231. Death Of Arlong

"?!?"

Everyone was shocked. Tiger had never shared this information with them, not even with Jinbei, who was highly respected.

"Not long after we left Fish-Men Island... Phew... I got captured..."

"Locked up for many years in Mariejois..."

Now, Tiger is clearly resolute to meet his end, fearlessly revealing the most agonizing memories from his heart to the bloodied Sun Pirates.

"What..."

"Boss!"

As the revelation unfolds that Tiger had been enslaved by the Celestial Dragons, everyone is stunned. Their faces darken, and a powerful sense of murderous intent emanates from their beings.

"What I witnessed there was..."

"The madness of humanity and the gravest sin..."

Ignoring the reactions of those around him, Tiger's eyes were vacant, and his expression grew increasingly furious, as if he had been transported back to those unbearable years.

"Even though I managed to break free... I can't turn a blind eye to the slaves before me!"

"Huah...huah..."

Tiger continued to breathe heavily.

"Pay close attention..."

"I've always led a carefree life, causing significant challenges for Princess Otohime..."

"She's correct, everyone desires a peaceful life..."

Suddenly, Koala's innocent smile crossed Tiger's thoughts, and he proceeded.

"But what can truly alter the situation on Fish-Man Island is..."

"It's the upcoming generation, the ones like Koala who are unaware!!"

"So, please, you folks on Fish-Man Island, refrain from uttering anything!"

"There's no necessity for the tragedy and fury that befell us to persist into our next generation!!!"

A hush fell over everyone. The fishmen in the Sun Pirates had never fathomed that their usually admired boss carried such immense pain.

At this moment, Tiger was undeniably shattered, and the ambush on Foolshout Island was the final blow that broke through his psychological defenses!!

"There are plenty of compassionate humans in this world, I'm well aware of that..."

"Even though I'm fully aware... the demon in my heart is holding me back. My body... is rejecting the blood!!"

"Now that you realised..." (T/N: Suprise Motherf****r)

"Why not live prosperously and witness a future where fish and humans coexist peacefully in history?"

Just as Tiger's sorrow and rage reached their zenith, an exceedingly unfamiliar voice unexpectedly echoed in the infirmary.

"Who's there?!"

"Who?!"

"Damn it, I thoroughly checked inside and outside before boarding the boat!!"

The abrupt, unfamiliar voice immediately put all the mermen present on high alert. Their bodies tensed up, and they brandished their weapons. Jinbei's eyes glowed red, and his Haki swiftly enveloped the entire infirmary!

Being seasoned warriors with many years of sea battles, they instinctively reacted the quickest to potential threats.

"Ah, don't be so tense."

As soon as the words left his mouth, under Jinbei's wary gaze, Atlas' transparent form materialized slowly, unveiling bit by bit from head to toe.

"I am..."

"Just a regular Marine!"

Atlas grinned at the anxious fishmen, displaying his large white teeth.

"Who are you..."

After seeing the visitor's face clearly, Jinbei and Tiger's pupils contracted, shock and confusion filling their minds simultaneously.

Evidently, they had recognized Atlas.

Arlong on the sidelines was already engulfed in Tiger's fury, his animosity towards humans escalating infinitely. He didn't dwell much on why the Marine before him could quietly appear under his noses.

In an instant, he lunged forward, lightning-fast, seizing Atlas with his palms!

By the time Tiger and Jinbei reacted, it was already too late to halt the fish-man!

"Despicable humans, a race as despicable as yours shouldn't exist!!"

"Humans... are a race destined to be enslaved by us fish-men!"

The enraged palm closed in swiftly, and a vicious smile spread across the fiah-man's face, as if he had envisioned the sight of crushing the Marine's head before him!!

Boom! ! !

A sharp cracking noise echoed, scarlet blood sprayed, and red and white brains splattered on the ship's wall, slowly sliding down.

Silence!! 

The other fish-men appeared unable to comprehend what unfolded before their eyes, left in a state of shock and speechlessness.

In an instant!

No, they couldn't quite perceive how the other party moved.

They could only witness the savage remnants of Arlong before his demise!!

Bang! ! !

Arlong's palm, which hadn't reached its target, instinctively clenched in the air before freezing in place. The lifeless body, now without a head, crumpled suddenly, jolting everyone in the Sun Pirates back to reality!

"Hey! Brother Arlong?!"

"Damn it, you Marine bastard, I'm gonna take you on!!"

"Why does this guy look familiar..."

All the fish-men were suddenly at odds, locking eyes with Atlas, as if they wished they could devour his flesh alive! !

Even though many of them didn't subscribe to the notion of Arlong, their longstanding camaraderie prevailed, and they were all brethren with a bond forged through life and death.

In the original storyline, after Tiger's demise and the Sun Pirates disbanded, some of them still followed him to East Blue.

"Silence! No one is permitted to act recklessly!!"

Jinbei was taken aback and shouted sharply, attempting to pacify the agitated crew members.

"Boss Jinbei, what are you doing?!"

"Boss Jinbei, this guy killed Arlong..."

Jinbei ignored the barrage of questions, took a deep breath, suppressed the grief within, and gazed solemnly at the Marine who had suddenly emerged before him.

"A man like you..."

"Why did you suddenly show up here?!"

He recognized him!

Naval Headquarters Candidate Admiral, codenamed Hakuryu!!

Such a figure was undoubtedly beyond the league of the present Sun Pirates.

If it were ordinary times.

Just a Candidate Admiral! !

The sea is the fishmen's home turf!

But not at this moment, with the dying Tiger behind him! !

"Who knows?"

Confronted with Jinbei's inquiry, Atlas shrugged helplessly, "I was just napping on the boat, and I didn't anticipate you lot snatching it away suddenly."

He wasn't spouting nonsense. He was genuinely enjoying a nap on the boat, completely unaware that Arlong had swiped it. (T/N: Arlong: I caused my own death)

So, he simply employed the snake talisman to turn invisible, taking advantage of the fact that the hostile merman lacked Observation Haki. That's how the ensuing scene unfolded.

"....."

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