The Third Member

Fisher Tiger looked at the two youths before him with an incredulous expression.

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

"Why... Why would you, as humans, save me, a Fish-Man...?"

"Does that really need a reason...? Shouldn't it be the natural thing to do...?"

Ye Mu countered, leaving Tiger stunned.

As he said this, Ye Mu suddenly turned back to glance at Gasparde in the distance, who did not dare move and could only stare in their direction, before continuing.

"Perhaps everyone in this world has their own understanding of justice and evil, whether they're Marines, pirates, humans, Fish-Men, or members of another race. But the Celestial Dragons and the World Government alone have nothing to do with justice. Their evil is beyond question. As it happens, our fledgling Sky Pirate Crew needs a way to make a name for itself, so I chose to come here and save you..."

"Besides, this is the guidance of fate... If we want to become a powerful pirate crew, we'll need some outstanding companions... On this vast ocean, nothing is surprising, but the one thing we never expected was to encounter you, Fisher Tiger, on our first voyage..."

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

"Companion... friend..."

Tiger was nearly thirty years old and had become a leader revered by every Fish-Man on Fish-Man Island.

Yet at this moment, standing before Ye Mu, a young man, he suddenly felt his own insignificance.

But he was no longer a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old youth. He could not gamble his future on one or two impetuous declarations.

"Should I accept...?"

"No. Humans can never be trusted..."

"But..."

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

Even after suffering such terrible abuse, Tiger still felt nothing but endless fear toward the Celestial Dragons. The darkness hidden within Mary Geoise was simply too terrifying, and it had stripped away all the strength in his heart.

But now, as he looked at the dead Celestial Dragon's corpse in the distance...

He suddenly thought of something.

If he were alone, he might still refuse. But for the sake of his fellow Fish-Men, he decided to take a gamble.

At this moment, his hesitation suddenly vanished. His entire bearing seemed to change as well. He was no longer a Celestial Dragon's slave, but once again the most renowned explorer and traveler on Fish-Man Island, respected by everyone.

"I want to go to Mary Geoise and rescue my fellow Fish-Men who, like me, were enslaved by the Celestial Dragons..."

After Tiger finished speaking, he studied Ye Mu carefully.

Ye Mu's expression also became serious.

"Is that your dream? No problem. As captain, helping my companions and friends achieve what they desire isn't the natural thing to do...? Then..."

As Ye Mu spoke, he extended his right hand and held it out before Tiger.

At that moment, even though the two had only just met, Tiger suddenly felt that perhaps this young man before him really could fulfill his dream, rescue his fellow Fish-Men, and change the world.

Thus, he extended his left hand without the slightest hesitation. Their hands clasped tightly together.

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

A smile finally appeared on Tiger's face. Since he had been captured by humans, sold to the Celestial Dragons, and made a slave, this was the first time he had felt genuine joy.

"All right, we'll talk about the rest later. Next, I'll help you open this chain..."

As Ye Mu spoke, he extended his broad palm and reached for the lock on the collar.

Since he could not use Armament Haki to destroy it from the inside, he could only destroy it directly from the outside.

Ye Mu clasped both hands together, gripping the lock tightly in his palms, then spoke.

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

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

That temperature was enough to melt anything.

Just as the heat erupted, the rapid sound of beeping suddenly rang out.

It was the warning that the collar was about to explode. Tiger's expression changed drastically. He had once seen slaves die when their collars exploded, and remembered their horrific state.

But at this moment, as he looked at the young man before him, who remained completely unfazed, he chose to believe him.

Then, the instant the beeping stopped, an explosion rang out with a thunderous boom.

But the explosion did not occur around Tiger's neck. Instead, it detonated in the sky above their heads.

The enormous blast was accompanied by terrifying flames, and dazzling light illuminated the eyes of everyone present.

"Now that's frightening. Not only is the explosion so powerful, they even added something to help it burn...?"

Ye Mu gazed at the flames in the sky and sighed.

Tiger, meanwhile, twisted his neck in disbelief. Feeling the lightness around his neck, he finally realized that he was free.

At that moment, he could not hold back his tears.

The slave life he had never dared remember was finally over.

"Ah... sob, sob, sob..."

His tears poured from his eyes like rain...

Ye Mu had not wanted to be cruel and interrupt Tiger's emotional release, but he truly did not have much time.

Because Enel gazed into the distance and suddenly spoke.

"Someone's coming. They're moving very fast. It should be the Glint-Glint Fruit user you mentioned..."

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

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

"Take these. Our ship is in that direction. Remember, don't let these four die. They still have their uses."

Tiger froze.

"Captain, aren't you coming with us...?"

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

As he spoke, he looked at Tiger's worried expression and continued,

"Don't worry. Even if we can't beat him, he won't be able to keep the two of us here."

"Understood. Then I'll see you later, Captain."

Tiger nodded. Since his captain had said so, he naturally did not waste any more time. He grabbed the chains and, now free once more, leaped into the sea with the four CP9 members.

"A dragon returning to the sea...?"

Feeling Tiger's astonishing swimming speed beneath the surface, Ye Mu finally relaxed.

Then he walked toward Gasparde.

This startled Gasparde badly.

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

Without the slightest hesitation, Gasparde took a Den Den Mushi from his clothes. It looked about five parts like Gasparde himself. After Ye Mu took it, he tucked it into his clothes.

"Good... You're a smart man. You should understand what I told you earlier... I'll contact you later. For now, to keep you from arousing suspicion, let me help you out..."

Gasparde instantly understood what Ye Mu meant, because he saw the fist Ye Mu raised—a fist as large as a cooking pot.

"Bang..."

The tremendous force struck Gasparde in the abdomen. He felt as though his intestines and stomach were about to be punched out, while terrifying Conqueror's Haki shot straight into his brain.

This time, he could no longer hold on. He vomited bitter fluid, rolled his eyes back, and passed out.

And just as this dramatic scene reached its perfect climax, the audience arrived as well, descending from the sky in a streak of golden light and landing behind Ye Mu.