"That hat..."
Having roamed the seas for decades, it was impossible for Jinbe not to know what that straw hat signified. A name synonymous with the greatest legend of the ocean surfaced in his mind.
But on second thought, Jinbe felt it was too absurd. The great-grandson of a legendary Marine, wearing Roger's keepsake?
Then, remembering how this young man had addressed Ace just moments ago, Jinbe grew even more confused. The high-ranking members of the Whitebeard Pirates were well aware of Ace's true lineage. Although Jinbe wasn't a member of Whitebeard's crew, he dealt with their top brass frequently and was close friends with Ace—their bond forged through combat.
If that youth called him "Brother," then what kind of relationship existed between Ace and Vice Admiral Rowan?
Jinbe shook his head, clearing the tangled mess of thoughts. Now was not the time.
Looking toward Rowan, Jinbe said in a deep voice, "Mr. Rowan, I am not here to stand in your way. I understand your intent. Rest assured, I will take Arlong and his men back to Fish-Man Island and keep them under strict watch. They will never terrorize these seas again."
Before Rowan could even respond, Arlong—standing beside Jinbe—interrupted with a snarl. "Jinbe! I think that 'Warlord' title has rotted your brain. You've actually started negotiating with humans!"
He shot a cold glance at the calm Rowan and spat, "Let me tell you, my brothers and I have nothing to do with you anymore. Don't go poking your nose where it doesn't belong. If you want to crawl back, do it alone. I'm not afraid of this old fossil."
Some "Vice Admiral Rowan"? He had never heard the name. He hadn't bowed his head to Kizaru back in the day; why would he care about this old man?
Hearing Arlong's staggering arrogance, Rowan didn't get angry. Instead, he lifted his pipe and looked at Jinbe with a playful smile. "Jinbe, kid, it sounds like that Warlord seat isn't very comfortable. Even these small-time thugs don't listen to a word you say."
Arlong's disrespect made Jinbe's face darken visibly. He grabbed Arlong's arm and hissed, "Arlong! Stop this madness! The world is far more complicated than you realize!"
"Jinbe! I warned you, we are finished! If you keep talking to me like a mentor, don't blame me for forgetting our shared bloodline and getting ugly with you!" Arlong snarled, wrenching his arm away.
As he spoke, the Fish-men of Arlong Park surged forward, surrounding Jinbe. Though Jinbe was the captain Fisher Tiger had chosen, the Sun Pirates had long since fractured after Tiger's death. Having enjoyed a life of luxury and tyranny under Arlong in the East Blue, these Fish-men's loyalty to Arlong had long ago eclipsed their respect for Jinbe.
Seeing the drama unfold, Rowan tapped the ash from his pipe, packed it with fresh tobacco, and fanned the flames of the argument. "Jinbe, it seems your compatriots don't care much for your help. You're trying so hard to save them, yet they treat you like dirt. Is it worth the effort?"
"Mr. Rowan, I..."
Jinbe tried to explain, but in the next second, he noticed Rowan's expression shift. The playfulness vanished, replaced by a flat, terrifyingly calm gaze.
"Even if they did listen to you," Rowan said quietly, "and even if they agreed to go back to Fish-Man Island... what makes you think you have the right to take them away?"
Jinbe's heart skipped a beat. A smile-less Rowan sent a chill straight through his soul.
"Where did this old bag come from? He's got a big mouth!" Compared to the cautious Jinbe, Arlong was losing patience with this talkative human. He hadn't even settled the score for the brat breaking his front gate yet. Did this old man think he was some big shot?
Just because they'd taken out two lackeys, they thought they could act this arrogant? If I don't show some teeth, you'll think you're Admiral Kizaru himself!
"Kuroobi! Shut that old man's mouth for good!" Arlong's lips curled, his crimson eyes locking onto Rowan with primitive, animalistic violence.
"Arlong! Do you have any idea what you're doing?! Kuroobi, stop!" Jinbe shouted, desperate to intervene. He knew exactly who the old man was. In the East Blue, you could mess with anyone, but you never messed with this man! He was a force that neither Arlong nor any faction on Fish-Man Island could afford to provoke.
But Kuroobi, already attuned to Arlong's will, ignored Jinbe completely. He was already mid-charge before Jinbe's voice even faded.
"Mr. Rowan! Watch out! That Fish-man is an officer—he's incredibly strong!" Nojiko screamed a warning. Having lived under Arlong's shadow for six years, she knew the power of the Fish-man in the karate gi. Ten strong men from the village couldn't last a single move against him. Nami had told her that Kuroobi was one of the three top officers, a Level-40 master of Fish-Man Karate. He was the one who had slashed Genzo, the village constable.
"Relax, girl."
Rowan lowered his pipe and exhaled a puff of smoke. "He's just a stray fish. No need to get excited."
Before Rowan's words even hit the air, Luffy had already burst forward.
"Rokushiki: Soru!"
After so much training, Luffy's mastery of the Six Powers was instinctive. Kuroobi, mid-lunge, didn't even have time to blink before his vision blurred and the "brat" who wanted to kick Arlong's ass appeared directly in front of his face.
"Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!"
Before Kuroobi could raise a guard, Luffy's fist slammed into the center of his forehead.
BOOM!
The impact sent the 300-pound Fish-man spiraling backward uncontrollably. He crashed into the stone-paved plaza of Arlong Park with a thunderous roar.
The entire estate trembled. Luffy's speed was so extreme that he had already returned to Rowan's side before the other Fish-men even realized what had happened.
"Kuroobi-san!"
A swarm of Fish-man lackeys rushed to the crater. As the dust settled and they saw his condition, their faces froze in horror.
In the center of the shattered stone pit, Kuroobi lay with his eyes rolled back, unconscious like a dead fish.
A top officer of the Arlong Pirates—defeated in a single move!
The park fell into a deathly silence.
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