"Captain! No, Brother Jinbe, we'll never forget what you've done for us!"
A fish-man with a gun tucked at his waist looked up from the crowd at Jinbe, who stood by the ship's railing. The other fish-men around him nodded in agreement.
"You're exaggerating."
Jinbe spoke with a calm expression.
"No, we understand perfectly well."
"For us to regain our freedom, we needed a pardon from the government."
The dark-skinned eel fish-man spoke.
"That's why you became one of the Shichibukai, brother."
"You certainly didn't do it because you wanted to."
The fish-man with a gun at his waist picked up where he left off.
Jinbe's calm expression wavered. His brows drew together slightly as he spoke.
"Enough fussing. Hurry back to your families."
"Look, they're getting tired of waiting."
Jinbe pointed toward the coral hill behind the fish-men gathered below the ship.
Their families had arrived early to welcome them back. At the front stood a female fish-man who looked well along in years and a young fish-man boy.
"Darling... Dad..."
They gazed at one of the fish-men in the crowd and murmured.
"...Son..."
Perhaps noticing them, the fish-man turned their way. Seeing his son for the first time in years, he was both excited and hesitant.
"Come on, go to them!"
Finally, encouraged by the fish-men beside him, he nodded and ran toward his wife and child, shouting.
"Son!"
"Dad!"
"Darling!"
The family was reunited, and the others could no longer hold back either. The little harbor suddenly burst into life, with touching reunions unfolding everywhere.
"Aladdin, you're in the same situation as them. You can finally leave the ship too."
Watching the heartwarming scene below, Jinbe's brows gradually relaxed, and he smiled as he spoke to Aladdin.
"Jinbe..."
"Hmm?"
Aladdin showed little joy. Instead, he called Jinbe's