Chapter 95

"Goodwill from the fishmen? Why do you want to build a relationship with us? You humans are all the same, always trying to take advantage of us. I am sure you are no different," the leader of the fishmen team commented, still unsure of my true intentions.

"Well, let me ask you this," I replied, my tone calm yet assertive. "Do you really think that with your current capabilities, you can locate and rescue your captured kin? Your window for rescue is short. Even if you do find their whereabouts, do you believe you can save them with just a dozen of you?" I paused, letting my words sink in.

None of the dozen were particularly strong, and if they were to go head-on with the auction house guards, pirates, and marines, it would be a massacre.

The fishmen shifted uncomfortably, realizing the truth in my words.

"Are you sure your pride is worth the suffering your family is going through?" I questioned them, making them think about the heart of the matter.

The leader clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing. "We don't have a choice. They are our family."

"And I am offering you a choice," I countered.

"You can attempt this rescue alone and risk failure, or you can accept my help and increase your chances of success. I have resources, skills, and a vested interest in seeing you succeed. Together, we can ensure the safety of your family and strike a blow against those who seek to oppress you."

The leader's eyes softened slightly as he weighed my words. "Why should we trust you?"

"Trust is earned through actions," I said. "Allow me to prove my intentions. I have no interest in taking advantage of you. My goal is to form an alliance that benefits both parties. In the turbulent times ahead, having allies you can trust will be crucial."

The fishmen exchanged glances, their resolve wavering but not yet broken.

"You have nothing to lose and everything to gain," I continued. "If I betray you, you can exact your revenge. But if I prove trustworthy, you gain a powerful ally and the safety of your kin."

The leader sighed, the weight of his responsibility heavy on his shoulders. "Very well. We'll accept your help, but know this: if you betray us, there will be nowhere on the Grand Line you can hide."

"Hahaha, you sure know how to make a joke." I chuckled at the fishman leader's threat. "If you want to rescue the mermaids, we'll need some information first. I know just the place to get it." I gestured for the rest to follow me.

The leader addressed the remaining fishmen: "You guys keep monitoring the auction houses and the slave traders. I'll go with this human and see if he really intends to help us." Only the leader and one other fishman, both cloaked heavily to conceal their features, followed me.

We made our way through the chaotic streets of the Sabaody Archipelago, and the tension in the air was palpable. Pirates, Marines, and bounty hunters all moved with purpose, creating an atmosphere of constant danger and opportunity. Despite this, the fishmen followed closely, their eyes darting around cautiously.

Soon enough, we arrived at Grove 13, stopping in front of Shakky's Rip-Off Bar. It had been years since I last visited, and the bar had undergone a complete makeover. The once rustic and worn-out exterior now looked inviting and well-maintained, a stark contrast to the surrounding area.

"You mean to gather information here?" The fishman leader's hoarse voice sounded skeptical from beneath his hood. He eyed the establishment, clearly unconvinced that this was a place for information brokering.

"Yes," I replied confidently. "Shakky knows everything that goes on in Sabaody. If anyone can help us, it's her."

We entered the bar, and the dim lighting created an intimate atmosphere. The only patron glanced our way but quickly returned to his drink, uninterested in newcomers. Behind the bar stood Shakky, her sharp eyes immediately recognizing me.

"Well, well, if it isn't the prodigal son," Shakky said with a sly smile. "It's been a while. What brings you back to my humble establishment?"

"Good to see you, Shakky-san," I responded with a nod. "We need information on a certain matter. Can you help us?" I eyed the patron, who was discreetly trying to eavesdrop on our conversation.

"If rumors were to be believed, you were buried beneath the seas of Marineford more than a year ago. Yet here you stand, alive and well. I was sure you wouldn't kick the bucket so soon after all that grand speech you gave me." She chuckled as she gestured for the pirate patron to vacate the premises. The middle-aged man grumbled in dissatisfaction but chose not to challenge the bar owner. Being an old-timer, he knew the true identity of Shakky, and causing trouble here was as good as asking for death.

Once the man left, the fishmen grew impatient. The burly fishman subordinate demanded directly, "Tell us where they are holding the mermaids."

