After running for a while, Tom arrived near Cocoyashi Village. He could vaguely hear commotion from the village and quickened his pace, deciding to check the situation first.
At that moment, Usopp and Nojiko were hiding behind a house, watching the fish-men swarm into the village.
"So tall! That's Arlong! He looks just like a shark!" Usopp peeked from the shadows. Seeing Arlong was over two meters tall, with a prominent fin on the back of his neck, looking burly with a ferocious expression, Usopp's eyes widened in terror, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
"They're not human; they're fish-men. Why is it strange they look like that?" Nojiko leaned against the wall, speaking in an unfazed tone.
"But Nami doesn't seem to be with them. Was she taken by Tom?" Usopp observed carefully, not seeing Nami among the fish-men.
"I think Nami is probably still at Arlong's base. As for your companion, he was likely already killed," Nojiko said coldly, her words making Usopp's legs go weak on the spot.
"Don't joke! Tom is strong! How could he be killed by those fish-men?" Usopp said angrily to Nojiko.
"Didn't he say he was going to find Nami? Yet these fish-men are here completely unharmed. That speaks volumes." Nojiko glanced at Usopp. "If he really did as you said, taking Nami from Arlong's base, would Arlong let your companion and Nami leave? Or do you think he has the ability to easily escape a fish-man pursuit while carrying someone?"
Though Nojiko had witnessed Tom's strength somewhat, Tom going alone to Arlong's base made her involuntarily suspect he was truly killed by the fish-men.
Holding this thought, Nojiko's once extremely spirited eyes grew dull, her heart filled with deep disappointment. That intense disappointment was on the verge of turning into despair.
Are fish-men truly invincible? Nojiko thought, lowering her head and falling silent.
Hearing Nojiko, Usopp was so shocked his jaw nearly hit the ground. If Tom was really killed as she said, things were truly disastrous.
Now, with Zoro captured and Tom likely dead, wouldn't everything fall on him alone?
Usopp thought of Zoro and Tom both falling into the fish-men's hands. Relying on him alone, not only was retrieving Nami impossible, but even self-preservation was a problem.
Usopp also felt deeply guilty. If something happened to Zoro, he bore at least 90% of the responsibility. He hadn't tried hard enough to stop Tom from going to Arlong's base alone, nor had he accompanied him, ultimately leading to their deaths at the fish-men's hands.
Usopp felt like he wanted to die. Remembering Luffy's instructions before they came here, and how things had developed, Usopp felt he was inescapably at fault.
Just because they're stronger than me, should I always hide behind them, waiting for them to charge ahead and solve everything, then boast afterward? Would that make me their companion? A member of the Straw Hat crew?
Am I only good at boasting?!
Usopp clenched his fists tightly. Remembering the oath he made when he mustered the courage to go to sea, he felt his blood surge, his body filled with strength.
It might be too late now, but even for the sake of the dead Tom and Zoro, I'll fight the fish-men to the death!
As this thought emerged in Usopp's mind, the lingering cowardice in his eyes vanished completely. His eyes shone with firm resolve; he had clearly made up his mind.
"What a headache. Weapons only bring evil thoughts and violence. They are the biggest factor disrupting peace." Arlong stood before a man sitting by a pavilion. "You were walking around the village with a sword three days ago. That's correct, isn't it?"
This man was Genzo, the policeman of Cocoyashi Village. He had many old scars, with several ugly wounds on his face clearly from sharp weapons. The police cap on his head had a windmill spinning in the breeze.
Facing Arlong and a group of fish-men, Genzo showed no fear at all, his expression calm. He didn't deny Arlong's words, saying he had a hobby of collecting weapons; the sword was purely for appreciation.
But Arlong clearly didn't believe him. His eyes, full of killing intent, locked onto Genzo as he spoke coldly. "We currently control twenty towns and villages. As rulers, what we hate most are rebels like you…"
"That major port town, Kessa Village, was declared a rebel town by me. To warn other humans with ill intentions, I killed everyone there! I destroyed Kessa Village. Failing to pay us tribute is equivalent to resisting us!"
Arlong's words confused Usopp; he didn't know what "tribute" meant.
Nojiko told Usopp that the so-called fees were a head tax—they had to buy their lives from the fish-men every month, adults and children alike.
Adults paid 100,000 berries a month; children paid 50,000. If even one person in a village failed to pay enough, they would meet the same fate as Kessa Village—the village destroyed and its people exterminated.
