The morning sun slanted across the central pool of Arlong Park, casting shimmering, rippling light.
Arlong lay on a folding chair, his voice gloomy as he asked, "My cartographer, tell me, how much longer until you've gathered one hundred million Berry?"
Nami struggled to control her breathing. "I've already saved up seventy million."
"Seventy million already? How capable." Arlong erupted into a burst of laughter. "No need to hurry. We Fish-Men are very 'generous'."
He deliberately emphasized the word 'generous', eliciting a chorus of harsh, mocking laughter from the other Fish-Men officers around him.
A wave of powerlessness washed over Nami. She knew the malice hidden behind that laughter all too well.
She deeply suspected that Arlong never had any intention of keeping his promise, but she had no choice. She had to believe in these Fish-Men's honor.
Just then, an ear-splitting roar suddenly tore through the tranquil morning air.
The entire structure shook violently. Glass cups on tables tumbled and shattered on the floor.
"This damn commotion again." Arlong's face darkened.
Kuroobi scrambled to the window in a panic. "Boss, things have been falling from the sky since last night, and now it's happening more and more. Could the sky be collapsing?"
"Idiot," Arlong sneered. "And you used to be a member of the Sun Pirates. It's just a meteorological disaster. These are common in the New World."
The gathered Fish-Men suddenly understood. "As expected of Arlong-san, you truly are knowledgeable."
Suddenly, an even more terrifying crash than before reverberated.
A massive rock, over a hundred meters in diameter, slammed directly through the central building, demolishing it. The Fish-Men screamed and scattered in all directions.
Hatchan waved his six arms wildly. "Arlong-san, something's wrong! Let's get into the sea, quick!"
Arlong was also beginning to panic. This bizarre weather was just too extreme.
Then, an even more earth-shattering impact sound came from the outskirts of Arlong Park. The shockwave it generated nearly lifted the entire park off its foundations.
This time, they saw it clearly. What had fallen was the wreckage of an entire island.
"Th-that is…" Chew's tongue seemed to tie itself in knots. "Could it be… the legendary Sky Island? There might be endless treasure up there!"
The Fish-Men grew excited. An island fragment falling right at their doorstep from the heavens? This was fortune literally falling from the sky!
Arlong led the group of Fish-Men forward, with Nami following curiously behind.
They quickly climbed onto the tilted island fragment. There, in the center of the ruins, stood two figures, drenched in blood yet standing straight.
"They're just two humans," Kuroobi remarked. "Arlong-san, should we capture them and ask what happened…"
"Silence!" Arlong suddenly roared in a low voice, his eyes wide with disbelief. "A man who vanished nearly twenty years ago… why would he suddenly appear in this weakest of seas?"
Nami was equally stunned, 'Was Arlong, who had ruled over Cocoyasi Village with brutality for eight years, actually feeling… fear?'
In the center of the ruins, the two men naturally noticed the Fish-Men hiding in the shadows, but they paid them no mind. These weak Fish-Men weren't even worthy of their attention.
Setsuna spoke coldly. "Shiki, congratulations. You've finally reclaimed a shred of your former spirit before your death."
"Gyahahaha… cough…" Shiki coughed up a mouthful of blood, then let out a hearty, booming laugh.
"Dying by the hand of a warrior like you… it's not an injustice. It's just a pity this moment came so late. To think I wasted all these years on such foolish pursuits… I could have destroyed the East Blue long ago…"
Hatchan covered his mouth with all six hands, a faint whisper escaping through his fingers. "G-Golden Lion Shiki?! A legendary pirate on par with Roger and Whitebeard!"
The Fish-Men were horrified. Having once been part of the Sun Pirates, they had heard of the terrifying reputation of such pirates.
A greedy glint suddenly flashed in Kuroobi's fish-like eyes. "Arlong-san, Golden Lion is severely wounded now. If we kill him, we'll become famous across the seas instantly! And a legendary pirate like him must have immense wealth."
"As long as we seize Golden Lion's treasure, we can recruit forces, buy powerful weapons from the human world, and then settle the score with that traitor Jinbe!"
Arlong wrestled internally. He still vividly remembered the scene of being trampled underfoot by that despicable Marine years ago. Compared to the top-tier powerhouses of the human world, the Fish-Men's physical advantages were nothing.
But Kuroobi's words were undeniably tempting. The chance to avenge Fisher Tiger was right before his eyes.
Just then, Golden Lion's body finally collapsed. This seemed like a final nudge from fate, solidifying Arlong's resolve.
"Nami!" Arlong suddenly turned to the orange-haired girl, revealing a 'kindly' smile. "Go kill that man who's still standing."
Nami stared in shock, pointing at herself. "Me?"
Arlong whispered temptingly. "As long as you kill him, I will forgive Cocoyasi Village's debt."
Nami felt both thrilled and terrified. "B-but I don't know how to fight."
"Precisely because you're weak, he won't suspect you," Arlong said, pressing a dagger into her sweaty palm. "He's at his limit. Just pierce his heart. Even the strongest human will die. Go on. Use the deception you're best at."
Under Arlong's coercion, Nami tremblingly stepped out from behind the ruins.
Setsuna was in the process of severing Golden Lion's head. To buy all the delicacies in this world, he needed Berry. He just wondered how high Golden Lion's bounty was.
"Um… you seem badly injured. Do you need help?" Nami asked softly.
Setsuna turned around and sat cross-legged. "Oh? Are you a doctor?"
"I'm not, but I can help you bandage your wounds," Nami said cautiously.
Setsuna chuckled. To heal injuries of his level, he'd need Wano Country's 'Supreme Grade Bandages' or something equivalent.
"Young lady, you must have business with me, right?"
Hearing Setsuna's question, Nami felt her heart leap into her throat, as if it might jump out any second.
"Let me guess… you want to sell me your Fish-Men pets?"
Nami was dumbfounded, 'Fish-Men pets?'
Setsuna deliberately teased her. "Unfortunately, I'm a respectable man. I don't deal in slave trading. Besides, the quality of your Fish-Men pets is too poor. No one would want them even if you gave them away half-price."
Nami finally snapped out of her stunned state and couldn't help but ask, "Aren't Fish-Men superior beings, stronger than humans?"
"Superior beings?" Setsuna shook his head with a smile. "Superior slaves, more like. Of course, personally, I'm critical of that practice. Although Fish-Men are weak, it's still wrong to sell them as slaves."
"Fish-Men are weak… slaves…" Nami felt her entire worldview, built over more than a decade of life, shatter completely in that moment. She had always thought the world was under Fish-Men rule.
Yet the man before her was telling her that Fish-Men were sold as slaves by humans?