No One Is Expendable on This Ship / We're Pretty Strong

"Kuina, take a look! These are the opponents you'll be facing. Until you become a Great Swordsman, don't underestimate anyone."

"Mm! I know."

Kuina took the Wanted Posters from Ahua and began looking through them.

"So every member of the Arlong Pirates is a Fish-Man!" she exclaimed as she studied Arlong's Wanted Poster.

Then she added with a hint of disgust,

"They're really ugly."

"They may be ugly, but Fish-Men combine the traits of fish and humans. They're stronger than ordinary people, and their strength doubles when they fight in water."

Kuta explained what he knew to Kuina.

"Six years ago, the Fish-Man Pirates split up on the Grand Line. Arlong led one of the groups that broke away."

"He later formed the Arlong Pirates, came from the Grand Line to the East Blue, and took control of the Gollome Islands."

"How do you know so much?"

Kuina stared at Kuta in puzzlement.

"Me? I read the newspaper every day, along with all sorts of strange books!"

"Right. When we were little, I hardly ever saw you without a book in your hand."

Kuina nodded. After thinking back for a moment, she was about to return to the Wanted Posters.

"Hm?"

Just then, she turned and looked curiously at the Ahua Trio, who had all gathered at the bow.

"What's wrong with you three?"

No One Aboard Was Expendable

The trio, usually so lively and goofy, now stood with gloomy faces and slumped shoulders.

Kuta noticed their mood too. He walked over, patted each of them on the shoulder, and asked with concern,

"Is something bothering you? Tell me, and I'll help carry the burden."

A-Tao took a drag on his cigarette and answered glumly,

"It's nothing serious. I just feel useless. When we face a powerful pirate crew, I can't help at all."

They all knew that against the Arlong Pirates, they would be little more than ship guards. They couldn't beat a single member of the crew.

And this was only the East Blue. Once they reached the Grand Line, they would have even less chance to contribute.

"So that's it!"

Kuta breathed a sigh of relief. He had wondered what had gotten into the three of them.

He looked at the Ahua Trio and said earnestly,

"You didn't come aboard to fight in the first place. Besides, a ship needs more than fighters."

He turned to Ahua. "Take Ahua. Without him, we'd have to eat our own cooking. Just imagine what that would be like."

Everyone glanced at Ahua. At the thought of eating food they had cooked themselves every day, they shuddered in unison.

They shook their heads vigorously.

Hearing Kuta's words and seeing everyone's reaction, Ahua's gloomy expression instantly brightened.

He pushed up his glasses, thrust out his ample belly, and raised his head with pride.

"So I really am indispensable!"

Kuta turned to A-Tao next. "And without A-Tao, who would steer and repair this big ship beneath our feet?"

A-Tao's lips curled upward, and a smile quickly spread across his face. Even the way he smoked seemed a little more elegant.

"What about me? What about me?"

A-Luo looked at Kuta expectantly, his voice growing urgent.

"You..."

Kuta rubbed his chin and studied A-Luo in thought.

As A-Luo watched him, the hope in his eyes slowly faded. He stared blankly at the sea, as though shadows had swallowed him whole. He looked ready to jump overboard at any moment.

Seeing A-Luo like that, Kuta smiled and decided to stop teasing him.

He fixed his gaze on A-Luo and suddenly shouted, "Of course you're important too!"

At Kuta's shout, A-Luo stiffly raised his head and looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Really?"

"Really."

Kuta nodded firmly.

"Of all of us

you're the only one who can spend an entire day in that cramped lookout post, keeping watch so we can sail safely."

"You're the eyes of this ship. Without you, we'd be sailing blind."

With every word Kuta spoke, A-Luo stood a little straighter. By the end, even his wild, spiky hair seemed to perk up.

Seeing that all three had regained their confidence, Kuta clapped his hands to get their attention.

Then he told them, "Each of you is one of a kind. Don't sell yourselves short. This ship couldn't do without any of you."

He paused, then joked,

"If you all went off to fight, what would be left for Kuina and me to do?"

