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Charlotte Pudding: "Looks like they're going over there to deal with the Arlong Pirates too. In that sense, both Straw Hats are taking different paths to the same destination."
Charlotte Cracker: "Hahaha! After all that fuss, isn't she still ending up on the same road?"
Gion: "There's a big difference! Our White Luffy has always been focused on Nami, he came for Nami, he's fighting for Nami!! While for Red Luffy over there, what truly ignited his killing intent was that scene just now."
Shiki: "Our Luffy here acts on impulse, while Red Luffy over there acts rationally. For even someone as rational as Red Luffy to ignite such resolute killing intent, it just shows how much those Fishmen under Arlong deserve to die!"
Gol D. Roger: "I quite like Red Luffy's style of doing things! Honestly, in this world of deceit and trickery, you first have to ensure your own survival before you're qualified to help others!"
Edward Newgate: "Well said, Roger!"
[Arriving at the shore, Luffy and his group boarded the Going Merry and headed directly towards Arlong Park.]
[Arlong Park]
[This is a large Fishman living base built by the water...]
[It can be entered directly from the sea into the interior of Arlong Park.]
[Under the setting sun's dusk, the evening glow reflects off the sea surface, a field of gold surrounding the Going Merry.]
[The fiery clouds in the sky resemble the blazing flames of Cocoyasi Village, silently watching Luffy and his group.]
[Suddenly, Luffy frowned slightly. "Did you guys feel that?"]
["What???"]
[Zoro, Buggy, Usopp, and Sanji were all momentarily stunned.]
["Nothing..."]
[Luffy felt a trace of doubt in his heart!]
[Just now, he distinctly seemed to hear a little girl's voice whispering in his ear, reminding him... the ship... is in danger!]
[That voice vanished in a flash, ethereal and illusory.]
[Could it be my imagination?]
[Luffy muttered inwardly.]
[Within his field of vision, there were no signs of any enemies.]
[Luffy's Observation Haki spread out!]
[He was certain, no enemies!]
[Looks like it was my imagination...]
[No!]
[Suddenly, Luffy's brow furrowed intensely. He dashed to the railing's edge in one step.]
[His Observation Haki sensed a fish... no, a Fishman!]
[A Fishman was rapidly approaching the bottom of the ship from beneath the sea surface!!]
["Gomu Gomu no... Fish Grabber!!"]
[Luffy spread the fingers of his right hand, instantly covering them with pitch-black Armament Haki!]
[The next moment, his right hand slammed forcefully into the seawater below!]
[Underwater]
[Arlong Pirates officer, Kuroobi, was rapidly closing in on the ship ahead.]
[Meanwhile, on the seabed, another officer, Hatchan the octopus Fishman, was already in position!!]
[Just moments ago in Arlong Park, a guarding Fishman saw a ship approaching. Kuroobi and Hachi immediately got excited.]
[Because their specialty was sinking ships!]
[Their hands itching for action, they prepared to coordinate.]
[Octopus Hachi was now in place, just waiting for Kuroobi to destroy the ship's rudder. Then he would shift the seabed reef, creating a vortex leading straight to the ocean floor!]
[They had done this many times before. Watching the terrified expressions of the people on board as they were sucked into the vortex was always highly entertaining to them.]
["Heheh! Is that the ship's rudder? Looks quite sturdy! But... under the strength of us Fishmen, all of this is... Nghh!!"]
[Kuroobi looked at the Merry's rudder, just about to approach, when suddenly he felt his neck tighten!!]
[It was as if a giant iron clamp had instantly locked onto his neck, rendering him unable to even speak...!]
[Splash!]
[Luffy's arm retracted from the seawater, along with a dumbfounded Kuroobi who was gasping for air.]
[Kuroobi sat on the deck, utterly bewildered. He looked up at the five people standing around him, only then realizing what had happened.]
["Lowly humans, how dare you come here to cause trouble??"]
[Shaking his head, Kuroobi furiously jumped to his feet!]
[Usopp instinctively retreated several steps.]
[Luffy, Zoro, Buggy, and Sanji simultaneously looked at Usopp.]
["..."]
[Usopp's mouth twitched awkwardly. "Tac... Tactical retreat..."]
["Four Hundred Brick Fist——"]
[Over here, Kuroobi showed them no courtesy, directly attacking Luffy with a Fishman Karate strike!]
[Clang!]
