(A/N: I have updated the Discord Link.)
Arlong watched Chew's lifeless body hit the ground, and a surge of fury erupted inside him. His sharp teeth clenched, eyes flaring. "You bastard!" he roared. "How dare you kill one of us!"
Without another word, Arlong lunged forward and threw a heavy punch straight at Gojo.
Gojo didn't hesitate. His left fist shot forward in a clean, simple counter.
The two punches collided.
A sharp boom echoed through Arlong Park as a gust of wind burst outward from the point of impact, rattling loose debris and sending ripples across the surface of the nearby water. The ground beneath their feet cracked slightly, showing the sheer force behind both blows.
Nezumi, watching from the side, went pale. He recognized Gojo instantly. Not only had the newspapers reported how this boy single-handedly destroyed the Krieg Pirates, but as a Marine officer, Nezumi had received even more detailed intelligence highlighting Gojo's terrifying strength.
He did not want to be anywhere near this fight.
But he also couldn't walk away immediately—not without looking suspicious, not while the outcome was still uncertain. So he slowly stepped back, edging toward the sidelines, choosing a spot where he could observe yet stay out of the blast zone.
In his mind, the plan was simple: let Arlong and Gojo fight to the death. Whoever survived… Nezumi would deal with accordingly. Whether that meant hiding, helping, or running, he hadn't decided yet.
But he knew one thing for certain:
He would not get involved in this battle. Not even for a second.
Arlong and Gojo, their fists still tingling from the impact, both slid back a few steps across the cracked stone floor. The air between them vibrated with leftover force.
Arlong's eyes flicked toward the Marines who were quietly inching away. His gaze locked onto Nezumi. "Where are you going, Captain Nezumi?" he growled. "It's not like he hasn't seen us. He saw both of us together. He clearly knows we're collaborating. If you leave now and he escapes… your career as a Marine Captain will be over."
Nezumi froze mid-step.
Inside, he cursed Arlong a thousand different ways. You damn fish…! He had only been trying to slip away to avoid being dragged into this disaster. If Gojo won, Nezumi intended to simply smile, pretend he saw nothing, and walk away untouched. After all, he was a Marine Captain—he was confident Gojo wouldn't attack him. And considering Gojo was acting as a pirate hunter, he didn't seem like some righteous hero who would start shouting about Nezumi's corruption or chase him down later to "deliver justice" for Cocoyashi Village.
Nezumi clenched his jaw, forced a stiff smile, and reluctantly stopped retreating.
But in his mind, he kept cursing Arlong nonstop. If I survive this mess, I'm never dealing with this monster again…
Nezumi forced an awkward smile and pretended not to understand. "What are you talking about, Arlong? I only came here to speak with you… to give you a chance to surrender. And since you already have your hands full with an opponent, I'll simply return to my ship and let you deal with this boy. I won't interfere in your battle. After that, we can continue our conversation."
Arlong's expression darkened. "Think carefully, Captain Nezumi. You should know exactly where you're standing… and what could happen if he decides to reveal our cooperation. When your higher-ups learn what has been happening in the Conomi Islands for years…" He let the rest hang in the air. "You can imagine the consequences."
As he spoke, the remaining Fish-men around the park began shifting positions. Slowly, deliberately, they circled the Marines, forming a loose ring around Nezumi's men. Their posture left no room for doubt—they were ready to attack the moment Arlong commanded it.
The message was clear: either Nezumi helped Arlong fight… or he would die here with his subordinates.
Nezumi's face twitched, his bravado crumbling as he realized he had been cornered. He swallowed hard.
Arlong, meanwhile, wasn't acting out of blind rage. He had read the news about Gojo annihilating the Krieg Pirates. And the moment their fists had collided earlier, Arlong had felt it—Gojo was powerful. Terrifyingly so. This boy was not an opponent he could underestimate.
If he wanted to survive this encounter, he would need every advantage… every ally… and every bit of pressure he could muster.
Gojo looked toward Captain Nezumi, his expression unreadable. "If you want, you can leave," he said calmly. "I promise I won't tell anyone what happened here… or about your collusion with the Arlong Pirates. You can walk away with a peaceful mind. I don't want conflict with the Marines. I have a good friend in the Marines, so I'd rather not disappoint him this early."
The first part of Gojo's statement made Nezumi's eyes widen with relief—an assurance, a lifeline. If Gojo truly intended to keep quiet, then Nezumi could escape this nightmare untouched.
But then came the last sentence.
A friend… in the Marines?
Nezumi stiffened. That single detail changed everything. If the "friend" was someone with influence—someone who trusted Gojo—then Nezumi's actions here could easily be exposed later.
Swallowing, Nezumi asked cautiously, "Who is your friend in the Marines?"
Gojo exhaled silently. He immediately realized his slip. He shouldn't have said that last part. It had been unnecessary… careless. But he wasn't afraid of Nezumi, not in the slightest. And he certainly didn't feel the need to lie.
"It's Captain Smoker," Gojo replied.
The name landed heavily in the air.
As soon as Nezumi heard Gojo speak Smoker's name, his blood ran cold. He instantly understood—he could not leave now. Not unless he wanted to be executed by Marine Headquarters later. If Gojo survived and mentioned anything to Smoker, then Smoker—straight-backed, incorruptible, and brutally honest—would report everything. And once the higher-ups learned of Nezumi's years of collusion with Arlong, Nezumi's fate would be sealed.
He clenched his teeth, panic twisting into desperation.
Nezumi spun toward his Marine subordinates. "You all know what will happen if Smoker learns what happened here—and about our cooperation with Arlong! Don't hold back. Fire immediately!"
At his command, every Marine raised their rifles. Nezumi himself pulled out his handgun and aimed at Gojo. A heartbeat later—
Gunfire exploded through Arlong Park.
The barrage was so loud and continuous that even the Cocoyashi villagers, still running toward Arlong Park, could hear the frantic crack of bullets echoing across the island.
Arlong watched with satisfaction curling across his sharp grin. The moment Gojo tried to dodge, he planned to strike him from behind. A clean ambush. Let the humans soften him first, he thought.
But then something unexpected happened.
Gojo didn't move.
Not an inch.
Every bullet—dozens, then hundreds—stopped just a few inches away from his body, frozen in midair as if an invisible wall protected him. The shots hovered for a fraction of a second before dropping harmlessly to the ground with a metallic rain.
Clink—clink—clink…
The deafening sound of metal falling onto stone echoed through the entire park.
Marines stared in horror. The Fish-men froze mid-step. Even Arlong's confident expression faltered as he realized—
None of their attacks could even touch this boy.
----
Want to get daily updates and read 20+ chapters? Then join my Patreon!
Patreon Link: https://[email protected]/Hkj822
Join Discord Link: https://discord.gg/MXPrVTBM