Reunion

Kuma Island is only "one stop" from Water Seven, Sig easily hitched a ride on a ship—hiding directly in the ballast compartment of a merchant vessel and drifting over.

"Fei, Fei-ge? Boss Fisher Tiger, Brother Long! Fei-ge is back!"

Sig had just arrived at Shipwreck Island in Water Seven when he immediately saw the Eye-Tube Fish-Man, Talissgo.

It seems the Sun Pirates arrived at Water Seven ahead of time to wait for Sig.

Talissgo to call his companions, and soon a group of Fish-Man came out of the shipyard. They were all pleasantly surprised to see Sig —although Sig had promised a one-year deadline and they trusted Sig, this was ultimately more than just a matter of trust!

Sig occasionally saw news about the Sun Pirates in the newspaper, but for the Sun Pirates, the only news about Sig was that he had previously "used an excuse" to increase his bounty.

Fisher Tiger had already decided to wait for Sig until the end of the year, and if Sig did not appear by then, he would go to the North Sea!

However, Sig finally arrived at the agreed-upon Water Seven with two weeks to go.

When the group of Fish-Man came out, they all reeked of alcohol, and the banquet reached its climax when Sig returned.

"Brother Fei, did you go to Beihai before?"

"As expected of Sig, how did you escape from Germa?"

"Those navy personnel were blatantly lying before, and they even raised your bounty... Did you do something in the North Sea again?"

"Huh? Is this lizard your pet?"

Everyone started asking questions about Sig's experiences during this time.

Sig picked out the important points and, fueled by the alcohol, talked to everyone about them, even introducing the "Bananaman" Battle Suit, which perfectly matched the chuunibyou (delusional) aesthetic.

After hearing that Sig had thoroughly ripped off Germa and even beaten up Gage's damn son, the Fish-Man found their drinks even more entertaining...

After getting drunk, when Sig went out to enjoy the sea breeze, Fisher Tiger patted him on the shoulder and finally had a chance to say in private, "Welcome back!"

Sig then noticed that the Sea Bass wasn't in the harbor, but in the shipyard, where some modifications were being made to the stern.

It was clear that it was some kind of power source. Seeing this, Sig understood—if he couldn't appear as scheduled, Fisher Tiger was prepared to go against the flow of the Reverse Mountain.

Just as Sig was about to say something, Arlong's dissatisfied voice came over.

"You... always with that face! Who told you to mop the floor? Stand up!"

Sig looked over curiously. It seemed that Arlong was scolding someone, but from this angle, the other person's figure was completely blocked by Arlong. Fisher Tiger walked over with a stern face and tapped Arlong on the head.

Arlong was startled, only then realizing that Fisher Tiger and Sig were not far behind him. He glared at Sig simultaneously, as if to say: You just got back and you're already badmouthing me?

Sig was confused, but then he saw that Arlong was "bullying" the little girl.

Fisher Tiger pushed him aside, and in front of him stood a little girl, about ten years old, wearing dirty overalls, smiling, kneeling on the ground "wiping the floor with air".

"Please don't be angry! I will definitely clean it up, I promise I won't cry or make a mess, I'm very hardworking, please don't kill me..." The little girl said with a "smile," trying her best to control the fear in her voice.

Even those who aren't "Telepathist" can see that the little girl's smile is just a mask.

"Koala, don't worry, our companions have returned and obtained the compass for your hometown, Foulsha Island. They'll send you home soon!" Fisher Tiger tried to comfort Koala, but it didn't help much.

"Boss Fisher Tiger ..." Sig stepped forward, a mixture of understanding and doubt in his voice.

"This child is named Koala. She escaped from Mary Geoise two years ago. She was so traumatized that even though she was taken in by other kind-hearted people who had also escaped, she still couldn't recover. On the way to Water Seven, they entrusted her to me, hoping I could take her home." Fisher Tiger explained Koala's origins.

And... he turned and glared at Arlong.

"Boss, I didn't do anything! When I went to get the wine, this little girl woke up and insisted on getting it for me, with that fake smile... cough cough, after I refused, she knelt down and wiped the floor herself, and I comforted her by telling her not to be afraid," Arlong explained.

Of course, what Arlong called "comfort" was probably the same kind of "rebuke" he had heard at the beginning.

However, Arlong didn't lie in general. At least Arlong felt that he wasn't specifically targeting the little girl. When Fisher Tiger said he would take her home, Arlong only complained a couple of times in a low voice.

"Boss Fisher Tiger, leave it to me!" Sig said, having already shed his "People of Fury" transformation.

He wanted to appear completely human and get closer to Koala.

Sig felt that comforting a little girl was clearly one of his strengths as Telepathist, so he put on a kind, older brotherly smile and patted Koala's head, saying, "Are you called Koala? My name is Sig, you can call me..."

"Master Sig! Please don't kill me! I even washed the hammock you used to sleep in!" Koala said immediately.

Sig:...

"Pfft..." Arlong suppressed a laugh—see, I told you it wasn't my fault!

Although it was her first time meeting Sig, during the few days that Koala was on board, she would often find herself tidying up, and she saw the hammock on the deck. Some people even told her that the hammock belonged to a fellow passenger named "Sig".

"Thank you so much! To express my gratitude, how about I treat you to some takoyaki?" Sig quietly corrected her form of address.

"Brother Master, I'm not hungry! I'll eat very little, just a little black bread will do..." Koala's tone gradually calmed down—not that she was no longer afraid, but rather that her "state" was getting better and better, and she began to stop showing fear.

Furthermore, Sig's "Telepathist" ability allowed him to clearly perceive that Koala's situation was no longer in the realm of excessive fear or panic.

Rather, she seemed to have lost all emotions; any sentimental thought would manifest as fear the moment it arose.

The Celestial Dragons each have their own twisted quirks, and they are constantly innovating even more cruel methods of discipline as bragging rights—something Sig knows all too well.

Although he didn't know what Koala had experienced in Mary Geoise, looking at Koala, Sig felt his "People of Fury" progress growing uncontrollably, and... this was no longer just "acting out".

"Fisher Tiger, leave the kid to me!" Sig said, taking full responsibility.

On one hand, it's about treating her psychological issues; on the other hand... once they reach the vicinity of Foulsha Island, Sig will escort her back alone to avoid a situation like the one in the original story.