The Ship

Sig noticed that many Fish-Men were carrying simple, light luggage, and he could hear the sounds of packing nearby. It seemed... the departure time was closer than he had imagined.

He figured they were sending him out of the Fish-Man District because the Sun Pirates were about to set sail.

"Boss Fisher Tiger, this kid isn't human. He's a half-Fish-Man," Jinbe said with a steady tone.

However, the other Fish-Men showed looks of confusion—a half-Fish-Man... was like this?

Jinbe turned his head... and then looked down at Sig. Sig understood his meaning and silently activated the power of the "Wrathful People."

Under everyone's gaze, scales grew on Sig's body—they were sparse compared to a true Fish-Man, and his skin remained human flesh-colored.

A tickle spread from the sides of his neck to his collarbones, and then Sig felt that strange sensation again.

Even though he wasn't in water now, Sig could feel that his lungs and the location of his gills could breathe in the air.

Fisher Tiger walked over at this moment, patted Sig's shoulder, and asked, "Who are your parents?"

Clearly, he had the same train of thought as Jinbe!

"I don't know. I grew up in an orphanage. I fainted once, and when I woke up, I was already at an auction house in Sabaody Archipelago..." Sig told the truth.

Fisher Tiger's expression softened further.

Most of the Fish-Men and Mermaids present were also orphans, given that this was the Fish-Man District.

As for the small portion who were slaves rescued from Mary Geoise, they might still have parents, but they couldn't stay on Fish-Man Island now.

Although King Neptune had cordially invited them to stay and was prepared for a fight to the death, Fisher Tiger couldn't disregard the safety of his people.

As for the other followers, they were basically all from the Fish-Man District.

When Fisher Tiger was rescued before, members of the Dragon Palace Guard had appeared, but they weren't seen much, and Fisher Tiger didn't want them to go out to sea as pirates with him.

The discrimination against mixed-bloods and empathy for orphans somewhat offset each other at this moment.

The Fish-Men of the Fish-Man District undoubtedly hated humans the most, because a large portion of the Fish-Men and Mermaids captured as slaves were from the Fish-Man District.

Firstly, there were many who went to dangerous places secretly without parental supervision, and secondly, some bold slave-catching crews even dared to sneak into the Fish-Man District to snatch people!

Only after Fisher Tiger unified the Fish-Man District and became the boss here, organizing regular patrols, and after he left Fish-Man Island, the second-generation Jinbe continued this practice, did the situation improve significantly.

Therefore, the Fish-Man District was also a place where "humans were forbidden."

However, the incident of Fisher Tiger's death had not yet occurred, so their hatred for humans still had limits.

"I see... Perhaps he's the descendant of a Fish-Man and a human? The descendants of Mermaids and humans don't seem to have this situation." Fisher Tiger indeed had the same train of thought as Jinbe.

Just then, a large ship sailed over on what looked like a roller coaster track.

The Fish-Man District only had this one ship channel, and ships rarely came.

Seeing the ship, everyone stood up, and many Fish-Men who were waiting nearby gathered around.

"We're about to depart! Siegfried, is it? Since you're a fellow Fish-Man, you can come aboard with us!" Fisher Tiger looked at Sig.

"Okay... I mean, yes! Captain!" Sig deliberately puffed out his chest, but then he winced and pulled it back slightly due to his sore back.

"Hahaha." Fisher Tiger laughed and patted his shoulder with a relaxed hand.

Jinbe was already tall, but he only reached Fisher Tiger's chest. Fortunately, Fisher Tiger had long arms, so he didn't have to bend down to pat Sig's shoulder.

Of course, in terms of weight, Sig felt Jinbe could give him a run for his money.

The ship also arrived at this moment. The figure of the "helmsman" appeared on the deck. He was a rare male Mermaid, wearing a dark hat, with thick-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose. His arms were tattooed with a four-leaf clover pattern. Apart from his thick neck, his physique was very well-proportioned.

"Fisher Tiger, Jinbe, my treasure is in your hands now." The bespectacled uncle greeted Jinbe and Fisher Tiger familiarly, but he didn't seem to be joining the voyage.

"Thank you, Dan... It won't implicate you, will it?" Fisher Tiger said with some concern.

"Don't worry. Everyone who knows this ship was built by me is trustworthy," Dan said, bumping fists with Fisher Tiger, who had stepped forward.

He was a top shipwright and scholar on Fish-Man Island, but out at sea, Dan's brother was more famous—Tom, who built the "Oro Jackson" for the Pirate King Roger.

The "Oro Jackson" was made from an Adam Tree. The Sea Bream wasn't as luxurious, but it also used a few branches from an Eve Tree.

"Then I won't say too many thanks. Little ones! Get on board!" Fisher Tiger, who came from the Fish-Man District, called out in a very roguish manner.

Two to three hundred Fish-Men and Mermaids boarded the ship, with Fish-Men making up eighty percent. Among the Mermaids, nearly half were the rare male Mermaids.

As for the remaining female Mermaids, they were basically slaves rescued earlier.

Just then, a few little Fish-Man brats rushed over. The ringleader, a child wearing a white hat, pushed through the obstructions and rushed to the front: "Boss Fisher Tiger! We want to go out to sea too! I'm very strong, I can already throw a hundred-watt punch..."

Seeing this, Fisher Tiger patiently crouched down, felt the ringleader's head through his hat, and said, "Leave the matter of going out to sea to us adults. You have more important tasks. The future of Fish-Man Island rests on your shoulders!"

"Hody, don't be foolish. Keep training. When you're stronger, we'll come find you..." Arlong seemed to recognize the child.

"Arlong." Fisher Tiger glared at him.

If children from Fish-Man Island still needed to be pirates on the high seas in the future, it would be a truly depressing prospect.

"Alright, those World Government guys could come at any moment. Although His Majesty Neptune is holding them off, we should still talk as we go."

Dan still needed to briefly introduce the ship to Fisher Tiger, as it carried a group of Fish-Men who could dive. Compared to ships designed for humans, it naturally had many special features.

On the calm sea, after a sudden surge of waves for no reason, a large ship with a sea bream-shaped figurehead leaped out from the seabed. Accompanied by splashes of water, it landed on the surface of the sea.

"Today, we, the Sun Pirates, set sail! I, Fisher Tiger, as captain, declare three ship rules: First, no matter when, where, or under what circumstances, whether Fish-Man or other races, we will never kill. This is our final bottom line; Second, we take it as our duty to rescue our people and liberate slaves, and we will never betray our people or our companions; Third... let's get this tattooed on each of our companions!"