Zoro didn't refuse Daddy's order. He immediately leaped into the sea, grabbed the golden nose ring of the Cow Sea Beast, and got to work. He actually managed to drag the enormous sea beast back to shore all by himself, showing just how terrifying his strength was.
Gin the Man-Demon and the others quickly brought out thick ropes, tied them to the nose ring, and secured the unconscious Cow Sea Beast beside the harbor, in case it woke up and tried to escape underwater!
"I thought we'd get to enjoy a feast of sea beast meat!"
Sonic El Drago smacked his lips and said eagerly. His booming voice made even the unconscious sea beast, Momoo, twitch its eyelids, as if it had heard something terrifying!
"Daddy! Another group of Fish-Men is coming back!!"
Nami called out. She was very concerned now about whether they could wipe out all the Fish-Men. Otherwise, even the few dozen who remained would be enough to destroy Cocoyasi Village after the Big Daddy Pirates left.
"Then let them come up!"
Daddy and the others sat inside the harbor, casually eating oranges. Nojiko had even peeled one and handed it to Daddy, her savior.
Nami had taken down the Big Daddy Pirates' flag, afraid it would scare the Fish-Men away.
"Captain! Leave these Fish-Men to us! We'll make sure not a single one gets away!"
Gin the Man-Demon and the others immediately volunteered to fight. He and Iron Wall Pearl were both newcomers and badly needed a battle to prove they truly belonged to the Big Daddy Pirates!
"I'll cover the rear!"
Kuro of a Hundred Plans said coolly. If Daddy did everything himself, what use would the rest of the crew be?
"If even one Fish-Man escapes, I'll take one of your fingers! Don't disappoint me!"
Daddy nodded slightly, accepting their request. Then he swallowed the orange Nojiko had handed him and glanced at Nami's sister.
Their eyes met by chance, and Nojiko shyly moved away.
The other crewmates eagerly rushed out, and soon the sounds of fighting rang out, followed by the sounds of them cleaning up.
They repeated the process two or three times before finally killing all the Fish-Men. Even Hatchan, the badly wounded octopus, was beaten to death by the villagers with clubs.
Daddy didn't pay too much attention to it!
So what if Hatchan knew Rayleigh?
It was no use!
Besides, he'd spent eight years with the Arlong Pirates, enjoying the good life in Cocoyasi Village. He'd been a high-ranking officer, living in luxury. Even if he hadn't killed many humans himself, he'd still lived comfortably off their blood and suffering. If he was dead, then he was dead!
In that kind of environment, even if he was kindhearted, his hands were still stained with blood.
Oda might have wanted to whitewash him, but Daddy hadn't given him the chance!
Besides, Daddy didn't believe Rayleigh would help some other rookie pirate. Not every pirate wore Roger's straw hat and had earned Red-Haired Shanks's praise and encouragement.
He hadn't stepped in when Ace was executed, so there was no point expecting him to do anything for Hatchan!
Some might ask whether Rayleigh even knew Ace's identity.
But Daddy would say that when Ace's execution was broadcast to the world, Sengoku had already announced his identity over the Den Den Mushi transmission. There must have been screens showing the broadcast in Sabaody, where many Supernovas were watching. How could Rayleigh have missed it?
Besides, the Sabaody Archipelago was very close to Marine Headquarters. Kizaru had traveled from Marine Headquarters to Sabaody, and even after the Straw Hat Pirates attacked a Celestial Dragon, they hadn't had time to escape the archipelago. That showed how close it was.
After Ace's identity was revealed, the Paramount War continued for a long time. During the battle, the prisoners from Impel Down, located in the Calm Belt, arrived. Later, Red-Haired Shanks also made it to the battlefield from the New World.
Ace was already dead by then, but at least Shanks had shown up.
Yet Dark King Rayleigh, who was much closer, never appeared.
The Supernova Trafalgar Law had also watched most of the broadcast in the Sabaody Archipelago. Only at the end did he decide to join the fray, and he went on to rescue Straw Hat Luffy in his submarine.
So don't expect Rayleigh to teach you Haki just because Hatchan knows him a little. You'd have to be out of your mind to think that!
He hadn't even taught Hatchan any Haki, and you think you can learn it through Hatchan's slight connection to him? Dream on!
···
Today's battle to wipe out the Fish-Men had taken a little time, but they hadn't faced any real danger!
Daddy felt there really weren't any pirate crews left in the East Blue who could challenge him. He began thinking about entering the Grand Line as soon as possible!
Back in the East Blue, the only ones who could probably pose a challenge were Smoker in Loguetown and Zoro's master, Koushiro.
Koushiro's strength probably couldn't match Shimotsuki Ushimaru's, but he should be a swordsman of the Sword Master level. Daddy didn't know whether he'd reached the Great Swordsman level.
As for the vacationing Iron Fist Garp and the elusive Revolutionary Army Leader Dragon, Daddy didn't even want to see them!
They weren't opponents. They were walking buffets!
At the grand banquet in Cocoyasi Village,
Daddy and Kuro seemed a little out of place, while even Zoro and El Drago had settled in with the others.
If they hadn't been throwing Nami a farewell party so she could properly say goodbye to her hometown, Daddy might have already set sail for the Grand Line after defeating the Arlong Pirates.
After all, once a bounty reached a certain level, staying in the four seas became dangerous. It could easily draw the attention of the Marines and bring down a Marine Headquarters manhunt. Entering the Grand Line was inevitable.
"After all this, we look less like pirates and more like a bunch of heroes! How ridiculous!"
Kuro of a Hundred Plans sat beside Daddy with his hands clasped beneath his chin. The light from the bonfire reflected off his glasses. He didn't much like drinking, because it interfered with his thinking.
"What's a bandit to one man is a hero to another!
There's no right or wrong in this world, only different sides!
As long as we're strong enough, we can redefine words like 'justice,' 'hero,' and 'pirate'!"
Daddy smiled faintly. The World Government was the biggest pirate crew of all. They collected the Heavenly Tribute from Affiliated Nations across the world, while the Four Emperors collected protection money from their territories. What was the difference?
They were simply the most powerful force, so they could define any word they wanted!
Even pirate crews fulfilled their duty to protect their own territories. Their territories were small, so they could protect them in time.
But the World Government's territory was too vast, and there was too much corruption. It couldn't possibly protect all those seas.
Even in a peaceful sea like the East Blue, there were pests like Captain Nezumi and Captain Morgan. The other three seas were bound to be worse.
"After taking down the Arlong Pirates, we'll draw the Marines' attention. We need a faster ship and a stronger crew!
You'll have to find a professional doctor and a cook, two essential crewmates for any voyage. Otherwise, out on the open sea, illness, infection, or a lack of essential nutrients could wipe out the entire crew!"
Kuro said coolly. In his eyes, the Dreadnaught Sabre was still slower than a standard Marine warship, and their crew was badly understaffed. They were all a bunch of hotheads who only knew how to fight!
"I know!"
Daddy looked toward Baratie and Loguetown. Both places had good cooks. As for a doctor, they might have to look for one in the Grand Line.
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Chapter source: The Great Wildfire, Pirates: I Open Susanoo with the Barrier-Barrier Fruit
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