You've Got Some Nerve, Kid!

Inside the Port clinic, the smell of disinfectant mingled with a faint medicinal fragrance.

Hachi lay on the bed, his face still pale.

The Doctor flipped through the newly released Examination Report and checked the blood type again.

"My blood type and transfusion compatibility have been checked, and my blood is safe to use."

"Prepare for a blood transfusion."

"Etc!"

Arlong stood blocking the doorway with a dark face, looking even worse than the patient in the bed.

The Doctor looked up and glanced at him. "It's you again?"

"Are you really going to donate your blood to Hachi?"

"Didn't I already show you the list?"

But you are human!

The Doctor put the pen on the table.

Do you actually want him to get better?

Arlong opened his mouth, but stubbornly refused to utter a sound.

Fisher Tiger stood by the bed, staring at the blood bags his Assistant had prepared, his hands unconsciously gripping the bed rails.

Mary Geoise's cells, cold chains, those condescending sneers... Some things, even after three years, aren't so easy to forget.

But Hachi was lying in bed, and this human Doctor in front of him even offered to do a blood test.

"Doctor."

"Um?"

Please.

"Brother Fisher Tiger?!"

Arlong suddenly turned his head.

Fisher Tiger looked at him. "Hachi wants to live, don't you want him to get better?"

"Of course I want to!"

"Then let the Doctor treat it."

Arlong clenched his fists, but ultimately moved aside to clear the doorway.

Only then did the Doctor signal to his Assistant to begin the blood transfusion.

Bright red blood slowly flowed into Hachi's body through the Transfusion Tube.

Fisher Tiger stared at the thin tube, his gaze lingering for a long time.

The treatment lasted for quite some time.

The Doctor and Assistant repeatedly checked Hachi's condition and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that there were no obvious adverse reactions to the blood transfusion.

"Alright, things are stable for now."

"The wound needs to be observed; don't rush back to the ship and cause further complications."

Hachi weakly raised one hand. "Then... can I eat takoyaki now?"

"Have some porridge first."

"Ah?!"

Arlong was both angry and amused. "Even in this state, you're still thinking about food!"

The Doctor was packing up his equipment to leave when Fisher Tiger called him back.

We'll remember this favor.

"Come on."

The Doctor waved his hand. "If you encounter a ship in distress again, just lend a hand. Don't let my blood be donated in vain."

Fisher Tiger paused for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"Good."

Just as the Doctor was about to leave, his gaze fell on Arlong again.

"You, come here."

Arlong cautiously took a half-step back. "You called me?"

"You've been clutching your stomach for ages, what happened?"

"It's none of your business!"

"You got beaten up?"

"..."

"They hit pretty hard."

A vein throbbed on Arlong's forehead. He couldn't very well say that he'd been kicked away by a naval Rear Admiral, even smashing the boulder behind him, could he?

The Doctor gestured with his chin toward the chair. "Sit down, let me take a look."

"Need not!"

"Okay, I'm leaving then."

The Doctor turned and left.

Arlong hesitated for a few seconds, then sat down with a dark expression.

"... Just take a look."

Hachi, lying in the hospital bed, couldn't help but chuckle, "Arlong, didn't you disbelieve in humans?"

"Shut up!!"

At night, the Sun Pirates' ship was still anchored outside the harbor.

Fisher Tiger stood on the deck, gazing at the lights of the clinic on the shore, motionless for a long time.

Jinbe walked up to him.

"Brother Fisher Tiger, that Rear Admiral Ron... did you two know each other before?"

Fisher Tiger glanced at him and smiled.

"I know him, I just haven't told you."

No wonder.

Jinbe frowned. "Those punches of his could clearly have landed much harder."

"Three years ago in the Holy Land, I had already lost."

"I know that. The navy said you escaped later."

"That's right."

Fisher Tiger gripped the railing, the sea breeze ruffling his headscarf.

"However, the escape route was left to me by Ron."

"What?!"

Jinbe suddenly turned his head.

He could have caught me, but he let me go.

"He also told me that there are more ways to live on the high seas than just being a navy officer or a pirate."

Fisher Tiger touched the Sun Emblem on the ship's railing.

"I didn't quite understand at the time. But after these past three years, I realize he was right."

Jinbe looked up at the Rising Sun Flag fluttering in the wind.

Over the past three years, they have saved many people, but they have also endured a lot of scolding and disdain.

That young navy man still remembers it.

"A navy... actually managed to do this."

"And he's a frighteningly young navy man."

Fisher Tiger chuckled softly.

Jinbe was silent for a moment, then asked, "Does Arlong know?"

"Don't tell him yet."

"Clear."

The next day, Foolshout Island.

Ron confirmed that the Relocation Documents had been signed by the Village Chief and that the relevant records had been sent to the Branch before preparing to leave.

Muti hurried over, leading Koala by the hand.

When the little girl saw the Justice Coat, she noticeably slowed her pace.

