Encouragement

"Yeah! Don't worry! Even if I can't go home... the Sea Bass is my home! I'm a Sailor on this ship, aren't I?"

After Sig's encouragement, Triton's mood brightened a little. Seeing that dawn was almost upon them, she swished her tail and returned to the cabin...

Having "healed" another Mermaid, Sig was in high spirits. He had helped someone, and at the same time, taken another step forward in his role as a "Telepathist."

Comforting companions who were homesick, or had even lost the chance to return home, wasn't something you could do just by being eloquent. Throughout the conversation, Sig used his "Telepathist" ability to keep track of their changing emotions. Only by "adapting to each situation" could he be a good "big brother (or little brother) who understood their hearts."

After Triton went back, footsteps came from behind him. Sig wasn't surprised; he'd already noticed that Fisher Tiger had been watching him from the side.

"Little Fei, we owe you a lot for everything you've done lately." Fisher Tiger had long noticed all that Sig had done.

Fisher Tiger had also come from Fish-Man District. If Arlong was in a bad mood, Tiger could just beat him up. But when it came to comforting the other comrades they'd rescued, Tiger was too awkward with words to soothe their wounded hearts.

"It's nothing. I can understand how they feel," Sig said with a sigh.

Fisher Tiger's expression shifted slightly. He thought of how he'd once been a slave, and remembered those dark days.

"But... when you comfort our comrades, it seems like you choose who to approach?" Fisher Tiger asked cautiously, taking care to keep his tone from sounding accusatory.

Sig keenly sensed Fisher Tiger's emotions, but there was nothing he couldn't say. "It's because the rudimentary Observation Haki I've awakened lets me tell that everyone's emotions are different. Some people really would rather be left alone."

"I-I see." Fisher Tiger looked a little strange. Oh, I thought you only chose female Mermaids to comfort...

Suddenly, Fisher Tiger's expression changed, and he gave Sig a peculiar look.

Sig realized that Fisher Tiger had finally understood something: his emotions could be sensed by Sig, too!

"How's your Devil Fruit ability coming along?" Fisher Tiger asked, changing the subject.

But this time, Sig didn't follow his lead. Instead, he asked directly, "Boss Tiger, actually... you really dislike humans, don't you?"

"You... what did you notice?" Fisher Tiger instinctively wanted to deny it, but when he thought about Sig's ability, he finally sighed.

"Yeah, Boss Tiger, you've always seemed to feel... um..." Sig hinted.

Fisher Tiger apologized. "No, it's not you I have a problem with..."

"So the only thing I could think of was 'humans.'" Sig acted as if he didn't mind.

Fisher Tiger's expression changed. After hesitating for a long time, he admitted, "I'm sorry..."

"No, Boss Tiger doesn't need to apologize to me, no matter what. Back in Mary Geoise..." Sig trailed off, momentarily distracted, but quickly came to his senses and stopped himself.

Back in Mary Geoise, Sig hadn't been sure what year it was. During those early days when there seemed to be no hope, and later, when he woke up on the operating table and finally understood what had happened, he'd kept hoping that Fisher Tiger or the Revolutionary Army would show up soon.

But saying that would've been too strange. How could Sig have known Fisher Tiger would rescue slaves?

Fisher Tiger was about to say something, but just then, footsteps came from the hatch, and he hurriedly fell silent.

The fact that he hated humans...

Although most of the crew felt the same way, if they learned about Fisher Tiger's feelings and experiences, they'd stray even further from the right path. That was something Fisher Tiger didn't want to see.

Fisher Tiger gestured to Sig with his eyes, asking him not to tell anyone. Sig understood and gave an almost imperceptible nod—a man's silent understanding.

"Sig, how long until we reach the next island?" Arlong asked casually when he came up and saw Sig.

"Three to five days... You've asked me that so many times!" Sig replied impatiently.

Without a reliable chart, they could only make a rough estimate of how long the trip would take. Sig couldn't say for sure, either.

"Should've saved some more..." Arlong said, looking at Sig. Then he abruptly cut himself off, gave a snort, and walked away.

Arlong had meant rum!

Two days earlier, the Sun Pirates had defeated a group of pirates who were pillaging a merchant fleet.

Though they'd defeated their opponents, several of the merchant ships had sunk, leaving them seriously short on supplies. Out of generosity, Boss Tiger had given the merchants a good portion of their own provisions.

The Fish-Men had no shortage of food in the sea, but Arlong was having a hard time without alcohol.

But Arlong didn't dare say much. Otherwise, that rascal Sig would definitely go tattle on him to Boss Tiger!

Arlong had learned his lesson...

Still, quite a few people were looking forward to the next island, because everyone would be able to go ashore and relax!

On ordinary islands, the Fish-Men couldn't roam around openly. When Hachi went to a tavern, for instance, he had to wear a cloak.

But the next island they'd reach was the famed "Shipbuilding Island" on the first half of the Grand Line: Water Seven!

At this point, no single company had come to dominate Water Seven the way Galley-La Company would, but the island was already a shipwrights' haven, full of shipyards.

Water Seven itself wasn't very large. But unlike an ordinary island, nearly the entire place had been modified and built up by human hands, making astonishingly efficient use of its space!

It was unlike Machu Picchu Island, with just one town and plenty of forest beyond it.

At its center, Water Seven looked like a gigantic "circular fortress," with tiers of staggered levels. Thanks to the unusual currents nearby, it also acted as a colossal water pump. Seawater was constantly drawn to the top of the fortress, then flowed down through seven waterways, which was why the island was also known as the Island of Seven Waters.

Besides the seven main waterways that ran through every level, each level of the circular fortress had its own network of waterways. Even the areas outside the fortress were like a water city, while the inside was mostly taken up by shipyards, all connected by waterways.

With its thriving shipbuilding industry, Water Seven was naturally a jewel of the sea and a darling of the Great Pirate Era.

Its openness meant that members of all kinds of races could be found on Water Seven, so the presence of Fish-Men wasn't unusual.

Plenty of pirates visited the island, too. As long as they weren't there to cause trouble or pillage, Water Seven didn't make a fuss about it. After all, pirates were an important part of its clientele.

In fact, thanks to Water Seven's unique environment, it was considered the Fish-Men's favorite island outside Fish-Man Island. Quite a few Fish-Men lived there, too.

Tom, the world's greatest shipwright who built a ship for Roger, was a Fish-Man and currently lived in Water Seven. The Sea Bass had been built by his younger brother, Dan, a Fish-Man shipwright from Fish-Man Island. Many modifications that Dan thought only Tom could accomplish had been left unfinished, awaiting improvements.

The Sun Pirates had come straight here by following an Eternal Pose. Eternal Poses for well-known islands like this were actually easier to find.

But something puzzled Sig. Had the Sun Pirates ever visited Water Seven in the original story? Franky didn't seem to know Jinbe later on.

And when it came to the reason for this trip to Water Seven, Sig instinctively sensed that Boss Tiger and Boss Jinbe hadn't told him the real reason...