Bright casually tossed Arlong onto the floor, then sat down on a sofa with practiced ease.
"Bright!! You bastard!!"
Arlong scrambled to his feet, roaring as he nimbly leaped to the wall and grabbed a serrated greatsword.
His face had turned livid.
Bright had utterly humiliated him in front of the Fishmen. How was he supposed to lead those people in building a Fishman kingdom that ruled over humanity after this?
The massive blade was raised high, ready to come crashing down on Bright the next instant.
But Arlong hesitated.
Was he really going to kill this brat?
"Good. Now we can finally have a proper talk."
Bright leaned back against the sofa, quietly watching Arlong's expression shift. "Brother Arlong, you want to conquer humanity and build a Fishman Empire, just like you used to tell us when we were kids, right?"
"Of course!"
Arlong ultimately did not bring his blade down. He loudly proclaimed his ambition. "Fishmen are the true superior species! Mere humans are nothing but inferior creatures born to be ruled by Fishmen!"
He expounded the creed he had always believed in. "I'll create a Great Kingdom where Fishmen enslave humanity! I'll make them repay, twofold, all the pain humans have inflicted upon us Fishmen over the centuries!"
Bright sighed.
Had this man brainwashed himself?
"It sounds wonderful, but Brother Arlong," Bright said solemnly, "why?"
"What?" Arlong froze for a moment.
"Why should you rule humanity?" Bright asked.
"Because we are born noble, of course!"
Arlong declared loudly, "We are born more than ten times stronger than humans, and we can live in the water! We were meant to be the rulers of the sea!"
"Is that so?"
Bright smiled. "But you can't even beat me."
Since he had decided to use more forceful measures, he could now say what had been difficult to say before.
Arlong gritted his teeth unwillingly.
But it was the truth. This brat had already completely surpassed him in strength.
Bright said, "There are countless humans stronger than me. For example, that glowing Marine who captured us a year ago. Could you beat him?"
"..."
Arlong's expression abruptly changed.
Of course he had not forgotten that man, who was like a nightmare!
He had never felt so helpless before!
"That was only because we were on land," Arlong's voice lowered. "If it were in the sea—"
"That's right! As long as we're in the sea, we're invincible!" Arlong's words regained their strength.
Bright sighed again. "So how is that any different from now? Aren't we still confined to the seabed?"
Arlong was left speechless.
"At the end of the day, Brother Arlong, all you want is to secretly seize a few human towns and enslave a small number of humans, right?"
Bright said mockingly, "You just want to vent your anger by abusing ordinary humans, while making some money to satisfy your desires. You've always liked money, haven't you? To conceal your tracks, you might even take the initiative to find corrupt Marines and work with them."
"You don't dare fight the Marines to avenge Brother Fisher Tiger, so don't act so righteous, Brother Arlong."
"Bright!!"
Arlong's face darkened. "You bastard—"
"Because you understand that humans are stronger than us Fishmen."
Bright ignored Arlong's anger and continued, "Fish-Man Island has only five million people, but humans outnumber us by several hundred times. Not to mention that the strongest people on the seas are all human. Even Brother Jinbe, the strongest among us Fishmen, would be helpless before them. If we truly went to war with humanity, all we would gain in the end would be destruction."
Arlong's face sank.
Bright had struck right at the heart of the matter.
After fighting that man of light, Arlong naturally knew how powerful the Marines were. They were an enemy he could never contend with.
What he had wanted was to go to the weakest sea among the Four Seas, the East Blue, and secretly establish a Fishman territory there.
And he really did want to make money. Just as Bright had said, he liked money very much.
"But what would that accomplish?"
Bright said, "We would still live in the deep sea and suffer discrimination. Humans who hunt Fishmen and merfolk would still run rampant, and human nobles would still take pride in owning a mermaid."
"Instead, humans who have no grudge against us would suffer your oppression and humiliation. Once it was exposed, you would never escape punishment, and humanity would hate Fishmen even more."
"What meaning would it have beyond satisfying your desires? Would it just put Fish-Man Island in even greater danger?"
"Are you really fighting for the Fishman Tribe? For Fish-Man Island?"
Arlong was practically grinding his teeth.
