"You...!"
Arlong's expression stiffened, his face darkening further as he growled in frustration, "Damn it... Why would someone as strong as you come to a place like the East Blue?!"
"Even your human navy doesn't care whether these people live or die! Why are you sticking your nose into this?!"
"The navy?"
Hearing this, Will's expression turned cold. He replied icily, "What the navy cares about has nothing to do with me. And you dare use them to try and intimidate me?"
His tone suddenly became sharp and unwavering.
"If the navy cares, I will act! If the navy doesn't care, I must act!"
He slowly raised his hand and pointed directly at Arlong, his voice resolute:
"And you—scum who have brought nothing but pain to my navigator—I will never let you go!"
"What did you say? Your navigator?!" Arlong's face twisted in confusion.
Will's voice remained cold. "What, have you already forgotten?"
"The one who made a deal with you—one hundred million Berries to buy back her village."
"Nami."
His gaze bore down on Arlong like that of a predator eyeing its prey. "I trust that name is not unfamiliar to you."
"Nami?!"
At the mention of the name, Arlong's expression shifted in shock before realization dawned. He had never considered that this man had come for the sake of that woman.
Regret surged through him like a tidal wave.
If only he had killed Nami back then instead of keeping her alive to draw sea charts... Perhaps this man wouldn't be standing here now, bringing destruction upon him.
If that had been the case, today's disaster wouldn't have happened.
His three officers wouldn't have died so tragically, nor would his fellow fish-men have perished.
He would still be the king of Arlong Park!
He could still rule over the dozen or so human villages in the area!
But because of Nami, everything had been ruined…
The more he thought about it, the more his hatred for Nami burned, surpassing even his hatred for the man standing before him.
"Will…"
Perched atop the wall, Nami had been watching the events unfold. Hearing Will's words, her eyes widened in astonishment before softening with gratitude.
Karina nudged her with an elbow and whispered, "From the way Will's talking, it's clear Arlong won't be leaving here alive. You can finally be at ease."
"Mm!"
Nami nodded firmly, a genuine smile spreading across her face.
The two women on the wall were in high spirits.
But in the courtyard, Arlong's mood was anything but.
Knowing that Will had come specifically for Nami, he realized his chances of leaving alive were slim.
But even if he couldn't win, he refused to go down without a fight.
After all, he had already suffered a humiliating defeat once before.
Arlong had sworn to himself back then—he would never again bow to a human!
Lowering his stance, he suddenly propelled himself forward, launching toward Will like a cannonball.
Will shifted slightly to the side.
Whoosh!
Arlong missed completely, his momentum sending him plunging headfirst into the pool.
Splash! Splash! Splash!
Before Will could even fully turn around, the pool erupted as water bullets shot toward him in a dense barrage, resembling a storm of bullets.
But Will didn't even bother to dodge, allowing them to strike him directly.
The only effect was his clothes getting wet. His expression remained unchanged, utterly unfazed by the attack.
He glanced down at the water stains on his clothes, frowning slightly.
"Water fights? That's child's play."
Whoosh!
Just as his words fell, a blurred figure shot up from the water, lunging straight at Will's head.
Clang!
This time, Will didn't even try to dodge. He simply reached out and grabbed Arlong's saw-like nose mid-attack. The sharp edges ground against his palm, producing a crisp, grating sound.
With a sudden motion, Will swung Arlong by his nose and flung him through the air, smashing him hard against a half-collapsed tower.
Boom!
Arlong staggered up from the rubble, blood pouring from multiple wounds. His nose was bent and mangled beyond recognition.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he roared in fury, "Damn inferior human! I am a fish-man! I will win!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than he lunged once more.
Arlong opened his jaws wide, leaping high into the air while spinning violently toward Will. His razor-sharp teeth whirred like a deadly grinder, a truly menacing sight.
Seeing him charge in desperation, Will met him head-on, surging forward with both hands raised!
Iron Body: Dragon Fang!
In an instant, his right hand positioned above and his left below, fingers curled into claws, palms open, his hands mimicking the deadly jaws of a dragon!
Then, with explosive force, he slammed both hands toward Arlong's open maw, his aura like that of a rampaging beast!
CRACK!
A horrifying sound echoed through the air.
The immense force slammed Arlong's jaws shut, shattering his teeth instantly!
His bulging eyes nearly popped out from the pressure. All thoughts fled from his mind, wiped clean by the devastating impact.
Will retracted his hands.
Arlong collapsed to his knees, consciousness fading in and out. Only sheer willpower, seething hatred, and the tenacity of his fish-man bloodline kept him from falling entirely.
Will stood quietly beside him, making no immediate move to finish him off. Instead, he contemplated.
From what he remembered—
Arlong was once a member of the Sun Pirates, a fish-man who had witnessed firsthand the cruelty and discrimination of humans toward his kind.
The death of his most respected elder brother, Fisher Tiger, had only fueled his rage, stripping away what little restraint he had left.
Later, when Jinbei became a Warlord of the Sea, Arlong was granted a special pardon by the navy.
Defeated by Jinbei in battle, he took those who shared his ideals and left.
Jinbei, out of old friendship, chose to let them go.
That was when Arlong came to the East Blue.
There, he established the Arlong Pirates and embarked on a reign of terror—pillaging, burning, slaughtering with impunity.
He extorted protection fees in a manner akin to the Celestial Dragons' "Heavenly Tribute."
He forced the nearby human villages to pay tribute to him.
And those who failed to pay?
Their villages were wiped from the map.
It was always the weak who wielded their blades against those even weaker. That never changed, no matter where one went.
If Arlong truly had the courage, if he truly believed in justice—
Then why had he never sought vengeance against those who truly oppressed and enslaved fish-men?
No. He knew he wasn't strong enough to challenge the powerful humans of the Grand Line.
So instead, he came to the weakest sea, the East Blue, to vent his rage upon those who could not fight back.
A coward's justice.
And for that, he would pay the price.
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