Chapter 56: A True Man, Aaron

Cocoyasi Village.

Not long ago, the thunderous roar of cannon fire and the panic-stricken look on Arlong’s face as he fled had thoroughly rekindled the long-extinguished hope in the hearts of Cocoyasi’s villagers.

From afar, they could clearly see the once-imposing Arlong Park—like a mountain pressing down at the gate of their homeland—now battered and crumbling under the relentless bombardment.

Soon after, the disordered crackle of gunfire echoed from the distance, stirring the hearts of these long-abused villagers with an irrepressible excitement.

“Is it Nami’s boyfriend who’s come?”

A villager’s face flushed red with excitement, eyes full of anticipation: “If someone that powerful is helping us, Arlong’s gang will definitely be wiped out!”

“…Let’s hope so,” Nami’s elder sister Nojiko murmured as she watched the coils of smoke rising on the horizon.

She tucked a few stray strands of blue hair behind her ear and smiled faintly, “Nami’s only been at sea for a month, and she’s already brought a man back with her? I’m really curious to see just what kind of person Nami’s boyfriend is!”

“Hmph!” Ajian, for reasons he couldn’t explain, felt a dull heaviness in his chest and a gloomy expression spread across his face. Though their village was on the verge of salvation, he simply couldn’t bring himself to feel joy.

As the villagers waited anxiously for good news, the sharp reports of gunfire grew ever closer—now mingled with the clear sound of footsteps.

“Who’s coming?”

Despite his irritation at having his ‘cabbage stolen by a pig,’ Ajian’s instincts as the town’s sheriff hadn’t dulled. He barked urgently, “Everyone, hide—quickly!”

Harassed for years by Arlong’s random raids, the villagers had learned to scatter and hide at the first sign of danger. But this time, it was already too late.

Arlong, fleeing for his life, was moving faster than even his fellow fishmen could match, let alone these frail villagers.

Before long, Arlong’s towering, nearly three-meter figure crashed into Cocoyasi Village.

The villagers froze in terror.

But Arlong was in a wretched state: the open-collared, floral shirt he wore was torn in several places by branches during his desperate flight, his breath came in harsh, uneven gasps, and his broad blue face was beaded with sweat—whether from fear or exhaustion, none could say.

He sucked in a few ragged breaths, then swept the crowd with his bloodshot, predatory eyes.

Those who met Arlong’s gaze shuddered involuntarily.

At last, his eyes settled on the striking, blue-haired girl.

“You!” he barked. “Come here!”

With that, Arlong strode toward Nojiko.

Nojiko’s expression faltered as the massive fishman approached.

“Stop! Don’t touch her!” Ajian shouted, rushing forward in agitation.

But Arlong didn’t even bother to reprimand Ajian; he lunged straight for Nojiko, seized her slight frame, and locked her neck in the iron grip of his thick arms—arms strong enough to snap steel.

Ajian halted helplessly several meters away, watching Arlong and Nojiko with mounting dread.

Yet Nojiko, caught in Arlong’s grasp, showed not a trace of fear. Instead, she let out a scornful laugh. “Heh… Woman!” Arlong snarled, “What’s so funny?!”

Nojiko’s laughter grew even more mocking. “You look just like a stray dog right now! Did you run all the way here to take me hostage because you’ve been driven to the end of your rope?”

“D-damn you!” Arlong’s face flushed with rage, tightening his grip. “I’ll kill you!”

“If you kill me, your end will be even worse!” Nojiko retorted fearlessly, her eyes alight with the thrill of vengeance.

Arlong’s face flickered from red to green, but in the end, he dared not go any further.

At that moment, another set of frantic footsteps approached.

Octo and a handful of panicked fishmen henchmen arrived at Cocoyasi Village as well.

“Boss Arlong!” Octo called out in anguish. “The Marines have killed all our brothers! Even Kuroobi…”

Led by Tashigi, the Marines were merciless in their pursuit, and with the addition of the righteous and unyielding “White Hunter” Captain Smoker, the last of the demoralized fishmen were soon hunted down.

By the time Octo staggered into Cocoyasi Village, only a handful of fishmen remained by his side—each one desperate and terrified, faces etched with hopelessness and dread.

Seeing these wretched fishmen, the villagers’ fear of them subsided considerably.

Arlong, now little more than a solitary commander, could no longer maintain his façade of bravado.

Very soon, Cocoyasi Village received new visitors.

First came Smoker, drifting in on a cloud of smoke; then Garen, charging in with a bloodstained broadsword in hand.

Close behind were Tashigi with her drawn blade, Nami clutching her staff, and a host of fierce, battle-ready Marines.

In no time, over a hundred Marines encircled Cocoyasi Village, cutting off any hope of escape for Arlong and his gang.

“Nojiko!” Nami, having barely caught her breath, immediately spotted her sister in Arlong’s grasp.

“Nami!” Nojiko, ignoring her own peril, greeted her with cheerful nonchalance. “You really did come back!”

Nami’s eyes narrowed; she shouted furiously at Arlong, “Let her go!”

Arlong’s lips curled in a cruel, manic grin. “Want your sister to live? Then you’ll have to let me leave here safely!”

A mocking voice suddenly rang out, “So this is what fishman supremacy amounts to? The so-called superior race can’t even face a fight head-on, and resorts to taking hostages to save their own skin?”

Arlong instinctively bristled at the taunt, but when he traced the voice to its source, he clamped his mouth shut.

It was the knight of the East Blue—the man who could match Garp blow for blow.

“Cat got your tongue?” Garen’s sneer grew even more pronounced, his disdain plain for all to see.

“Garen?” Nami whispered uneasily in his ear, “My sister’s still in his hands…” She worried that Garen’s aggressive attitude would provoke Arlong.

“Don’t worry. Leave it to me,” Garen replied easily.

He stepped forward, sword in hand, making Arlong break out in a fresh sweat.

Garen regarded Arlong’s savage appearance with utter contempt. “I’ll give you a chance,” he said. “Fight me, like a man. If you win, I’ll let you go.”

Arlong’s expression darkened. At last, he couldn’t hold back and spat, “Hah! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? With your strength, you’re trying to trick me?”

Garen sighed, “How are you such a coward? Come on, give it a try. You might even win.”

“Win my ass!” Arlong burst out, no longer caring for appearances as he shamelessly admitted defeat.

Not only Garen, but even the Marines and villagers present looked at Arlong in utter contempt.

Only his remaining fishmen could understand their boss’s mindset—a man with the strength of a Marine Admiral standing before you; admitting defeat is no shame.

“Well then…” Garen gripped his sword, settling into a steady, frontal stance.

Arlong quietly edged back another two steps.

“If you have any shred of pride left, let the girl go!” Garen’s eyes sharpened; his voice dropped to a steely growl. “If you’re a man, come and fight me!”

Arlong reflexively shot back, “You think I’m stupid?”

But then—

“Huh? Why am I…”

Arlong, against his will, released Nojiko and, striking a bold, fearless pose, charged straight at Garen.

“Boss Arlong!” his fishmen henchmen gasped in shock, then exclaimed, “Boss Arlong is a true, unyielding man of iron!”