Chapter 209: Chapter 209: The Little Mermaid
Earl Iron Shield’s furious outburst caught Viscount Nass off guard. He blinked, confused. Hadn’t he followed his father’s orders to the letter, delivering the mermaid within the hour?
"Father, what’s wrong? I didn’t miss the deadline—I brought her, see?!"
Nass hurriedly flipped open the barrel, revealing the mermaid’s face for his father to inspect. The scene didn’t escape the sharp eyes of Tom and Tiger, who stood nearby.
The two Fishmen’s eyes blazed with rage. Another precious mermaid from Fishman Island, reduced to a slave and trafficked to this wretched place.
Earl Iron Shield stormed forward, smacking Nass so hard he crumpled to the ground. Hoisting his dazed son by the collar, the earl dragged him before the Hell Pirates.
"Honored lords, I’ve failed to raise this boy properly. I hereby disown him—do with him as you will! I swear, I knew nothing about the mermaid!"
Iron Shield bowed deeply, nearly folding himself in half, his voice dripping with sincerity. Sweat poured down his forehead, his nerves frayed to the breaking point.
Inside the barrel, the little mermaid watched the young noble collapse. Her gaze drifted to the familiar Fishman figures in the distance, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
She knew that Fishman pirate—the pride of Fishman Island, the legendary shipwright Tom. He was a hero, an idol to the new generation, and even Fisher Tiger’s name carried weight back home!
"Save me, Tom-sama!"
Ignoring the dangers of the surface, the mermaid leapt from the barrel, hopping desperately toward Tom and Tiger. Her tail’s scales scraped raw against the ground, blood trickling, but she felt no pain.
All she wanted was to escape this terrifying surface world and return to Fishman Island, to her parents’ arms. Tiger rushed forward, scooping her up. She buried her face in his chest, sobbing like a child in her father’s embrace.
To find her kin in this strange land was a miracle. No more reckless adventures—she just wanted home.
...
Nass snapped out of his daze, the mermaid’s cries ringing in his ears. He gaped at the towering Fishmen, swallowing hard.
"Please, lords, spare me! It’s not my fault, I swear! Those two bastards bought her at the Sabaody auction and gifted her to me. It wasn’t my idea—kill them, or the auction house!"
Nass saw the writing on the wall. The mermaid’s family had come knocking, and they were big shots even his father groveled to. Those damned merchants—if he survived this, they’d pay for dragging the Iron Shield name into this mess!
His father’s betrayal stung. The earl had disowned him to save his own skin!
"Hmph! Slave traders and auctioneers are scum, but you noble buyers are worse. One day, I’ll wipe you all out!"
Tiger’s eyes burned as he glared at the pathetic noble. Meanwhile, sniper Silva rummaged through his toolkit, pulling out a bubble coral from Fishman Island. He blew a ring of bubble film, letting the mermaid float safely in the air.
Away from Sabaody’s mangrove climate or Fishman Island’s unique conditions, the bubble wouldn’t last long, but it was a decent emergency fix.
"Great lords, this is my wayward son’s doing, and those merchants’. It has nothing to do with Iron Shield City. He’s yours to deal with—we’ll withdraw our forces now!"
Iron Shield kept his head bowed, inching backward, silently praying,
Don’t blame me, don’t notice me, don’t take it out on me!
The earl’s groveling was so blatant that the Hell Pirates hesitated. Only Tiger clenched his fists, glaring daggers, but Iron Shield managed to slip away.
...
The earl turned and led his troops to the island’s far side, relief flooding his heart. He’d saved his skin! Whirling around, he drew his sword and beheaded the advisor who’d misjudged the situation.
That fool had nearly doomed them against the Hell Pirates and cost him his only son. The pain of losing his heir of twenty-four years, no matter how spoiled, gnawed at him.
He frantically contacted the Marines, begging for an Admiral to confront the Hell Pirates. Maybe, just maybe, he could still save his idiot boy.
"No way! How could Dad abandon me?!"
Nass stared at the pirates, terror gripping him. He scrambled to shift blame.
"Please, lords, I’ll take you to those merchants! They’re the ones who bought the mermaid at auction—I’m innocent!"
...
Ship doctor Crocus was already bandaging the mermaid’s wounds, but she flinched from the human, trembling. Tom and Tiger soothed her, calming her enough for Crocus to finish the job.
Brook eyed Nass. The slave trade was booming across the seas, a grim reality even a kingpin like him couldn’t dismantle. Rare races and non-member nations were prime targets, and plenty of pirates profited by capturing and selling them.
Even viscounts and tycoons could buy mermaids—what kind of network was this?
"Bring us those merchants," Brook said, his voice cold. "And give me the name and location of the Sabaody auction house. I want to know who’s running this operation, bold enough to snatch mermaids and sell them to nobles like you. How many have they taken?"
Brook’s gaze pierced Nass, sensing the vast web of the slave trade. If viscounts and merchants could buy mermaids, how many rare species were in the hands of the Celestial Dragons?
The auction houses catered to the world’s elite, especially the Celestial Dragons, whose slaves died at alarming rates. They’d tire of one batch, kill another, and return to Sabaody for more. That’s why the slave markets never ran dry.
The Lawless Zone was built for this— a haven for slavers and pirates to peddle rare races and exotic beasts, backed by the Dragons’ wealth. If the World Government or Marines wanted to shut it down, they could, given Sabaody’s proximity to Navy HQ and Enies Lobby.
But they didn’t. The Sabaody Archipelago, nestled under the Holy Land Mary Geoise, was the darkest corner of the One Piece world.
It was a gilded prison of commerce, home to the wealthiest, most powerful Celestial Dragons, and the grandest slave markets and auction halls.
Brook recalled the story of Golden Emperor Tesoro’s beloved Stella, displayed like merchandise in a shop window. That was the scale of Sabaody’s trade.
As long as the Celestial Dragons ruled, the slave industry would thrive unchecked.
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