"Navy brother..."

"What's wrong?"

Where are Mr. Fisher Tiger and the others?

"They're gone, back to the sea."

"Are they alright?"

They all looked quite energetic when they left.

Koala breathed a sigh of relief, then asked softly, "Will we be able to see them again?"

"I don't know either."

Ron leaned forward slightly.

"But they're still helping people at sea. We'll know how they're doing when we hear news about the Sun Pirates."

"Um!"

After Koala ran back into the house, Muti spoke in a low voice.

"Rear Admiral, if someone else helps us in the future... shouldn't I step forward sooner?"

Ron glanced at her, his tone indifferent.

"Next time, you don't need to wait until they drop the child off at their door before you remember to remind them."

Muti blushed, but didn't refute.

"Take good care of her."

After Ron finished speaking, he turned around and raised his hand, and the Air Door slowly opened in front of him.

Sabaody Archipelago, Shakky's Rip-off Bar.

Rayleigh sat at the bar drinking, Shakky slowly wiped the glasses.

The bar door was suddenly pushed open.

"Mr. Rayleigh!"

"Um?"

Rayleigh turned around and immediately smiled.

"Shanks? What are you doing here, kid!"

Haha! Long time no see!

As Shanks approached, Rayleigh's smile suddenly froze.

His gaze fell directly on the empty left sleeve.

"Etc."

"Where's your left hand?!"

Shakky put down her cup as well. "Shanks?"

"Ah, this."

Shanks scratched his head, his tone relaxed. "There was a little mishap."

"You've lost an arm, and you call it 'Little Accident'?!"

Rayleigh's smile vanished completely.

After looking closely for a while to make sure I wasn't seeing things, I sat back down heavily in my chair.

"His arm is gone, and even his straw Straw Hat is gone."

He raised his head and stared intently at Shanks.

"What exactly did you go to the East Blue for, you brat?"

Shanks, unusually well-behaved, accepted the drink Shakky offered him.

I met an interesting kid.

"What child is worth losing an arm to?"

"His name is Luffy, and he's always saying he wants to be the Pirate King."

Rayleigh, who had been frowning, gradually quieted down as he listened to Luffy's silly talk and his fearless boasts.

"That kid sometimes talks just like Captain Roger."

Rayleigh's hand, which was holding the wine glass, suddenly paused.

The deck of the Oro Jack seemed to flash before my eyes again, Roger standing in the sunlight, laughing as he spoke of that absurd yet dazzling dream.

"Like Roger?"

"Very similar."

Shanks looked at the glass and smiled.

"I think that kid might actually be able to do it."

Rayleigh looked at his empty sleeve.

"So, you put your arm..."

"They've gambled on the new era."

After a moment of silence, Rayleigh finally smiled, but his eyes were slightly tense.

"You little rascal... you've made your own decision too."

He didn't press further about what exactly happened in that instant.

Shanks clearly had more to say, but since he didn't want to, Shanks didn't intend to force him.

The two clinked glasses.

Rayleigh had just taken a sip when Shanks suddenly spoke again.

"However, that child's grandfather is a bit difficult to deal with."

"Grandfather?"

Rayleigh chuckled, raised his glass to his lips, and said, "How troublesome can the grandfather of some kid from the East Blue be?"

"It can't be Garp, can it??"

Shanks' smile froze instantly.

"..."

Rayleigh stopped drinking.

"... No way?"

"Haha, it really is."

Puff--!

He sprayed a large mouthful of wine all over Shanks' face.

Shakky stopped wiping the cup.

"Garp's grandson?"

Shanks wiped his face. "Yes."

Rayleigh slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

"You're too brave, kid!!"

"Even Roger wouldn't dare do that!!"

"Don't get excited!"

Shanks quickly raised his right hand. "Luffy always wanted to be a pirate!"

"Isn't that because you talk about the sea in front of him every day?!"

"I was just chatting!"

"You fucking fooled Garp's grandson into wanting to become the Pirate King?!"

Shakky couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing while leaning on the counter.

Shanks scratched his head. "I saved Luffy, Garp wouldn't come after me for that, would he?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Rayleigh and Shakky both looked at him.

"..."

Shanks.

Rayleigh said earnestly, "Do you have some misunderstanding about Garp?"

Shanks recalled the days when Garp chased him all over the world, and his smile slowly became forced.

"I don't think so, do you?"

Rayleigh nearly choked on his drink again.

After a while, he picked up the newspaper on the table.

"By the way, I heard you went to Elegia the other day and caused quite a stir with a rear Rear Admiral?"

"Ron?"

"That's the young man who dared to shave his Whitebeard."

Shanks immediately burst out laughing.

"Haha! That guy's interesting, you'll see next time you meet him!"

Rayleigh glanced at his empty sleeve, then at Ron's name in the newspaper, and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

"Young people these days... they're all so restless and adventurous."