Generally speaking, there are only two ways to capture a mermaid. One is on Fishman Island, taking advantage of when they are on land. The other is near the Sabaody Archipelago, where curious kids sometimes venture to experience the "real sunlight" on the sea.
After all, the sunlight on Fishman Island is transmitted by the Yoru Trees, and they have a longing for true sunlight that ordinary humans cannot understand. This might also be one of the reasons for the Sun Pirates' name.
Zhang Da Ye guessed that Camie might have been captured by a passing trafficker in the nearby waters. "Artoria, can you sense Camie's presence?"
Artoria closed her eyes and focused. After a moment, she said, "No, she's too far away."
"What should we do, boss?"
"We head to the lawless zone. According to mermaid… pricing, ordinary black-market shops couldn't even pay the deposit. Traffickers wanting a high price would definitely send Camie to an auction. We'll go intercept them directly!"
The incident happened suddenly, and the three plus Tom immediately ran toward 1GR. People they passed didn't show much surprise—it was just Da Ye running wildly again, nothing unusual.
Elsewhere, Mr. 3 reached out and took three sheets of paper from Mr. 13, a small sea otter. One showed Zhang Da Ye and the others gathered around grilling fish. Another showed a fishman carrying Camie, and the third showed three people stuffing Camie into a sack.
"What? A mermaid was captured?" Mr. 3 slapped the papers on the table. This was completely unexpected.
"Was she caught before meeting the target… wait!" Mr. 5 spotted a blind spot, pointing at the drawing of the trafficker carrying Camie. "The fishman appeared on the coast of 49GR. How could you see her from 59GR?"
Mr. 13 and Miss Friday looked away. Were they supposed to admit it was because they were hungry watching fish being grilled and flew off to catch fish and saw it by chance?
Mr. 3 said, "Never mind. Do we know their route? Let's go stop them—maybe we still can!"
The small sea otter grabbed a sketchbook and quickly drew a top-down map of the Sabaody Archipelago, marking the traffickers' landing spot and path.
Mr. 3 said, "We move immediately. Mr. 13 and Miss Friday continue to monitor. Report any changes instantly!"
Following Mr. 3's orders, the vulture lifted the sea otter and took off.
"The opponent is rumored to have ten times human strength, don't underestimate them," Mr. 3 said, raising his hand. A small glob of wax formed into three fishmen, then melted.
"Ha ha ha, I wonder if ten times strength can lift ten thousand kilograms!" Miss Valentine laughed arrogantly, proud of her ability.
Mr. 5 pushed his sunglasses. "My explosions don't care how strong the enemy is."
The three headed toward the auction house.
About an hour later, at 8GR, Zhang Da Ye spotted three fishmen, one carrying a struggling sack on his shoulder.
They all wore minor disguises. Without close inspection, it was hard to tell they were fishmen. Though awkward, bizarre appearances were common here, so it wasn't a problem.
The area was still a distance from the busy district, with an abandoned large house nearby. No one there knew it had once been Pitman's base—the trafficker Zhang Da Ye had captured for a bounty, later eliminated by Major Cadal.
One spoke, "Hey, young man, better not stand in the middle of the road. It's obstructive."
Zhang Da Ye's hand gripped his sword. "I can move, but put my friend down first."
Perhaps hearing his voice, Camie struggled more in the sack, but with her mouth sealed, she could only make muffled sounds.
The leading fishman laughed, "Friend? Muahaha! What are you saying? This is our precious cargo!"
Zhang Da Ye noticed the red sun marks on the three. "You're Sun Pirates? Would Jinbei allow you to do this?"
It made no sense. Why would Sun Pirates kidnap a mermaid? But Artoria confirmed it was Camie in the sack.
"Hmph, don't mention that name. We only joined this pirate crew because we admired Tiger. Jinbei doesn't deserve to be our boss!" Marcolo bluntly expressed disdain for Jinbei, without using the Shichibukai title to intimidate.
"Exactly, he's just a puppet of the World Government!" Marcolo's subordinate Gero added.
"If Tiger hadn't handed the crew to him, we wouldn't have spared him!" another subordinate, Tans, said.
Zhang Da Ye stared at them, speechless. What's your confidence made of? Can I borrow a few milligrams? Is it just because you're fishmen that Jinbei wouldn't kill you?
And these traffickers have the audacity to mock others as puppets of the World Government?
"One each, be careful not to hurt Camie." After learning their background, Zhang Da Ye didn't waste words. Gripping his sword, he charged, curious about their level.
Artoria and Rui Meng Meng moved as well, but Artoria was distracted. Someone was watching from the shadows—was it chance or premeditated?
Only Tom stayed behind. One for each—what about the cat?
"In that case, catching a few humans too isn't bad," Marcolo said, putting Camie down and advancing with two subordinates.
Gero faced Zhang Da Ye with a sword. His round eyes bulged, a type of goldfish fishman. "Goldfish Swordsmanship: Thrust!"
Clang! Zhang Da Ye parried Gero's longer, heavier sword. Due to his size, Gero's weapon was longer and heavier, and he was indeed strong.
But Zhang Da Ye thought, "Ten times strength and that's it?"
It made sense, since he could now swing a lamppost like a normal stick—he wasn't ordinary anymore.
Then he heard the other two fishmen's moves:
"Fishman Karate: Three Hundred Watts Fist!"
"Fishman Karate: Five Hundred Watts Fist!"
These were probably the same level as the lower ranks of Arlong's crew—novices who used a thousand-watt move as a super attack. Likely weaker than Jinbei's regular strike.
Gero, fighting Zhang Da Ye, felt uneasy. Ten times strength was something they usually didn't brag about. In the Grand Line, it was a natural advantage but not worth boasting.
Only the Arlong Pirates, bullying East Blue villagers, flaunted it constantly.