Ch. 121A Clean Cut
Key Plot Points
- Bullet sees Hody Jones and the fish-men from the Fish-Man District gathering in the distance.
- He reveals his real intention: recruit these fish-men into the “Demon God Pirates” as a deep-sea fish-man legion under Jinbe.
- Bullet lands before the fish-men; Jinbe urges him not to intervene, explaining internal fish-man hatred toward humans and the legacy of Fisher Tiger and Queen Otohime.
- Bullet proposes a brutal solution: “cut away the tumor” — kill or remove all fish-men who spread racial hatred.
- At Ryugu Palace, Shirahoshi panics as unknown human pirates fly overhead.
- Crocodile kills them all with a massive sandstorm; half a skull lands on Neptune in a graphic moment.
- Bullet’s crew members leap down and attack the surrounding fish-men, but Bullet yells at them to go easy because these fish-men are meant to be future crewmates.
- Hody’s officers are confused why the supposed culprits are helping Neptune.
- Hody Jones chews steroid-like pills, his hair turning white, and glares at Jinbe as a traitor who has submitted to humans.
Character Developments
- Bullet: Shows both ruthlessness and strategic ambition; respects strong wills like Fisher Tiger’s but believes in violently eliminating opposition.
- Jinbe: Torn between loyalty to Bullet and his desire to protect fish-man/human relations; tries to prevent racial conflict.
- Crocodile & crew: Display extreme brutality and eagerness to kill, contrasting with ordinary pirates.
- Hody Jones: Consumes drugs, becoming increasingly unstable; his hatred focuses on Jinbe as a betrayer of fish-men.
- Shirahoshi: Frightened and dependent on Neptune.
Significant Themes
- Racial hatred and the possibility of reconciliation
- Violence as a “clean cut” solution versus diplomacy
- The legacy of Fisher Tiger and Otohime
- Loyalty to one’s captain versus loyalty to one’s race
- The brutal pragmatism of pirate crews
Character Interactions
- Bullet & Jinbe: Central dispute over whether to use force or handle the fish-men conflict internally.
- Bullet & his crew: He commands them to restrain their slaughter, showing a twisted sense of care for future subordinates.
- Crocodile & the attackers: One-sided massacre of human pirates.
- Hody Jones & Jinbe: Hody watches Jinbe with hatred, accusing him of betraying their race.