Thank You, and I'm Sorry

Naval bases near Foolshout Island.

Click.

Suddenly, a door seemed to open, and Ron walked out carrying some documents.

Strawberry, who was facing the naval chart and deploying his troops, suddenly looked up.

"Rear Admiral Ron!"

"Yo, Strawberry."

"You've finally arrived."

"Are you getting impatient?"

No, not at all.

Strawberry glanced at his side and chuckled, "I heard you even dared to cut Whitebeard head-on a while ago. I'd like to see how far you've gotten now."

"Don't even mention it."

Ron waved his hand and sat down. "Now, just hearing the words 'Whitebeard' makes my back hurt."

Strawberry couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Put the jokes aside. Have you received the old man's orders from the Sengoku?"

"Received. You will be in charge of overall command on site, and I will be responsible for the actual arrests."

The nautical chart was spread out on the table, with two red lines drawn along the villages and the coast.

Ron watched for a while, then pointed his finger at the village entrance.

"Remove the artillery positions here."

"Rear Admiral?"

"No shelling of the village. Koala and ordinary residents cannot be used as hostages to force Fisher Tiger to surrender."

Strawberry hesitated for a moment, then nodded and noted it down.

"The interception along the remaining coastlines will proceed as planned."

Ron continued, "Once Fisher Tiger is found, act according to the established orders. You don't need to wait for my step-by-step instructions."

Looking at the nautical chart, Strawberry couldn't help but ask, "Rear Admiral, are you really not going to participate in the capture?"

"It's not that I won't participate."

Ron put the action order issued by Sengoku into his pocket.

"I'll go check out the village first."

What are you looking at?

"Look at those who reported Fisher Tiger, what are they afraid of?"

He paused, then added, "Also, confirming that the child's return home is my responsibility. Don't drag her into the fighting."

"Clear."

Ron then took out a document stamped with a seal from his pocket.

This is a special document approved separately during the Sengoku period.

Koala may remain in her hometown, and the navy shall not pursue her or the residents who took her in solely because of her past status as a slave.

"You stay on the shore and don't get involved with anyone unrelated."

Strawberry nodded solemnly.

A moment earlier, in the bay Foolshout Island.

The Sun Pirates's ship slowly docked.

"We're here! This is it!"

Koala clung to the gunwale, standing on tiptoe and peering towards the shore, wishing she could jump in immediately.

Hachi smoothed out her collar, saying, "Don't rush, you've wrinkled your new clothes."

Jinbe glanced at the distant coastline, leaving a few crew members to guard the ship.

"Remember, we're still wanted."

"If something happens on shore, don't just sit there waiting. Weigh anchor immediately and wait for us behind the reefs to the east."

"Clear!"

Arlong crossed his arms and impatiently urged, "Brother Fisher Tiger, once you've delivered the person, hurry up and leave. This is a human village."

"Shut up!" Hachi glared at him.

Fisher Tiger bent down and adjusted the strap of Koala's backpack.

"Let's go, I'll walk you to your door."

The wind at the village entrance blew wood chips through the air, and several women who were busy at work looked up.

Koala suddenly stopped.

Not far away, a woman carrying a wooden basin came out of the courtyard gate and was about to walk towards the river.

"Mother!"

The wooden basin in the woman's hand clattered to the ground, scattering wet clothes all over the floor.

"Koala?"

The next second, the mother and daughter rushed towards each other and hugged tightly.

"Mom! I'm home!"

"My child... it really is you!"

Koala hugged her mother tightly, crying uncontrollably.

After a long while, she finally raised her head, took her mother's hand, and pointed at Fisher Tiger.

"Mom! It was Mr. Fisher Tiger who brought me home!"

"Hachi even bought me new clothes, and Mr. Jinbe taught me how to read sea charts!"

Muti nodded while tears streamed down her face, holding her daughter tightly.

Have you been eating well these past few years? Has anyone bullied you?

There's food!

Koala laughed through her tears, "I dared to ask Hachi for a second bowl of rice on the ship!"

Muti listened, her tears fell even harder.

Fisher Tiger stood a few steps away and finally smiled.

It was worth it.

Before the laughter had even faded, he sensed something was wrong.

The villagers stood at a distance; some quietly closed their doors, while others lowered their heads immediately when their eyes met his, their gazes darting away.

Fisher Tiger saw everything but didn't ask.

He hadn't planned to stay long anyway.

Koala was pulled into the house by her mother, who was busy showing the family the little trinkets she had collected along the way.

Fisher Tiger turned to return to the ship when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind him.

"Mr. Fisher Tiger!"

