"Alright, Mr. Doflamingo. Now we can finally talk properly."
Seeing Shyarly being escorted out, Arlong's mood improved considerably.
"So, have you accomplished the task I gave you?" Doflamingo asked with a smile.
"Well..." Arlong stammered, the cheerful expression vanishing from his face.
"You haven't completed it?" Doflamingo's voice grew heavier.
"No... we haven't completed it yet."
You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're the one running the household. Only after returning to Fish-Man Island did Arlong realize how unfavorable the situation was for him. Not only did he have to contend with Neptune and Queen Otohime in the Ryugu Palace, but even the residents of the Fish-Man District were not all loyal to him.
"So, are you here to ask me something? Or are you asking for my help?" Doflamingo inquired.
"I hadn't thought of that," Arlong said slowly. He knew it was better to rely on his own strength than to beg for handouts.
Doflamingo just smiled at his response.
"Mr. Doflamingo, I just wanted to fulfill my duties as a host this time," Arlong said sincerely.
"I see," Doflamingo nodded.
While Doflamingo and Arlong were talking, Shyarly, who had been barred from her own cafe, was fuming, giving Hachi and the others a piece of her mind. However, since she was Arlong's sister, they didn't dare to be too disrespectful.
"Shyarly, why are you so angry?"
Jinbe's voice cut through the air, and Shyarly stopped her tirade.
"Jinbe?" she said, turning to face him.
"Boss Jinbe," Hachi greeted him politely.
Hody Jones and the other fish-men, however, scoffed at Jinbe with disdain. Jinbe paid them no mind; they both believed their own ideologies were the correct ones.
"Jinbe, Arlong and that Doflamingo are inside talking," Shyarly informed him.
Her words made Jinbe's expression change. He knew what kind of man Doflamingo was. Arlong's association with him was tantamount to suicide. He had to prevent this tragedy from unfolding.
Jinbe immediately tried to enter the Mermaid Cafe, but Hody Jones blocked his path.
"Out of my way, Hody Jones," Jinbe said sternly.
"I can't do that. The boss didn't give you permission to enter," Hody said insolently, his eyes gleaming with the desire to test his strength against the famous Knight of the Sea.
"Then you leave me no choice. Karakusagawara Seiken!"
Jinbe took his stance and threw a powerful punch at Hody.
"Fish-Man Karate: Sangan-gawara Seiken!"
Hody countered, but his attack lacked Jinbe's power. He was sent flying. Using that opening, Jinbe quickly rushed inside, with Shyarly close behind.
"Jinbe!" Hody roared in frustration as he hit the ground.
The commotion outside had not escaped the notice of Doflamingo and Arlong. They watched as Jinbe and Shyarly entered one after the other.
"Jinbe, what are you doing here?" Arlong asked, his face dark. First his sister had interrupted, and now his former crewmate. He was not pleased.
"Arlong, I need to talk to you," Jinbe said, his eyes darting toward Doflamingo.
"I have nothing to say to you," Arlong refused coldly.
"Knight of the Sea, Jinbe. Is there something you can't say in front of me?" Doflamingo spoke up before Jinbe could press further.
"Doflamingo, I know who you are," Jinbe said, trying to keep his tone as level as possible. "Fish-Man Island is a peaceful place. I hope you will not bring disaster upon it."
"Jinbe, what is the meaning of this? Mr. Doflamingo is my guest!" Arlong snapped before Doflamingo could even reply.
Jinbe looked at him in shock, as if he had just discovered a new continent.
"What did you say?" he asked, stunned.
"I said, Mr. Doflamingo is my guest," Arlong repeated, his voice heavy with menace.
"Arlong, don't you hate humans more than anyone? How could you..." Jinbe asked, bewildered.
"That's none of your business. All you need to know is that I respect Mr. Doflamingo," Arlong said impatiently.
"Doflamingo. Arlong. I'll be watching you," Jinbe said, preparing to back down now that it seemed a conflict wasn't imminent.
"Pathetic," Arlong sneered at his threat.
