Chapter 76: Racial Tensions

The Dragon Crew, also known as the Dragon Pirates.

They were the eternal nightmare of Nami, the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates.

Undoubtedly, the reason why Chu Yi could recall the Dragon Crew from the original pirate story was because of Nami. Even now, Chu Yi remembered how Nami lived in humiliation under the exploitation of the Dragon Crew, and how she sobbed uncontrollably before Luffy, her helplessness so heartbreaking.

So, if Chu Yi were to encounter any other members of the Dragon Crew now, the situation Tiger worried about might indeed erupt.

Because there was hardly a decent person among the Dragon Crew—from the captain, Dragon, down to every ordinary fish-man pirate, all were targets Chu Yi wished to eliminate!

Except for Octopus Hachi...

He was the only member of the Dragon Crew whom Chu Yi did not wish to do away with.

In the original pirate story, the only one among the Dragon Crew who possessed a conscience, perhaps, was the Octopus Hachi now standing before Chu Yi.

When the Dragon Crew exploited Nami, Octopus Hachi was never truly evil. Later, after the Dragon Crew was defeated by the Straw Hat Pirates and Octopus Hachi returned to Fish-Man Island, he smoothly transformed from a villain into a redeemed character, becoming a good friend of the Straw Hat Pirates, willing to risk his life for them.

More importantly...

As a child, Octopus Hachi had saved Rayleigh, Chu Yi's benefactor, which made it impossible for Chu Yi to harm him.

Yet, just as Chu Yi chose to ignore Octopus Hachi, hoping he would lead the fish-men away safely, suddenly, under Chu Yi's control, Lucci let out a soft exclamation and then turned to Smoker, who was also under Chu Yi's control, saying, "Smoker, do you see those fish-men? It looks like they're escorting... humans!"

"What? Pirates?" Smoker raised his eyebrows, questioning Lucci.

"No... just ordinary humans!"

His face gradually darkening, Lucci, seeing a group of fish-men on Fish-Man Island treating ordinary humans like prisoners, couldn't help but feel anger in his heart.

Smoker felt the same.

If Octopus Hachi and his group were escorting pirates, it would be nothing; anyone would first assume those pirates had violated the laws of Fish-Man Island and thus been captured by Octopus Hachi and his crew.

But...

Octopus Hachi and his group were escorting ordinary humans!

For self-styled champions of justice like Smoker and Lucci, how could they just stand by and watch their fellow humans suffer humiliation?

Just as Smoker and Lucci, bearing the crushing pressure of the "Gravity Field," were about to rise and seek justice for their kin—

Suddenly!

Bang!

The gravity intensified!

Barely able to stand, Smoker and Lucci felt the pressure multiply, and both were forced to their knees with a heavy thud.

As they stubbornly turned their heads, glaring furiously at Chu Yi, he calmly increased the "Gravity Field" and said, "Without understanding the truth, it's best not to jump to conclusions. I know you are both righteous marines, but do not forget—fish-men are also beings your navy must protect!"

"Fish-men? Hmph!"

Lucci snorted disdainfully, cast a cold glance at Chu Yi, and said, "Asura, do you know what fish-men mean to me?"

"I don't," Chu Yi replied, shaking his head.

"Fish-men... are the scourge of the seas!"

Seeing Chu Yi shake his head, Lucci's eyes darkened as he spoke slowly, "I don't know what the fish-men of Fish-Man Island are like, since this is my first time here. But in the sea, all fish-men share a common trait: they are violent, cruel, and vicious!"

"I've had many missions, all involving capturing these savage fish-men in the sea. They slaughter humans wantonly, rob, steal, and commit every imaginable crime! Yet, when these brutal fish-men are caught, they cannot be subjected to true justice!"

"Because the current policy of the World Government toward Fish-Man Island is such that, even if we capture fish-men with bloodstained hands, in the end..."

