Boom!
Arlong's pirate ship crashed down from the mountain waterway into the sea below.
"Big Brother Arlong, Brother Jinbe contacted us again. He wants us to return."
A fish-man hurried over, clutching a Den Den Mushi.
Arlong's face, a moment ago flushed with excitement, instantly darkened.
"Big Brother Arlong, Brother Jinbe says your life will be in danger this time."
The octopus fish-man who had rushed over shrank back timidly under Arlong's glare.
"Coward! Jinbe's nothing but a weakling. Instead of avenging Big Brother Fisher Tiger, he actually joined the Navy!" Arlong roared, teeth grinding with fury.
The other fish-men, who had been excited moments earlier, fell into silence.
Below them, their ship steadied itself after the violent jolt.
Big Brother Tiger!
The former captain of the Sun Pirates — their idol, the one who had led them out to sea.
Under Fisher Tiger's leadership, they had dreamed of changing the relationship between fish-men and humans. And what was the outcome?
He saved humans, tried to send them home — only to be betrayed. In the end, even Fisher Tiger lost his life.
"Humans can never be trusted! We, the fish-men, are the superior race. Those humans are nothing but weaklings — an inferior species!"
Arlong turned to the gathered fish-men and bellowed.
"Only through strength will humans learn to fear us! Jinbe is a coward, but I, Arlong, will lead you to rise in the East Blue. We will overturn the world, starting by becoming rulers of the East Blue!"
Most humans in this world were all brawn and no brains.
Of course, that was partly due to their society and environment. Many humans were illiterate — let alone fish-men.
And yet, Arlong's words, though hardly eloquent, sent a thrill through his crew.
The fish-men roared their approval.
"Hachi, cut off contact with that coward Jinbe immediately."
"Yes, Big Brother Arlong!"
Octopus fish-man Hachi straightened at once.
"Brothers, it begins now — the conquest of the East Blue!" Arlong gave a satisfied nod, then drew his jagged greatsword and pointed forward.
Amid the cheers, the ship surged ahead.
The Grand Line.
Jinbe set down the Den Den Mushi.
"Brother Jinbe, will Madam Shyarly's prophecy really come true?"
Though Arlong was extreme, he had once been their comrade in the Sun Pirates. Everyone aboard knew why Jinbe had accepted the position of Warlord of the Sea — and the harsh criticism he endured for it.
"Madam Shyarly's predictions are rarely wrong."
Jinbe shook his head gravely, eyes fixed on the horizon.
That fool… running off to the East Blue with dreams of conquest. Even if Arlong had the strength, his actions would only deepen human hatred of fish-men.
And when that happened, the fish-men's plight would become even worse.
"Full speed ahead! We must reach the East Blue before Arlong causes trouble."
Jinbe gave the order.
The one silver lining was that, although Arlong had ordered Hachi to cut off contact, Hachi had already promised to secretly report their location.
East Blue, Cocoyasi Village.
"This gentleman — you really want to buy them all?"
Belle-Mère, with her odd hairstyle and cigarette dangling from her lips, looked at Don in surprise.
"Yes. I'll take them all. Your oranges are fresh, and since I'll be spending a long time at sea, I can't go without fruit." Don nodded.
He had already lingered in these waters for quite a while, intending to collect Arlong's bounty.
But after searching around, it seemed Arlong hadn't arrived yet. By his estimate, though, it would be within the year.
Still, Don didn't plan to waste the time. He intended to sweep up some nearby pirates and prepare funds for the Grand Line.
Today was his first visit to Cocoyasi Village.
"Huh? You're not a merchant?"
Belle-Mère blinked at his words.
"Do I look like one?"
Don glanced down at himself: plain white shirt, plain white trousers.
"If that's the case, then I can't sell you so many!"
Belle-Mère shook her head firmly.
"Why not?"
Don raised a brow.
He remembered that after returning to her hometown, Belle-Mère lived a hard life, often going hungry. She survived on her orange grove, raising two adopted daughters.
Sometimes they had nothing but oranges for meals. When the girls asked questions, she'd brush it off with excuses like "oranges are good for your skin."
"Because fresh oranges won't keep that long! If you want them to last, sir, you should buy some rum instead."
Belle-Mère explained seriously.
"I see!"
Don nodded.
Seeing he understood, Belle-Mère smiled.
"Still, I'll take them all. I've got a huge appetite — I'll finish these oranges in just a few days."
With that, Don tossed her a thick stack of beli.
"But you'll have to deliver them to my ship at the shore."
Belle-Mère froze, staring at the cash he'd left behind, then at his departing figure.
All of them? In just a few days?
Was he planning to eat nothing but oranges?
Sure, fresh fruit was important at sea — but just fruit?
She was baffled.
"What's wrong? Did that guy give you trouble?"
A middle-aged man wearing a pinwheel hat approached, seeing Belle-Mère's dazed look.
"No, nothing! You came just in time, Genzo. Help me deliver these oranges to the ship."
"All of them?" Genzo's eyes widened — that was a lot of oranges.
"All of them! Once you're done, come to my place for dinner."
Belle-Mère smiled.
"No problem!"
Her smile and words made Genzo snap to attention with sudden vigor. Saluting, he rushed off to help.
Meanwhile, Don wandered through the village.
Nearly every household sold fruit, mostly oranges — so many it was hard to sell them all. Fresh fruit simply didn't last long.
The nearby Marine Base 16 bought large quantities, but even that wasn't enough to consume the surplus. And the nearby island villages were in the same situation.
This climate was perfect for orchards. Meat, on the other hand, was all fish.
Don bought some essential supplies and paid to have them delivered to his ship.
Changing the region's economy was beyond him — that kind of work was for the Revolutionary Army. That was their mission.
As he mused, he suddenly paused.
Ahead, two young girls walked side by side, baskets of oranges slung over their shoulders.
One had blue hair, the other orange. Both looked about ten years old, thin and delicate.
Nojiko and Nami.
Don's gaze lingered for a moment before he turned away, passing them by.
"Hm… If I take out Arlong, Belle-Mère won't die. Then Nami won't need to sail the seas to raise ransom money, and she won't become the Cat Burglar. Which means… Luffy won't have a navigator?"
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
And Zoro's fate might change too.
The future could become uncertain.
Oh, and if Ace never ate the Flame-Flame Fruit, maybe he'd focus on developing his Haki. He could become a swordsman, or a martial artist.
That possibility made Don even more curious about what lay ahead.
Still, it was too soon to tell. The ripples of his presence here might bring even bigger changes.
What was it called again? Ah yes — the Butterfly Effect.
But Don wasn't too worried. He would do as he pleased. As for the rest — who cared?
With that, he returned to his ship with his supplies and set sail again.
As Don's boat drifted away from Cocoyasi Village, Nami and Nojiko returned home to find the table laden with more food than usual.