Chapter 5: Jinbe, "Just One of the Four Emperors

Chu Yang, lost in thought about his future, appeared somewhat dazed.

In Tiger’s eyes, Chu Yang was radiating confusion from head to toe.

Tiger patted Chu Yang on the shoulder and comforted him, "How about this? You come with me for now, and we can figure things out later."

Chu Yang asked in surprise, "Go where? Fish-Man Island?"

"Do you think I can still go back to Fish-Man Island?" Tiger gave a bitter laugh. "After tonight, I’m afraid I’ll be wanted by the Navy across the entire world!"

"Under these circumstances, if I return to Fish-Man Island, I would bring an incalculable disaster upon it."

Chu Yang sighed and said, "That’s true."

Tiger asked, "Are you willing to set sail with me?"

The Sun Pirates?

Chu Yang’s heart stirred. Thinking that he didn't have anywhere better to go at the moment, he agreed to Tiger’s invitation.

The two then snuck toward the harbor, intending to secure a pirate ship to set sail.

Every ship actually had crew members on guard, but at this hour, they were all resting in their cabins.

Since there were only two of them, and considering Chu Yang had no sailing experience, Tiger planned to find a small three-masted sailing ship that would be easy to handle.

Neither Chu Yang nor Tiger felt any moral burden about hijacking a pirate ship; they considered it robbing the rich to help the poor, even if the ones being helped were themselves.

Once they locked onto a target, Tiger and Chu Yang prepared to strike. The number of pirates on the small three-masted ship was low, and they were no match for them at all.

After dealing with the lackeys, Tiger prepared to sail the ship away, only to hear a familiar voice.

"Big Brother Tiger, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. What are you doing?"

Chu Yang and Tiger turned around.

They saw a large group of fish-men standing on the shore, led by a sturdy, blue-skinned figure.

He looked very familiar...

Isn't this Jinbe, the "mere Shichibukai"?

Tiger’s expression turned serious.

To avoid implicating his companions, he had chosen to go to the Holy Land alone, but he hadn't expected them to follow him anyway.

Looking at the monstrous firelight reflecting from above the Red Line, Jinbe guessed that Tiger had succeeded, so he said, "I couldn't stop you from rescuing those slaves, but you can't stop us either."

"Jinbe!" Tiger was furious!

Yet, he was helpless; he knew Jinbe was a man of great loyalty.

"Big Brother Tiger, even if we can't help you with much, we can leave with you!" Jinbe’s eyes revealed a deep, profound light, like the ocean.

"That’s right, Big Brother Tiger! Even if the Navy wants to hunt you down, they’ll have to get past us first!"

"I’ve long since found those humans eyesores. I’ll take down every one that comes!"

The other fish-men began to chime in as well.

While moved, Tiger also felt he couldn't sway this group, so he had no choice but to agree to let them join him and set sail together.

"Sorry, little brother, I’m afraid we’ll have to bring a few more people with us." Tiger felt a bit apologetic, knowing that aside from himself, the other fish-men would not be welcoming to the boy before them.

Only then did the fish-men notice Chu Yang, and everyone’s expression suddenly turned gloomy.

Jinbe was better; although he didn't have any particular fondness for humans, he at least wouldn't show malice unprovoked.

At this moment, a tall fish-man stepped out from the crowd.

Staring coldly at Chu Yang, he asked, "Big Brother Tiger, who is this boy?"

Tiger stood in front of Chu Yang and said in a deep voice, "Arlong, he escaped from Mary Geoise with me. He saved my life once."

"Saved Big Brother Tiger?"

The still-young Arlong did not diminish his malice toward Chu Yang because of this, his expression unkind. "Big Brother, you aren't actually planning to take this human kid with us, are you?"

"Who knows if he’ll betray us later?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the remaining fish-men chimed in, their words filled with dissatisfaction regarding Chu Yang’s human identity.

Having experienced a brush with death, Chu Yang’s mindset had already changed.

Facing this naked hostility, he looked at the group coldly.

He could kill prison guards, so naturally, he could kill these guys too.

"Shut up, all of you!" Tiger, for once, lost his temper at his companions. "Do you want me to act like those humans and be ungrateful?"

At his shout, the fish-men, led by Arlong, immediately fell silent, though Arlong still glared viciously at Chu Yang.

*Thinking I’m easy to push around because I’m young?* Chu Yang smiled. It seemed that if he wanted to establish a foothold in the Sun Pirates, he would have to give Arlong a taste of his power first.

Seeing the atmosphere turn awkward, Jinbe stepped in to smooth things over. "Big Brother Tiger, they have all suffered from human persecution to varying degrees, so their guard is up. I hope you can understand."

Tiger sighed. He understood, of course. Even his own fondness for humans had vanished; if Chu Yang hadn't truly helped him, he likely would have turned a blind eye as well.

Subsequently, amidst the eerie atmosphere, Chu Yang boarded the massive pirate ship with the fish-men.

This was something Jinbe had prepared before arriving.

Tiger personally hoisted the legendary flag of the Sun Pirates.

The pirate flag fluttered in the wind against the night sky as the ship slowly left the harbor, sailing toward the boundless sea.

Standing on the deck, Tiger smiled and asked for Chu Yang’s name for the first time.

"My name is Chu Yang!"

The boy’s crisp and confident voice echoed.

"A very unique name." Tiger found it a bit of a mouthful, but he remembered it nonetheless.

After standing on the deck in the wind for a while, Chu Yang intended to rest, but Arlong suddenly volunteered to show him to his room.

Arlong’s sudden enthusiasm made Tiger think that his relationship with Chu Yang had eased, so he readily agreed.

A cold sneer played on Chu Yang’s lips. He didn't expose Arlong’s little scheme; he actually wanted to have a "talk" with him as well.

Arlong led Chu Yang into the cabin, heading downward. They soon bypassed the living quarters and reached the storage hold at the very bottom.

Standing outside the warehouse door, Arlong suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at Chu Yang with cold indifference, sneering, "Human kid, you didn't actually think I was taking you to rest, did you?"

Arlong expected to see a panicked expression on Chu Yang’s face, but all he saw was a playful look.

The young Arlong was not yet the novice boss of Cocoyasi Village, and even if he were, he would be no match for Chu Yang.

His expectations thwarted, Arlong’s expression turned ferocious as he roared, "Kid, you’d better get off this ship obediently while I’m still talking to you nicely!"

"Noisy!" Chu Yang raised his right hand. A large amount of wood and vines extended from his arm, expanding continuously, instantly wrapping around Arlong and rendering him unable to move.

The wood squeezed Arlong’s body, the tight constriction making him feel suffocated. He looked at Chu Yang in horror. "You’re a Devil Fruit user?!"

Chu Yang didn't answer him, only increasing the pressure until blood began to pour from Arlong’s nose and mouth.

His internal organs were suffering massive damage!

Arlong’s agonizing expression excited Chu Yang, and he revealed a purely genuine smile.

Seeing this, Arlong felt a chill run down his spine!