Chapter 25:The Silent Liberation

The day seemed to stretch endlessly for Jason as he prepared for the mission he had set in motion. His goal was clear: to free the enslaved fish-men and mermaids that would be arriving in Sabaody Archipelago tonight. The weight of the task hung heavily on his shoulders, but his determination never wavered. He would save them, no matter the cost. He'd already gotten this far—there was no turning back now.

Night fell over the island, the shadows deepening as Jason donned his dark cloak, pulling the hood over his head. His appearance was eerily reminiscent of an assassin, with the cloak allowing him to blend into the night. He moved swiftly through the darkened streets of Sabaody, avoiding any prying eyes. His Observation Haki flared, allowing him to sense the movement of anyone nearby and keep his presence hidden from the patrolling marines and slavers.

Jason reached Grove 12, where the slaver ship was docked, just as the logbook had predicted. From his hiding spot, he observed the vessel. It was a grim sight, the ship seemingly innocent from the outside, but Jason knew what it carried—a grim cargo of enslaved beings whose lives had been torn apart. There were two slavers standing guard at the dock, both unaware of the storm that was about to befall them.

Jason crouched low, his hands tightening around the hilt of his sword. With a deep breath, he activated his Armament Haki, the familiar black sheen enveloping his blade, and in one swift motion, he dashed forward, moving like a blur. The first guard didn't even have time to react before Jason's sword cleaved through him with deadly precision. The second guard managed a half-step in shock, but it was too late—Jason's sword cut through him just as swiftly. Both men fell to the ground, their bodies crumpling without so much as a sound.

Satisfied that no alarm had been raised, Jason quickly sheathed his blade and boarded the ship. His Observation Haki guided him as he moved silently through the ship, avoiding the crew. His target was clear—the slave quarters. He needed to free the captives and get them to safety before anyone noticed.

Reaching the ship's lower decks, Jason pushed open the door to the hold where the slaves were kept. The room was dark and damp, the stench of fear and desperation filling the air. Jason's heart clenched as he saw them—three fish-men and two mermaids, their bodies cramped within small cages, their necks burdened by the cruel collars that suppressed their strength. Their eyes were filled with terror, and when they saw Jason enter, they instinctively recoiled, their fear of another tormentor etched across their faces.

Jason stepped forward, his expression softening as he pulled back his hood, revealing his face. He wanted to show them he wasn't a slaver. He wasn't there to harm them.

"I'm here to free you," Jason said gently, his voice low but firm. "I'm not your enemy."

The captives looked at him with a mixture of fear and disbelief. They had been deceived and broken too many times to believe that salvation could come so easily. But Jason didn't waver. His eyes softened with empathy, and after a brief hesitation, he activated his Armament Haki once again.

He approached the first cage, where a young fish-man huddled in the corner. Jason's fist, now encased in black Haki, came down on the lock with a force that shattered the metal in an instant. The cage door swung open with a loud creak, and the fish-man inside flinched at the sound. He looked up at Jason, wide-eyed.

"You're free," Jason said, offering him a hand. "You don't need to be afraid anymore."

Slowly, the fish-man took Jason's hand, his grip tentative, as though he feared this was all a cruel trick. But the warmth of Jason's hand and the sincerity in his eyes seemed to calm him. With a deep breath, the fish-man stepped out of the cage, his eyes darting toward his fellow captives, who were watching the scene unfold in stunned silence.

Jason quickly moved to the other cages, his Armament Haki making short work of the locks that held them captive. Each door was broken with a swift strike, the metal crumbling beneath the power of his Haki. One by one, the fish-men and mermaids were freed, though their collars still remained—a bitter reminder of their captivity.

The collars. Jason cursed under his breath as he knelt beside one of the fish-men, inspecting the device that suppressed their strength. It was designed to explode if tampered with, a sick method to keep them docile and compliant. But Jason had anticipated this. He hadn't come unprepared.

Channeling his Armament Haki again, Jason focused on the collars. His hands glowed with the black energy as he carefully applied it to the collar's surface, the strength of his Haki overwhelming the collar's mechanism. With a sharp twist, the collar cracked open and fell to the floor with a clatter.

The fish-man gasped, his hand instinctively going to his neck, as if he couldn't believe the weight that had been removed. He looked at Jason, his eyes wide with gratitude.

"You're free now," Jason said with a small smile. "All of you."

Jason repeated the process with each captive, removing their collars with careful precision. When the last collar fell away, the mermaids and fish-men exchanged glances, a sense of disbelief hanging in the air. They had spent so long in chains, their freedom seemed surreal.

One of the mermaids, her voice trembling, spoke up. "Why… why are you doing this?"

Jason paused, meeting her gaze. "Because it's the right thing to do," he said simply. "No one deserves to live in chains."

He turned toward the group, his expression resolute. "I'll take you to Fisher Tiger and the Sun Pirates. They'll keep you safe."

The fish-men and mermaids hesitated for a moment longer, but seeing the sincerity in Jason's eyes, they nodded. They had no other choice. Jason was their only hope.

With the captives now free, Jason led them off the ship, moving swiftly through the shadows. His Observation Haki continued to guide him, ensuring they avoided any potential threats. The slavers still hadn't realized what had happened, and Jason intended to keep it that way.

They reached his small boat, and Jason helped the fish-men and mermaids aboard. The boat was modest, but it would carry them safely to the Sun Pirates' territory.

As they sailed away from the dock, the lights of the slaver ship faded into the distance, and the moonlit waters stretched out before them. Jason glanced back at the group, their faces still marked by fear but now touched with the faintest glimmer of hope.

"You're safe now," Jason assured them. "We'll be there soon."

The journey was quiet, the only sound being the gentle lapping of waves against the boat. But Jason knew that tonight marked the beginning of something greater. The liberation of these slaves was just the first step.

He was just getting started.