This was Arlong's method of control. As a racist, he had absolutely no regard for human life. Killing one person or a hundred made no difference to him.
Learning that Kessa Village was destroyed simply because one person failed to pay, condemning the entire town to die with them, left Usopp so shocked his eyes nearly popped out. He gained a much deeper understanding of the Arlong Pirates' brutality.
"You lowly humans, listen up! Don't think about anything. Just work hard and pay on time. I need vast funds." Arlong coldly swept his gaze over the surrounding villagers. "You despicable humans should feel honored. The money you pay will become the foundation of my Arlong Empire to control the entire East Blue!"
Usopp's mouth hung open upon hearing this. "Arlong Empire? Those fish-men actually want to establish a country?!"
According to Nojiko, Arlong's ultimate goal was to control every village in the East Blue, turning it into a fish-man empire. Without the power to resist, they could only endure silently.
Usopp now worried that his own hometown might fall into Arlong's hands. That would truly be the end.
"Uwaaah!" Just as Usopp wanted to ask Nojiko more, he heard a painful scream.
Arlong effortlessly lifted Genzo by the shoulder with one hand, squeezing hard, as if intending to crush it. "Carrying a weapon is a clear act of rebellion!"
"To prevent traitors like you from appearing again, I must kill you. Let this serve as a warning to other towns." As Arlong spoke, the killing intent in his eyes intensified. He wanted to crush the man in his grasp alive.
Seeing Genzo about to be killed, Nojiko rushed out, unable to endure it any longer. She charged toward Arlong and shouted sternly, "Arlong, aren't you going too far?! For eight years, we've obediently paid you. How could we want to rebel now?"
Not wanting to watch Genzo be killed, Nojiko stepped forward to plead for him. But Arlong refused to listen, insisting on killing Genzo. The surrounding villagers, hearing Nojiko, all joined in pleading for Arlong to spare him.
"Carrying a weapon is rebellion. That's what I said. He must sacrifice himself for the order here." As Arlong said this, he tortured Genzo even more. Looking at Nojiko and the restless villagers, he said calmly with murderous intent, "Or do you want something else? The entire village to disappear?"
Genzo, held in Arlong's grasp, saw the situation was dire. He spoke up to urge those trying to help him to go back inside. "If we clash with them now, our eight years of effort will be wasted." Genzo looked at Nojiko and the others. "Don't forget. We all swore an oath. This is a long-term struggle, isn't it? For the sake of staying alive!"
The villagers hesitated, torn between saving him and the consequences.
"How touching! Yes, staying alive is most important. Being alive is where the fun is!" Arlong grabbed Genzo's head and smashed it hard against a stone pillar, immediately drawing blood with a scream.
"Be sensible! He clearly understands resistance is useless—that's why he obediently waits for me to kill him!" Arlong held Genzo's bleeding head as he spoke to the villagers. "Do you understand? From birth, there has never been equality among living beings. Humans are destined to be ruled by fish-men. This is nature's law!"
Hearing this, the fish-men behind him laughed wildly, their eyes filled with undisguised contempt.
With a thud, Arlong slammed Genzo to the ground. "You lowly beings, just stay obediently human!"
Several villagers, seeing Genzo about to be beaten to death, wanted to rush forward desperately. But Genzo, lying on the ground, shouted loudly to stop them. "Stop! Don't act rashly! If the village is destroyed, everything will be for nothing! Remember—even if I die, don't resist!"
Genzo's resolute tone stunned the villagers.
Arlong then grabbed Genzo with one hand and lifted him high, intending to smash him into pulp. "Let you humans see the fate of those who defy me! This is your lesson!"
Arlong hurled Genzo toward the ground with full force. At that moment, Usopp's voice rang out.
"Special Attack: Fire Star!"
BOOM!
Arlong's hand holding Genzo was struck by Usopp's shot. His grip loosened violently, and Genzo fell to the ground without being killed.
"What happened? Who attacked Boss Arlong?"
"Look! Someone's on that roof over there! Who is it?"
The fish-men quickly spotted a long-nosed man wearing a sniper scope on a nearby roof.
"You fish-men dare kill my companions! I, a brave warrior of the sea, will never let you off! This is the decision of me, a real man, Captain Usopp! I will defeat you with my eight thousand elite subordinates!"
