A short while later, several small boats carried Arlong and his men away into the distance.
With their ideals clashing and their conflict having completely erupted to this extent, Arlong didn't want to spend another minute on the same ship as Jinbe and the others.
Even if they were just small boats, it wasn't a big problem for them.
After all, they weren't afraid of things like storms; they were noble fish-men, capable of activity both on land and in the sea—that was precisely where they were superior to humans!!
Aboard the Sun Pirates' ship, watching the small boats gradually disappear from his sight, Jinbe's eyes glimmered with an unreadable light.
A fish-man behind him stepped forward.
"Jinbe, Arlong and them..."
"They have their own path to walk. Since they've made this decision, whatever happens to them from now on is their own problem!"
As he spoke, Jinbe's expression gradually turned cold.
He had used his Warlord position to negotiate with the World Government for Arlong and the others' release from prison, yet they still insisted on going their own way.
There was nothing more to say.
"Let's go. We're heading back to Fish-Man Island!"
Jinbe declared, then turned and walked into the cabin.
Shortly after, the Sun Pirates' ship also slowly began to move, sailing in the direction opposite to Arlong and his crew.
In just a moment, the two groups could no longer see each other.
Meanwhile, on Arlong's side, the kissing fish-man Chew spoke up:
"Those guys are truly a disgrace to us fish-men!"
"After what happened to Tiger, and they still think about coexisting peacefully with humans!"
"Hah~ pawns of humans!!"
Arlong squinted his eyes and also spoke:
"Someday, all fish-men will understand that what I'm doing is right. I will lead the fish-men on the right path!!"
"That's right, Arlong, we support you!!"
"Support, support!!"
...
"Stop shouting. If you've got that much energy, save it for after you get down below!"
Suddenly, a faint voice sounded, causing the shouts of the numerous fish-men to halt abruptly. Their pupils dilated as they snapped their heads toward the source of the voice.
They saw a handsome young man standing in mid-air, his gaze indifferent as he looked down at them.
"Who are you?!!"
Arlong's gaze sharpened as he demanded of the newcomer.
The newcomer was Kyle. At that moment, he was looking down at the fish-men below with a calm expression, his eyes sweeping over them.
Arlong and his crew had been imprisoned in Impel Down, cut off from the outside world, so naturally, they had no knowledge of any information regarding Kyle.
After all, they weren't news-reading junkies like Doflamingo; he was still a descendant of the Celestial Dragons, even if stripped of his status, so getting a newspaper to read was still easy for him.
"I'm the one who's come to butcher you!"
Kyle stated flatly.
Admittedly, before Tiger died, Arlong still harbored good intentions, adhering to Tiger's principle of peaceful coexistence with humans.
It was only after Tiger was betrayed and killed by humans that he became filled with hatred for them, embarking on a path of revenge.
Putting himself in that position, if Kyle were in Arlong's shoes, he very well might have made the same choice.
But unfortunately, Kyle wasn't Arlong!
Regardless of what experiences turned Arlong into who he was now, during his time ruling over twenty villages in the East Blue, he had caused the deaths of countless humans.
Among them was Nami and Nojiko's mother, Bellemere, once a brave Marine.
Knowing full well the consequences Arlong's actions would bring, Kyle had no reason to let him go.
Arlong wasn't wrong, and Kyle wasn't wrong either!
If anyone was to blame, it was Arlong for being too weak. This world, after all, was one where the strong prey on the weak!!
"Go to hell!!"
Arlong suddenly leaped from the small boat, using the powerful momentum to fly towards Kyle in the air.
Kyle's expression didn't change at all. He slowly raised his hand, purple lightning crackling within it.
A aura spread, causing the fish-men present to tremble inwardly, fear involuntarily appearing on their faces.
The next moment, dazzling purple lightning burst forth from Kyle's hand. The terrifying thunderbolts shot out, engulfing the incoming Arlong and all the other fish-men...
After the commotion subsided, nothing remained on the sea but a few charred corpses and scattered wooden debris.
Thus, the Arlong Pirates, who would later establish a "Fish-Man Empire" in the East Blue and bring casualties to countless innocent humans, became dust in the annals of history.
Scanning the area below once more, a flash of purple lightning flickered, and Kyle's figure instantly vanished from the spot.
——
When Kyle returned to the rear mountains of Marineford, he could hear the sounds of cheering drifting up from below even from a distance.
Looking down, he saw that everyone wasn't training like they usually did when he came back; instead, they were having a banquet.
Everyone was gathered around a huge table. Besides Luffy and the others, Zephyr, who had just recently returned, was also there, along with Garp, and even Kuzan had come by to freeload.
Chopper, Luffy, and a few others were even performing their familiar chopsticks-up-the-nose dance, hopping and jumping around, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
With a flash, Kyle appeared in one of the empty seats and immediately reached for a piece of meat in front of him.
Sanji, startled by Kyle's sudden appearance, nearly dropped the tray he was holding. When he saw it was Kyle, he immediately spoke with irritation:
"Kyle, you idiot, stop appearing out of nowhere all the time. I'm afraid next time I won't be able to control myself and I'll kick you into a concussion!"
Kyle, in the middle of bringing the meat to his mouth, paused, glancing disdainfully at Sanji.
"If you had that kind of strength, I'd promote you to second-in-command of the squad!"
"What level are you on? Don't you have any self-awareness?"
"Anyway, is this fish for me? It looks pretty good!"
"Arigato, Sanji-san!"
Kyle's hand, the one not holding the meat, shot out with lightning speed, instantly snatching the beautifully presented grilled fish from the tray Sanji was holding, opening his mouth wide, and swallowing it whole.
(⊙o⊙)…
(＃°Д°)!
"My fish!!"
Sanji nearly jumped out of his skin. Both hands shot out, grabbing Kyle's clothes and shaking him vigorously.
"You bastard! That fish was specially prepared for Kuina-san!"
"Oh come on! Don't be so stingy. You can just make another one. Besides, Kuina doesn't mind me eating her fish, right, Kuina?"
Kyle turned his head to ask Kuina.
Kuina showed a smile.
"If the captain wants to eat it, of course I don't mind!"
Kyle turned his gaze back, spreading his hands and putting on a helpless expression.
"See! Kuina agreed! Or I could give the fish back to you."
As he spoke, Kyle worked his jaws a few times, then slowly protruded a fish skeleton from his mouth. He reached up, pulled it out—a complete fish skeleton now appearing in Kyle's hand, which he offered to Sanji.
"Here!"
"Get lost!!"
"I give it to you, and you don't want it!"
Kyle curled his lip and continued eating the meat in his other hand.
Having spent so much time with that idiot Luffy, Kyle had now mastered the technique of stripping a fish skeleton with his mouth—cleanly removed without any damage. Now that's skill!
Suddenly, Ace called out to Kyle from the side:
"Hey Kyle, we were just discussing going to Water 7 to hang out in a few days. You interested?"
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