Meanwhile, on the coast of Syrup Village.
"Arton-san, we've arrived," Jango said as he, along with Carina and Uta, secured the boat.
Jango's subordinates also looked eagerly at Arton.
"Hehe, it seems you guys don't really want to meet Kuro now," Arton chuckled.
"Considering how hard you've worked to bring us here," he continued, "I won't trouble you fellows anymore."
"Take the lifeboat and leave. With such weak strength, forget about being pirates."
"Go back and honestly work on the farm."
"Jango, you like dancing, right? Why not join a dance competition? Maybe you can even become a Marine because of your dancing skills," Arton said, clapping Jango on the shoulder meaningfully.
"You must be joking, Arton-san," Jango replied, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a nervous laugh. "How could I become a Marine? I'm wanted by the Marines!"
"That's not necessarily true."
"Facts are never absolute."
Arton shook his head. He was aware that, in the original story, Jango successfully joined the future Vice Admiral Hina's crew.
"Let's go, Uta, Carina. Let's take a stroll on the island."
After calling out to Carina and Uta, Arton stopped paying attention to Jango and was the first to jump off the deck, heading towards the center of the island. Uta and Carina did the same.
Watching Arton and the others leave, Jango and his crew finally felt relieved, realizing that Arton was no longer concerned about them.
As soon as Arton and his party entered the bushes, the pirates cautiously approached Jango.
"Captain Jango, Arton and his crew have left. Let's take our ship and go too."
"Yeah, Arton and his crew snatched so much treasure from the treasure hunters. It's enough for us to live on for a lifetime."
"After all, they have left now and won't be back for a while. By the time they return, we'll be far gone."
The pirates licked their lips, their faces nearly spelled "greed."
"Shh, are you idiots?"
"What's more important, your life or treasure?"
"Put away those greedy thoughts and come with me on the lifeboat."
Jango shook his head, outright rejecting the pirates' suggestion.
Hearing this, the pirates looked at each other, eventually smirking dismissively at Jango.
"Captain Jango, we'll call you captain for now, but it looks like Arton and his gang have scared you silly. To think you'd pass up treasure!"
"Right, are you seriously planning to go back and farm? No way, I'm not going back."
"Exactly! We finally have a chance to get rich, I'm not missing it."
"Jango, if you don't want it, just leave by yourself. From now on, this ship is ours, and we will choose a new captain."
After saying this, the pirates no longer paid attention to Jango and headed to their posts, planning to sail the ship away while Arton was absent.
Despite Jango's attempts to persuade them, the pirates would no longer listen to him.
Just as the pirates were about to set the sails and raise the anchor...
Crescent-shaped flames flew in from the island.
The pirates couldn't even react before the crescent flames slashed them in two, leaving them to fall in pools of blood.
"Was that... Arton's slash?!"
Jango sat down abruptly on the deck, looking in horror at the bodies of his comrades.
"It's unfortunate, I spared them, but they didn't cherish their lives."
"But Jango, you did well not joining them."
"So, you still have the chance to leave."
"But before you leave, please clear those former comrades of yours off my ship."
"Understood?"
From a distance, the very familiar voice of Arton reached Jango.
"Yes, Arton-san, I'll handle it right away."
Although Jango couldn't see Arton's face, he still bowed respectfully in the direction of the island.
Then, he stood up and one by one, began to throw the bodies of the dead pirates into the sea.
Afterward, he rolled up his sleeves, fetched a bucket of seawater, and began to wash the blood stains from the deck.
The seriousness with which he worked seemed as if he was afraid that Arton might unleash a fiery slash at him if he was displeased.
"Now, I should be able to stroll around with peace of mind."
From the bushes, Arton withdrew his gaze from Jango.
"Arton, don't we need to deal with that Jango too?"
"What if he tries to take our treasure later, just like those other pirates?"
Carina asked, puzzled.
"No need, my eyes are very sharp."
"That guy won't ponder such thoughts."
Arton shook his head and turned his attention to a long-nosed boy and the three children beside him.
[Photo: The long-nosed boy Usopp!]
[Check-in record, the future "Sniper King" Usopp.]
Kalifa: "Another new photo… This time it's of a man. Does Arton also like men?"
Hina: "Sniper King? That's quite a boastful title."
Whitey Bay: "This boy looks familiar, I have seen him somewhere, but where?"
Gion: "He just looks like an ordinary boy. Is Arton planning to invite this ordinary boy to join his crew?"
Sugar: "Such an ugly man, that nose is really disgusting."
Monet: "Arton wouldn't typically photograph an ordinary passerby. Will this boy achieve something notable in the future?"
[Just like in the anime, this guy has a long nose, and his personality is just like it's showed in the manga.]
[Who would have thought, such an ordinary-looking boy would one day ignite the World Government's flag on Enies Lobby, striking hard at the chief Spandam of Enies Lobby.]
Kalifa: "?"
Stussy: "!!!"
[Who would have thought, such an ordinary-looking boy would one day faint Doflamingo's subordinate Sugar, inciting Doflamingo to issue a bounty of 500 million berries on him.]
Sugar: "What?!"
Monet: "How could that be?!"
***
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