Muti chased after them, looking flustered.

"Could we... talk in private for a moment?"

The two went around to a secluded spot behind the house.

Muti turned around to make sure her daughter hadn't followed, then lowered her voice and said in a trembling tone, "You should go now!"

Fisher Tiger frowned.

"What happened?"

"The Navy is waiting for you outside."

"What?"

"Someone in the village gave advance notice."

Fisher Tiger remained silent for a long time.

"Why?"

Muti gripped the hem of his clothes tightly.

"They're afraid that if they don't report it, they'll be punished along with you."

"..."

I didn't dare say anything at the time.

She lowered her head, her voice growing softer and softer.

"Sorry."

Fisher Tiger remained silent for a moment.

"Does Koala know?"

"Have no idea."

"Then don't tell her."

Muti suddenly raised his head.

Fisher Tiger glanced at the house behind her.

She finally managed to get home.

Thank you for telling me.

He turned to look at the coastline.

Jinbe and the others were still waiting on the ship.

If the navy has already surrounded the village, they could be attacked at any time.

We need to inform everyone immediately.

Fisher Tiger didn't linger any longer and hurried away along the path leading to the coast.

Not long after Fisher Tiger left, several villagers rushed to Muti's house.

"Muti! Did you tip him off?!"

Muti stood in front of the door, pursing his lips without saying a word.

"Do you know what you've done? Fisher Tiger ran away! Who's the Navy going to hold accountable?!"

"They kindly brought Koala back, and we betrayed him!" someone couldn't help but retort.

"You make it sound so easy! What if the whole village gets implicated!"

The argument between the two sides grew increasingly heated, and Koala, who was inside the house, heard the noise and poked her head out.

"Mother?"

Muti quickly shielded his daughter behind him.

Just then, a voice came from the village entrance.

Wow, it's so lively here?

Everyone turned around at the same time.

A young navy man dressed in Justice Coat is slowly walking over.

"Navy, sir!"

Someone immediately stepped forward. "We've already reported it! Fisher Tiger was just here!"

Ron glanced at them, then looked at Muti, whose face had turned pale.

"Don't rush to claim credit."

He took out the stamped document from his pocket and unfolded it in front of everyone.

"I heard you're worried that if Koala goes home, the Navy will investigate?"

"Yes, yes..."

"This matter has received official approval."

Ron pointed to the stamp on the document.

"Koala can stay at home; no one in the Navy will cause you trouble because of her past."

The villagers looked at each other in bewilderment.

"And... what about Fisher Tiger?"

"What?"

"If we hadn't reported him, would we have been arrested too?"

Ron glanced at the man.

"You're not the navy, you have no obligation to catch pirates for us."

"If you didn't report it, you didn't report it. Nobody will arrest you for this."

The villagers immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright, which way did they go?"

A villager quickly pointed to the coast.

"He just ran out! He went that way!"

"Knew."

Ron folded the document, put it in his pocket, and turned to walk out of the village.

Suddenly, someone behind him whispered, "Sir, are you here to arrest him?"

Ron didn't turn around.

"I'm here to carry out a mission."

The dirt road leading to the coast.

Fisher Tiger had just rounded a rocky slope when he suddenly heard the sound of orderly footsteps ahead.

Splash--

Marines quickly filled the high ground on both sides, and dozens of Fire Pistol were simultaneously aimed at the center of the road.

In the middle of the road, Strawberry, wielding two swords, slowly stepped forward.

Fisher Tiger.

"I've finally waited for you."

Fisher Tiger paused in his tracks.

Sure enough, the navy had already blocked the way back to the ship.

"Give up resistance."

Strawberry said in a deep voice, "Come back to headquarters with us!"

Fisher Tiger took a deep breath.

"Feel sorry."

My crew is still waiting for me.

He stomped on the stone slab beneath his feet and charged head-on into the naval formation!

"Don't fire randomly!"

Strawberry shouted at his men and charged forward with his twin swords crossed.

Boom!!

The Haki fist and the blade collided violently, sending gravel flying everywhere along the road!

At the bay.

Jinbe suddenly raised his head.

A muffled thud drifted on the sea breeze from afar.

Arlong jumped to his feet. "What's that noise?!"

Jinbe's expression changed Jinbe.

"Over there in the village!"

"Brother Fisher Tiger?!"

"Walk!"

Jinbe was the first to leap ashore, followed closely by Arlong grabbed his weapon.

Hachi and the other crew members also rushed off the ship.

Another loud bang echoed on the mountain road leading to the village!

Boom!!

Even the boats in the bay rocked.