Grand Line.
A massive ship with a carp-shaped figurehead moved leisurely across the ocean. The sail displayed a sun engulfed in fierce flames, deviating from the typical pirate flag skull design.
Abruptly, a furious shout echoed from the ship.
"Why do we have to share a boat with humans?!"
"Even if it's just a kid, she is still human. It's so frustrating!"
A sawshark-man with large teeth, a long, sharp, jagged nose, and a fierce demeanor was angrily expressing his annoyance on the ship's deck.
"Hey, Arlong, calm down a bit and try to be more accommodating."
Tiger on the side advised.
Despite setting a no-kill principle from the start of the Sun Pirates and striving to bridge the gap between the fishmen on the ship and humans.
However, after three years, the exceptionally radical Arlong hasn't altered his stance; in fact, he has worsened, and his opinions on human beings have become more extreme!
"Hahahaha!"
"Hahahaha!"
The young Koala stared at the enraged sawshark-man, doing her best to conceal her fear, forcing a mechanical smile onto her face.
Boom!
"Quit that fake smile, you're such an annoying little human child!!"
Witnessing Koala's forced grin, Arlong erupted in sudden anger and smacked her to the ground with his hefty palm.
"Hey! Brother Arlong, what are you doing? She's just a child!!"
The other fishmen couldn't tolerate it any longer and quickly moved forward to restrain the hostile sawshark-man, who was still on the verge of attacking.
An octopus fishman, armed with six arms, engaged in a struggle, wrapping his limbs around Arlong!
Stab!
At that moment, a sound of tearing cloth echoed.
It appeared that Koala ripped off a piece of fabric from her trousers, dropped to her knees, clutched the fabric with her young hands, and diligently wiped the deck clean.
She couldn't stop muttering.
"I'm sorry! I'll work!"
"I'll keep cleaning, so please don't hit me again."
"Sorry, sorry…"
"...!?"
All the fishmen on the Sun Pirates fell silent. They were well aware that this young girl likely endured such intense mental trauma in Mariejois that the scars had not faded over three years.
"What's wrong with you..."
Suddenly, Jinbei noticed blood in Koala's eyes. He swiftly crouched down and gently inquired to the girl sitting on her knees.
"Sorry..."
"Hey! You're bleeding..."
"Hahaha!"
"Haha! No matter what happens, I'll never cry, so please don't kill me!!"
Koala maintained that mechanical smile.
"Hey! Don't act like this, you... are you afraid of us?"
Jinbei fell silent. He could sense the fear and numbness in Koala.
"Yes..."
"But because I wanted to see my mother, I still mustered up the courage to get on the boat..."
"If my hands stop, you might kill me!?"
"I'll be useful, so please don't kill me..."
Dirty and bleeding, Koala continued moving her hands, lifting her little face and pleading to Jinbei with a smile.
"The slave's way of life was ingrained in her, in Mariejois..."
"Slaves there would be killed if they cried even once, and taking a short break during cleaning would also result in death."
"They am always anxious, afraid they might be the next one to be killed, and they don't trust anyone..."
Aladdin, the ship's doctor who observed everything in silence, spoke in a solemn tone.
There was pain in his eyes. The joys and sorrows of human beings are not universal. Perhaps only someone who has undergone similar experiences can truly comprehend the sorrow of the little girl before him.
"Take your time; mental trauma is not something that can be cured easily."
"It's good that you understand her, Brother Aladdin..."
"You truly empathize with the slaves!"
Arlong couldn't resist taunting, reopening Aladdin's wounds mercilessly. "In reality, do you want to kill her right away!?"
"After all—!"
"Shee's still a human being, just like those jerks who raised you!"
"Hey! Arlong, that's enough..."
Observing him getting increasingly agitated, Tiger finally intervened to put a halt to his actions.
"Honestly, what did your mother teach you?"
Ignoring Tiger's attempt to dissuade him, Arlong leaned over, presenting his ferocious face to Koala and asked bitterly.
"Your parents look down on fish-men, too. Hahaha!"
"This is how human society is. They believe that only the human race is the most amazing in the world!"
As he spoke, Arlong couldn't resist standing up, raising his hands in the air, and shouting to the sky with excitement, resembling a crazed maniac.
"Children are shaped by what they hear and see from an early age, so it's natural for them to become arrogant..."
"The pattern won't change unless someone comes and breaks it."
Tiger was also overwhelmed with emotions. It was an unending cycle, with rigid beliefs handed down from one generation to the next. They had always likened fish-men to mere fish.
But...
They are an intelligent race with flesh, blood, and the same thoughts as humans!!
"In these three years of sailing, you must have witnessed a lot!"
"That arrogant disdain that mankind directs at us!"
"If Boss Tiger hadn't been around, there's no guarantee I wouldn't have taken action!"
The Arlong's expression grew increasingly fierce, his eyes brimming with contempt and hatred for humans.
"It's only certain humans who despise us, not everyone does!"
Jinbei clearly held different opinions. He possessed a more rational mindset than Arlong, and his views on humans had evolved from extreme to peaceful over time.
He realized it profoundly.
Some wicked individuals cannot represent an entire race!!
"Enough! This argument ends here!!"
Seeing the escalating tension in the debate between the two, Tiger intervened with a deep voice.
He didn't want the Sun Pirates, which he had painstakingly built, to disintegrate because of this. As the boss, he had to shoulder the role of keeping the team united.
"Also, take this kid to my room!"
Pointing at Koala, who was still cleaning the floor, Tiger issued instructions to the fishmen.
"Boss! Why in your room?!"
Tiger didn't provide an explanation and proceeded toward the room without uttering a word.
Even though the other fishmen were perplexed, they obediently escorted Koala to Tiger's room, respecting his authority.
Boom—!!
The door slammed shut.
Ah--!!!
Soon, a scream that nearly pierced eardrums echoed from the bedroom!
Before anyone could react, Koala, who had already lost consciousness, was thrown out.
Thick white smoke rose from her frail back, a significant amount of blood streamed from her body, and the scent of burnt flesh filled the air...
----------
Read 35 chapters in advance in Patr*on: patr*on.com/Cosmic_Kaminari