One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

For Shyarly's sake, Wright spared Arlong's life. Under heavy naval restraints specially crafted to suppress their abilities, the Arlong Pirates—Arlong included—were securely bound and escorted by Vice Admiral Wright himself back to Cocoyasi Village. When they arrived, the villagers erupted into cheers.

After ten long years, a legend of the East Blue had returned, saving over 20 villages from the tyrannical grip of the Arlong Pirates.

Wright stayed in Cocoyasi for a day, ordering the Marines to seize all valuables from Arlong Park. Using Arlong's detailed ledger of extorted funds, Wright ensured the wealth was redistributed to the villagers proportionally.

However, Arlong wasn't just about hoarding wealth—he spent lavishly and recklessly. Returning every single beli was impossible.

"Sheriff Genzo, though we can't return everything, the Arlong Pirates themselves are bounties worth a fortune," Wright explained to Sheriff Genzo, who was still overwhelmed with emotion. "Once they're delivered to Impel Down, I'll have their bounty rewards sent back here. I trust you to distribute them according to the ledger."

"Yes, sir! I swear I won't let you down, Vice Admiral!" Sheriff Genzo saluted with utmost seriousness, though the windmill on his head made it hard to take him entirely seriously.

"Pfft…"

Nami, hiding behind her sister Nojiko and her friend Kuina, couldn't help but laugh.

Genzo, always stern and serious, had turned into a gushing fan in the presence of Vice Admiral Wright. Or rather… a fan uncle. After all, Genzo was much older than Wright!

"Nami!" Genzo scowled. "Show some respect in front of Vice Admiral Wright!"

"Haha, there's no need to be so formal, Sheriff," Wright said with a wry smile, waving his hand dismissively. "Nami and my junior disciple, Kuina, are good friends. Naturally, that makes Nami my friend too."

"It's thanks to Nami's detailed intelligence that we were able to bring down the Arlong Pirates so quickly. I haven't even had the chance to properly thank her!"

"Senior Brother!" Kuina interjected eagerly. "Why not recruit Nami into the Navy? Her cartography skills are the best I've ever seen—better than even the maps at Headquarters!

"Nami is a genius! You wouldn't believe how shocked I was when I saw her draft maps at Arlong Park. It's hard to imagine someone younger than me could create something so incredible."

Wright smiled knowingly. Though Nami was still young and hadn't fully honed her skills under Arlong's forced tutelage, her innate talent was unmistakable.

"Kuina," Wright said gently, "whether to join the Navy is Nami's choice to make. Just like when I invited you, I wouldn't have forced you if you didn't agree."

"Kuina… Vice Admiral Wright…" Nami hesitated under Kuina's hopeful gaze but ultimately shook her head resolutely. "I… I don't want to join the Navy."

"Why not?" Kuina asked, visibly puzzled. "With your talent, the Navy could provide you with the best training!"

"Our academy nurtures recruits with all sorts of talents, not just combatants. The resources for cartographers are unmatched!"

"I want to be a great navigator," Nami said, her large eyes shimmering with determination. "My greatest dream is to draw a map of the entire world! And to do that, a navigator has to venture out to sea and experience it firsthand."

"While the Navy offers excellent learning conditions, it lacks the freedom I need! I want to chase my dream step by step, witnessing the world's diverse landscapes and wonders with my own eyes."

Clap, clap, clap…

As Genzo, Kuina, and Nojiko stood in awe of Nami's resolve, Wright began to applaud.

"A remarkable dream," Wright said, his face full of approval. "Indeed, knowledge learned from books can never truly become one's own without practice."

"And what could be more exhilarating than pursuing your dream one step at a time?

"Nami, you're still young and not yet ready to set sail. Even if you're not in the Navy, I'd like to support your dream. How about this? Each month, you can write a letter to me or Kuina at Navy Headquarters.

"In return, I'll answer—or arrange for one of the Navy's top navigators to answer—any one question you have about navigation each month."

"Really?! Thank you so much, Vice Admiral Wright! You're such a good person!"

Bright-eyed and clever, Nami immediately grasped the significance of Wright's offer. The Navy Headquarters housed the most comprehensive geographical data and navigational expertise in the world. A monthly opportunity to seek guidance would be an invaluable asset for her growth!