[Zoro's pitch-black blade descended! Kuroobi's arm fell to the deck with the sound!]
["ARRGH!!"]
[Kuroobi instantly collapsed, clutching his severed arm and screaming in pain.]
[He stared at the severed arm lying beside him on the deck, his eyes filled with disbelief!]
[In a minor place like the East Blue, mere humans could actually... ???]
[Luffy crouched down, placing his open right hand on Kuroobi's head, and asked casually, "Let me ask you something. Did you guys promise Nami that if she could bring 100 million Berries, you would free her and everyone in Cocoyasi Village?"]
["Nami? What's your relationship with her?!"]
[Hearing Nami's name, Kuroobi's expression turned unpleasant as he retorted.]
["Right now, I'm the one asking you. Yes? Or no?" Luffy asked, still calm.]
[However, Kuroobi was no pushover either. He sneered. "Go to hell!!"]
["Kill him."]
[Luffy stopped asking, released Kuroobi's head, and slowly stood up.]
["If you just wanted to interrogate him, we could actually use torture..."]
[Buggy produced a dagger, volunteering his services.]
[Luffy shook his head. "No need to waste time on him. There are plenty of Fishmen inside, we're not short this one."]
[Buggy shrugged, slit Kuroobi's throat with one cut, then lifted him and threw him into the sea.]
[Luffy seemed to feel this wasn't secure enough. Swish! He drew a sword from Zoro's waist, his arm suddenly stretching out!]
[Just as Kuroobi's body hit the water, the blade coated in Armament Haki sliced straight down from the top of Kuroobi's head!!]
[Splurch!]
[Kuroobi was instantly split in two!]
[Falling into the sea.]
Momonga: "That Fishman should have been dead already, right? Why add another blow? The methods are a bit too cruel."
Trafalgar Law: "Vice Admiral sir... please use your brain when you speak!! Think carefully about the rotting mountain of corpses in Cocoyasi Village just now. Do you still think Red Straw Hat captain delivering the finishing blow was cruel?!!"
His childhood experiences taught Law that one must be ruthless towards enemies!
Even the slightest mercy is cruelty to oneself!!!
Sakazuki: "Damn brat! Since when is it your place to lecture a Marine Vice Admiral?!!"
Trafalgar Law: "Heh, same to you. Since when is it your place to lecture me? Idiot, don't take yourself too seriously!"
Sakazuki: "You're courting death!!!"
Trafalgar Law: "Why don't you ask your Fleet Admiral first if he's willing to let you kill me? Pitiful lapdog of the World Nobles!"
Eustass Kid: "Heheh, I quite like that Straw Hat Luffy's way of doing things over there! If you're going to kill someone, you must ensure they're definitely dead, otherwise, you leave behind future trouble!"
Capone Bege: "Exactly, this quality is simply too excellent! Hahaha!!"
Usopp: "Hey, hey, hey! I think I just saw the Klabautermann! Did any of you see it???"
Vinsmoke Sanji: "Where? Are you sure your eyes weren't playing tricks on you?"
Monkey D. Luffy: "No way! It didn't appear, right?"
Gol D. Roger: "So I wasn't the only one who saw it! I thought my eyes were playing tricks. It just flashed by, for an instant, then disappeared quickly."
Usopp: "Yes, yes, yes!!! Just a moment before Luffy reached out to grab the Fishman over there! The Klabautermann flashed on the barrel next to Luffy and vanished!"
Charlotte Linlin: "Now that you mention it, Mamamama, I think I remember something like that too. There really was a shadow like that at that moment. I also thought my eyes were playing tricks."
Franky: "Has the Klabautermann become so bold? I'm SUPER envious of that Luffy over there!!"
["Luffy, I don't understand. Haven't we already confirmed that the Arlong Pirates are doing evil things? Why did you still ask about Nami's 100 million Berries?" Sanji asked, confused.]
[Luffy rinsed the sword in the seawater, then picked up a nearby rag to wipe the blade, saying nonchalantly, "I feel our ship lacks a true navigator. If Nami's sister was telling the truth, then Nami seems quite suitable to be our navigator."]
["Really?!!! MELORINE~!!!"]
[Hearing this, Sanji danced with excitement.]
["Don't get too excited yet. We don't really know Nami. Our understanding of her comes entirely from what her sister told us. So, since we're already here, we might as well verify if the story about Nami's 100 million Berries to buy the village is true."]
