Inside Arlong Park, a filthy deal was unfolding.
Today wasn't just the day Arlong's Pirates collected head taxes—it was also when they paid Colonel Mouse his hush money.
Arlong Park was fortified by towering stone walls, with a single massive gate facing the sea.
A long waterway, designed for Fish-Men, ran from the gate, flanked by two wide pools where the crew frolicked.
At the waterway's end loomed a five-story tower, topped with an open-mouthed shark spire waving Arlong's pirate flag.
In the courtyard, sprawled a tall Fish-Man with a long, jagged nose and serrated teeth—a saw shark. This was Arlong, captain of the Arlong Pirates.
Opposite him sat a rat-faced navy officer in a tattered coat, flanked by two faceless marines. This had to be Colonel Mouse.
"Here's this month's cut," Arlong took a thick stack of bills from a subordinate, sliding it across the table.
"Jeehee!" Mouse squeaked, grinning ear to ear. "Arlong, my friend, you're a breed apart from other pirates!"
He snatched the money, tucking it into his coat, nodding. "You really get how the world works!"
"Shar-kai-kai-kai!" Arlong laughed, arms wide. "We're both, friend! Stick with me, and East Blue's riches are yours."
His laughter stopped. He leaned forward, hands braced on the table, eyes narrowing at Mouse. "That you get it proves you're a smart navy officer."
His smile was a veneer; his eyes were ice. A rabid racist, Arlong believed Fish-Men were born superior, that human defiance mocked natural law.
He ruled humans with an iron fist, their lives worthless. Greedy and cruel, he worshipped money as "the best and most reliable thing."
Mouse sweated under Arlong's gaze, forcing a laugh. "You've been… quite the partner."
"Shar-kai-kai! Why talk basics?" Arlong reclined, grinning. "Harmony breeds wealth. Money's the only thing you can trust."
"I despise humans," he added, "but a sensible one like you? You're an exception."
Mouse's gut twisted. He knew Arlong's words were hollow, but as the weaker party, and with Arlong as his cash cow, he nodded along, smiling.
When Arlong finished, Mouse stood hastily. "Well, I'll take my leave."
He hated this place—the Fish-Men's stares, like he was livestock, made his skin crawl.
Then, from the left wall, a mocking voice rang out:
"Leave?"
"Where to?"
"Why not head straight to hell together?"
"Who's there?" Arlong, Mouse, and the twenty-odd Fish-Men by the pools turned.
Atop the left wall stood two figures—Sora and Kuina.
They'd perched there, eavesdropping on Arlong and Mouse, until Mouse moved to leave. Then Sora spoke.
The Fish-Men, seeing just humans, relaxed, resuming their tasks. But Arlong's aura darkened.
Humans, standing taller than him? Lowly humans, forcing a great Fish-Man to look up? He'd rather they'd smashed through than stood on his wall.
He glared, venomous. "Two measly humans dare invade my domain and threaten my guest? You're begging for death!"
He crushed his wine glass, shards and liquid pooling in his palm. With a flick, he hurled the debris at Sora and Kuina.
The flying glass and water sparked no reaction. Their eyes flashed red, and a slight head tilt dodged it all.
Kuina, from the moment she mounted the wall, locked onto Mouse. His ratty look screamed traitor. Sora, meanwhile, eyed Arlong with unveiled disgust and indifference.
Sora's gaze—treating him like a fish on a slab—enraged Arlong. In East Blue, *he* looked at humans that way. Since when did they dare return it?
His eyes blazed red, bloodlust flickering. "Kin! Tear them apart!" he roared, his voice echoing through Arlong Park.
The Fish-Men, roused when Arlong crushed his glass, now charged, eyes wild, claws bared.
As they rushed, Sora moved—then Kuina spoke: "Sora, we agreed. This is mine."
Her killing intent was palpable.
Sora froze, scratching his head. "Sorry, Kuina, my bad. Almost forgot."
He was itching for a fight—ages since his last. These Fish-Men were one-slash fodder, not filling, but thirst-quenching.
Kuina's eyes never left Mouse. Perched on the wall, she was a reaper, radiating cold menace.
Mouse was her first target.
Her boundless killing intent pricked Mouse like needles, pain lancing his body. His instincts screamed: Danger. Danger. DANGER.
He froze, sweating, staring up. Who is this woman? Why's she fixated on me?
As the Fish-Men neared the wall, Kuina shifted her gaze, leaping down. Ignoring the charging mob, she locked onto Mouse again, advancing slowly.
Sora, bored, crouched on the wall, yawning. He unhooked his wine gourd. Time for a drink and a show.
Two Fish-Men led the charge, aura flaring. One raised a fist, the other a blade, aiming for Kuina's head.
Then—
Zing!
As the left Fish-Man swung, a blade flash slit his throat. Kuina's eyes flared red. She sidestepped left, dodging the second's blade, then paused. With a flourish, she gripped her sword backhand, stabbing right, and withdrew.
She walked between them, unfazed, moving forward.
Only then did the two Fish-Men, frozen, collapse with a thud, twitching.
The trailing Fish-Men skidded to a halt, stunned. One exchange—two kin dead, clean and swift.
"RAAH!" Rage ignited. Eyes bloodshot, they roared, charging Kuina.
She continued her steady pace toward Mouse, unruffled. Her right hand spun the sword to a forehand grip. A cold, dazzling light gleamed on the blade. With a simple horizontal slash, she met the rushing Fish-Man.
The blade flashed. His charge halted.
Splurt!
Kuina stepped right, dodging the blood spraying from his chest. She glanced coldly at the remaining Fish-Men, flicking her sword to shed the blood.
The blood splattered a bold "一" on the ground, gleaming red in the sunlight.
Her icy stare stung the Fish-Men. They'd forgotten—their own disdainful looks at humans mirrored hers now.
Fear hit. They stopped, pupils shrinking, retreating instinctively.
This wasn't a human. She was a god of death.
Three slashes. Three kin. They couldn't even see the blade—just its flash.
(End of Chapter)