One Piece: sign-in to Ryujin Jakka

"How can this be?!"

"This is most definetely impossible!"

"He must've warned Arlong ahead of time, got him to leave, and then staged all of this!"

"Roman, you have to believe us—he's lying to you!"

Tears had already begun to well up in Nami's eyes.

Beside her, Nojiko tugged gently at her sleeve, her heart filled with frustration.

Nojiko then looked at Roman and pleaded, "Lord Roman, could you check Nezumi's office? I'm sure he still has the Berries he's taken from us!"

"That's enough! Do you two really think the Admiral is someone you can play around with?"

"Stop."

Roman's gentle voice interrupted them as he slowly knelt in front of the two girls, gently ruffling their hair.

Feeling Roman's warm palm on her head, Nami looked up at him and said, "Please believe us. We really aren't lying. If you can't even see through Nezumi's lies, then Cocoyasi Village is truly done for..."

Before she could finish, Nezumi cut in with a sneer, "You think the Admiral will trust you again? You little liars!"

Ignoring him, Roman looked the girls in the eye and mouthed a silent phrase.

Before they could respond, he stood up and addressed Genzo, "You know these two girls, don't you? Take them home. Teach them not to lie—it's a bad habit."

"Yes, I'll take them home immediately."

A man who appeared to be Genzo stepped from the crowd and took Nami and Nojiko by the hand, walking them back toward the village.

As they walked, the two girls puzzled over Roman's mouthed words—and gave a curious glance at "Genzo." Something about him felt... off.

Nezumi noticed it too. When did he get here? Did I overlook something?

Just then, his Den-Den Mushi began to ring.

"Brrrrrru~"

After a brief report, Nezumi turned to Roman. "Admiral, the supplies have been fully replenished and are all ready."

"Have they? Then it's time we left."

Kalifa nodded and followed Roman back onto the warship.

As the vessel sailed off, Nezumi burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! They're finally gone. That scared the hell out of me!"

But remembering Nami and Nojiko's accusations, fury bubbled up again. Picking up his Den Den Mushi, Nezumi contacted Arlong.

"Arlong! Nice reflexes—you actually evacuated with the others and even staged a fake scene with kids? Never thought you'd stoop that low."

Arlong, however, refused to admit any fear. "It was just a coincidence."

Nezumi didn't argue and simply recounted what had happened.

Arlong, seething, growled, "Stay there. I'm coming to you now—and then I'll crush those two little girls myself!"

On board the warship, Kalifa asked, "Roman, do you really believe what Nezumi said? Something feels very off about Cocoyasi Village."

"Of course I don't. If the girls are right, the Arlong Pirates are still hiding nearby. Our presence probably scared them off for now. That's why we need to leave—so they feel safe enough to show themselves."

Roman continued, "If we only take care of Nezumi, we're just treating the symptoms, not the disease."

"So… we're circling back later? But will the girls be safe?"

Kalifa looked worried. "What if Nezumi kills them out of spite?"

"That's why I'm leaving the ship in your hands."

As he finished, Roman's form dissolved into wisps of strange mist.

Kalifa stood stunned at the sight, then shook her head in disbelief. "His powers… they're getting more and more mysterious."

Meanwhile, Nami looked up at "Genzo," who was still holding her hand. Suddenly, she understood the silent words Roman had mouthed earlier.

"Hey... you're Roman, aren't you?"

She said it with anxious excitement.

Nojiko stared in disbelief. "Nami, what are you saying? He's Genzo!"

"But he could be using his powers, right?!"

Nami's bright eyes stared straight at him.

The man smiled faintly, and as the illusion melted away, Roman's true form appeared.

Even though Nami had suspected it, actually seeing him there made her heart leap.

With a joyful cry, she jumped onto Roman like a pendant, wrapping around his waist.

"Roman, I knew you believed us!"

Nojiko blushed at Nami's boldness. "Nami, show some respect to Admiral Roman. Get down!"

Roman simply shook his head with a smile.

"I came to this island specifically for Nezumi and the Arlong Pirates," he said calmly.

"So you believed us all along!"

Nami's eyes sparkled.

"Of course. What surprised me was that Arlong wasn't actually at Arlong Park."

Her clever gaze narrowed. "So the Roman we saw back there—that was a clone?"

"Technically a projection. Anyway, enough talk. Let's head to your house and wait for the real prey to show up."

Nami nodded firmly, her eyes filled with admiration.

A warm sense of security bloomed in her heart—a feeling she hadn't felt in so long.

It was addictive.

Clinging tightly to Roman's finger, with her little hands, Nami couldn't help but smile.

Meanwhile, Nezumi and Arlong had reunited—and they were charging straight towards Nami and Nojiko's house...