The Third Member

Fisher Tiger stared at the two boys before him in disbelief.

The inhuman abuse he had suffered over this year of slavery had long since filled him with endless wariness toward humans, but at this moment, thinking that he might gain his freedom, he still could not stop himself from asking.

"Why... As humans, why would you save me, a fish-man...?"

"Does that need a reason...? Isn't it only natural...?"

Ye Mu asked in return, leaving Tiger stunned instead.

At this point, Ye Mu suddenly turned his head and looked at Gasparde in the distance, who did not dare move at all and was only staring over here, then continued speaking.

"Everyone in this world may have their own understanding of justice and evil, whether they're marines, pirates, humans, fish-men, or other races. But only the Celestial Dragons and the World Government have nothing to do with justice. Their evil is beyond question. And it just so happens that our fledgling Sky Pirates need a way to make our name known to the world, so I chose to come here and save you..."

"And besides, this is the guidance of fate... If we want to become a powerful pirate crew, outstanding companions are indispensable... On a sea this vast, it wouldn't be strange to encounter anything, but of all people, on our very first voyage, we met you, Fisher Tiger..."

"Now, I've already done what I needed to do. Now it's your turn, Fisher Tiger. Fate brought me before you. Are you willing to seize it... and become a member of our Sky Pirates, become my companion and friend?"

"Companion... friend..."

Tiger was already almost thirty years old, and on Fish-Man Island, he had become a leader admired by all fish-men.

Yet at this moment, before this boy Ye Mu, he suddenly felt a sense of his own smallness.

But in the end, he was not a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy. It was impossible for him to stake his future on one or two youthful, reckless boasts.

Should I agree...?

No. Humans can't be trusted...

But...

Tiger looked at himself and thought of everything he had experienced in the past.

Even after being abused like that, in Tiger's heart, there was still only endless fear toward the Celestial Dragons. The darkness hidden in Mary Geoise was far too terrifying. It had taken away all the strength in his heart.

But now, looking at the corpse of the dead Celestial Dragon not far away...

He suddenly thought of something.

If it were only for himself, perhaps he still would not agree, but for the sake of those fellow countrymen, he decided to gamble.

At this moment, he was suddenly no longer lost. His entire person seemed to change in an instant, transforming from a slave of the Celestial Dragons back into the most renowned explorer and traveler of Fish-Man Island, the man once respected by everyone.

"I want to go to Mary Geoise and rescue my fellow fish-men who, like me, have been made slaves by the Celestial Dragons..."

After Tiger finished speaking, his gaze carried scrutiny as he looked at Ye Mu.

After hearing this, Ye Mu's expression also became serious.

"Is that your dream? No problem. As the captain, helping companions and friends achieve what they want in their hearts—isn't that only natural...? Then..."

As Ye Mu spoke, he stretched out his right hand and placed it in front of Tiger.

At this moment, though the two of them had clearly only just met, Tiger suddenly felt that perhaps this boy before him really could realize his dream, rescue those fellow countrymen of his, and change the world.

So he did not hesitate in the slightest either and stretched out his left hand. Their hands clasped tightly together.

"Hahaha... Welcome, Tiger, as the third member of our Sky Pirates... From now on, we're companions and friends..."

A smile finally appeared on Tiger's face as well. This was the first sincere joy he had felt since he had been captured by humans and sold to the Celestial Dragons as a slave.

"All right, we can chat later. Next, I'll help you open this chain..."

As Ye Mu spoke, he stretched out his broad palm and gripped the locking point of the collar.

Since there was no way to destroy it from the inside with Armament Haki, then he could only destroy it directly from the outside.

Ye Mu brought both hands together, gripping the lock tightly in his palms, then said.

"It'll be a little hot. Bear with it..."

With that, as the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit erupted in Ye Mu's palm, the temperature in his hand instantly rose from zero degrees to nearly two thousand degrees.

This temperature was enough to melt everything.

And the instant the temperature erupted, a rapid beeping suddenly rang out.

This was the warning sound that the collar was about to explode. Tiger's face changed drastically. He had once seen slaves die under collar explosions, and their tragic appearances.

But at this moment, looking at the boy before him, who still remained perfectly calm, he chose to believe.

Thus, at the very moment the ticking ended, the sound of an explosion thundered out.

But the place where it exploded was not around Tiger's neck, but in the sky above both their heads.

Along with the enormous explosion came terrifying flames. The dazzling light reflected in the eyes of everyone present.

"It really is terrifying. Not only is the explosive power this strong, they actually added something to help it burn too..."

Ye Mu sighed as he looked at the flames in the sky.

Tiger, meanwhile, twisted his neck in disbelief, feeling the lightness around it. He had finally regained his freedom.

At this moment, he could not help but burst into tears.

That slave life he had not dared recall was finally over.

"Waaaah..."

Tears poured from his eyes like rain...

Ye Mu had never wanted to play the villain and interrupt Tiger's emotional release, but he really did not have much time.

Because Enel was looking into the distance when he suddenly spoke.

"Someone's coming. Fast. It should be that Glint-Glint Fruit user you mentioned..."

Tiger instantly stopped crying and raised his head, because he knew exactly who Enel was talking about.

Ye Mu handed the chains binding the four CP9 members to Tiger, then pointed into the distance.

"I'll leave these to you. Our ship is that way. Remember, don't let these four die. They're still useful."

Tiger froze.

"Captain, you're not leaving...?"

"No rush. I still want to see the top-tier power of this world for myself..."

As he spoke, he looked at the worry in Tiger's eyes and said, "Relax. Even if we can't beat him, he won't be able to keep the two of us here."

"Mm. Then, Captain, we'll see you in a bit."

Tiger nodded. Since the captain had said as much, he naturally did not waste any time. Grabbing the chains, he, now free once more, dragged the four CP9 members with him and leapt into the sea.

"A dragon returning to the ocean, huh..."

Sensing Tiger's incredible swimming speed beneath the surface, Ye Mu finally felt at ease.

Then he walked over to Gasparde.

That gave Gasparde quite a fright.

"Don't be afraid. Do you have your own Transponder Snail? Hand it over."

Without the slightest hesitation, Gasparde took a Transponder Snail from his coat, one that looked about fifty percent like him. After Ye Mu took it, he tucked it into his clothes.

"Very good... You're a smart man. You should understand what I told you earlier... I'll contact you later. For now, to make sure you don't draw suspicion, let me give you a hand..."

Gasparde instantly understood what Ye Mu meant, because he saw Ye Mu raise a fist of iron as large as a clay pot.

Bang...

A tremendous force slammed into Gasparde's abdomen. Gasparde felt as if his intestines and stomach were about to be punched right out of him, and at the same time, terrifying Conqueror's Haki rushed straight into his brain.

This time, he could not hold on any longer. Bitter fluid spilled straight from his mouth, his eyes rolled back, and he passed out.

And just as this little performance began perfectly, its audience also descended from the sky with a streak of golden light, landing behind Ye Mu.