Physical Persuasion

By the time Bright woke up, it was already broad daylight.

Sunlight streamed in through the room's window. He stared blankly at the ceiling, sprawled on the bed like a corpse for quite a while before lazily sitting up and stretching.

"I haven't slept this comfortably in a long time."

He murmured to himself.

Every day in the Punk Hazard base had kept him on edge. Even when sleeping, he had never dared truly relax.

He got out of bed, dressed, and made the bed.

Next, it was time to find Arlong.

Bright pulled open the door.

Then he saw a basket outside, filled with neatly folded clothes.

"How thoughtful."

Bright muttered appreciatively.

Childhood friends really were the best.

He went back into the room, changed out of his prison uniform, and put on the clothes Shyarly had prepared for him.

It was an ordinary T-shirt and long pants, but they fit perfectly and suited Bright's tall, athletic build. The back had already been cut open so his dorsal fin could stick out.

After changing into his new clothes, Bright crumpled up his prison uniform and headed downstairs.

The cafe was already bustling with voices.

The empty seats from last night were now completely filled, with merfolk and fish-men gathered together.

Several young mermaid girls in maid uniforms moved through the hall, smiling as they answered the customers' calls.

Bright looked them over. Every one of them was exceptionally pretty. No wonder this place did such good business.

Shyarly was sitting behind the counter, bent over what seemed to be the accounts.

Bright came down the stairs and walked over. "Where's the trash can?"

Shyarly looked up at Bright and gave a slight nod. "Looks like it fits well."

"That's because you have good taste." Bright smiled.

"Of course."

Shyarly lowered her head again, writing and calculating. "Throw the trash into the kitchen bin. Also, I left you some food. Eat it before you go find Arlong."

"Okay."

Bright turned and entered the kitchen. Right away, he saw a mermaid woman who looked to be over thirty. She was a little plump, with warm, smiling eyes that made her seem very approachable.

She wore a spotless white chef's uniform, an apron, and a chef's hat, humming as she cooked.

She seemed to be the chef of this cafe.

"Oh! You're Bright, the young man Shyarly mentioned, right?"

The chef turned toward Bright with a smile. "I'm Mirian, the chef here."

She took a moment to pick up a tray from beside her and handed it to Bright. "Breakfast Shyarly asked me to prepare for you."

The food on the tray was plentiful, with a balanced mix of meat and vegetables.

Bright took it. "Thank you, Miss Mirian."

He did not sit down right away. He threw his discarded prison uniform into the trash can, then found an empty seat and began eating breakfast.

"Delicious!"

He praised her.

At least it was tastier than the Fish-Man District boss's proud specialty dishes.

"Thank you for the compliment."

Mirian smiled as she wiped her hands on her apron. "This is the first time, Bright. Shyarly has let a man stay here overnight. She usually doesn't pay attention to anyone."

Bright smiled. "Shyarly is indeed a little cold, but once you get to know her, you realize she's actually very gentle."

"Oh~ Very gentle?" The cook dragged out the words. "But I've rarely seen Shyarly be gentle with anyone."

Bright felt a little awkward and simply lowered his head to eat.

Mirian did not say anything more, only smiling as she continued cooking.

After finishing breakfast in a few bites, Bright washed the dishes and left the kitchen.

He came to the counter. "Then I'll be going now."

"Wait."

Shyarly stopped him and picked up a key. "The key. You lost yours a long time ago, didn't you?"

Bright scratched his head. "I'll get you a new key later."

The whole door had already been torn off. What use was a key?

Shyarly froze for a moment, then rolled her eyes and put the key away. "Someone already handles the dishwashing, but there are always people causing trouble here. If you don't mind, I can leave the security work to you."

"Then I look forward to working with you, Boss Shyarly."

Bright agreed with a smile.

He would need to devote more energy to learning Haki from Brother Jinbe, but he still needed to earn some living expenses. Otherwise, he would never be able to repay the hundred thousand Beli he had borrowed from Brother Jinbe.

Security guard it was.

Better than being a freeloader.

"I like that title."

Shyarly nodded slightly. "Remember to keep using it, or be careful I don't dock your pay."

"That really is frightening."

Bright laughed. "Anyway, see you later."

"Have a safe trip."

After leaving the Mermaid Cafe, Bright headed straight for the Fish-Man District. Next, it was time to have a talk with Brother Arlong.

Fish-Man Island was not particularly large, but it still took some time to travel from Coral Hill to the Fish-Man District.

By the time Bright returned to the Fish-Man District, it was already noon. He did not waste any time and headed directly to Arlong's residence.

The doors of the small building were tightly shut, but Bright could sense a large number of people gathered inside.

