Arlong's Ordeal

Bright and Jinbe followed the gathered fish-men all the way.

They went straight to the port of Fish-Man Island.

After today's unrest, every human ship docked here had been detained, and the gates of Fish-Man Island had been completely sealed. The port had become a prison for humans.

By the time the fish-men reached the port, dawn was already beginning to break.

Soldiers who had long since received orders from Ryugu Palace blocked the fish-men's path.

"Move aside! Soldiers!"

Someone among the fish-men roared, "Since you can't save our people, let us do it!"

The soldiers looked somewhat ashamed. After all, they truly had failed to find the kidnappers.

But they did not back down. Those were the king's orders.

Behind them, at the port, the humans forced to remain aboard their ships trembled in terror.

This was the deep sea, ten thousand meters beneath the surface. If things truly spiraled out of control, they would have nowhere to run.

Which idiot had caused this mess?

Luring mermaids who ventured to the surface into traps was one thing, but daring to run wild on Fish-Man Island? Did they think they were some great pirate of the New World?

Fortunately, at that moment, a man riding a whale arrived from the sky.

"Everyone, stop!! Residents of the Fish-Man District!!"

Riding atop the enormous whale, the king of the Ryugu Kingdom, Neptune, called out loudly, "The matter has not yet been settled! Do not resort to violence so hastily!"

"He finally came!"

On the roof of a building beside the port, Jinbe watched King Neptune and the many soldiers floating in from above and let out a sigh of relief.

But the fish-men's fury did not subside just because the king had arrived.

To put it bluntly, the Fish-Man District had always been the place on Fish-Man Island that hated Ryugu Palace the most. This street had originally existed as an orphanage, but because of the royal government's inaction, it had ultimately become what it was today.

"Get lost, Neptune! Are you going to bow and scrape before humans again?"

"Leave what you can't do to us!"

"We'll never forgive those humans who dared to cause trouble on Fish-Man Island!!"

The fish-men shouted furiously.

At first, only a few people were yelling, but it quickly became the roar of a crowd.

"I need to step in."

Jinbe took a deep breath and turned to Bright. "What are you going to do?"

"I'll keep an eye on that guy."

Standing high above, Bright kept his eyes fixed on the blue fish-man near the front of the crowd. "He might lead me to Hody."

He was becoming more and more convinced that Hody was behind this.

"Alright."

Jinbe gave a slight nod, then shot forward like lightning.

"Everyone, calm down!"

Jinbe's voice was exceptionally loud, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Unlike Neptune, Jinbe held great prestige in the Fish-Man District.

"No one wanted the current situation. You aren't the only ones angry—King Neptune is as well. In any case, calm down first and hear what he has to say."

Jinbe's words had an effect, and the fish-men quieted down somewhat.

Neptune cast Jinbe a grateful look.

Then he declared loudly, "I have no intention of shirking responsibility. The fact that things have reached this point is Ryugu Palace's failure, and I deeply apologize for that."

"But give us one day to find the culprit! We will never allow the culprit to escape justice!"

At least he did not have the arrogance of royalty.

Bright thought so.

Though it was a small kingdom with few people.

The fish-men were moved.

Even the king had bowed his head.

"Alright, listen to King Neptune for now. The Sun Pirates will also cooperate with the soldiers in searching."

Jinbe said loudly, "At a critical time like this, don't stir up more trouble. It will only make matters worse."

The assurances of the two most influential figures on Fish-Man Island finally calmed the fish-men somewhat.

The people who had been stirring up the crowd also fell silent.

Bright even saw that blue guy beginning to slip toward the back of the crowd.

Had he given up?

Fine. Next, I'll catch your tail, Hody.

"I'm going to follow that guy, so Brother Aladdin,"

Bright looked toward the current vice-captain of the Sun Pirates. "Could you send a few people to protect the Mermaid Cafe?"

He could not rule out the possibility that Hody would capture people to threaten him.

Aladdin nodded casually. "Of course. I'll send someone over right away."

"Oh, right. Take a Den Den Mushi with you. If anything happens, we can get in touch quickly."

After receiving a Den Den Mushi from Aladdin, Bright leaped lightly across the rooftops, silently following behind the blue fish-man.

Above Fish-Man Island, within one of the water routes.

"Jahahahaha! So they really got stopped?"

