Chapter 107

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What should have been a happy voyage and adventure with his crew ended up like this when he insisted on snatching the Mera-Mera Fruit. Luffy looked gloomy and, at the moment, didn't have the slightest thought of exploring the island. He just wanted to get through so that Kaido wouldn't catch up again.

The Sunny continued to move forward, and Yangshu Eve and Noah's Ark gradually appeared in front of Luffy's eyes. Glowing trees and huge ships filled the view. How Luffy wanted to stop and enjoy the scenery of the legendary Fish-Man Island, but time waited for no one, and countless companions were waiting for him behind.

Just as he was about to rush directly through the only passage under the sea, there was a shout from above Noah.

"That ship ahead! Stop moving forward! This is the territory of the Four Emperors Kaido of the Beasts! If you want to go to the New World, pay the price of 100,000 Beli per person!"

The toll was not high, and the main monopoly had a numerical advantage. But when Luffy heard it, his eyes widened in anger, and he clenched his fists. His heart was full of hatred at the words "Kaido." Seeing that Fish-Man Island had also been occupied by Kaido, he trembled and propped himself up from the deck. Looking into the distance, he saw a large group of colorful, strange-shaped fish-men staring at him seriously.

Sabaody was so annoyed by Kaido that no one else could go to sea today. Finally, the ship came to cheer them up. If they dared to block the way, he would knock them all away! Luffy thought with wide eyes.

Then, there were footsteps behind the group. The fish-men all looked back, called out a name in unison, and moved aside, making way for a man.

"Boss Jinbei!"

"Brother Jinbei!"

A tall, rounded blue figure walked out of the crowd, the same as Luffy remembered from two years ago. Jinbei walked through the crowd under the watchful eye of the fish-men and walked to the front of Noah's deck. Looking at the Sunny gradually floating and the thin, weak figure on the deck, he couldn't help but think of the prison break and the Summit War two years ago. But now, he bore the responsibility of a race, of a country of five million people, and he accepted Kaido's debt, which was much greater.

He looked at Luffy and sighed. "Sure enough, it's you, Luffy. Stop, don't move forward."

"Even... Jinbei!" Luffy opened his mouth and looked at Jinbei in shock. Then quickly reacted. Didn't the fish-man just say this is Kaido's territory?! Luffy was stunned. "Have you also become Kaido's person, Jinbei?!"

"Kaido did Fish-Man Island a big favor, and now the whole country is submissive to him." Jinbei tapped his chest and said with a complicated expression, "I'm also a fish-man; I have to repay him."

Jinbei stretched out his hand and created a bubble that hit the sea. A current with dense bubbles suddenly stirred, impacting the Sunny's hull. The huge force made the Sunny stop in place, no longer following its inertia.

"Damn," Luffy whispered. Then he suddenly looked up at Jinbei and thought, My partners were all arrested by Kaido! You can't defeat a monster like Kaido on your own! And Jinbei, isn't he an excellent partner candidate? They fought together! Knowing Jinbei's affectionate and righteous nature, and he also saved Luffy's life.

Hurriedly, he asked, "What did he do to you? Maybe I can do it too?!"

"If I can do it, come to my ship, Jinbei," said Luffy. "I really need you now!"

Jinbei looked at Luffy quietly for a moment before laughing lightly. "You're always so naïve, Luffy. That's really you."

For a moment, Luffy couldn't tell if Jinbei was praising or scolding him.

"But you can't do that kind of thing, and no one else can fulfill the promise Kaido made to us," Jinbei said with a faint sadness. He felt sad that he couldn't help his friend.

"What's the matter? How can you say I can't finish it if you don't give me a chance?!" Luffy shouted, placing his hands on the deck. "You know what kind of person Kaido is!"

"It doesn't matter what kind of person Kaido is! This choice affects the fate of all mermaids and fish people!" Jinbei interrupted loudly before Luffy could finish.

The two stared at each other in silence for a long time. Jinbei knew Luffy didn't understand, so he sighed and said, "Since you are not convinced..."

"Kaido brought the entire Fish-Men Island from the deep sea to the surface. He made it a part of a welcoming and non-discriminatory human kingdom and fulfilled the island's long-held dream of equality. He also promised to help us fight discrimination and the world aristocracy."

"The place we are now is only half the size of Fish-Men Island. Do you get it, Luffy? It's something only Kaido can do. You can't do it."

Luffy opened his mouth but didn't say anything. He knew he couldn't bring an entire island to the surface.

The only person he'd ever seen who could do such a thing was Golden Lion Shiki, a legendary pirate who could make islands float with his Devil Fruit power.

"Jinbei! Come with me! I'll definitely find a Devil Fruit that can float the island. You don't have to worry about Kaido putting Fish-Men Island back!" Luffy shouted with determination in his eyes. He thought it was simple: if the island was put back, he would just move it up again.

But Jinbei needed more than that. Raising the island was just one step. Kaido's promises of sunshine, peace, freedom, and equality were what the fish people craved.

Betraying Kaido would also harm his entire race. Jinbei closed his eyes in disappointment and sighed. "You're still terribly naïve, Luffy. You haven't grown at all in two years."

Luffy was confused. Hadn't he already promised?

When Jinbei opened his eyes, they were cold and determined. "Go back to Sabaody Archipelago, Luffy. There's no place for you here," he said firmly.

"Why?" Luffy asked, eyebrows raised in confusion. "Aren't we friends?! You have to believe me, Jinbei!"

"Friend..." Jinbei repeated softly, then looked directly at Luffy and slammed his hand on the ship's rail. "But there are still 5 million people behind me! Luffy, be mature!"