Jinbe had always known that Arlong would eventually leave Fish-Man Island.
In truth
He himself had allowed it to happen.
Back in those days, Arlong had been one of his subordinates in the infamous Fish-Man District, a lawless region where resentment toward humans burned fiercely.
Jinbe had never liked Arlong's personality.
Arlong's ideology was too extreme.
Too hateful.
To Arlong, fish-men were the superior race, while humans were nothing more than weak creatures destined to be ruled.
It was a dangerous belief.
One that would inevitably lead to tragedy.
And yet
Arlong had always shown unwavering respect for the ideals of their former captain, Fisher Tiger.
That was the only thing that had ever reassured Jinbe.
When the opportunity arose to negotiate with the World Government, Jinbe made a decision that would forever alter his life.
He accepted the position of Seven Warlords of the Sea.
In exchange
He demanded the release of several imprisoned fish-men who had once sailed under Tiger's banner.
Among them was Arlong.
Arlong and his crew had previously been captured by Borsalino and imprisoned within Impel Down.
Jinbe's condition secured their freedom.
But the moment Arlong learned the truth
Everything fell apart.
"You became a Shichibukai?"
Arlong had laughed coldly.
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
"If you say it politely, they're pirates recognized by the World Government."
"But if you say it honestly…"
"They're nothing more than lapdogs serving the World Government."
To Arlong, Jinbe's decision was unforgivable.
"You betrayed Tiger."
"You betrayed the fish-men."
"You're no longer worthy to lead us!"
The conflict fractured the Sun Pirates.
The once-unified crew disbanded.
Each member chose his own path.
Arlong gathered several loyal followers and formed a new pirate crew.
The Arlong Pirates.
Not long afterward
They departed from the Grand Line and sailed toward the relatively peaceful seas of the East Blue.
In truth, Jinbe had quietly encouraged that decision.
He understood Arlong too well.
If Arlong remained in the Grand Line, his hatred would eventually lead him into conflict with monsters far stronger than himself.
The Grand Line was merciless.
A reckless fish-man with a supremacist ideology would not survive long.
Sending him to the East Blue was, in a sense, protection.
A way to keep him alive.
After all
Arlong was still his kin.
But now…
Jinbe's eyes darkened slightly.
It seemed that even the East Blue was no longer as peaceful as it once had been.
There were formidable figures there now.
Jinbe did not resent the Marine who had killed Arlong.
Regardless of the exact circumstances, the outcome had already been decided.
More importantly
He could not afford to provoke the Marines.
Not anymore.
Because the burden he carried now was far heavier than personal feelings.
He carried the safety of Fish-Man Island itself.
Through the Den Den Mushi, Jinbe spoke calmly.
"Arlong left Fish-Man Island long ago."
"He is no longer affiliated with the Ryugu Kingdom."
"Whatever actions he takes are his own responsibility."
"I have no authority to interfere with his decisions."
Jinbe deliberately distanced himself from Arlong.
On the other end of the line, Sengoku remained silent for a moment.
Then his voice returned.
Cold.
Authoritative.
"Twice."
"Jinbe."
"You will assist the Marines in battle twice when requested."
"That is the condition."
Sengoku's tone left no room for negotiation.
Years of commanding the greatest military force on the seas had forged an overwhelming aura of authority.
Jinbe lowered his gaze slightly.
"I understand."
He agreed.
He had no other choice.
There was nothing left for him to gamble with.
He could not allow the wrath of the Marines to fall upon Fish-Man Island.
Peace for his homeland was more important than his pride.
Jinbe…
Have you truly betrayed your own sense of justice?
The thought lingered quietly in his heart.
Meanwhile
Inside a small café located in Fish-Man District.
A sudden pain pierced through the head of Shyarly.
Her fingers tightened around the long smoking pipe in her hand.
Her purple nails trembled slightly.
"Arlong…"
"Are you dead?"
Shyarly's beautiful blue eyes narrowed.
She had once lived in Fish-Man District before opening her own fortune-telling café.
Her short black hair framed her cold yet elegant face.
The mermaid was known across the island for one thing.
Her prophecies.
Shyarly's predictions had an eerie reputation for accuracy.
Years ago
She had foretold that pirates would flood Fish-Man Island.
Many dismissed her words as nonsense.
But then came the execution of Gol D. Roger.
The world changed overnight.