["If it's true, then..."]
["Then you'll agree to let Miss Nami join the crew, right?" Before Luffy could finish, Sanji, with hearts in his eyes, raised both hands, spinning, leaping, and posing!]
[The other four looked on with disdain.]
[Luffy pursed his lips and said, "However... that's just my idea. She might not necessarily want to join our ship~~"]
["Just kidnap her! Wouldn't kidnapping Miss Nami onto the ship solve it???"]
[Sanji grinned mischievously, winking at Luffy. "Anyway, you're an old hand at this!"]
["!"]
[Usopp quickly expressed his agreement. "That's right! I was also tied up and brought onto the ship!"]
[Buggy looked at the two and added, "Although I wasn't tied up, I was also forced onto the ship by Luffy."]
[Zoro, standing aside, felt his mouth twitch.]
[Good grief... Out of everyone on this ship, am I the only one who joined normally?]
Shanks: "Hahaha! That's hilarious! That Luffy over there is practically becoming a kidnapper!"
Benn Beckman: "What are you saying? For us pirates, kidnapping someone is even considered an issue?"
Yasopp: "That's right! Which captain hasn't kidnapped someone?"
Nami: "No way..... Does that mean the 'me' over there will also have to be carried horizontally onto the ship??"
Franky: "Pfft.... Carried horizontally, what a vivid image...."
Nico Robin: "Don't worry, I guess the Luffy over there won't be that rough with you."
Vinsmoke Sanji: "He dares to be rough with Nami-swan!!! However... if it's to get you on board, tying you up a little is acceptable..."
Roronoa Zoro: "Idiot Curly-Brows."
Vinsmoke Sanji: "Damn Marimo-Head, shut up!"
[Listening to Sanji's bizarre request, Luffy shook his head, caught between laughter and tears...]
["It's different."]
["Although you guys were tied up and brought onto the ship, there were reasons for it."]
["Usopp, you wanted to go out to sea yourself. I tied you up because you kept yelling about wanting to be captain. Actually, even if we had just left then, you would have still chased after us."]
["Sanji, you're similar. You want to find the All Blue, and Old Man Zeff also hoped you would go out to sea, which is why he tied you up onto the ship."]
["What about me??? I certainly didn't want to join you guys, right?" Buggy quickly pointed to himself.]
[Luffy nodded. "Mm, you indeed weren't willing. However, back then you guys tried to rob me and Zoro. Under normal circumstances, I should have killed you. But I needed a guide at the time, which is why I didn't harm your crew members."]
["Erk..." Buggy's face twitched violently.]
[I'd have been better off not asking!]
[Luffy smiled. "Although my thoughts back then were indeed like that, overall, we've gotten along quite pleasantly on our journey. My promise to you still stands. Once we reach the Grand Line, you can go back to your pirate crew."]
["Oh right, if things go smoothly this time and Nami becomes our navigator, we won't need you as a guide anymore. We can let you go free early. But (damn it) I'll also give you a warning: don't learn from the Arlong Pirates. Otherwise, if I find out, I will come back and kill you."]
[Eh?]
[Buggy was stunned!!]
[Why the sudden talk of parting?]
[Honestly, he was very resistant to being abducted by Luffy at first, but later...]
[When Luffy guided him on his training direction, Buggy's mindset began to change.]
[And now... as Buggy's training in active splitting progressed further, he faintly saw the hope of himself becoming strong!!!]
[He wasn't an ungrateful person; he knew Luffy brought all this to him!]
[He didn't know why, but although he felt like a lackey staying by Luffy's side now, it felt quite relaxing.]
[Life was always full of hope...]
[Those old days of acting flashy, shouting for a crowd of underlings to come flatter him, seemed impressive back then, but looking back now, it just felt stupid...]
[But in the end, his presence on Luffy's ship was ultimately that of a guide, and one who was abducted at that, different from the others.]
[Buggy sighed silently in his heart.]
[He forced a difficult smile. "Mm, don't worry, Luffy. There are no naturally born evil people in this world, and I'm not some kind of deranged monster either. I'll remember your words."]
[Luffy nodded.]
[Then, he pointed forward: "Course set, ahead to Arlong Park... Advance!!"]
["Alright!! YEAH---"]
[Usopp forcefully pulled the sail, adjusting the direction.]
[The Going Merry headed straight towards Arlong Park!!]