Chu Yang stood there in a daze, deep in thought about the future.
In Tiger's eyes, confusion practically radiated from Chu Yang's entire body.
Tiger patted him on the shoulder and said gently, "How about this—come with me for now. We'll figure things out afterward."
Chu Yang asked in surprise, "Where to? Fish-Man Island?"
"Do you think I can still go back to Fish-Man Island?" Tiger said with a bitter smile. "After tonight, I'll probably be wanted by the Marines across the entire world."
"In that situation, if I returned to Fish-Man Island, I'd bring an unimaginable disaster upon it."
Chu Yang sighed. "That's true."
Tiger then asked, "Are you willing to go out to sea with me?"
The Sun Pirates?
Chu Yang's heart stirred. Since he didn't really have anywhere to go right now, he agreed to Tiger's invitation.
The two of them then sneaked toward the port, planning to seize a pirate ship and head out to sea.
Every ship had crew members on watch.
But at this hour, they were all resting inside the cabins.
With only two people—and considering Chu Yang had no sailing experience—Tiger planned to take a small three-masted sailing ship, which would be easier to handle.
Neither Chu Yang nor Tiger felt any moral burden about robbing a pirate ship. They treated it as robbing the rich to help the poor—except the ones being helped were themselves.
Once they locked onto a target, they moved immediately. The number of pirates on a small three-masted ship wasn't large to begin with, and they were no match for the two of them.
After dealing with the fodder, Tiger prepared to take the ship and leave—when a familiar voice rang out.
"Brother Tiger, I've been waiting for you for a long time. What are you doing here?"
Chu Yang and Tiger turned around.
On the shore stood a large group of Fish-Men. At the front was a burly, blue-skinned, round-bodied Fish-Man.
He looked… very familiar.
Wasn't this Jinbe, the famous "just a Yonko" guy?
Tiger's expression turned serious.
To avoid implicating his companions, he had gone to the Holy Land alone. He hadn't expected them to follow him anyway.
Looking at the overwhelming firelight reflected above the Red Line, Jinbe guessed that Tiger had succeeded and said, "I couldn't stop you from going to free those slaves—but you can't stop us either."
"Jinbe!" Tiger shouted angrily.
Yet there was nothing he could do. He knew Jinbe was a man who valued loyalty above all else.
"Brother Tiger, even if we can't help much," Jinbe said, his eyes deep and steady like the sea itself, "we can at least leave with you."
"Yes! If the Marines want to chase you, they'll have to get past us first!"
"I've hated those humans for a long time already—send one, I'll deal with one!"
The other Fish-Men joined in noisily.
Tiger was deeply moved, yet also knew he couldn't argue with them. In the end, he could only agree to let them join him and set sail together.
"I'm sorry, little brother," Tiger said apologetically to Chu Yang. "Looks like we'll be bringing quite a few more people with us."
He knew that aside from himself, most of the Fish-Men wouldn't welcome a human boy like Chu Yang.
Only then did the Fish-Men notice Chu Yang. Their expressions instantly darkened.
Jinbe was relatively calm. Although he didn't have a good impression of humans either, he at least didn't show open hostility.
At that moment, a tall Fish-Man stepped forward from the crowd.
He stared coldly at Chu Yang and asked, "Brother Tiger, who is this kid?"
Tiger stepped in front of Chu Yang and said in a deep voice, "Arlong, he escaped from Mary Geoise with me. He even saved me once."
"Saved Brother Tiger?"
The still-young Arlong showed no reduction in hostility toward Chu Yang. His expression remained unfriendly. "Brother, you're not seriously planning to bring this human kid out to sea with us, are you?"
"Who knows if he'll sell us out one day?"
As soon as he said that, the other Fish-Men echoed his words, their complaints filled with dissatisfaction toward Chu Yang's human identity.
Having already experienced a brush with death, Chu Yang's mindset had long since changed.
Facing such naked hostility, he looked at them coldly.
He could kill prison guards.
Naturally, he could kill these guys too.
"Enough!" Tiger rarely lost his temper with his companions. "Do you want me to become someone who repays kindness with ingratitude—just like those humans?"
With that shout, the Fish-Men led by Arlong fell silent. Even so, Arlong still glared viciously at Chu Yang.
"Thinking I'm young, so you can bully me however you like?" Chu Yang smiled faintly. It seemed that if he wanted to establish himself in the Sun Pirates, he'd need to give Arlong a proper warning first.
Seeing the atmosphere turn awkward, Jinbe stepped in to smooth things over. "Brother Tiger, many of them have suffered persecution at the hands of humans. They're naturally more guarded. I hope you can understand."
Tiger sighed. Of course he understood. Even his own goodwill toward humans had been almost completely worn away. If Chu Yang hadn't genuinely helped him, he likely would've turned a blind eye as well.
After that, amid the strange atmosphere, Chu Yang boarded the massive pirate ship together with the Fish-Men.
This ship had already been prepared before Jinbe arrived.
Tiger personally raised the legendary flag of the Sun Pirates.
The pirate flag fluttered in the night wind as the ship slowly left the harbor, sailing toward the boundless sea.
Standing on the deck, Tiger smiled and, for the first time, asked Chu Yang his name.
"My name is Chu Yang!"
The boy's clear and confident voice echoed across the deck.
"A very unusual name," Tiger said. Though it was a bit hard to pronounce, he firmly remembered it.
After enjoying the sea breeze on deck for a while, Chu Yang planned to rest. Just then, Arlong suddenly volunteered to take Chu Yang to his room.
Arlong's sudden enthusiasm made Tiger think the relationship between him and Chu Yang had improved, so he readily agreed.
A faint cold smile appeared on Chu Yang's lips. He didn't expose Arlong's little scheme—he just so happened to want to "talk" with him as well.
Arlong led Chu Yang into the ship, heading downward. They soon passed the living quarters and arrived directly at the storage hold on the lowest level.
Standing outside the warehouse door, Arlong suddenly stopped. He turned around and looked at Chu Yang with a cold, mocking smile.
"Human brat, you didn't seriously think I was taking you to rest, did you?"
Arlong expected to see panic on Chu Yang's face.
Instead, he saw amusement.
The young Arlong was not yet the future boss of Cocoyasi Village. And even if he were, he would still be no match for Chu Yang.
Frustrated, Arlong's face twisted as he roared, "Kid, you'd better get off this ship while I'm still willing to talk nicely!"
"Shut up."
Chu Yang raised his right hand. Massive trees and vines burst forth from his arm, rapidly expanding and instantly wrapping around Arlong, leaving him completely immobilized.
The trees continued to compress his body. The suffocating pressure made Arlong struggle desperately as he stared at Chu Yang in terror.
"You're… an ability user?!"
Chu Yang didn't answer.
He only continued increasing the pressure—until blood began to pour from Arlong's mouth and nose.
His internal organs were being severely crushed.
Arlong's expression of unbearable agony filled Chu Yang with exhilaration.
A pure, unrestrained smile spread across his face.
And at that moment, Arlong felt true fear creep into his bones.
(End of Chapter)