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After the emotional storm that swept through everyone's hearts, readers saw that little Koala's condition was slowly improving as she began to recover from the trauma left by years of slavery and cruelty.
On board the Sun Pirates' ship, she felt, for the first time, the genuine warmth of kindness and protection, realizing that the world was not entirely cruel, as her little heart had once believed.
Yet, the road back to her homeland was not easy. Danger still lurked, and the dark shadows of her past continued to follow her at every turn. While Fisher Tiger and his crew sought to ensure her safety, a new chapter of adventure began, one in which strength, courage, and compassion would test each of them in unexpected ways.
Until this moment, readers were left in suspense, unsure of what might happen next.
...
"How cute she looks~ Did they style her hair? Did Hatchan do it?!"
With eyes glinting with curiosity, Olivia, Gloriosa, and the others eagerly turned the pages. They all wanted to see not only Koala's journey to freedom, but also how she would learn the true values of trust and friendship, and how a single brave heart could change the fates of many.
But what happened next left Olivia and the rest of the readers in deep shock…
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Chapter's Events:
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[A few weeks later… The Grand Line, Foolshout Island]
"Koala!"
"Step out onto the shore. This is your homeland…!!" Fisher Tiger called Koala to disembark.
"Which way is your village? I'll take you as far as the entrance," said Tiger.
"Guehhhh! Don't go, Koala! Let's all keep sailing together!!" cried some fishmen, lamenting Koala's departure.
"Ohhh, stop crying," said another fishman.
"You're a great kiiiiid!! Even though you're a human!!"
"I'll tell everyone in the village!! That lots of fishmen are really nice people!!" Koala looked back at the ship as she bid them farewell.
"Take care of yourself!!"
"Koala!!!" Hatchan and the rest said their goodbyes. Koala ran to Tiger and held his hand.
…
"By the time she grows up, she'll be just like the rest of them," sneered Arlong, watching the scene unfold.
"Why, Arlong, you…!!" said Jimbei.
"Dammit, Arlong…!!" The other fishmen were angered by Arlong's words.
"Jimbei… you've changed an awful lot in these past three years."
"Try thinking about it for a second. What good will it do if one girl tells the villagers that fishmen are good people?!"
"Just like Otohime's pleas, her words will just fall on deaf ears!!" Arlong continued mocking without further action.
…
After Tiger delivered the little girl into her mother's embrace, he smiled at the tearful family reunion, then quietly turned to leave with a smile.
Koala thanked him, tears in her eyes, and waved goodbye.
…
On the way back, Tiger was caught in a well-planned Marine trap. "My name is Rear Admiral Strawberry, of Marine HQ!!!"
"We received word from the residents of a certain island… that you would be visiting this place!!"
"The people of the village you just left have kindly agreed to our causing a slight disturbance here."
"In return, that is, for our agreement to overlook their possession of a certain girl who rightfully belongs to the Tenryuubito."
Each word made Tiger's eyes widen further.
"As you should be well aware… You are guilty of two crimes."
He had been betrayed by the very people the Sun Pirates had helped.
"Your raid… and your flight." After the Rear Admiral finished speaking, they began firing on him.
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Just as Fisher Tiger was shocked, the same happened to the readers. This scene left a bitter taste in their mouths.
It wasn't that they hadn't expected the Marines to pursue the Sun Pirates, but for the very people the Sun Pirates helped to hand over their child—or worse, free her from Marigoa—this was not something a good person would do.
At this moment, readers wanted humans to tear these scoundrels apart!
They had seen everything so far—how well Fisher Tiger treated Koala, helping her unconditionally, and how the fishmen of his crew cared for her until she regained the vitality of an 11-year-old child, so different from when they first met her.
Even Arlong, who had opposed her presence, no longer troubled her because of Fisher Tiger and Jimbei.
This scene left the readers' hearts cold.
Issho clenched his fist as he looked at the manga page, wishing for a moment that he could blind himself again to avoid seeing what was about to happen.
But his eyes were already blinded, and his sight was only temporarily functional inside the art store.
"Why did they do that?" Mihawk asked beside him.
"I see it… this is the baseness of the weak."
"Who do you mean by the weak?"
"The weak are those with no principles…"
"I feel pity for Koala. She was enslaved by the worst vermin in this world, and she has a biological family with no principles… I wonder what this little girl will become in the future."
Issho ended his comment and turned to the next page, as things seemed about to get even worse.
…
Baterilla Island:
"As expected from the World Government, baseness runs in their veins," Roger said angrily.
"That's right. Koala was probably used from the beginning to set a trap for Fisher Tiger," Rayleigh added.
"Isn't that obvious from the Rear Admiral's words?!" Gaban said.
"Sigh~ Koala would feel immense sadness if she knew the crisis she had caused for the fishmen who had cared for her… even if she wasn't directly responsible," Rouge thought. She would certainly blame herself if she knew.
"They must survive this trap… Ah, it seems Kizaru is here… what a pity."
The moment Borsalino appeared in the manga, Roger felt that the fate of the Sun Pirates was truly sealed.
"This is truly a trap…"
…
At Marineford, the readers were silent.
"Seeing things from different perspectives often has very different effects…"
"That's true. From the reader's perspective, the fishmen pirates did a good deed by returning a little girl to her home… sigh…" Sengoku sighed.
"But from the soldier's perspective, raising his gun at Fisher Tiger, he fights for justice. In front of him is a criminal pirate wanted with a bounty of over 300 million Berries. He must fight him," Zephyr added.
"But we are 'readers' at this moment, not 'soldiers'…" Tsuru bit her lip.
Her heart ached as she saw the atrocity of humanity in this flashback.
All along… had they really been fighting for justice?
What justice was that!?
At this moment, Tsuru wanted to recall the 'justice' she had always fought for… the 'justice' that had led her to join the Marines.
But she couldn't remember anything. What was her justice again?
"Crene… you seem lost in thought…" Sengoku said, bringing her back to reality.
"I also feel sorrow for Fisher Tiger. This man is a true symbol of goodwill, yet he made mistakes in how he did things… He raided Marigoa, set it ablaze, and shook the foundations of the World Government! Planning to capture him is the right thing to do—after all, it's impossible to catch them at sea."
Sengoku gave a logical explanation to Tsuru.
Yet her expression remained icy; his words had no effect. She was still trying to find the justice missing from her heart.
"Arara~ how dreadful… it seems Borsalino will finish off this hero."
Kuzan truly felt sorrow as he turned to the next page.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 942: Tears of Men.
Chapter 943: The world will not die with me when I die.
Chapter 944: The Celestial Dragon Arrives at Fishman Island.
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