:
"In that case, you don't need to keep being so formal with me—it feels weird."
"No, Lord Garen!"
Wallace replied solemnly:
"To make others believe, I have to believe it first."
Smoker's group finally sailed off into the distance.
The sails of the two large navy ships gradually disappeared from view.
Nami turned and began heading back home to rest.
She glanced at Garen, who was following behind her, and felt a swirl of complicated emotions in her heart.
Smoker had been right—Cocoyashi Village's salvation had depended entirely on Garen's strength.
Her own fate had completely changed the moment she met Garen.
But perhaps because of the slightly ambiguous nature of their relationship, Nami felt too shy to openly thank him.
Even so, her gratitude was etched deep in her heart.
She looked at her joyful villagers, all beaming with excitement about the future, and then glanced at the heavily damaged Arlong Park in the distance.
Her heart filled with hope and excitement for a new life.
That tall, defiant silhouette of Arlong Park in her sight was no longer a nightmare to her.
"Wait a second!"
Nami suddenly stopped in her tracks, eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and excitement.
"What is it?"
Garen asked curiously.
"Smoker and his men didn't go clean up Arlong Park, did they?"
Nami asked slowly, enunciating each word.
"Don't think so…"
Garen thought back for a moment.
"The fish-men either died at the shore or in the village—we never actually entered Arlong Park."
"In that case…"
Nami's eyes sparkled with Berries.
"All the money Arlong hoarded must still be there!"
—Onboard the Navy Ship—
Smoker stood at the stern, quietly smoking a cigar while gazing at the now-distant Cocoyashi Village.
Behind him, Tashigi and the rest of the Marines were happily eating the oranges Nami had gifted them, enjoying a peaceful post-victory mood.
"Captain Smoker!"
A boot-licking voice suddenly piped up behind him.
It was the former deputy of Captain Nezumi—currently in the process of "redeeming himself" by cooperating.
He wore a sycophantic smile as he approached Smoker.
"I've got a big scoop to report!"
"There's still a huge stash of Arlong's ill-gotten gains hidden inside his base. If we turn back now, we can make a fortune!"
"…Hmm?"
Smoker frowned in displeasure.
The deputy immediately changed his wording:
"I-I mean, we could confiscate those assets and turn them over to the authorities!"
Confiscation was indeed in line with Navy procedure—after all, seizing pirate loot was standard practice after a raid.
But Smoker just grew more irritated and blew out a thick ring of smoke.
"All these oranges, and you still can't keep your mouth shut?"
"Save your little tricks for when I'm cleaning house at Branch 16!"
The deputy broke into a cold sweat, too scared to speak.
"Those funds weren't Arlong's,"
Tashigi chimed in as she approached, holding an orange and smiling.
"They were extorted from the villagers."
"Captain Smoker planned to leave the money to them all along, right?"
"Hmph!"
Smoker snorted coldly and said no more.
"Want an orange? They're really sweet."
"I heard the trees were originally planted by a Navy soldier who died fighting Arlong."
Tashigi wasn't bothered by her captain's cold exterior—she just smiled and handed him a peeled orange.
"Cigars taste better."
Smoker replied with his usual gruffness…
But he still took the orange from her hand.
(End of Chapter)