The Power That Struck Straight at the Heart

The Sun Pirates set off from Water Seven. Arlong's suggestion to hand Koala over to Tom's Workers and have Tom and Cocco take care of her was rejected by Fisher Tiger.

While it's true that in Water Seven, a relatively open metropolis, it seems easier to escape, otherwise simply sending her home wouldn't have been very effective, Fisher Tiger was clearly moved by Koala's actions and wanted to save the little girl.

Sig also objected—after all, Tom's Workers had a psychopath, which wasn't good for children's development...

While Koala was on the ship, Sig took care of her, and when Sig was at the helm, he would let her sit on his shoulders.

Sig tried various methods to calm Koala down.

After Hachi came to take over that day, Sig lifted Koala up and let her ride on his shoulders. Then he had Bananaman transform into his Battle Suit and took Koala to "surf" in the sea.

Powered by the jets of his Battle Suit, Sig raced across the sea, sometimes leaping onto the crests of waves, sometimes falling back down with them, but after returning...

"This is so much fun!"

"I absolutely love it!"

"But don't worry, I won't forget to clean just because I like surfing."

Koala said "This is so interesting," but the "smile" on her face remained unchanged.

Sig:...

"Hahaha... Well, I wasn't laughing at you, I was just thinking about something happy." Arlong originally wanted to mock Sig, but when he saw Fisher Tiger on the deck, he restrained himself.

It's fine for him and Sig to "play around," but if Koala tries to make fun of him, Fisher Tiger will get angry.

The next day, Sig changed his tactics. Whenever Koala couldn't help but mop the floor, Sig would mop the floor with her, and no matter what she said, Sig remained unmoved.

"I... I can clean it!"

Please don't do this...

"I still have a use, please don't kill me!"

The result was that it exacerbated Koala's anxiety...

On the third day, Sig tried to use food as a way to touch people's hearts—the food he was referring to was, of course, the takoyaki made by Hachi.

As a result, after eating it, Koala became even more "diligent," fearing that she would be killed because she was of little "use" and ate takoyaki.

"Diligence" is a virtue, but what Koala is doing now is not "diligence".

Sig was certain that Koala must have witnessed someone being brutally killed by Celestial Dragons two years ago, when he was eight years old, for reasons such as crying or taking a break while cleaning. This must have left him with such a deep psychological trauma.

In truth, Sig...

Crying or taking a break while cleaning were not the main reasons why those slaves were killed. The real reason might just be that the Celestial Dragons were in a bad mood that day, and if someone laughed in a way that displeased the Celestial Dragons, they would still be killed!

Sig, as an "expert," has failed repeatedly, causing Fisher Tiger to lose patience—not because he's impatient with Sig, but because he can no longer stand by and watch Koala in this state!

Zig, who vaguely knew about Fisher Tiger's past and was able to observe Sig emotions, understood that Fisher Tiger had been moved by Koala.

However, seeing Fisher Tiger roughly drag Koala into the Captain, Sig instinctively wanted to stop him.

Sig knew what Fisher Tiger was going to do, but from any perspective, it was far too brutal.

Not long after, a scream came from the Captain. Fisher Tiger immediately called Aladdin in and used the Captain as a temporary ward.

Fisher Tiger used a branding iron to imprint a Sun pattern on Koala's back, covering up the original "Celestial Dragon Hoof Mark" there!

Although Sig that this was indeed intended to sever Koala's ties with her past as a slave, he felt that Fisher Tiger was being too direct...

Koala was unconscious for a day. After waking up, even though her upper body was wrapped in bandages, she still instinctively wanted to work as soon as she got out of bed.

However, as soon as she stepped onto the deck, the Fish-Man surrounded her. Just as Koala was feeling scared, Fisher Tiger punched the Sun on his chest and said, "You no longer have the mark of the Celestial Dragons, and don't compare us to those bastards. Cry if you want to!"

Fisher Tiger shoved his fierce-looking face right in front of Koala, and then... Koala actually burst into tears.

Sig knew he had "lost" the moment Koala woke up.

Although he didn't compare himself to Fisher Tiger, Sig always believed that he, with his "Telepathist" ability and "kind face," should have a much greater advantage than Fisher Tiger in this regard.

However, the result was that after several days of work, none of his attempts were as effective as Fisher Tiger's simple and direct approach of printing the Sun and roaring fiercely, which resonated more deeply with people.

While Koala was still in fear, Sig noticed the change—the previous Koala only experienced endless panic without any other emotions, but just now her fear was real and different from usual.

Now, Koala's outburst of sobbing only intensified her emotions...

There was still fear, timidity, and anxiety... but Sig that Koala had taken the first step.

"We...will not kill anyone!" Fisher Tiger reiterated his conviction to his companions.

Seeing Koala, Fisher Tiger became even more convinced that there were many more innocent civilians like Koala, oppressed by the Celestial Dragons and the World Government. They too would be crushed like dust by the times and by power. Fish-Man should not sink deeper into the vicious cycle of hatred towards humans.

He had known this for a long time, it's just that... Fisher Tiger himself couldn't do it.

However, Fisher Tiger also saw a "future" in Koala, the "future" that Queen Otohime described and expected, which he also believed was the right path.

Even if Fisher Tiger cannot reconcile with his own heart, he must try his best to restrain the Devil within.

In a daze, Sig understood why Fisher Tiger was surrounded and killed by a Rear Admiral and dozens of marines.

Regardless of the type of Haki, it all stems from the power of will, and the collapse of one's beliefs will cause that Haki to weaken rapidly.

Tiger saw a renewed hope for the future of Fish-Man and humans, and for the future that Queen Otohime had spoken of, in Koala. However, he was betrayed by the people of Koala's hometown and reported to the Navy. At that moment Fisher Tiger's beliefs collapsed.

It wasn't the anger of being betrayed, but the extinguishing of hope and the complete realization that one could no longer suppress the Devil within, understanding that one could never forgive humanity, yet believing that one's own thoughts were Error —creating a powerful inner conflict!

This is why, even after being rescued from his severe injuries, Fisher Tiger preferred to die in his hospital bed rather than be transfused with human blood...