Hatchan chuckled and spoke, "Koala, you can finally go home."
The girl lowered her head, nervously rubbing her fingers together.
"Th-that…" Her voice was faint. "It feels strange…"
Laughing again, Hatchan said, "Hahaha, such a big change. You're almost unrecognizable now. I even bought you new clothes, and they look great on you."
The surrounding fish-men pirates joined in, their booming laughter filling the deck.
Tiger, however, remained quiet. His expression was calm but serious as his eyes drifted toward Arlong, who stood away from the group.
Hatchan pointed at Koala's freshly cut hair. "Even your hair is new. I'm sure your mother will be happy when she sees you."
Not knowing how to respond, Koala's hands shook as she pulled out a rag from nowhere, dropped to her knees, and began scrubbing the floor.
Hatchan stomped his foot. "There you go again! Every time you get troubled, you start working. You need to break that habit, Koala! This isn't Mariejois!"
The ship's doctor, Aladdin, shook his head. "Let her be, Hatchi. Wounds of the heart are not so easy to heal."
Scratching the back of his head, Hatchan muttered, "Oh, right."
From the corner, Arlong suddenly spoke up. "Seems like you understand pretty well, huh, Aladdin?"
He grinned and strode over, his sharp teeth gleaming. "Of course. You were a slave too. You know how it feels. Deep down, you want to kill her, don't you? She's human, just like the ones who owned you."
He crouched down with a sneer and stretched his hand toward Koala's head.
Tiger's face darkened. He barked out, "Stop it, Arlong."
But Arlong acted as if he hadn't heard. His expression twisted as he leaned closer to Koala. "Your parents looked down on fish-men too, didn't they?"
The girl stared at the floor in fear, unable to speak.
Arlong threw his head back and let out a loud laugh. "Shahahaha! That's humans for you. They think they're the most perfect creatures in the world. Their children grow up soaked in that arrogance. Unless someone shatters their pride, nothing will ever change! In these three years at sea, you've all seen it, haven't you? Those looks they give us. That disdain in their eyes!"
The fish-men gathered around clenched their teeth. Arlong wasn't wrong. In those three years, they had seen it far too often.
The grin on his face stretched wider. 'Yes… just like that.'
Then Jinbe stepped forward. "That's only some of them. Not all humans are like that. Many of them… seem to fear us."
The pirates hesitated, his words striking a chord. That too was true.
Arlong clicked his tongue. "Tch. Jinbe…" His tone was flat.
Ignoring him, Jinbe looked at Koala, still on her knees. With a thud, he sat down beside her. "Is it because we're pirates? Is that why they're afraid of us?"
Koala stiffened, slowly lifting her head.
"Because… they don't understand," she whispered, before lowering it again to continue scrubbing.
Jinbe thought back to Queen Otohime's speeches on the island. He murmured, "Because they don't understand, they fear…"
Arlong snorted and turned away, heading for the cabin. "This world doesn't need humans. It only needs fish-men. All of you are broken in the head. Those lowly creatures should all be wiped out."
* * *
Days later.
On Foolshout Island, by the shore.
This was Koala's hometown, a small island in the first half of the Grand Line. Towering cactus-like plants grew everywhere, giving the land its strange and unique look.
Tiger was the first to step off the ship. His feet pressed into the soil as he glanced back at Koala, who stood on the steps looking nervous. "Where's your village? I'll take you to the entrance."
"Mm!" Koala's face lit up with joy as she quickly ran down after him.
Behind them, some of the kinder fish-men pirates broke into tears, wailing loudly.
"Uwaaah, Koala! Don't go!"
"Let's keep traveling together!"
"What a sweet child!"
Once she stepped off the ship, Koala waved back at them. "I'll tell everyone in my village that there are good fish-men too! Thank you for everything!"
From among the crew, Hatchan shouted out, "Take care of yourself!"
Koala beamed, then turned and followed Tiger into the distance.
* * *
A few hours earlier. Aboard Borsalino's warship.
Strawberry stood at attention, giving his report. "Vice Admiral Borsalino, they're about to dock. The destination is confirmed."
The vice admiral's hands paused mid-motion as he clipped his nails. "Oh~? Are you sure~?"
Strawberry nodded. "Yes."
Borsalino blew the nail dust away with a lazy breath. "Such a good opportunity~ then… Strawberry, you'll take the men and set up an ambush~ Arrest Fisher Tiger~"
"Yes, sir!" Strawberry replied firmly, then he turned and left to make the arrangements.
Borsalino admired his freshly trimmed nails with a faint smile. "Mmm~ not bad~"
* * *
Back on Foolshout Island.
Having just escorted Koala safely to her village, Tiger now walked toward his ship. His mind lingered on the words she had spoken, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
'I believe in you too, Koala. When you grow up, humans and fish-men will surely—'
Click, click, click.
The sound of numerous rifles being loaded shattered the moment.
On the road leading toward the harbor, Strawberry appeared with a full unit of marines. Weapons leveled, they encircled him from all sides.
Tiger froze, disbelief flashing in his eyes. 'How… how could this be…?'
Strawberry looked straight at him, his voice calm. "I am Rear Admiral Strawberry of Marine Headquarters. We received a tip from an informant that the Sun Pirates might come here. In exchange for information, the condition was that we spare the possession of the Celestial Dragons… that little girl."
His tone hardened. "Fisher Tiger, captain of the Sun Pirates. You are guilty of two crimes. You already know what they are. Assault and escape."
Looking at Tiger, who was unwilling to accept such betrayal, Strawberry raised his right hand and swung it down.
"Fire!"
Bang, bang, bang…
Gunshots erupted all at once. Bullets poured down like rain, tearing into Tiger's body. Pain surged through him, snapping his mind back into sharp clarity.
Through the haze of blood and smoke, he glared at the marines, fury rising like an inferno ready to consume the sky.
"Fish-Man Karate!" he roared.
"Arabesque Brick Fist!"
A violent burst of invisible shockwaves erupted from his body. The air itself roared outward, surging against the surrounding soldiers. Even the bullets still flying through the air froze, caught in the pressure.
Then…
Swish, swish, swish!
The bullets reversed direction, shooting back toward the marines.
**
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