Arlong, a Sawfish-type Fishman, a former subordinate of the greatest and most powerful Fishman Pirate Jinbeh, had recently left Grand Line with his sights set on conquering East Blue. Evidently the rumor was true. He and his crew landed at Cocoyashi village intent on setting up their base of operations there. Arlong announced his presence to the town and began to do some 'fund-raising' for his goal. His deal ran as follows: anyone wishing to live had to pay Arlong to spare his or her life. Adults’ lives cost 100,000 Belly and children’s were 50,000 Belly each. Arlong was giving the village what he saw as a generous and fair deal since he arrived without warning. Somehow the village exhausted all of their resources and managed to amass exactly 25 Million Belly, just enough for every man, woman and child living in the village…except for three, a poor family that lived on the outskirts of town, Bellemere, Nojiko and Nami! 

 

Genzo hoped the house was far enough away so that Arlong and his crew would miss it, but at that moment, Bellemere was cooking a special dinner for Nami and Nojiko. A member of Arlong’s crew spotted smoke rising from the chimney in the distance. Arlong headed for the house while at the same time Nami and Nojiko, who had been hiding from the pirates and so far escaped detection, ran towards the house to warn Bellemere. The Fishman beat them to the house and Arlong entered the home only to be kicked in the face and sent him falling backwards with Bellemere landing on him jamming a shotgun down his throat. Hey, she was a Marine. But little good that would do against a Fishman like Arlong. He tore off the muzzle of the gun with his jaws and began to beat the shocked Bellemere. Meanwhile Nami and Nojiko reached the house from the back and planned to go in and grab Bellemere. Just before they could get inside, the village doctor barred their path and pleaded with them to remain silent and hidden behind the house. 

 

In the front yard, Arlong had beaten Bellemere beyond any capable fighting condition and crushed her left arm with his foot. Bellemere realized that it was useless to fight and decided to use her hidden savings of 100,000 Belly to pay. Arlong’s Fishman Kuroobi confirmed that village documents had the woman listed as living alone. Behind the house, the doctor told the girls that they needed to run away in order to live and protect their 'mother'. Although it was a difficult decision, Nojiko finally agreed for the both of them and began to leave. Meanwhile Bellemere paid the 100,000 Belly but as Arlong and his gang began to head back, the woman declared that the money was to pay for her two daughters. Stunned, Arlong inquired what she meant and she confessed that she has two daughters. It would have hurt her more than anything to lie that she did not have a family. As she finished saying that, Nojiko and Nami rushed towards the front of the house and tearfully clutched onto their mother. Bellemere held them close and told them how much she wanted to buy them everything they ever wanted. Nami was overflowing with tears and told her that all her material wishes and desires were not really true, all she wanted was to stay with Bellemere forever. 

 

Bellemere left the girls and stood to face Arlong. She confirmed that her daughters would be safe since she had paid the money. The monster agreed and with that he pointed his gun at her head. Bellemere’s last words were, “Nojiko! Nami! I love you.” And Arlong pulled the trigger. 

 

Upon scouring Bellemere’s house, Arlong’s sword fighter, Hacchan, discovered an impressive collection of maps and notes on cartography. When he found out that it was the work of the little girl Arlong decided to 'borrow' her and make her a member of his gang. A short while later, Nami reappeared in the village, trembling but smiling. Arlong had employed her as his cartographer. Genzo couldn’t believe that she agreed to such a position but he and everyone present believed it when they saw a sawfish tattoo on her arm, the symbol of Arlong's gang. She cried and told everyone that she was being paid for her work, but they rejected her and exiled her from the village. Later, alone with Nojiko, Nami told her the truth. She made a deal with Arlong, for 100,000,000 Belly she could buy back Cocoyashi village from him. And so she temporarily put her dream of mapping the world on hold and worked for the demon she hated with a smile on her face, all the while holding close to her heart the goal of gathering 100 Million Belly by any means necessary.