Changes in the Sun Pirates

With money clearing the way, manpower and materials were easily arranged. Before long, a courtyard backed by green mountains and facing the sea rose on the eastern side of the island.

Far from the bustle of Shimotsuki Village, it was secluded and peaceful. The courtyard's swimming pool delighted Blue Moon even more.

On the day construction was completed, Van invited Kuina and Zoro over, and they held a lively banquet.

After that, life settled into a routine. Baby-5, Law, and the others stayed at the dojo long-term, while Qiangbalu guarded the ship at the docks.

They rarely returned, but Van visited them every few days and took the opportunity to seek Koshiro's guidance on Haki training.

Koshiro was modest at first and tried to refuse, saying he did not know how, but in the end, he could not withstand Van's relentless pestering.

The two both gained something from their sparring, and over time, they became friends.

That morning, Van left as usual, intending to head to the dojo to spar with Koshiro.

A News Coo suddenly cut across the sky. After circling a few times, it swooped down and landed on the courtyard's bamboo fence.

As usual, it pulled a newspaper from the bag around its chest and tilted its head at Van.

"Every time, it's you. Don't you ever take a day off all year?"

Van smiled and flicked out a coin, which landed precisely in the News Coo's money pouch.

"Chirp chirp!"

The News Coo released the newspaper from its beak, cried out a few times, then flapped its wings and soared into the sky.

The newspaper fell beside the pool. Before Van could say anything, Blue Moon swam over to retrieve it.

But after just one glance at the paper, her body stiffened, then began to tremble faintly.

"What's wrong?" Van walked over and asked.

"Lord Van..." Blue Moon sobbed. "Something happened to the Sun Pirates."

So this day had finally come?

Van took the newspaper and read it carefully.

Just as in the original story, when Fisher Tiger escorted Koala home, the island's residents betrayed him. He was gravely wounded in a Marine ambush and left at death's door.

He could have survived, but he refused a human blood transfusion and ultimately died.

Arlong was consumed by rage. He returned to the island alone to seek revenge, only to run into the monster vice admiral Borsalino, who had arrived to support his subordinates.

He was captured by the Marines, becoming the only Sun Pirates member taken prisoner during the incident.

During interrogation, he falsely claimed that humans had refused to donate blood to Tiger, and that was how the newspaper reported it as well.

"What should we do?" Blue Moon asked through tear-filled eyes. "Will my father be in danger?"

"It's fine." Van comforted her. "Didn't the newspaper say so? Only a guy named Arlong was captured by the Marines. That means everyone else is safe."

The reason he had not warned Blue Moon beforehand that something would happen to the Sun Pirates was because the other members would be fine. Only Tiger and Arlong would suffer—one dead, one imprisoned.

"But the Marines are still hunting them." Blue Moon remained uneasy. "My father could still be in danger."

"There's no use worrying. You should trust them. Trust Jinbe to protect his companions."

Van did not explain much, because Jinbe would soon receive an invitation from the World Government, and the Marines would suspend their pursuit of the Sun Pirates.

Once Jinbe accepted the position of Shichibukai, not only would Arlong be released, but the merfolk and fish-men who had once been slaves would also receive pardons.

"Lord Van, I want to go back and take a look."

They had made an agreement about her training before, and Blue Moon had long prepared herself mentally to leave.

She simply cherished her current life. Since Van had not brought it up, she had never asked.

Now that something so serious had happened, Fish-Man Island would certainly be affected. She knew she could not remain selfish any longer.

"All right! Judging by the time, the people I'm waiting for should have arrived in the East Blue."

"I'll go to the dojo and find Koshiro now. I'll ask him to help make contact. If everything goes smoothly, you can leave today."

Van reached out and wiped the tears from Blue Moon's face, then left the courtyard and headed toward Shimotsuki Village.

Ten minutes later, he entered the dojo and found Koshiro instructing his students.

Koshiro assumed Van had come to spar again and said with a light laugh, "Go wait in the backyard first. I'll be there shortly."

"Not today. I have something important I need your help with."

Van briefly explained the situation, then headed toward the backyard.

Seeing his grave expression, Koshiro lost the mood to continue teaching. After assigning several disciples to take over, he followed after him.

"Is something wrong?"

Koshiro was curious. Before even entering the reception room, he could not help asking.

Van stopped and said seriously, "I know Ginny's whereabouts. I want you to contact Kuma and have him come here immediately."

Upon hearing those two names, Koshiro's expression changed in a rare display of emotion. Even the way he looked at Van became different.

If they had not gotten along fairly well over the past two months, he might have attacked immediately, with everything he had.

"How do you know those two people?"

Koshiro's tone was low, and his right hand was already resting on his sword hilt, as though he would attack at the slightest disagreement.

"I have my own intelligence sources, but don't worry. I bear no ill will toward the Revolutionary Army."

"Dragon brought the core members to the East Blue to deal with the long-vacant position of Eastern Army commander after Ginny's disappearance, right?"

"They should come to Shimotsuki Village before leaving the East Blue, so if I wait a while, I can still meet them."

Van first made his position clear, then directly exposed the Revolutionary Army's itinerary.

"You actually know so much important information? Also, what do you need Kuma for? Why must he come immediately?"

Koshiro believed Van, because he had received a call from Dragon just a few days ago. Dragon really was coming to Shimotsuki Village.

"Ginny will die soon. Only Kuma might be able to save her, and I also need Kuma to do me a small favor."

Van paused before continuing, "As for the details, we'll discuss them after you bring Kuma here."

"Ginny is going to die?"

Koshiro hesitated for only a few seconds before turning toward his room.

To avoid suspicion, Van did not follow him and waited patiently outside the reception room.

Two minutes later, Koshiro came out and said, "Kuma has already set off. He'll be here soon."

"Good!" Van nodded.

Kuma was a Paramecia-type Paw-Paw Fruit user, but his Repel ability was not teleportation. He used bubbles to envelop targets and send them flying at extreme speed.

According to Sentomaru in the original story, those repelled by Kuma would fly for three days and three nights before landing at their designated destination. That should have referred to the maximum travel time.

As long as Kuma acted, he could send any target to any place he had visited within three days.

Random repelling should be possible too, but the landing point could not be determined, making it highly dangerous.

In the reception room, Koshiro poured Van a cup of tea and asked, "What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Do a good deed!"

Van smiled and said nothing more.

Seeing him play coy, Koshiro did not press further. They simply drank tea and waited in silence.

About half an hour later, both men rose at the same time and walked to the door.

A bubble streaked across the sky like a meteor, swiftly flying toward the dojo.

It was completely invisible to the naked eye; only Observation Haki could catch the faintest trace of its presence.

Pop!

The bubble landed steadily on the ground. After it burst, it revealed a burly figure—Kuma.