Receiving this "good person" card from a ten-year-old, Wright chuckled and stroked his chin, glancing at the beaming Nojiko and Sheriff Genzo.

"Thank you for supporting Nami's dream. You'll see—ten years from now, Nami will become an extraordinary navigator!"

"May your words come true!" Genzo said excitedly. Vice Admiral Wright was even more approachable than the rumors claimed!

"Brrrr… Brrrr… Click!"

Wright's Transponder Snail (Den Den Mushi) rang.

"This is Wright."

"Vice Admiral Wright, this is Drake."

"Colonel Nezumi of the 16th Branch and his subordinates have been apprehended. Nezumi resisted arrest and was gravely injured by his men. We've already contacted the 15th Branch with your orders to escort him to Headquarters, where he'll be handed over to Vice Admiral Garp."

"Good work, Drake. Return to Cocoyasi Village. We're preparing to visit my master."

"Yes, sir!"

"Click!"

"Vice Admiral Wright, are you leaving?" Genzo asked.

"Yes… The ship will return in about a day. Once it arrives, we'll escort the Arlong Pirates from Cocoyasi Village to Impel Down personally.

"However… I hope you won't let this experience lead to hatred toward all Fish-Men. Most Fish-Men still wish to coexist peacefully with humans. As Fish-Men, they deeply envy the lives of humans.

"While Arlong's gang could wreak havoc here in the East Blue, in the Grand Line, Fish-Men are one of the most prized 'commodities' for slavers—and the same goes for mermaids.

"Arlong may seem arrogant, but in the Grand Line, Fish-Men are the ones oppressed and enslaved by humans. They don't even dare step foot on Sabaody Archipelago near Marine Headquarters."

"…"

Genzo fell silent, processing the Vice Admiral's words. After a moment, he said, "Fish-Men rule the seas, yet… I see."

"We won't pass down hatred to the children, Vice Admiral. But Nami and the others will eventually encounter Fish-Men when they set sail…"

Wright nodded. "Don't worry. The king of Fish-Man Island, Neptune, and Queen Otohime are tirelessly working to foster peace between humans and Fish-Men. Perhaps in a few years, relations will improve.

"Hatred distorts people, whether they're Fish-Men or humans. When Fish-Men pirates commit evil, I destroy them. When human pirates commit evil, I destroy them too. The truth is, humans harm each other far more often than Fish-Men harm humans.

"Good and evil aren't determined by race, but by the heart."

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Author's Note:

I'd like to address three points:

First: Belle-Mère.When Belle-Mère was killed, it coincided with Arlong's initial arrival in the East Blue, which aligns with the timeline of the "Heavenly Tribute" incident. At that time, the protagonist was involved in this major event and couldn't be in the East Blue. Additionally, due to Nezumi's cover-up, it was impossible for the protagonist to know the exact moment when Arlong reached the East Blue. While the protagonist could save people and try to make up for regrets, every action must have a reason and opportunity. The story must avoid portraying the protagonist as a "seer" or "omniscient," as that would break immersion and risk ruining the narrative flow. At best, the protagonist can display "exceptional insight" or "outstanding foresight," but nothing more. As much as Belle-Mère's fate is tragic, the protagonist is not a god and cannot resolve every regret in the world.

Second: Not killing Arlong.

There are two considerations here. Many readers focus only on the first—that is, the relationship between humans and fish-men, particularly concerning Fish-Man Island. However, the second reason is even more critical: Nami was only ten years old at the time. The idea of "not passing hatred onto children" aligns with Queen Otohime's dying wish to her children in the original story. Belle-Mère, in her final moments, said nothing about the fish-men or herself—her every word was an expression of love for her two daughters. This parallels Nami's actions in the original story: even after Luffy defeated Arlong, Nami didn't strike the final blow for revenge. Later, during the events on Fish-Man Island, she even forgave Jinbe for his role in Arlong's actions. When Shirahoshi first met Nami on Fish-Man Island, she said she felt an innate closeness to her. Regardless of any speculation about Sea Kings or ancient weapons, isn't their shared experience strikingly similar?

Lastly: Sending Arlong to Impel Down.

This is by no means an act of leniency. In fact, it's a fate worse than death. Many people underestimate the sheer brutality of Impel Down. Without an opportunity like Jinbe's—becoming a Warlord of the Sea—there's no chance of escaping that hellish prison.

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