The New World, 10,000 meters beneath the sea.
Fish-Man Island.
A tall figure in a hooded cloak slowly stepped into Fish-Man Street.
Fisher Tiger frowned as he looked at the moss-covered, run-down, and filthy surroundings.
From the shadows, he could clearly feel the hostile, watchful eyes glowing faintly green—like wolves in the dark.
"Intruder! You're asking for death!!"
Suddenly, a bulky figure leapt from a patch of green algae behind him.
With muscular arms tensed in an attacking stance and thin streams of water swirling around him, the man threw a punch straight at Fisher Tiger's back!
"Fish-Man Karate: Samegawara Seiken!"
Fisher Tiger, already on guard, spun around and threw a punch of his own!
Same technique. Same move.
With a dull thud, a wave of water burst out like a shockwave.
The attacker stumbled back a few steps, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at the mysterious hooded figure.
"Such powerful Fish-Man Karate... Who are you!?"
He had stormy brows and wild sideburns, a thick black beard on his chin, a lightning-shaped scar at the corner of his left eye, and a wide frame. He wore a yukata embroidered with swirling patterns.
"I didn't teach you Fish-Man Karate so you could use it against your own kind..."
Fisher Tiger raised his hand and pulled back the hood, revealing his face. A faint smile appeared on his rough features as he looked at the young whale shark man in front of him.
"It's been a while, Jinbei."
Jinbei's eyes widened before a rush of joy overcame him.
"Tiger! You're back!!"
"It's been so long with no word from you... I thought..."
His eyes turned red, and he clenched his teeth.
Fisher Tiger reached out and ruffled his hair with a smile.
"Yeah, I ran into some trouble along the way, but everything's settled now."
Just then, cheers and excited voices rang out from every corner.
"It's Boss Tiger!!"
"Boss Tiger's back!!"
"Hahaha! This is amazing!"
One by one, fishmen cautiously peeked out from the shadows. The moment they saw the "intruder" was Fisher Tiger, their faces lit up and they rushed out.
"We missed you so much!"
"Yeah, Boss Tiger! Next time you set sail, take us with you!"
"Let us see the outside world too!"
...
All eyes were on their revered boss of Fish-Man Street, shining with the eager curiosity and dreams of youth.
"Yeah, Boss Tiger, we've grown up."
Jinbei, now calmer, grinned with excitement.
"You saw just now, didn't you? I've trained hard in the Fish-Man Karate you taught me. Even if we face enemies, I'll fight alongside you!"
He struck a karate pose, glowing with pride.
Fisher Tiger stared at the group of young faces—thin, smudged with grime—and their clothes, worn and full of patches. His heart sank.
Because of human hunting, most fishmen spent their entire lives shackled by fear of slavery, never daring to set foot outside Fish-Man Island.
Those of noble birth had it better—Fish-Man Island was vast, and their environment more livable.
But those born in Fish-Man District, the so-called "low-class" fishmen, had no choice but to grow up in these filthy, foul-smelling gutters. Some twisted into violent criminals, while others wasted away from sickness and poverty.
Within Fish-Man Island, Fish-Man District was synonymous with "violence," "filth," "chaos," "disease," and "inferiority."
Fisher Tiger had once been just like these kids, chasing after violence and rebellion in hopes of changing his fate.
So he chose to set sail, to explore the world in search of a way to change it all.
But...
My adventure wasn't nearly as wonderful as you all imagine.
Fisher Tiger sighed inwardly, unable to bring himself to tell them the truth, and forced a smile.
"Later. There'll be a chance later."
"Awesome!!"
The boys from the Fish-Man District immediately burst into excited cheers.
Fisher Tiger ruffled Jinbei's hair again and smiled.
"Nothing's happened on Fish-Man Island lately, has it?"
Jinbei thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"No. Compared to before, it feels a lot more peaceful."
"I heard there've been way fewer poachers showing up around Fish-Man Island too."
Fisher Tiger nodded, a bit of the worry in his heart easing.
"That's good."
It seemed that Daren-san's advice had been right.
Word must have spread that he was about to become one of the Shichibukai, and many illegal poachers had caught wind of it, keeping them from making any reckless moves.
This was a good thing.
Even if it couldn't completely eliminate poaching, at least it could greatly reduce the number of fishmen being hunted.
Jinbei and the others had stayed in the Fish-Man District the whole time, cut off from the outside world, so they still didn't know that he was about to become one of the Shichibukai.
"But don't get complacent. You all need to grow stronger as fast as you can."
Fisher Tiger looked around at everyone, then fixed his gaze on Jinbei.
"Especially you, Jinbei. We may be from the Fish-Man District, but fishmen and merfolk are, at the end of the day, the same people... If you get the chance, go to Ryugu Castle and report there."
"The future of Fish-Man Island depends on all of us to protect it."
Jinbei bit his lip and nodded, though a little reluctantly.
Fisher Tiger patted him on the shoulder without saying much more.
Some things couldn't be explained with just a few words.
The Fish-Man District was like the slums of Fish-Man Island. It was only natural that those who grew up there harbored resentment and hatred toward the "upper class" living in Ryugu Palace.
Fisher Tiger had once felt the same way.
They were all members of the Fish-Man race, so why could some live under the warm sunlight and in clear waters while others were left to rot in filthy, stinking sewers?
It wasn't until Fisher Tiger traveled across the seas that he slowly realized slums were a common reality everywhere.
Even a place as wealthy as Fish-Man Island couldn't escape it.
Compared to the external threats facing Fish-Man Island, the internal divisions among fishmen were practically meaningless.
"Alright, that's enough for now. I need to head to Ryugu Castle. There's something important I want to discuss with King Neptune."
After a few final instructions, Fisher Tiger turned and strode toward Ryugu Castle.
Step by step, he walked out of the cramped, shadowy Fish-Man District. Outside, the clear, warm sunlight poured down, bathing his body in a fiery red glow.
On the path toward the light, however, images of bloodstained, smiling faces kept flashing through his mind.
"Escape, fishmen."
It was as if he could hear those cheers again.
He clenched his fists tighter and walked forward with even more determination.
Until he saw something that made him stop dead in his tracks.
It was the Gyoncorde Plaza of Fish-Man Island.
At the center of the square stood a bronze statue, about three meters tall.
The statue's sharp, deeply carved lines clearly captured someone's rugged features and wild, defiant spirit. It was obviously crafted by the master sculptors of Fish-Man Island—so lifelike it seemed ready to step down from the pedestal.
Fisher Tiger's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
The figure immortalized in bronze...
He recognized it instantly.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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