"In the end, aren't they just repatriated to Fish-Man Island, and a few words of scolding from the island's authorities are all they get?"

When Lucci finished, Smoker also sneered coldly, saying, "Asura, Lucci is right, for I've dealt with the same situation!"

"In the first half of the Grand Line, on an island called Sero, a group of fish-men slaughtered every human there in one night! I led a team to capture them, and Vice Admiral Mole personally escorted them back to Fish-Man Island. But only a few months later, another tragedy occurred!"

"On another island, named Nimmo, again every human was killed overnight! Even more abominable, the perpetrators..."

"Were the same fish-men gang from Sero Island!"

After Smoker and Lucci finished speaking, Chu Yi could see from their bloodshot eyes how deep their resentment toward fish-men ran.

Chu Yi had to admit, after hearing Smoker and Lucci, even he felt fish-men had gone too far.

Special times require special measures.

The conflicts among humans, fish-men, and merfolk had existed for ages without resolution, and the World Government naturally tried to ease these tensions. Thus, policies of differentiated treatment arose: humans who commit crimes are severely punished, but fish-men and merfolk, if they offend, are treated leniently or not punished at all. Over time, resentment among humans inevitably built up.

People like Smoker and Lucci encountered only the most brutal, vicious fish-men—those like Dragon—protected by the World Government's special policies. For marines like Smoker and Lucci, the resentment accumulated to an unimaginable degree.

But...

Brutal, vicious fish-men are the minority, aren't they?

At least among the vast population of fish-men and merfolk, those like Dragon are exceedingly rare.

Rather, fish-men like Tiger and Jinbe, who are friendly, truly represent their kind.

Yet, it is precisely these gentle fish-men...

Who are scorned and discriminated against by humans as "dirty fish-men"!

"Race and religion are truly thorny issues."

"To solve them is... such a troublesome task!"

As Tiger's friend, Chu Yi couldn't help but consider the fish-men's perspective, not just the human standpoint.

Yet race is a truly vexing matter; the World Government had failed for so long to resolve it that Chu Yi did not believe he could do so easily.

While Chu Yi was lost in thought, questioning whether his ideal of "killing the heavens" could resolve the conflict among humans, fish-men, and merfolk—

Just then, as Chu Yi was distracted, Smoker, relying on recent progress in his training and the powers of his Smoke Fruit, suddenly broke free from Chu Yi's "Gravity Field" and charged directly toward Octopus Hachi, the leader of the fish-men ahead!

"Not good!"

Though Smoker had forcibly broken the restraints of the "Gravity Field," his current strength was only a fraction of his usual power.

But Smoker was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, with at least Vice Admiral-level strength in the original story!

So, seeing Smoker make his move, targeting Octopus Hachi—whose strength was barely above that of a weakling—considering Rayleigh's connection to Hachi, Chu Yi feared Hachi might be instantly killed, and immediately prepared to intensify the "Gravity Field" and completely restrict Smoker's actions.

Chu Yi acted swiftly.

Before Smoker could reach Octopus Hachi, there was a thud, and Smoker, crushed by the "Gravity Field," was unable to trouble Hachi.

But at that moment—

Bang!

A fist of iron landed heavily on Smoker's cheek, just as Chu Yi had strengthened the "Gravity Field" and immobilized Smoker!

Blood splattered, and Smoker's teeth visibly loosened under Chu Yi's gaze.

Chu Yi's pupils contracted—he never expected that, in saving Octopus Hachi, he would end up having Smoker wounded instead.

And with Smoker injured while under Chu Yi's captivity, the one who struck Smoker was, in effect, slapping Chu Yi in the face!

So in the next instant—

Boom!

Asura awakened, murderous intent surged!

Staring fiercely at the familiar figure whose fist still pressed against Smoker's cheek, Chu Yi, in his Asura form, let a cold, sinister smile curve his lips.

"Sea Knight Jinbe?"

"When did my people become yours to discipline?"