Lucas

Arlong returned to the unfinished Arlong Park, cursing and swearing, declaring that he would definitely teach that bitch Triton a lesson next time!

Hachi by with an embarrassed smile. He had heard these words countless times, but why didn't Brother Arlong say them to their faces?

However, upon entering the barely completed hall, Arlong paused, his pupils contracting slightly in tension, then he realized something, and a slight twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth...

When he Oldest One saw someone, he thought it was an enemy, but he quickly recognized them.

"Isn't this our Fish-Man Race hero, Siegfried?" Arlong said with great emotion.

On the throne in the very center, a person was already seated.

Sig could naturally sense that Arlong's tone was almost entirely sarcastic, and he even specifically called Sig by his full name.

The other part was the joy of seeing old comrades-in-arms... and a slighter sense of anticipation.

"Little Fei?" Hachi's surprise was genuine.

Arlong had complicated feelings towards Sig. Back when they were in the Sun Pirates, Arlong and Sig had a deep entanglement.

At first, Arlong disliked this "Half Fish-Man," but he gradually grew closer to him, although his way of showing closeness was usually through arguing, or even fighting...

But in the final battle where Fisher Tiger died, it was Arlong saved Sig, preventing him from being Impel Down with him.

Furthermore, Arlong later heard that Sig had also left the Sun Pirates, refused to become a member of the Shichibukai, and went back to sea as a pirate, which made Arlong realize that he had not misjudged him.

But...

After that, Sig's series of explosive news left Arlong in a very complicated situation.

On one hand, Sig has risen to fame on the high seas, and his bounty is now higher than that of the entire Sun Pirates combined, or even all the current Fish-Man pirates combined. Even the World Government of humanity has to frown upon hearing the name Siegfried, and he has already gained countless Fish-Man Race fans...

On the other hand, what troubled or displeased Arlong was that Sig had never revived the Fish-Man Race and was still operating under the name of a human pirate crew!

Furthermore, after realizing what had happened, Arlong's dissatisfaction with Sig visibly intensified—"I was wondering why I didn't notice Triton approaching? It must have been you..."

"I dare not accept such praise. I think you, Arlong, are the true hero of the Fish-Man Race. The World Government is still after me, but you Arlong, reign supreme in the East Blue, and even the World Government dares not interfere."

So what if he's being sarcastic? Does Sig think he's afraid of Arlong?

Both of them knew in each other's hearts that there was only one "great hero of the Fish-Man Race," and when this title was used on anyone other than Fisher Tiger, it was always an insult.

"World Government? Heh, it seems you don't understand humanity at all," Arlong scoffed.

Arlong firmly believes that he exploited human weaknesses and collaborated with that Captain Rat to create the Arlong Pirates' empire in the East Blue...

"You're the one who doesn't understand humanity, aren't you? Do you really think the World Government knows nothing? You think you can accomplish something this big by bribing a mere branch of the Navy?" Sig retorted sarcastically.

Arlong was taken aback upon hearing this...

"In recent years, the World Government has gradually turned its attention to the Revolutionary Army. That's why, after Fisher Tiger's death, they began to try to repair relations with the Fish-Man Race, which is why they summoned Jinbe to be Shichibukai! As for you... a remnant of the Sun Pirates, in order to appease you, they are indirectly appeasing Jinbe as well. Sacrificing some lower-level humans is something they are happy to see, especially since even if they cause a huge mess, a branch colonel will still take the blame."

Sig didn't believe that a senior officer at a division level could accomplish such a big thing without anyone noticing.

If he succeeds, it must be because someone in the higher echelons of the World Government tacitly approves of it.

While the navy's lower ranks are already incompetent enough, the commotion Arlong caused in the East China Sea was considerable. This isn't some difficult-to-access Grand Line; do they really think everyone is blind and deaf?

"You mean... but..." Upon hearing this, Arlong's expression changed several times, and then his voice became a little hoarse.

Exploiting humans was originally a very satisfying thing for Arlong, even though he himself didn't know what the use of "raising" so much money was before "Little Lucas wanted the Golden Chariot," but... as long as it felt good, that was all that mattered.

But if the World Government tacitly approves of all of this, then Arlong will feel as uncomfortable as if he'd eaten shit!

"I've told you before, everything the World Government does to our fellow citizens isn't because they are 'Fish-Man' or 'Mermaid'... The same goes for the World Government to humans. Even if you go even further, even if you do the same things the Celestial Dragons of Mary Geoise do to our fellow citizens, the World Government won't care, just as they protect the Celestial Dragons' enslavement of slaves," Sig emphasized to Arlong.

While he was still focused on "race," the World Government was already at a much higher level.

"In Mary Geoise, the majority of slaves are also human," Sig added, emphasizing, "And you've noticed it yourself, haven't you? You... are weaker now."

Although humans are the most common species, they also have the largest population, so naturally, humans are the most numerous slaves!

As expected, Arlong's strength regressed rather than improved over the past four or five years.

The hatred stemming from Fisher Tiger's death, Fisher Tiger teachings, and his actions...

Arlong usually uses the idea that "oppressing humans is so satisfying" to numb himself, but in reality, the various ideological conflicts are almost exhausting his will, and his Haki is constantly declining.

After Sig finished speaking, he left the hall. Arlong stood there, seemingly lost in thought, while Hachi, oblivious to Sig's words, kept pestering Sig to ask if he wanted to eat the long-awaited takoyaki.

"Takoyaki... I'll have to do that! I'll go treat someone to some Korean stew first," Sig said.

Little Lucas has already been taught a lesson by his older sister Nami, but it's not over yet.

When Sig found Little Lucas, he was covered in bumps and bruises, clinging to the ground with both hands, being dragged away by Nami with his feet, shouting, "I won't do it again!"

Although he is only three and a half years old and his body is only at the level of an average five or six-year-old child, much shorter than Nami is eleven, if Little Lucas were to display his Beyonder Ability, Nami, who has only rudimentary training in Fish-Man Karate, would definitely not be his match.

But...

Little Lucas. hasn't stooped so low as to dare to fight his sister.

Nami suddenly felt the sunlight dim and realized there were tall people behind her. She immediately turned her head and frowned, thinking it was one of the Fish-Man from the Arlong Pirates protecting Lucas —only they were that tall.

But then, Nami lit up with surprise. "Uncle Sig!"

"Sig?" Lucas was taken aback, instinctively repeating the familiar name, before receiving another blow to the head.