Although Bright's ability could not let him distinguish different creatures in detail, he guessed Arlong had not left.

He stepped forward and pushed the door.

The door was locked from the inside, but fortunately Bright was strong enough to force the two doors open.

The loud crack of the lock breaking startled the many fish-men sprawled across the floor after last night's wild celebration.

They rubbed their bleary eyes and sat up, then saw Bright walking in with the light behind him.

"..."

Squinting into the light, the fish-men finally made out Bright's face.

"Bright? What are you doing here again?"

A fish-man staggered to his feet and snapped, "Brother Arlong said he doesn't want to see you!"

"That's right." Another fish-man sneered. "Go lick humans' asses with Jinbe. After all, aren't you also a half-human bas—"

He could not finish.

Bright moved like an apparition, instantly appearing before him. His large hand clamped directly over the fish-man's mouth.

"One thing I understood from a young age is that those who don't respect me don't deserve my respect either, even if they're my own people."

With a casual toss, the fish-man flew like a cannonball, smashed through the wall, and landed outside the house.

The fish-men, still drowsy from their hangovers, woke up instantly.

Bright stamped his right foot on the floor, leaving a depression in the ground. The entire house trembled as he said calmly, "I respect Brother Arlong, but that doesn't mean you get to insult me."

Only then did the fish-men remember.

Years ago, before Bright had left the Fish-Man District, he had already been known as a violent troublemaker. Anyone who dared insult him would receive his merciless violence.

The fish-men who had once belonged to the Sun Pirates remembered even more clearly. Even back then, Bright had been the most hot-tempered fighter among them. They could curse that idiot in their hearts, and mocking his stance a little would have been fine, but actually insulting Bright? Wasn't that courting death?

For a moment, the fish-men fell silent.

"Now then, where is Brother Arlong?" Bright asked.

"I'm right here!"

Arlong's voice rang out as he came down from the second-floor stairs. Several fish-men followed behind him: Kuroobi, Hachi, and Chuu, all of them officers he had selected.

Arlong wore a smile, but his pupils had narrowed into slits. Anyone familiar with him knew that he was already furious beyond measure.

"So, my dear brother, why have you come here and hurt my companions?"

Bright slowly exhaled and said calmly, "I came to stop you from setting sail, Brother Arlong."

Arlong fell silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud laughter. "Shahahaha! Hey, Kuroobi! Chuu! Did you hear that? This brat says he's going to stop me from going to sea!"

"Bright, has Jinbe brainwashed you?"

Kuroobi said sternly, "Or have you really chosen to stand with the humans?"

Bright answered seriously, "I just don't want Brother Fisher Tiger's final wish to come to nothing."

The expressions of many Sun Pirates veterans changed slightly.

"Shut up!! Bright!!"

Arlong's fury instantly surged as he lunged at Bright. "Brother Fisher Tiger died because of humans!!"

"That's why we must take revenge!!"

Arlong shot forward like an arrow, every muscle in his body tensed as he threw a punch at Bright.

Bright casually raised a hand and easily caught Arlong's fist.

Arlong's eyes suddenly changed.

"The second reason is," Bright said, "I don't want you to die at sea, Brother Arlong."

"Are you looking down on me, you damn brat!!"

Arlong grew even angrier. Being looked down on by someone he saw as a younger brother felt like a tremendous humiliation, and he struggled with all his might.

But Bright's hand was like forged steel, leaving him completely unable to break free.

This brat had become this strong?

Arlong could hardly believe it.

"Given your way of doing things, Brother Arlong, I think it's only a matter of time before the Marines come after you. So rather than let you die out there, I think it's better for you to stay on Fish-Man Island."

Bright exerted a little force and lifted Arlong straight into the air. He was much taller than Arlong.

Arlong tried to struggle again, but Bright merely gave his hand a hard shake, and Arlong's body immediately flailed like a willow branch in the wind.

"Waaah!"

He screamed, feeling as though his entire body was about to be shaken apart. How could he still have the strength to resist?

Bright carried Arlong upstairs. "Anyway, let's talk."

"Hey! Bright! What are you trying to do to Arlong?!"

Kuroobi and Chuu blocked Bright's path, but Bright casually brushed them aside with one hand.

Their faces were filled with shock. What was this strength? They had no ability to resist at all!

"Don't disturb us, or don't blame me for getting rough."

Bright carried Arlong up to the second floor just like that.

The fish-men looked at one another.

After a long while, someone finally spoke.

"That guy has gotten so strong!!"

Brother Arlong looked as weak as a child in front of him.

Thanks to boss Aba Aan for the hundred-point donation, thank you!