I couldn't help but chuckle; the guy always tried to act before gauging his opponent.

Shakky's eyes flicked at the cloaked figures beside me, and her smile widened knowingly. "Ah, I see. You're here to help our fishman friends. Come, let's have a drink and talk. Fruit juice, yes?" She mocked me, then started fiddling with the back shelf to find a carton of juice. She even poured two glasses of what seemed like rum, pushing them forward before sitting down leisurely, ignoring the fishman who had just spoken.

"Patience," I said to the fishmen while placing my sheathed blade on his shoulders, warning him and glancing at them to ensure they understood the need for restraint. "Shakky is a friend; disrespect her, and I cut you where you stand."

"My apologies; my friend here is just distraught from his daughter being captured." The fishman leader quickly intervened, apologizing to Shakky while grabbing his friend's shoulder forcefully. He made him sit down, glaring at him to ensure he didn't say another word. Despite humans being responsible for their current predicament, these humans were trying to help, and his friend's behavior was totally disrespectful.

Shakky simply waved it off and finally sat down, sipping her own drink. "The recent influx of pirates has caused quite the stir on Fishman Island. Mermaids being abducted and sold into slavery have increased at an unprecedented rate," she began, her tone more serious now. "If the mermaids you're looking for were captured, they're likely being held by one of the major auction houses."

"Which auction house?" I pressed, knowing we needed specifics.

"The Human Auction House in Grove 1," Shakky replied. "They're running a grand auction the day after tomorrow, and it's run by a particularly nasty group known for dealing in high-value slaves. If your mermaids are here, that's where they'll be."

The fishman leader clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. "We need to act quickly."

Shakky nodded. "They're heavily guarded, of course, but there's always a way in. I've heard rumors of an underground passage leading into the auction house. It's used by some of the more discreet buyers to avoid attention. You might be able to use it to get in unnoticed."

"You said a nasty group. Mind revealing who they are?" I questioned, intrigued. For Shakky to call a particular group nasty, they must have quite the strength backing them up.

"Have you heard of the Big Mom Pirates?" Shakky asked, her tone serious. "Since Roger was executed, the whole New World has been in turmoil. A few pirate groups are racing for the position of what people are calling the Emperors of the Sea. Whitebeard is currently recognized as one of the emperors. However, following closely are two other remnants from the Rocks crew: 'Big Mom' Charlotte Linlin and the man recently given the moniker 'Hundred Beasts' Kaido. The pirate group that captured the mermaids and is auctioning them is none other than the Big Mom Pirates."

The faces of both fishmen paled. The weight of Shakky's words settled heavily in the air, a stark reminder of the harsh reality they faced.

"The Big Mom Pirates..." the fishman leader murmured, clearly shaken. "We're up against one of the most powerful pirate crews in the New World."

Shakky leaned back, her eyes fixed on us. "Yes, and they won't be easy to deal with. But if you still want to go through with this, you'll need a solid plan and a lot of luck. And you should be ready to face the wrath of the Bigmom pirates if you successfully pull this off."

"This..." The two fishmen were caught between a rock and a hard place. They knew who the Big Mom Pirates were. Even if they managed to rescue their family, the wrath of the Big Mom Pirates would soon follow, and the entirety of Fishman Island would suffer for it.

"What are the Big Mom Pirates doing so close to Marineford? I'm sure they have many other places in the New World where they can trade slaves," I questioned, not particularly bothered by the prospect of facing the Big Mom Pirates so early. I would have to face them sooner or later.

As long as I don't come face-to-face with Big Mom herself, I can triumph over any of her other cadres. Even against Big Mom, I was confident about fleeing if necessary. The future Emperors of the Sea were not like the Admirals—they were a league above. In the canon, even at his worst, Whitebeard could take on three Marine Admirals at their peak and still not fall at a disadvantage.

"Haven't you noticed? Sabaody is brimming with pirates, and the World Government seems unbothered, letting the pirates cross and have them die in the New World," Shakky explained, taking a deep puff from her cigarette. "As for why the Big Mom Pirates are here, it's because they are rapidly expanding in the New World and are in need of massive resources. Where would you get a better price for mermaids than in Sabaody? A mermaid here would fetch 500 million Belly at the minimum."

