The coating bubble of Ark Maxim parted the deep sea currents as it slowly docked at Fish-Man Island's port.
The moment the hatch opened, a cacophony of noise flooded in—the clanging of weapons, pirates' raucous laughter, women and children's cries, and the thunderous destruction of shops—all blending into a symphony of chaos.
Bahr was the first to step onto the coral-paved ground, his brow slightly furrowed.
The once-orderly port had descended into mayhem. Pirates wearing skull bandanas sprinted past with stolen pearls, several Fishman merchants were being beaten on the ground, and even decorative coral pillars had been hacked apart. The seawater was littered with broken scales and streaks of blood.
Robin moved to Bahr's side, her gaze calmly surveying the disorder. "After Whitebeard's death, Fish-Man Island lost its greatest protector," she remarked, her voice cool and tinged with historical insight. "These waters have always been coveted for their abundant resources. Without the deterrence of the 'Four Emperors,' they've become easy prey for these desperate outlaws."
Miss. Valentine wrinkled her nose in disgust. "The stench of blood mixed with seawater is suffocating. These pirates have gone mad—isn't anyone stopping them?"
Bahr remained silent. Pirates were pirates—scum who trampled over lives without a second thought.
Suddenly, his attention snapped to a commotion on the other side of the port. A desperate cry for help pierced through the chaos.
Following the sound, he spotted a burly pirate hauling a tall figure toward a ship. The figure stood at least two and a half meters tall, her pink-and-white butterfly fish tail flailing helplessly over the pirate's shoulder. Her scales shimmered like pearls, and her delicate, translucent caudal fin was bound tightly with coarse rope.
"This one'll fetch at least three ships on the black market!" the pirate leered, shouting to his companions. "Look at this tail—pink and white, like a damn painting!"
Before he could finish, a dark figure materialized in front of him.
Bahr's eyes gleamed at the sight of the unique butterfly fish tail. In the blink of an eye, he had closed the ten-meter gap and stood firmly before the pirate.
"Move!" the pirate snarled, startled before rage took over. He swung the cutlass at his waist toward Bahr. "Who the hell are you? Get lost or die!"
Bahr didn't even glance at the blade. His right leg snapped up like a steel whip, slicing through the air with a sharp gust.
A sickening crack echoed, mingling with the pirate's howl of pain. The man flew backward like a punctured sack, slamming into the hull of his own ship. As wood splinters rained down, he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
The Mermaid, now unsupported, gasped as she plummeted toward the ground. Her pink-and-white tail flapped frantically midair before smacking hard onto the coral pavement with a dull thud.
"Oof—!" she whimpered, her pale violet eyes welling with tears as the rough ground scraped her delicate caudal fin.
She struggled to push herself up, but shock and pain left her sprawled helplessly on the ground. Her aqua-blue hair fanned out beneath her, the tiny seashells adorning the ends now coated in dust.
Bahr stood still, watching her appearance and inwardly clicking his tongue: truly a legendary figure, beautiful as if she'd stepped out of a painting.
Though her size was a bit too large!!!
"Th-thank you..." The mermaid bit her lip, forcing herself to look up through the pain. Her pale purple eyes were misty with unshed tears, her wet lashes clinging to her eyelids, her lips pale from suffering.
Bahr grinned, making his tone exceptionally gentle: "You alright?"
The mermaid shook her head while lying on the ground, then quickly nodded, her caudal fin curling pitifully at the tip. The dust-covered scales had lost their original luster: "I-I'm fine, thank you."
Her voice carried obvious sobs, the lingering fear from her near-death experience mixing with the pain of her fall, making her words tremble.
"Don't mention it." Bahr waved his hand, pointing at himself: "I'm Bahr. And you, miss?"
"I... I'm Melo." She buried her face in her aqua-blue hair, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, her shoulders trembling slightly from both pain and fear.
"Melo?" Bahr paused, then suddenly understood.
No wonder she looked familiar—this was that butterfly fish mermaid who appeared in Mermaid Cove in the original story, briefly interacting with the Straw Hat crew.
Never expected to meet her here, right during her kidnapping scene.
Just then, the pirate who'd been knocked out earlier woke up, clutching his chest and roaring: "Just you wait! I'll call my crewmates from the ship—"
"Annoying."
Bahr couldn't be bothered to turn around, not even moving his feet. He simply swung his hand back, releasing a dark purple Blade Aura that moved so fast it left only an afterimage. It first precisely split the still-yelling pirate's face, then continued unabated with a thunderous crash, cleaving the ship behind him clean in half.
If not for concern about hurting the mermaid, did that pirate really think he'd still be alive?
Melo trembled at this sudden bloody scene, instinctively shrinking her neck. Strands of her aqua-blue hair stood on end as she stared at this man who'd casually destroyed an entire ship, her heart in turmoil.
Having just escaped pirates only to encounter such a formidable figure, she truly didn't know what to do.
"Boss Jimbei!"
Just as Melo was at her wits' end, a familiar figure suddenly emerged from the chaotic crowd. The hem of his dark blue kimono swept the ground as the towering whale shark Fishman moved with steady authority—it was Jimbei, having just dealt with another disturbance.
Seeing Melo on the ground, his brow immediately furrowed as he hurried forward to help her up, only to look up and recognize Bahr's face.
"Hmm? So it's you." Jimbei paused: "What brings you here?"
Looking at Jimbei, Bahr instantly understood—Melo hadn't been kidnapped because Jimbei had arrived in time. Otherwise, she'd have long become mermaid jerky!
"Just sightseeing. Heard Fish-Man Island has great scenery, came specially for a visit." He grinned, tone light, his gaze sweeping the surrounding chaos as he raised an eyebrow: "Though it seems your situation isn't great."
Jimbei rubbed his throbbing forehead, voice full of exhaustion: "With the old man gone, all those eyeing Fish-Man Island have emerged. We're barely maintaining order..."
He sighed: "Sorry you had to see this."
"Not at all," Bahr shrugged, then abruptly changed the subject. "Considering we were once fellow inmates in Impel Down, and the kindness you showed by giving me water back then, I'll help you out this time."
He turned and called out to someone nearby, "Enel, since you're just idling around, go clean up those troublemakers."
"Are you ordering me?" Enel, who had been leaning on his Golden Rod and kicking pebbles out of boredom, raised an eyebrow, his displeasure clearly written across his face.
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