Usopp stood on the roof, pointing at Arlong. "The whole world fears me, for I am the one who returned from the perilous Demon Realm! The world calls me the Great Demon King, Captain Usopp! I am invincible!"
"Bring tens of thousands if you want! I'll slaughter them all!" Arlong, having taken the Fire Star head-on, suffered no real damage. He looked at Usopp. "I killed your companion? Daring to provoke us… you must be with that other guy, right?"
"You humans seem determined to oppose us. If you don't want to die horribly, tell me honestly. Where are you hiding that long-nosed accomplice? If you don't talk, I'll send you all to hell!" A shadow fell across Arlong's face. Earlier, leading his men to Cocoyashi, he'd found a fish-man floating in the sea and several others lying unconscious on the road. It enraged him, and he suspected it was Tom's doing.
Arlong had planned to deal with Genzo first, then thoroughly search Cocoyashi for Tom. He hadn't expected Usopp to appear and oppose him like Tom, making him suspect they were allies.
From Arlong's words, Tom seemed not to be dead. This instantly lifted Usopp's spirits. If Tom was okay, then Zoro might also be alive. This realization filled him with joy.
"…A mere human thinks he can oppose me?" Arlong waved, signaling his men to interrogate the villagers. He walked to the base of Usopp's house and uprooted the entire building.
"Waaahhh!" Usopp on the roof saw Arlong effortlessly lift the house and nearly fainted in terror. His legs trembled. "I'm not scared. I'm not scared at all. I can't keep running away like before! I am the brave warrior of the sea, Great Captain Usopp!"
As Usopp shouted this, Arlong prepared to throw the house.
"Oh no! Our village will be destroyed at this rate!" The villagers screamed as Arlong went on a rampage. Even the fish-men began urging Arlong to calm down. After all, a prosperous village, once destroyed, was gone. Their main goal was control, not destruction.
"Arlong! Stop it! Don't destroy our village anymore!" Nojiko tried to stop Arlong's violence. Watching the village being destroyed was worse than death for her.
"Fine then, you die first!" Arlong hurled the massive house toward Nojiko. "Who do you think I am? We fish-men are the supreme race!"
It must be said, Usopp's appearance completely enraged Arlong, whose anger had already been ignited by Tom. Rage devoured his reason, driving him into madness.
"Dodge! We'll be crushed to death!" The villagers screamed as the house flew toward them.
Nojiko, being closer, hadn't expected Arlong to be so insane today, as if he no longer cared about anything and wanted to destroy everything.
It's useless. I can't dodge. Nami… you must live well! Seeing the house right above her, Nojiko closed her eyes and gave up struggling.
"Arlong, you crazy stinking fish really look ridiculous!" Tom had just arrived at Cocoyashi Village when he saw the rampaging Arlong throwing houses and nearly killing Nojiko. He hurriedly used the fishing line from his right wrist shooter, snaring Nojiko and pulling her toward him.
While saving Nojiko, Tom used the line from his left wrist shooter to latch onto the thrown house. Grabbing the line with his left hand, he swung hard, throwing the massive house back at Arlong.
A thunderous crash followed. The ground shook violently, dust billowing everywhere. The house slammed into Arlong and many fish-men around him.
"Who is he? He actually threw it back at Arlong…"
"First one brave person stood up for us, now another…"
The villagers were collectively petrified upon seeing Tom return the house.
Nojiko stared blankly at Tom beside her, seeing him alive and well. She stammered "You…" for a long time, unable to say a complete sentence, as if she'd suddenly developed a stutter.
"Hey, Tom! You bastard trying to kill me?!" Usopp crawled out from the shattered rubble. He hadn't had time to get off the roof before being tossed around by Arlong and Tom. He cursed Tom once, then ran toward him at full speed, tears and snot streaming as he shouted excitedly, "Wooooah!!!!"
"You're alive—thank goodness! I thought you were killed by those fish-men!" Usopp hugged Tom's leg, crying uncontrollably.
"You were quite brave earlier. Not like your usual self at all. I saw how heroic you were when you declared war on Arlong." Tom pulled Usopp up to keep him from wiping his tears and snot on his pants. "And which idiot said I was killed by fish-men? What brainless person would say that?"
Nojiko, having come back to her senses, wanted to thank Tom for saving her life. But before she could speak, she heard Tom call her an idiot and brainless. Her face, which had just regained a hint of color, instantly darkened…
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T/N :
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