The fishmen leader's face twisted in anger and fear. "So, they're using Sabaody as a marketplace to fund their expansion," he muttered, the gravity of their situation becoming clearer.

"So tell me, Shakky-san, who will I be facing? I'm sure one of their cadres must have moved for such an important matter," I questioned, my blood boiling with anticipation for the upcoming challenge. I needed to fight strong opponents, as it was the best way to hone my haki.

The two fishmen beside me were shocked, seeing that I was still willing to involve myself after learning that the Big Mom Pirates were involved. They were struggling with the fact of how to rescue their family, but now they had someone potentially risking their life for them.

"You... we appreciate your kindness, but do you have any idea who the Big Mom Pirates are? Even though I don't know the reason why you want to help us, I can't, in good conscience, let someone face such danger on our behalf," the fishman leader questioned. It was now that he realized the person sitting in front of him was probably a young teen and might not fully grasp the dangers of the New World.

Shakky couldn't help but chuckle at the fishman's words and remark, "So you guys don't even know the identity of the person who is helping you?" She burst out laughing, stood up, walked into the back room, and quickly returned. She casually tossed a bounty poster in front of the two fishmen.

[ WANTED ]

[ ONLY DEAD ]

[ DONQUIXOTE ROSINANATE ]

[ 616,500,000 Belly ]

The fishmen stared at the poster in shock. The leader's eyes widened as he recognized the name and the face. "You... you're Donquixote Rosinante?"

The fishman, who had been ready to attack earlier, now looked embarrassed and humbled, fear etched on his every being. "I... I didn't know. Please forgive my earlier behavior," he stammered.

"Hehe, it seems my bounty has increased once more. The World Government is really keen on getting rid of me, huh?" I couldn't help but chuckle at my new bounty poster. I wasn't sure if the increase was due to the stunt we pulled at Logue Town before we left.

"I'm not sure what secrets you're holding, kid," Shakky remarked, her tone cryptic, "but even Roger's bounty poster didn't have the capture condition as 'only dead.' As much as I am aware, there was only one other person who had such a condition before you two brothers, and I'm sure you know who that was." She knew better than to pry into my secrets, understanding that doing so could spell her doom as well.

Anyone with a bit of intelligence would come to the same conclusion that Shakky had: the World Government was desperate to eliminate us, likely because the secret we knew could turn the world upside down if exposed. Perhaps this was their tactic to get us to the negotiation table.

Shakky leaned back, her expression turning serious as she tossed another bounty poster across the table. "As for who you'll be facing, it's likely to be Charlotte Katakuri, one of Big Mom's Sweet Commanders and her strongest cadre. He's known for his formidable strength and the ability to create and control mochi, akin to a Logia ability. He's not someone to be taken lightly. It's rumored he has yet to taste a single defeat."

[ WANTED ]

[ALIVE OR DEAD]

[CHARLOTTE KATAKURI]

[ 539,900,000 Belly ]

The fishmen gulped in fear, exchanging worried glances. Katakuri's reputation was well-known, even in the Fishman District. "We have to be careful. I don't think he would be alone," the leader said, his voice steady but determined. "But if you're with us, we might just have a chance." His tone turned pleading as he realized I was their only hope for salvation.

"We'll need a solid plan," I said, turning my attention back to Shakky. "Can you provide us with any information on the auction house's layout and security?"

Shakky nodded. "I can do better than that. I have contacts who can help us get inside. But remember, once you're in, it's all on you to handle Katakuri and his men."

"That's all I need," I replied confidently. "Let's get to work."

As we began to lay out our strategy, the air grew thick with tension and determination. The stakes were high, but the resolve to rescue the mermaids and build a bridge to Fishman Island was stronger. This mission would test all our abilities, and failure was not an option.

The fishman leader glanced at me, his eyes reflecting a mixture of hope and desperation. "Thank you," he said quietly. "For everything."

"Don't thank me yet," I replied, my voice firm. "We still have a long way to go. But we'll get your family back. That, I promise."