2. The Smile Gradually Becomes Unrestrained!

"Hey, buddy, strolling around the village like that is really risky."

Two guys holding scimitars, stopped Al with serious looks.

At that moment, Al was lost in thought, absentmindedly letting out a soft 'oh' as he passed by the cat in his arms.

Johnny, sporting the word "sea" inked on his left cheek, looked grave as he pulled out a dark yellow wanted poster from his pocket and hurried over to Al.

He pointed at a fierce-looking fishman depicted on it and asked, "Hey, you familiar with Arlong, buddy?"

"Arlong?"

Al paused for a moment, then glanced at the fishman on the wanted poster, letting out a small gasp.

With a look of sudden realization, he muttered, "Wait, this is Cocoyasi Village!"

"I was wondering why there wasn't a soul in sight here. Turns out they're all hiding..."

Johnny, catching onto Al's change in demeanor, pressed on, "Hey, buddy, you seem to know Arlong. So why risk hanging around here alone?"

"Did you also put up a bounty for Arlong, worth 20 million Berries?"

Al shook his head. He had just arrived here and hadn't quite grasped where he was exactly.

As for the matter with Arlong?

He didn't back down. If Arlong messed with him, Al wouldn't mind eating some fish head soup!

As a transmigrator, cowardice wasn't in his vocabulary, not in this lifetime!

Especially now that the system had summoned Tom, Al felt even more confident!

With Tom on his side, who in the anime world didn't obey him and hand over cigarettes? (T/N: It means showing respect)

Arlong was a tough opponent!

But in the One Piece world...

Having Tom alone wasn't enough; he needed to get stronger simultaneously.

After all, when all Yonko come face to face, the sky's bound to crack!

This is no empty talk!

As for Arlong?

Sorry, he isn't really paying attention.

Glancing at the still sleeping Tom in his arms, Al shook his head and replied, "No worries, thanks for the heads up."

Observing Al's gesture of shaking his head, Johnny appeared somewhat regretful, wanting to add something before pocketing the wanted poster.

However, he was abruptly pulled away by Yosaku from behind, but not without shouting, "Hey, buddy, run! Arlong's crew is on their way. If they catch you, it won't end well!"

It was only then that Al got a clear look at the two men's faces.

'Wait a minute, aren't these the formidable bounty hunter duo of Zoro?'

At that moment...

Three menacing fishmen surrounded Al, brandishing large knives.

The leader of the fishmen, noticing Al's unease, opened his mouth wide and said, "Hey, kid, you're not from Cocoyasi Village, are you?"

He then extended his hand and gestured towards Al, wearing a fierce expression, "In Arlong's site, if you wanna stay alive, you gotta pay protection fees."

"Being an adult costs 100,000 Berries. And that cat in your arms? That's another 100,000 Berries. Total: 200,000 Berries."

Without a second thought, Al addressed directly, "No money."

Even if he had money, Al wouldn't give it up. A traveler ought to possess the audacity of a traveler!

Upon hearing Al's refusal, the fishman's eyes narrowed, and he declared, "If there's no money, then I'll just have to send you to your doom!"

At that moment, Nami, returning from outside, stumbled upon the unfolding confrontation.

The fishman leader, named Kaneshiro, was someone she knew well, a formidable lieutenant within the Arlong Pirates.

Without hesitation, Nami concealed the large bag on her shoulders beneath a nearby tree, preparing to intervene and assist.

Before she could take a few steps, Al gently placed Tom on the ground, giving it a reassuring pat on the back, and said, "Tom, it's your turn, buddy!"

Still groggy from sleep, Tom glanced up at the menacing fishman, his entire body trembling with fear. (T/N: Here it comes)

Then, he pointed to himself, then to the fishman, shooting Al a questioning look as if to say, 'Are you sure about this?'

Al grinned and nodded confidently.

With a loud slap on his thigh, Tom burst into laughter, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

Let him deal with these three towering and ferocious monsters?

Was his owner out of his mind?

However, as he glanced once more at Al's confident smile, Tom's own smile gradually faded.

