"I don't care! No matter what methods we use, we must find him!" Hancock exclaimed, clutching the wanted poster. The once-pristine poster had become crumpled after Hancock had held it for so long, rubbing it absentmindedly against the light of the ship's lantern.
If the man on the poster had been standing there, he would have been hunted down on the spot for his bounty.
"Maybe he's not in the New World at all?" Sonia remarked, glancing at Hancock.
"We've already sent people to search the Grand Line, but there's no trace of him," Mary said with a shrug.
"In that case... It's really like looking for a needle in a haystack. No wonder his bounty is so high. If he's not found soon, it might go up even more," Sonia sighed.
The two sisters didn't think much of the man on the poster, who looked like a vagrant. But since that vagrant had killed a Celestial Dragon, specifically Saint Charlos, the three sisters' opinions of Clover were incredibly high.
If it went any higher, it would reach the heavens.
No wonder Hancock couldn't let go.
Staring at the wanted poster, Hancock's mind was already filled with idealized images of the man.
"Buru buru buru... buru buru buru..."
As the three sisters pondered what to do, the Den Den Mushi rang. Sonia quickly picked it up. "Who is it?"
"It's Mihawk," came the voice of Hawkeye from the Den Den Mushi.
"Mihawk?" Hancock and her sisters were confused. They hadn't had much interaction with him before.
"What do you need?" Hancock asked, taking the receiver herself, since the other person was a fellow Shichibukai.
"I heard you're looking for the man with the five billion bounty. He's in the East Blue, traveling with a boy wearing a straw hat." With that, Mihawk hung up without waiting for Hancock's response.
Though caught off guard, Hancock didn't doubt Mihawk's words and immediately set sail for the East Blue.
At the same time, Clover and the others had "successfully" landed in Cocoyasi Village. When they docked, their ship had slammed into the shore so hard that it sent the entire vessel flying into the village, colliding with a nearby mountain wall. Coincidentally, Zoro was passing by.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Zoro yelled as he narrowly avoided being hit.
"Huh? Zoro, of course we're here to find Nami," Luffy said, dusting himself off. "Where are Usopp and Johnny?"
"Usopp? Ah, right... This is no time to be lounging around," Zoro said, preparing to leave.
"What's wrong?" Luffy called out, concerned.
"That idiot got captured by Arlong. If we don't hurry, he'll be killed," Zoro said urgently.
Just before, Zoro had been freed by Nami and had taken down many fish-men at Arlong Park. However, as soon as he escaped, Usopp was captured.
"He's already dead." Just then, Johnny appeared in front of the group, kneeling on the ground. "It's too late... Brother Usopp is dead, killed by Sister Nami!"
Everyone looked stunned, unable to believe what they were hearing.
"It's unbelievable.
That woman... she's a witch.
To keep Cocoyasi Village to herself, she actually teamed up with Arlong.
For that, she killed without hesitation.
She's not even human; she's a devil.
Everyone's been fooled by her..."
"You!" Luffy stepped forward, grabbing Johnny by the collar. "Say that again, and I'll knock you out!"
"Calm down, Luffy. Johnny's not to blame," Zoro intervened.
"You've got to trust her! I can't help it, but I saw it with my own eyes. Nami... she gave Usopp..."
"Stop talking nonsense! Nami would never kill Usopp. We're nakama!" Luffy shouted, releasing Johnny only after Clover placed a calming hand on his shoulder.
"Before jumping to conclusions, Luffy, if Usopp's really dead, we should at least see the body," Clover said.
"Who did you say was your nakama, Luffy?" Nami's voice cut in from the side. She was holding her staff, the same three-section staff she'd used on Clover before.
"Nami?" Luffy immediately turned around.
"What are you doing here?" Nami asked, her gaze cold.
"What do you mean? You're my nakama, aren't you? We came to bring you back," Luffy replied earnestly.
"How annoying... Nakama? Don't be ridiculous. You're just a bunch of fools who help each other for no reason," Nami said, her voice laced with contempt as she looked at the group.
"You devil! You really killed Brother Usopp... I saw it with my own eyes!" Johnny cried, pointing at Nami.
"So what? Do you plan on killing me to avenge him? Just so you know, Arlong is chasing after Roronoa right now.
Zoro and all of you fools are no match for a real monster. If you keep wandering around this island, you'll all be killed. But that has nothing to do with me."
"Ah... That icy expression is so alluring. Miss Nami, it's me! Do you remember? Let's set sail together!" Sanji said dreamily, gazing at her.
"Yes, that cold look is quite captivating," Clover nodded in agreement.
"Oi, both of you, stop making things worse!" Zoro barked at Clover and Sanji.
"You wouldn't understand, Zoro. Love is like a storm!" Sanji replied passionately.
"Where's Usopp!" Zoro demanded, ignoring Sanji as he focused on Nami.
"In the sea," Nami replied indifferently.
"Quit spouting nonsense!" Zoro shouted, preparing to draw his swords and rush at her. Fortunately, Sanji stopped him.
"Are you seriously planning on attacking a lady, swordsman?"
"Get out of my way. You don't know anything," Zoro growled.
"If you're looking to cause trouble, do it somewhere else. My only interest in you guys was the money. Now that you're broke, you're worthless to me. Take the ship and get lost," Nami said coldly. "Find another navigator. Doesn't Clover know how to sail? Leave already. You all disgust me."
"You've got quite the sharp tongue," Clover said as he suddenly rushed forward and scooped Nami into his arms, holding her bridal style. "Usopp's not dead. You guys go find him; I'll take care of Nami." With that, Clover ran off with her in his arms.
"Hey! Where are you taking Miss Nami, you bastard?!" Sanji shouted after Clover's retreating form.