"Jinbe, kid, do you still intend to shield your kin?"
Looking down at the battered Jinbe, Rowan's expression remained as calm as a still lake. He showed no excitement or pride after defeating a Warlord of the Sea with such absolute dominance. To him, it was simply the natural order of things.
Jinbe wiped the blood from his mouth, but a sudden, violent coughing fit seized him, staining his chin crimson once more. He eventually gave up on the blood and clutched the gruesome, jagged tear on his right shoulder, forcing himself to step out of the crater.
His aura had completely withered. Jinbe looked up at Rowan, a bitter, helpless smile touching his lips.
"I have been utterly defeated by you, Mr. Rowan. I no longer have the right to negotiate. Whatever you intend to do next... you no longer need to consult my opinion."
With those words, Jinbe turned toward the seaward side of the estate without looking back. He left behind one final sentence: "You are on your own now. I bid you farewell."
As Jinbe dove into the waves, the composure on Arlong's face finally shattered. A look of pure, unadulterated terror flooded his features.
"Boss Jinbe! Boss Jinbe, don't go! You can't leave us! If you go, what happens to us?! We're your brothers! Your own people!"
Arlong screamed, his voice cracking with a desperate, pleading edge. Where was the arrogance now? Where was the pride of the "superior race"?
Even if Jinbe heard the cry, he didn't falter. He knew staying would change nothing. He had grown strong—strong enough for the World Government to fear him—but in front of Mr. Rowan, he was still that same vulnerable little fish from the Old Era. He lacked the power to save Arlong and his crew from the reckoning they had earned through six years of tyranny.
With a sharp splash, Jinbe disappeared into the dark depths of the ocean.
"Arlong!"
A resonant, authoritative voice boomed from behind him. Arlong spun around to see Rowan advancing toward him with measured, heavy steps.
"For six long years, you have ruled Cocoyasi Village and the twenty neighboring islands through blood and terror. You have committed unforgivable atrocities. Today, in my capacity as a Marine Vice Admiral, I shall bring you to justice!"
Rowan's voice echoed like a great temple bell, deafening the remaining Fish-men.
"Don't come closer! I'm warning you, stay back!" Arlong retreated step by step, his spirit collapsing. But no matter how much he snarled or threatened, the old man—like a specter of death—kept coming.
Each of Rowan's footfalls seemed to stomp directly on Arlong's heart. Panic, agony, chaos—countless negative emotions converged. Finally, Arlong's mind snapped. He turned and ran, fleeing like a madman.
The sea! Right, as long as I reach the water, with our speed, I'll be safe!
Arlong's eyes flared with a manic light as the blue horizon drew closer. But he had only taken a few steps before that devilish silhouette flickered and appeared directly in his path.
"Running?" Rowan let out a cold snort. "Get back there!"
He delivered a swift kick, launching the unresisting Arlong backward like a soccer ball.
Outside the gates, the villagers of Cocoyasi watched. Some wept with joy, others cheered at the top of their lungs. The Arlong Pirates—the nightmare that had haunted them for six years—were finally being dismantled.
Meanwhile. At the other end of the island.
A figure with orange hair was sprinting frantically down the main road leading into Cocoyasi Village. If Rowan were here, he would recognize her instantly: Nami, Nojiko's sister and Bell-mère's other daughter.
Looking at the empty streets, Nami bit her lip so hard she drew blood, yet she felt nothing but the fire in her lungs as she pushed toward Arlong Park. She had to know if the news was true. A villager had called her, saying two Marines had arrived to take down Arlong.
She had to see it. And if it was true, she wanted to scream at them—to ask why they had taken so damn long to arrive!
"Finally there!"
After what felt like an eternity of running, the familiar, hated silhouette of Arlong Park came into view. Then, she saw the figures.
"Is that... Nojiko? Genzo-san? The whole village is here?"
"Wait, what's that?"
Before Nami could even process the crowd, a massive blue shadow was launched out of the estate, hurtling toward her position.
BOOM!!
The blue figure slammed into the grass not far from Nami, kicking up a massive cloud of dust. Nami, already gasping for air, was caught in the haze and broke into a heavy coughing fit.
As the dust settled, she saw the figure in the crater. It was the same monster that had tormented her home for six years, now lying there like a dead fish.
Nami felt a presence. She jerked her head up.
In her vision, a robust old man with snow-white hair and a gentle, grandfatherly smile was walking toward her, flanked by Nojiko and a young man in a straw hat. When the old man reached her, he reached into his robes and pulled out a single, golden tangerine.
Nami stared at the fruit, then at the man. She stood frozen for a long time before her legs finally gave out. She slumped to the ground and began to wail. All her prepared questions and anger vanished. She just wanted to let out every ounce of grief she had suppressed for six bitter years.
"It's alright, child. No more crying," a large hand settled on her head, rubbing it gently. "From today on, no one will ever bully you or this village again."
The warmth of the hand and the gentleness of the voice finally stilled her tears.
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