"Ha ha..."
As Genzo poured out his grief, laughter suddenly rang out in the distance. He looked up and saw Arlong.
Arlong swaggered toward them with his men, without a trace of fear or unease on his face. He looked as though he were meeting an old friend.
Genzo rubbed his eyes hard. He could hardly believe what he was seeing.
Everything he thought he knew about Pirates and the Navy had been turned upside down.
Ye Chen, the man the Navy should have feared most, had somehow "called" them here. Whatever else had happened, Colonel Nezumi had at least fought Arlong.
Yet Arlong, the pirate who should have been arrested, was strolling straight toward Vice Admiral Bastille. None of the Marines showed any sign of stopping him.
"What is going on?"
Genzo stared, dumbfounded.
"Arlong?"
Bastille gave a cold snort. "I hear you've been causing quite a disturbance here. You'd better rein yourself in."
"That depends on my mood. I only came over to make sure you weren't here to arrest me."
A smug look spread across Arlong's face as he stared at Bastille, almost daring him to act. "If you lay a hand on me, I don't think Boss Jinbe will be pleased. Ha ha ha!"
The nerve of him. It was a blatant challenge.
But Bastille did not dare attack. Arlong was one of Jinbe's men, and Jinbe had only just joined the Shichibukai. Relations between the World Government and Fish-Man Island had eased for the moment, and Bastille could not risk upsetting that balance.
"Did you kill Colonel Nezumi?" Bastille demanded angrily.
"That guy? Who knew he was so weak? He died after just a few blows. Don't worry, I'll be more careful next time."
Despite his words, Arlong showed no remorse. His tone was brazen,