"Jinbe, where do you think the peace of Fish-Man Island comes from?" Doflamingo asked, his voice calm as he stopped the departing fish-man.
His question made everyone in the room, including the injured Hody Jones who had just returned to Arlong's side, prick up their ears.
"With Whitebeard-ossan's help, Fish-Man Island is at peace," Jinbe answered without hesitation.
"Wrong," Doflamingo countered.
"How is it wrong? Without Whitebeard-ossan's help, Fish-Man Island would still be in dire straits," Jinbe stated. The fish-men and merfolk who had benefited from Whitebeard's protection nodded in agreement.
"Whitebeard can protect Fish-Man Island for a time, but not for a lifetime. If Whitebeard dies, will you still have this so-called peace?" Doflamingo's rebuttal was sharp and cutting.
Seeing Jinbe fall into thought, Doflamingo continued. "I know you all wish to live under the sun, just like us. But this ugly world has deprived you of that wish. Fish-men, merfolk, humans, or any other race—we are all the same. We are all equal."
Hearing the word "equal," the fish-men and merfolk looked at Doflamingo with new eyes. They could tell he was being sincere, not just trying to deceive them. Even Hody Jones looked at him with shock. He was beginning to understand why the human-hating Arlong respected this man so much.
"But," Doflamingo's tone shifted, "this equality has a foundation: your own strength. Instead of praying for Whitebeard's protection, why haven't you thought of becoming strong enough to stand against the World Government yourselves? Or have you been enslaved for so long that your backbones have been broken, leaving you too weak to ever stand up again?" Doflamingo continued, ignoring the shifting expressions on the faces of the fish-men.
Jinbe sighed. "Doflamingo, you see things more clearly than I do. But the complexities of the situation are beyond what you can imagine. Thank you for your words, and for acknowledging the equality of fish-men."
"Tch. In the end, it's just because you're too weak. Stop making excuses," Enel sneered, rising from his seat and approaching Jinbe. "If you're that pathetic, then just be good little dogs. Why bother trying to justify your actions?"
"You!" Jinbe's face flushed with anger and shame. The insult hit him hard. He knew the truth of their situation, but the prejudice in the hearts of humans was a great mountain. How could they ever be accepted? Even if they gained equal status, the animosity between them would surely not diminish.
Doflamingo, of course, understood that the problems of Fish-Man Island were not so easily solved. Though his words were righteous, and could indeed solve their problems and even elevate their status, they could also lead to their destruction. The World Government would never sit by and watch Fish-Man Island defy their rule. In the end, with absolute power, nothing was a problem. He wasn't lying to them. But could they achieve it? Impossible. If they could, they wouldn't still be hiding at the bottom of the sea.
"Well? Was I wrong?" Enel scoffed. "You're just afraid. If you want peace, you need to have the strength to back it up."
Arlong's eyes, however, were shining. He could see the bright path Doflamingo was describing.
"Perhaps you are right. But we fish-men do not have that kind of power," Jinbe said helplessly.
"Tsk, tsk. It's because of people like you, who don't dare to fight back, that your island has become weaker and weaker. You do know that a great number of fish-men and merfolk are enslaved every year, don't you?" Diamante added, fanning the flames.
At the mention of slaves, Arlong and the others' faces turned grim. It was a wound that would never heal.
"Jinbe, you seek peace and mutual understanding between humans and fish-men. That is an impossible dream," Doflamingo said. "Even humans cannot live in peace with each other, let alone with you. Wherever there are people, there is conflict. Accept it, Jinbe. There is only one path for Fish-Man Island, and that is to struggle."
"Struggle?" Jinbe repeated, doubt in his voice.
"Of course we must struggle! For Fish-Man Island! So that we can live under the sun!" Arlong seized the opportunity to shout.
"Struggle!"
"Struggle!"
Hody Jones and the others roared in support. As the atmosphere grew more heated, more and more fish-men and merfolk joined the chant.
Jinbe watched the scene before him, his heart wavering.
Doflamingo and his crew watched the cheering fish-men in silence, but the smile playing on Doflamingo's lips betrayed his true feelings.