Arlong's Pirates had ruled the Golem Islands for nearly six years.
Every village paid a monthly head tax to the Fish-Men. Failure meant one word: death. Resistance? The entire village faced annihilation. No one had dared defy them.
At first, the villagers hoped the navy would crush the pirates. But when Arlong's crew effortlessly sank five warships, despair set in.
Subsequent navy attempts fared no better—marines crumpled like eggs against these monsters. The villagers realized: Fish-Men were beyond human strength.
Worse, a rat-faced navy officer—later exploiting his authority—sealed their fate. Instead of fighting Arlong, he blocked news of their plight.
Anyone seeking navy aid was betrayed to Arlong, leading to brutal deaths and village-wide punishment. Their last shred of hope vanished.
For six years, the island's residents endured this hellish existence.
Today was the monthly collection day.
Led by two officers, a band of Fish-Men swaggered into Cocoyasi Village, Nami's home. At the forefront was a cartilaginous Fish-Man in a deep blue sleeveless karate gi, hair in twin braids, arms bearing machete-like fins, muscles rippling with menacing aura. This was Kroobi, ex-Sun Pirate and Arlong officer.
A step behind was a kisser Fish-Man in a blue sleeveless shirt, black shorts, and spiky gold hair, his protruding lips like a cannon barrel. This was Chew, another ex-Sun Pirate and Arlong officer.
The Fish-Men strode to the village's lone street. Without prompting, villagers emerged, clutching money, lining up to deposit their hard-earned beri into a Fish-Man's empty sack.
"Move it! Dawdling, huh? Short on cash?" a Fish-Man snarled, glaring at a slow-moving villager. He snatched the money, weighed it, and tossed it into the sack. Grabbing the villager's arm, he flung him to the ground.
The villager, silent, stood and limped to a house. The others watched numbly, accustomed to the Fish-Men's dominance, arrogance, and cruelty.
Soon, the sack brimmed with money. Kroobi, cold-eyed, scanned the villagers lining the street. Without a word, he led Chew—hands in pockets—and the Fish-Men toward the tangerine grove, home to the village's last resident, Nami's sister.
Her head tax would wrap up the day's work. Cocoyasi, closest to Arlong Park, was always last.
Abruptly, Kroobi and Chew halted, causing a stir among the trailing Fish-Men.
"What's up?" they asked, looking ahead.
At the village entrance, a man and woman approached—Sora and Kuina, fresh from the coast.
They'd docked the Pseudo-Merry at a makeshift pier and headed straight for the village, colliding with the exiting Fish-Men.
Kroobi eyed the human brats. "Missed two?" he asked a Fish-Man tallying funds.
The Fish-Man shook the sack. "All collected, except Nami's sister's fee at the grove."
Kroobi turned, staring coldly at Sora and Kuina. "If the count's right, these humans are outsiders. Kill them."
No leaks allowed.
Sora paused, glancing at Kuina. He unhooked his wine gourd, lounging casually, sipping rum with a playful smirk, awaiting Kuina's show.
Kuina's icy gaze swept the Fish-Men, settling on Kroobi and Chew—clearly the leaders, unmistakable.
She didn't slow. Instead, she quickened her pace toward them.
Villagers under the eaves tensed, worried, as Kuina advanced fearlessly.
A middle-aged man in a uniform, face scarred with four crisscrossing cuts, a windmill on his hat, rushed from a house.
He grabbed Kuina's arm, stopping her. Sora's eyes twinkled—this was Genzo, Cocoyasi's sheriff, a gentle father figure to Nami and Nojiko.
Genzo, seeing Kuina charge toward the Fish-Men, had bolted to intervene. These outsiders, likely new to the island, didn't know the Fish-Men's savagery.
Gotta get them out before the Fish-Men act, Genzo thought.
He glared at Kuina, feigning coldness. "Girl, outsiders aren't welcome. Leave."
Kuina met his gaze, her icy eyes softening. His tone was harsh, but his anxious, caring eyes betrayed him.
Sora shrugged, strolling over. He slung an arm around Genzo, pulling him aside. "Thanks, uncle. We appreciate it, but we know what we're doing."
Genzo blinked, stunned.
In that moment, Kuina advanced another dozen meters, nearing the Fish-Men.
"Don't go, girl!" Genzo shouted.
Kuina turned, flashing him a smile. "It's fine, uncle. We're here to deal with Arlong."
"Deal with Arlong?" Genzo's face froze in shock.
"Yup. Watch," Sora said, pointing.
As Kuina glanced at Genzo, Chew attacked. Sneak or not, he aimed to kill. Puffing his gun-barrel lips, he fired a water bullet at Kuina's head.
The bullet zipped like a shot, aiming for her skull. Chew's eyes gleamed, certain of a one-hit kill.
But reality defied him.
Kuina, as if foreseeing it, tilted her head slightly, dodging the bullet effortlessly. It grazed her ear, hurtling toward Sora and Genzo.
Genzo's pupils dilated, sweat beading. He moved to pull Sora aside, but the air solidified, freezing him. The bullet halted midair, inches from them.
In a blink, the space unfroze. The bullet dropped, splashing harmlessly.
Genzo stared, gobsmacked. What power is this?
Hope flickered—could they defeat Arlong? But despair doused it. No, those monsters are unbeatable.
He shook his head, meeting Sora's gaze.
Sora sipped his gourd, smiling. "Told you, we're here for Arlong." He added, serious, "We're pretty strong."
He nodded at Kuina, urging Genzo to watch. Only action could convince these broken villagers that Arlong's reign could end.
(End of Chapter)