He extended his claws to deflect the direction of the large knife, then awkwardly placed his hands behind his back, offering a strained smile to the fishmen while shuffling towards Al.

Suddenly, a swoosh cut through the air, and a blue streak of lightning flashed before everyone's eyes.

When they looked again, Tom was already clinging onto Al's thigh, vigorously shaking his head, causing them all to see illusions!

Stepping back, Al nodded to Tom with a solemn expression, as if to say, 'You've got this, Tom!'

For a brief moment, the air hung silent, before the three fishmen erupted into laughter.

"Hey, Kaneshiro, is this kid off his rocker?"

"He really thinks a cat can take us on? Hahaha..."

Kaneshiro's two younger brothers were rolling on the ground, clutching their stomachs in fits of laughter.

What could a silly cat, trembling behind its owner, possibly do?

The wrist strength of a fishman was ten times stronger than that of humans!

Even a fierce sea beast would struggle against them, let alone such a thin and small cat.

Kaneshiro wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, revealing two rows of sharp teeth, and growled menacingly, "Hey, kid, let's put an end to this comedy show!"

"It's time to send you and your dumb cat packing."

While Tom was still in the midst of negotiation with Al, Kaneshiro swung his sharp knife at Tom!

However, what Kaneshiro didn't anticipate was...

In the nick of time, Tom reacted.

He swiftly pinched the tip of his tail, hoisted his entire feline body into the air, and even managed to shake off a bead of sweat!

It seemed he was relieved to have narrowly avoided disaster.

"How is this even possible?!" Nami gasped, covering her mouth, her eyes wide with shock as her worldview shattered.

Could creatures in this world really pull off such feats?

Observing this, Al exclaimed, "Looks like Newton's law is about to get a run for its money!"

"Newton: F**k this shit! Tom is not included in my laws!" 

Kaneshiro's two sidekicks exchanged amazed glances, their eyes transforming into star shapes as they exclaimed in unison, "That's incredible!"

One of them even attempted to mimic Tom's maneuver just now, pinching a pair of fins, then grasping his flowery underpants in an attempt to lift himself up.

The outcome was predictable, to say the least—besides the chewing mud, he lost two teeth!

"Are you an imbecile?!" Kaneshiro cursed furiously, veins bulging on his forehead as he bared two rows of sharp teeth, gathering enough strength to slash at Tom.

In terror, Tom widened his mouth and stuck out his tongue, then swiftly curled up on the ground, shielding his head with his arms, narrowly avoiding Reis's attack once more.

The disbelieving Kaneshiro let out a roar, silently vowing to slice this cat, who dared to play tricks on him, into pieces!

Sensing the murderous intent emanating from Kaneshiro, Tom seemed to jolt as if struck by lightning, his fur standing on end, and his little heart racing wildly.

Thump, thump, it was like it was jumping out of its chest!

Al watched in horror, fearing that Tom's heart might burst through his skin and fly out.

Yet, the more he feared, the more inevitable it seemed.

In that instant, Tom dodged the sharp blade once more!

With a "plop," Tom's heart burst through his skin and leaped out!

In a flash,

Amidst everyone's shock, Tom swiftly replaced his heart, simultaneously pulling out a baseball bat from his back and delivering a forceful blow to Kaneshiro's flippers!

"Ahhhh~?!"

A heart-wrenching cry echoed through the air.

Tom collapsed to the ground, clutching his stomach, then pointed at Kaneshiro and let out a very human-like laugh, "Ahahahaha~"

Witnessing this, the two sidekicks exchanged glances before both brandishing their knives and joining the fray.

Nami quickened her pace, her anxiety mounting, but what followed completely defied her understanding.

Despite the addition of two more enemies, Tom moved with effortless agility amidst the flurry of swords and knives.

Gradually, a smug expression crept onto Tom's face. He would occasionally extend his claws, stick out his tongue, and make faces at his foes.

Or he'd pull out a teapot and cup from his back, pour himself a cup of hot tea, and casually sidestep the fishmen's attacks.

This wave of Tom's mockery was laced with contempt for the fishmen!

Watching from a distance, Nami was stunned, her heart thrown into even greater turmoil.

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