Hody tucked a box beneath his right arm and laughed into a Den Den Mushi as he spoke with someone.

"The hatred still isn't enough!"

"Hody, what do we do next?"

Hody said calmly, "We already have the goods. Those mermaids are useless now. Let them make one final contribution—get rid of them. Afterward, I'll discover them as a soldier, murdered by humans driven into a corner."

"...Hody, wouldn't that—"

"This is a glorious sacrifice!!"

Hody laughed loudly. "Where is Bright? If he isn't there, how am I supposed to discover that he colluded with humans to kidnap mermaids?"

"He left the Fish-Man District with Jinbe. He should be dispersing the crowd now."

"He's with Jinbe?"

Hody frowned. "It isn't time to launch a full-scale attack yet. We need to lure him back to the Fish-Man District."

"Hody, what are you planning to do?"

"Jahahahaha! In that case, we'll punish the traitor first! Didn't he want to try trusting Bright?!"

Bright continued following behind the blue fish-man.

After leaving the crowd, the man did not stop. He headed straight onward.

As he moved, several people joined up with him. Bright noticed that they were all people who had been fanning the flames in the crowd earlier.

Before long, Bright followed them out of the city. Though there were no longer buildings to conceal him, Bright had sensory abilities, so he could trail them from far behind without fear of being discovered.

Judging by their direction, they were heading for the Fish-Man District.

Was Hody in the Fish-Man District?

Fish-Man District, Arlong's residence.

"Waaah!"

With a scream, Kuroobi was grabbed by the leg and slammed heavily into the ground. A massive crater instantly formed, and the entire house shook violently.

"Weak! So weak!!"

The huge hand gripping Kuroobi's leg released him, and its owner laughed loudly. "Brother Arlong! Did you see that? This is the power I have now!!"

"You bastard!!!"

Arlong gripped his massive serrated sword, his eyes nearly splitting with rage. "You dared do this to our comrades!! Hody!!"

All around him, his companions lay sprawled across the ground.

Chuu's head had been smashed into a wall. Hachi had been pierced through the body by his own blade and nailed to the floor. The other fish-men lay scattered everywhere.

And all of it had been done by the bastard before them!!

He had suddenly come to their door, then suddenly launched an attack!

"I'll kill you!!"

His taut muscles erupted with astonishing power. The huge serrated sword tore through the air, its sharp edge about to cleave Hody in two.

"Jahahahaha!!"

Hody laughed loudly and casually raised his left hand.

Tap.

A very faint sound.

Arlong's expression changed drastically in disbelief.

Hody's hand had caught his blade.

The sharp serrated sword could not move at all!

What was this strength?!

When had this guy become so powerful?!

"What a pity, Brother Arlong!"

Hody casually yanked the serrated sword, making Arlong stagger forward. Hody then opened his right hand and grabbed Arlong by the face.

"How wonderful it would have been if you hadn't betrayed our dream. Then I could have shared this power with you!"

"This power that can truly allow us to rule the world!"

Arlong could not say anything. Hody's fingers tightened, twisting his entire face as even his bones let out agonized creaks.

"But never mind. Since you betrayed us, let me fulfill our dream instead."

Hody lifted Arlong up, then slammed him violently into the ground.

Cracks spread in every direction. Arlong's eyes widened as blood poured from his mouth.

"I'll prove that fish-men are the race meant to rule the world! Humans are only fit to be our slaves!!"

Hody laughed loudly and picked up the serrated sword Arlong had dropped nearby.

This guy—

Arlong could not move. He could only watch helplessly as Hody raised the serrated sword.

Was he the same as him?

"Goodbye,"

Tears streamed from Hody's eyes. "Brother Arlong."

The serrated sword came down.

Crackle.

A bolt of lightning shot over, striking Hody directly in the arm.

"Waaah!"

Hody cried out, his arm twitching as the serrated sword flew from his hand.

"You're really in a sorry state, Brother Arlong."

The sealed door now stood wide open. Bright walked inside. "But it looks like I arrived just in time."

"Bright!!"

Hody turned around, half his face twisted in savagery and half in excitement. "Jahahahaha!! I was just wondering how to get you here, and you delivered yourself right to me!"

Bright withdrew his gaze from Arlong and looked at Hody. "If I didn't come, how would I take you down?"

Fine, let's get this over with quickly.