But he could not think of anything to say in rebuttal.
His face turned bright red.
As though the secret he had been concealing had been exposed.
Bright asked again, "Brother Arlong, why do you think Brother Fisher Tiger, despite hating humans so much, would not let us harm them?"
Fisher Tiger did not like humans. Not one bit.
He had once been captured and made a human slave for three years, suffering every kind of torment at human hands.
Yet when he formed the Sun Pirates, he said that the purpose of the crew was to bring liberation and freedom, and that they would never harm humans without cause.
He had experienced hell, yet he never wanted anyone else to suffer the same fate, not even humans.
That was why, even with his memories awakened, Fisher Tiger remained the person Bright admired most.
"It was because Brother Fisher Tiger knew that if hatred were allowed to spread, Fish-Man Island would face utter disaster."
Without waiting for Arlong to answer, Bright sighed to himself. "It's tragic, isn't it? We're the ones who have always been persecuted, yet we can only swallow our grievances."
"And you still want to make Brother Fisher Tiger's wishes come to nothing."
"Enough! Enough!!"
Arlong roared, "Bright! What exactly are you trying to say?!"
He bellowed furiously.
"If you want to change the status of the Fishman Tribe, if you want to prove your belief in Fishman supremacy, then stop doing these pointless things, Arlong!"
Bright said sternly, "Don't trample on Brother Fisher Tiger's last wish, put Fish-Man Island in danger, and do something so stupid just to satisfy your personal urge to vent!!"
Before his death, betrayed by humans, Fisher Tiger had completely lost hope in humanity. Yet he still did not want his companions to bring the cause of his death back to Fish-Man Island.
He did not want hatred to spread. He did not want disaster to befall Fish-Man Island.
"Bright!!"
Arlong was almost mad with humiliation. He lunged straight at Bright, roaring, "Stop spouting that self-righteous crap!!"
Bright reached out and grabbed Arlong by the head. With only a slight exertion of strength, he rendered him unable to move.
But Arlong was not afraid. He snarled, "You want me to become like you and Jinbe? Do nothing! Humble ourselves before humans and just watch while they humiliate us!!"
Bright casually threw Arlong back and said calmly, "I'm only telling you not to do meaningless things, not to do nothing."
"You got one thing right. We suffer humiliation because we are weak."
Bright said, "The weak ones are not humans. We are."
"So before seeking revenge, we must first ensure our own safety. First, we must become stronger."
"Become... stronger?" Arlong sat sprawled on the floor, somewhat stunned.
"Brother Arlong, do you know Whitebeard?" Bright asked.
"So what if I do?" Arlong said coldly.
How could he not know Whitebeard, the man called the strongest in the world?
Moreover, that man's flag flew above Fish-Man Island. After the Great Pirate Era began, Fish-Man Island had suffered relentless ravaging by human pirates, and it was only under Whitebeard's protection that it had gained this small measure of peace.
"Then you should know that even the World Government can do nothing against a powerhouse like Whitebeard. His reputation can protect Fish-Man Island even across vast distances."
Bright said seriously, "Then, as long as Fish-Man Island produces a powerhouse of that level, no one in this world will dare look down on us again. Even the World Government will have to seriously consider our position!"
A powerhouse at the level of an Emperor of the Sea possessed that kind of influence in this world.
Especially when that powerhouse represented a powerful race.
Arlong looked utterly baffled. "What are you trying to say, Bright?!"
He knew that even Jinbe, the strongest of the Fishman Tribe, was still far from being comparable to monsters of that level.
Bright stood up. He took a deep breath, then said seriously, "That person will be me."
"What?" Arlong's eyes widened.
"I will become stronger than every one of our predecessors."
Bright said earnestly, "I will become one of the strongest people in the world. When that day comes, the entire world will have to take our wishes seriously."
"..."
Arlong was completely stunned.
Bright's words were something he had never considered before.
Become one of the strongest people in the world?
Could such a thing really be done?
Could you do it?
Arlong instinctively wanted to ask that.
But though he opened his mouth, no sound came out.
He realized that Bright was only seventeen this year, yet he already possessed such astonishing strength!
He truly was the most gifted Fishman Fish-Man Island had ever seen!