"Am I right?"

"Yeah!"

The Ahua Trio nodded again and again.

"Besides, there are shortcuts to getting stronger."

"Kuta, you know a way to make us stronger?"

At Kuta's words, they immediately turned to him in excitement.

Nobody wanted to be weak. They knew Kuta wouldn't abandon them even if they were, but if there was a way to grow stronger quickly, how could they not be interested?

"Have you heard of Devil Fruits?"

"Devil Fruits?"

Ahua looked puzzled.

Just then, A-Luo, who had been thinking with his head lowered, suddenly spoke up. "Aren't those the legendary treasures of the sea that make people stronger and give them the powers of devils?"

He had heard people talk about them back when he was a street thug.

"That's right. They're legendary treasures of the sea called Devil Fruits, and they grant people special powers."

"Then does your power come from a Devil Fruit, Kuta?"

A-Tao took a drag on his cigarette and looked at Kuta curiously.

Kuta lowered his head and thought for a moment. "My power doesn't come from a Devil Fruit. You can think of me as a human born with a special ability."

"Oh..."

They all nodded.

Kuta went on, "Devil Fruit abilities fall into three main categories: Paramecia, Zoan, and Logia."

"Any one of them would give you enough power to handle ordinary dangers."

"But I heard even a random Devil Fruit sells for at least a hundred million Beli!"

A-Luo scratched his head and spoke with a troubled look.

"Huh? They're that expensive?"

Surprise appeared on both Ahua's and A-Tao's faces.

They had picked up nearly twenty million Beli from the Krieg Pirates, but that didn't mean a hundred million

was a small amount.

After all, the Krieg Pirates had been the largest pirate crew in the East Blue.

Even from them, they had only gotten twenty million. How many pirate crews would they have to wipe out to scrape together a hundred million?

Kuta smiled at them. "Don't worry. As soon as I hear of a Devil Fruit, I'll get it for you."

He paused before adding, "And I know where to find plenty of Devil Fruits."

Of course he did. If he really couldn't find any when the time came, he would just have to go to Doflamingo sooner than planned and get some from him.

"Really, Kuta?" The Ahua Trio stared at him nervously.

They knew Kuta wouldn't lie to them, but they still wanted to hear him say it for certain.

"Yeah. When have I ever lied to you?"

Kuta nodded firmly.

"Oh, yeah!"

At Kuta's answer, the three of them leaped up and cheered at the bow, back to their usual lively selves.

Kuina watched quietly from the side. Seeing the Ahua Trio in good spirits again brought a faint smile to her face.

She knew what Devil Fruits were. Kuta had once planned to find one especially for her so she could improve her physical strength.

But she had turned him down. She wanted to become a Great Swordsman through her own efforts.

Besides, Devil Fruits did not come without drawbacks.

They had one weakness that could prove fatal to anyone who sailed the seas: seawater.

She was a swordswoman with plenty of attacking power. There was no need to give herself a Devil Fruit's weakness.

So she had never considered eating one.

Of course, an ability powerful enough to defy all expectations would be another matter.

"Hm?"

Just then, Kuta and Kuina both froze. They exchanged a glance, then looked toward the opposite shore as they quietly activated their Observation Haki.

Kuina could only sense many presences in the distant village, all chaotic and panicked.

Kuta was different. A red glint flashed through his eyes, and he knew what was happening in the village across the water.

He turned to the Ahua Trio. "We'll land here. Wait for us. We'll be back once we've dealt with the Arlong Pirates."

"Got it!"

The Ahua Trio answered loudly, then turned to their work.

Kuta looked back toward the distant village, lost in thought.

Looks like we'll have to clear out those small fry first. If they escape, they could cause a lot of harm.

They're Fish-Men, after all. If they hide in the sea, finding them won't be easy.

We're Pretty Strong, You Know

The Arlong Pirates had ruled this island for nearly six years.

Every villager in every village on the island had to pay the Arlong Pirates a monthly head tax.

If they couldn't pay, there was only one outcome: death.