The fish-men also noticed something was wrong.
The one-sided slaughter they had envisioned did not materialize. Even the ordinary soldiers on this warship were several times stronger than those on the warships they had encountered while being pursued before.
Especially when a fierce, burly man appeared on the top deck of the warship.
These battle-hardened fish-men found themselves gradually suppressed by the surrounding Marine soldiers.
Arlong, realizing the situation was amiss, his eyes flashed with ferocity. Relying on his powerful physique, he broke through the encirclement and rushed to the railing, shouting:
"Retreat!!!"
At the same time, he reached out towards a soldier's head, intending to grab a hostage.
*Smack—*
His wrist was seized tightly.
Barrett, appearing instantly from the top deck, looked at him indifferently:
"Is this how you want it?"
As he spoke, he pressed his massive palm against Arlong's face.
*Crackle—*
A sound of crushing followed. After a few squeezes, Arlong's jagged, sharp nose was pulverized:
"Ahhhh!!!!"
Listening to Arlong's ear-piercing screams, Barrett applied more force to the hand on his face.
*Crack—*
His entire lower jaw was crushed into a pulp, silencing Arlong's screams.
With a yank of his other hand, which held Arlong's wrist,
*Riiiip—*
The entire arm was torn off and flung away.
A shred of skin and flesh, connected by tendons, hung from his shoulder, fluttering in the air.
Limb fragments and scarlet blood were scattered on the deck.
Pressing down on Arlong's head, he forced him to his knees on the deck, trembling and struggling.
Two more crisp sounds followed.
Two holes appeared on the deck.
Arlong's knees, kneeling on the deck, were crushed by Barrett from above, turning into mud and sinking into the deck, rendering him immobile.
He released Arlong, who was rolling his eyes in agony.
By this time, all the other fish-men had been apprehended. After all, the ship was not just manned by ordinary soldiers.
Barrett had brought his elite assault squad of several years with him.
"Bring them all over."
One by one, the fish-men of the Arlong Pirates, with their legs broken, were escorted before Barrett.
Barrett scanned them with a cold gaze.
"So, anything dares to rob a warship now."
He walked over, flexing his palm.
*Bang!*
"Who gave you the courage?"
*Bang!*
"Hmm?"
*Bang!*
The heads of three fish-men beside him instantly exploded.
Under Barrett's immense strength, they burst open like watermelons,
Splattering blood everywhere, showering the faces of the remaining, terrified fish-men.
*Tap, tap....*
The crisp sound of leather shoes echoed.
Barrett walked up to the fourth fish-man.
He placed his hand on the fish-man's head and said with a hint of gentleness:
"Tell me, who gave you the courage?"
The sharp-snouted fish-man's mind went blank, trembling and at a loss.
"It... it was... it was..."
Barrett frowned.
*Crack—*
The hand on the fish-man's head suddenly unleashed immense force and extreme speed.
It crushed down, pressing him directly onto the deck, bisecting him from his neck downwards.
He fell lifelessly to the ground.
As for his head... it had vanished...
*Tap, tap....*
He walked up to the fifth fish-man.
It was an octopus fish-man. Barrett looked at him:
"Can you tell me?"
"Hmm?"
Hachi trembled, swallowed hard, his mind also blank.
But seeing Barrett frown, his survival instinct restored his sanity:
"L-Lord! Wait!"
"We are from the Sun Pirates!"
"Jinbe is..."
"A Shichibukai."
Barrett chuckled lightly:
"Oh?"
"A Shichibukai, you say."
Hachi nodded frantically, trembling:
"Yes! Sir!!!"
"We all are..."
"Nngh!!!!"
Before he could finish, Barrett grabbed him by the neck and lifted him.
His body thrashed, but Barrett looked at him indifferently and extended his hand.
*Riiiip—*
An arm was instantly torn off. Barrett's indifferent voice rang out:
"The Shichibukai are merely dogs of the Marines."
*Riiiip—*
"When did dogs dare to bite their masters?"
*Riiiip—*
Barrett looked at him indifferently, tearing off his arms one by one.
After all eight arms were ripped off,
*Bang!*
Hachi's head turned into a mist of blood.
Barrett looked at the remaining fish-men and said indifferently:
"Who is the leader?"
The other fish-men looked fearfully towards Arlong. Barrett glanced over:
"What a coincidence."
"Kill them all."
He said indifferently, and behind him, the sounds of explosions continued incessantly.
Barrett walked over to the unconscious Arlong, picked him up, and gave a look to the副官 (fùguān - adjutant/subordinate officer) beside him.
Soon, a large sake barrel was brought out, filled with strong liquor.
With a *plop—*
Arlong was thrown into the barrel.
The intense pain instantly woke Arlong, but with his limbs broken, he could only thrash his body wildly, trying to escape,
But it was in vain. His consciousness grew increasingly hazy.
Just as he was about to stop moving, Barrett's large hand grabbed his neck.
He swung Arlong's body around in the barrel and lifted him out.
Looking at his jaw, which resembled minced meat, he reached out and tore off the flesh and skin directly.
With the shredded flesh gone, Arlong began to gasp painfully from his throat.
Barrett said indifferently:
"Administer him with a potent nutrient solution."
"Get me the den den mushi."
------
Late at night... after extensive inquiries.
The voice of the den den mushi rang out on the ship of the Sun Pirates.
*Burururu~ Burururu~*
Jinbe instantly woke up, puzzled as to who would call so late at night...
He picked up the den den mushi.
From the other end of the den den mushi, Barrett's indifferent voice came:
"Captain of the Sun Pirates, Jinbe?"
Jinbe's brow furrowed:
"Indeed, it is I."
"Who might you be?"
Barrett's voice rang out:
"Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, Douglas Barrett."
"A group of fish-men claiming to be from the Sun Pirates attacked a warship. Was this your order?"
Jinbe's brow tightened:
"Fish-men?"
Jinbe's heart sank. He immediately thought of Arlong and the others who had left days ago:
"Could you describe their characteristics?"
Barrett's indifferent voice came from the den den mushi:
"I am asking you."
"Not for you to ask me."
Jinbe took a deep breath:
"No..."
"All members of the Sun Pirates are on board."
At this moment, a familiar yet exceptionally pained gasp was heard from the den den mushi.
Jinbe immediately realized... Arlong!
Before he could speak,
*Crack—*
A crisp sound echoed.
The painful gasps abruptly stopped, and Barrett's indifferent voice came from the other end:
"Throw these trash into the sea to feed the fish."