Xiao Ba smiled beside him and said, "Klara, we can go back to your hometown now."
Klara lowered her head, constantly stirring her index finger, "That... that..."
"It's a little strange..."
Xiao Ba chuckled a few times, "Hahaha, you've changed a lot."
"I almost don't recognize you."
"These new clothes were bought especially for you."
"You look great."
The surrounding Fish-Man Pirate crew members also laughed along.
Meanwhile, Tiger remained calm, his gaze drifting towards Arlong, who stood a little distance away from the group.
Xiao Ba looked at the new hairstyle he had given Klara, "Your hair is also newly cut."
"This way, your mother will be very happy to see you."
Klara was flustered, unsure how to express herself.
Suddenly, from somewhere, she produced a rag and began to kneel on the ground, scrubbing.
Xiao Ba stamped his foot in frustration, "You need to change this habit of working whenever you're troubled, Klara!"
"This isn't Mary Geoise!"
The ship's doctor, Aladdin, shook his head, "Let her be, Xiao Ba."
"Inner wounds aren't so easily healed."
Xiao Ba scratched his head, "So that's how it is."
Arlong, standing alone in a corner, suddenly spoke, "It seems you understand quite a bit, Brother Aladdin."
He walked over with a sinister grin, "As expected of a former slave, you can truly empathize."
"You actually want to kill her right now, don't you?"
"This girl is human, just like the ones who raised you."
With that, he crouched down with a狞笑 (níngxiào - sinister smile), reaching out towards Klara's head.
Tiger's expression darkened, and he suddenly said, "Stop it, Arlong."
But Arlong seemed not to hear, saying menacingly to Klara, "Your parents also discriminated against fish-men, didn't they?"
Klara looked at Arlong in such a state, too frightened to speak.
Arlong stood up and roared, "Shaha ha ha ha!"
"Humans are like this."
"They consider themselves the most perfect species in the world."
"Their children grow up nurtured in such a self-righteous environment."
"If no one shatters their sense of superiority,"
"This situation will never change!!!"
"In these three years of seafaring, you must have witnessed it too."
"The condescending, self-important gazes of humans!"
The fish-men who had gathered around gritted their teeth... Arlong was right. They had seen too much during these three years...
Arlong's sinister smile widened, "That's right... that's exactly it!!!"
Suddenly, Jinbe stepped forward, "That's just some of them."
"Others aren't like that, are they?"
The surrounding fish-men blinked, it seemed so...
Arlong scoffed, saying calmly, "Brother Jinbe..."
Jinbe ignored him, "I think the reason they are always afraid..."
With a splash, he sat down next to Klara, who was still scrubbing, "Is probably... because we are pirates."
"What is there to fear, Klara?"
Klara stiffly raised her head, "Because... they don't understand anything, right?"
Then she lowered her head to continue scrubbing...
Jinbe unconsciously recalled Queen Otohime's mobilization speeches on the island and murmured, "Because they don't understand, they fear..."
Arlong snorted as he watched Jinbe deep in thought and walked towards the ship's cabin, "Having fish-men is enough for this world."
"They've all gone crazy, one by one."
"Inferior beings like humans should all be killed..."
-----
Several days later.
Foresight Island, the shore.
This was Klara's hometown.
A small island located in the first half of the Grand Line, covered in plants resembling giant cactuses.
Tiger was the first to disembark and step onto the land. He looked at Klara, who stood hesitantly on the steps, "Where is your village?"
"I'll take you to the entrance."
Klara smiled happily, "Okay!"
She quickly ran down to catch up.
Some of the kind-hearted Fish-Man Pirate crew members cried, "Wuwuwu, Klara!"
"Don't go!!"
"Let's travel together!"
"What a good child!"
Klara waved goodbye to them reluctantly after disembarking, "I'll tell everyone in my village!"
"There are many good people among fish-men too!!!"
"Thank you for taking care of me!!!"
Xiao Ba shouted from among the crew, "Take care of yourself!!!"
Klara smiled happily and turned to follow Tiger's footsteps...
-----
Half a day ago.
On Borsalino's warship.
Strawberry reported to Kizaru, "Vice Admiral Borsalino, they are about to dock and reach their destination."
Borsalino paused his nail-trimming, "Oh~"
"Are you sure~?"
Strawberry nodded, "Yes."
Borsalino blew the dust off his nails, "What a good opportunity~"
"Then... Strawberry."
"You take your men and set up an ambush~"
"Arrest Fisher Tiger~"
Strawberry said sternly, "Yes!"
He then turned to make arrangements.
Borsalino looked at his freshly trimmed nails, "Hmm~ Not bad~"
-----
Meanwhile, Tiger, who had just escorted Klara back to her village.
His mind was still replaying Klara's words, a slight smile unconsciously appearing on his lips, "I believe in you too, Klara..."
"When you grow up, humans and fish-men will surely..."
Click, click, click—
The sound of countless guns cocking echoed.
On the road leading to the port, Strawberry suddenly appeared with a group of soldiers, surrounding Tiger.
Trapped, Fisher Tiger was incredulous, how could this have happened...
Strawberry looked at the shocked Tiger and said without much preamble, "I am Rear Admiral Strawberry of Marine Headquarters."
"We received a tip that the Sun Pirates might be coming here."
"The condition for providing information was to let go of the Celestial Dragon's possession, that little girl."
"Captain of the Sun Pirates, Fisher Tiger."
"You have two crimes."
"You should know them well."
"Assault and Escape."
Looking at Tiger, who refused to accept betrayal and had a contorted face.
Strawberry calmly raised his right hand.
And waved forward!
Bang, bang, bang—
Continuous gunfire erupted, and countless bullets poured towards Fisher Tiger.
Hit by a barrage of bullets, the pain brought him back to his senses.
Looking at the approaching Marines.
Tiger's boundless hatred seemed to pierce the heavens, "Fish-Man Karate!"
"Five Thousand-Ryu:瓦正拳 (Kawara Seiken) Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!"
An invisible wave of energy surged from Tiger's body.
It blasted towards the surrounding soldiers, even the bullets in the air were repelled by this airflow and suspended.
Swish, swish, swish—
Countless bullets shot backward!