The Great Age of Pirates began.
Countless dreamers set sail toward the Grand Line.
And if pirates wished to reach the New World, the second half of the Grand Line
They had only one route.
Fish-Man Island.
Just as Shyarly had predicted.
Now, another vision struck her mind.
At first, she felt relief.
Arlong was her half-brother by blood.
Yet she had never truly known him.
They had been separated since childhood.
His death did not shake her heart deeply.
But suddenly
The pain intensified.
Her entire body trembled.
A terrifying vision unfolded within her mind.
The world was screaming.
War.
A war on an unimaginable scale.
Flames covered the earth.
Battles raged across the seas.
Marines and pirates clashed endlessly.
No one could escape it.
Not even Fish-Man Island hidden beneath the ocean.
Then
A flash of white appeared within the vision.
A woman.
For only a brief moment.
Her figure passed like lightning.
Shyarly gasped.
The prophecy ended abruptly.
Cold sweat drenched her body.
"What… was that…?"
A world war.
A catastrophe beyond imagination.
Yet she dared not reveal what she had seen.
Because the fragments of the prophecy were incomplete.
The only thing she knew for certain was this:
The world was heading toward chaos.
And in a chaotic world
Those without strength should never stand in the spotlight.
Meanwhile
Far above the sea.
A Marine warship sailed steadily through calm waters.
Onboard was Saint Roselith Seraphina.
She was returning to Marine Branch 18.
The sky was clear.
Not a single cloud drifted overhead.
A news-carrying seagull descended from the sky and dropped a freshly printed newspaper onto the deck.
Fran hurriedly caught it.
He opened it with curiosity.
"Wow…"
"This is interesting."
The first headline caught his attention immediately.
The Baratie, a floating sea restaurant located in the East Blue, had rapidly gained fame.
Only one year after opening
It had already become legendary among sailors.
People reportedly traveled thousands of miles just to taste its food.
Fran continued reading.
"The head chef is said to be a former pirate with a missing leg…"
He scrolled further down the page.
Another headline appeared.
The legendary shipwright Tom, the man who had built the Oro Jackson for the Pirate King, had been transferred to Enies Lobby for trial.
His alleged crime
Constructing a ship for Gol D. Roger.
"What's a Sea Train?"
A voice suddenly spoke beside him.
Fran jumped slightly.
Standing behind him was Saint Roselith Seraphina.
She leaned closer, glancing at the article.
The headline describing the Sea Train caught her interest.
She frowned slightly.
Ships sailed on the sea.
Aircraft flew through the sky.
Submarines moved beneath the water.
But a train that traveled across the ocean?
That sounded almost impossible.
"Colonel," Fran explained excitedly, "I heard the Sea Train uses a special technology that allows it to float along the ocean surface while following underwater rails."
"It can even travel during storms!"
"The train itself is completely waterproof."
"It's incredible!"
Just then
Another voice joined them.
"Teacher! Look at this!"
Kuina approached with a towel draped around her neck.
She had just finished training.
Seeing her teacher standing close to Fran instantly made her suspicious.
Hmph.
Teacher belongs to me.
She quickly squeezed between them and glanced at the newspaper.
However
Seraphina's expression had already grown serious.
This invention…
Was far more important than people realized.
From her perspective, the Sea Train was nothing less than a strategic asset.
In her previous life she had learned an important principle.
If you want prosperity, you must first build roads.
Transportation determined the strength of nations.
In this pirate world
Each island functioned like an isolated kingdom.
Ships were the only connection between them.
But if Sea Trains existed
Trade and communication between islands would increase dramatically.
The World Government would gain far greater control over its member nations.
Calling it a national strategic asset was no exaggeration.
Yet the genius who invented such technology
The master craftsman who had changed maritime transportation forever
Was about to be executed.
Simply because he once built a ship for the Pirate King.
Seraphina narrowed her eyes.
That logic was absurd.
Shipwrights built ships.
That was their profession.
If a pirate threatened a craftsman, what choice would the craftsman have?
Did the authorities not understand the concept of necessity?
Executing him might weaken the legacy of the Pirate King.
But it would also slow the technological development of the entire world.
Even from the perspective of the World Government
Possessing Sea Train technology would vastly strengthen their rule.
And yet…
They intended to destroy the very mind that created it.
Seraphina sighed quietly.
"Ridiculous."