If anyone could become the strongest Fishman, it would surely be him, wouldn't it?
"That is all I have to say. Whether you believe me or not, Brother Arlong, it doesn't matter."
Bright said, "You only need to know that I have the strength to stop you easily. Don't think about doing that kind of pointless thing. If you truly want revenge against humans, then go deal with the human pirates or slave traders who cause trouble on the island. Or try becoming stronger, so you can be useful in the future."
"I'll ask Brother Jinbe to keep an eye on all of you. Don't think about secretly sailing out to sea."
He sighed.
That was all he could say.
If Arlong truly remained stubbornly determined to go his own way, Bright could only resort to violence.
Bright turned and left.
When he went downstairs, the Fishmen were still almost all standing where they had been. They did not even dare look at him.
What had happened upstairs?
The house had poor soundproofing, and the Fishmen had heard Arlong's furious roars just now.
Bright ignored them and left directly. Next, he had to find Jinbe.
Upstairs.
After Bright left, Arlong remained motionless for a long while.
"Hey! Arlong! Are you okay?"
Kuroobi and the others hurried upstairs. Looking at the dazed Arlong, they said indignantly, "That bastard Bright is way too arrogant!"
Arlong did not respond.
He was thinking about something.
If Bright truly could become as strong as the greatest monsters on the sea, just as he claimed, what would Fish-Man Island become?
Arlong knew that Whitebeard protected a vast stretch of the New World, while the equally powerful Kaido and Charlotte Linlin each ruled a country in the New World. No one dared provoke them.
If Bright truly could become as powerful as them—who would still dare act recklessly against Fishmen?
Perhaps they really could build an unprecedented Fishman Empire!
And given his relationship with Bright, and his sister's relationship with Bright—
Arlong suddenly felt that such a future did not seem bad at all.
But the question was, could that brat Bright really become such a powerhouse?
"So that's what you told him?"
After listening to Bright recount his two encounters with Arlong, Jinbe sighed.
"Brother Arlong's hatred for humanity cannot be resolved. His mind is full of venting, destruction, and plunder. It will probably be difficult to persuade him."
Bright said, "So we can only use more forceful measures."
"I understand."
Jinbe nodded. "I was somewhat hesitant before, but you're right. With Arlong's personality, if he truly goes out to sea, there is no possibility other than further escalating the conflict between humanity and Fish-Man Island."
"I won't let him trample on Brother Fisher Tiger's wishes!"
Fisher Tiger had died because of humans, but before his death, he had said not to let hatred spread. That was why Jinbe had forcibly endured it.
Thus, he was even less willing to let anyone destroy Fisher Tiger's wishes!
"I'll have people keep watch on Arlong and the others. I won't give them any opportunity," Jinbe said solemnly.
"Mm."
Bright nodded.
That was the only way.
Perhaps his bond with Brother Arlong would end here.
But at least it would prevent the future where Arlong was beaten senseless by that rubber brat, then arrested by the Marines, and perhaps even directly executed to prevent the scandal from leaking out.
"I've already contacted the Marines. They don't know what happened, so we can relax for now," Jinbe said, recalling another matter. "But we should still keep a low profile from here on. I've had the people of the Fish-Man District avoid spreading news of your return as much as possible."
"Thank you, Brother Jinbe."
Bright said solemnly, "I have no intention of causing trouble either."
"Hahaha, that's good."
Jinbe nodded. "Then let's get down to business. You told Arlong that you want to become a powerhouse like Pops Whitebeard?"
Bright scratched his head. Was that a little too self-congratulatory?
He said, "At the very least, Brother Arlong needs something else to hold on to, so he doesn't fall into despair with nowhere to turn, right?"
"And besides," Bright said confidently, "I think I can do it."
"Hahahaha! Such confidence, Bright!"
Jinbe laughed heartily. "But that isn't a bad thing! If you're afraid, you won't be able to keep moving forward!"
"Well? Before the real training begins, how about trying to fight me?" Jinbe said.
"Huh?"
Bright was startled.
Thanks to big shots 'samasama' and 'Huaiyu hy' for the hundred-point tips. Thank you, thank you!
Whenever I write Verbal Combat, it tends to get really long and wordy. So frustrating...
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