After much hesitation and following the persuasion of Ax and Finder, the Mammoth finally set sail toward the Grand Line.
Ax had been instrumental in convincing Jack. From his attitude and resolve, Jack saw a glimmer of hope for the Sun Pirates' salvation. Perhaps the death of Fisher Tiger had awakened something in Ax. He showed no signs of naïveté, even when Jack deliberately mocked Queen Otohime's ideals in front of him. Instead, Ax rebuked her approach even more harshly than Jack himself.
Jack couldn't help but worry, though. If Fisher Tiger's death had caused the Sun Pirates to develop a strong aversion toward humans, recruiting them into the Beasts Pirates would become a significant challenge. But he had already sought permission from Kaido—he had to bring back capable warriors, no matter what.
More and more Fish-Men were joining Onigashima, and while their innate physical strength was undeniable, high-ranking officers among them were still rare within the Beasts Pirates. Among the lower ranks, disputes often broke out due to similar levels of power. If humans were sent to command Fish-Men, their lack of swimming ability alone made them unsuited for the role. This conundrum frustrated Jack to no end.
The Sun Pirates, however, were rumored to have gathered many elite fighters from Fish-Man District. Bringing some of them back could ease the situation considerably. But according to Ax, the Sun Pirates were rife with factions. With Fisher Tiger gone, Jinbei, the new captain, lacked the authority to unite them, making things all the more troublesome.
"Oh well, one step at a time. If reason fails, I'll just use brute force." Jack shrugged.
"Liberation and freedom?" he sneered. "Grand ideals, but to achieve them, absolute strength is a must. Clearly, Fisher Tiger didn't have it—and that's why he's dead. I'd better learn from his example."
On a desolate, uninhabited island not far from Fourchart Island in the Grand Line, the Sun Pirates had been anchored for some time.
Jinbei, his stocky frame and tusked jaw making him an imposing figure, stood silently on the ship's deck. Below, a taller Fish-Man was locked in a heated argument with a group of his kin.
Nearby, several Fish-Men, led by an octopus Fish-Man with six arms, were equally agitated. His red skin glowed even brighter in his fury, and the suction cups on his limbs flared as he shouted,
"Willy!
"We have to save Arlong! We can't abandon him!"
Willy, a one-eyed Fish-Man with warty skin and a hulking frame, snorted in disdain.
"Are you kidding me? That bastard Arlong walked into his fate willingly! The Marines didn't kill him because they want to use him to bait us. And now you're suggesting we let Jinbei join the Seven Warlords of the Sea? Become a lapdog for the World Government?"
His voice rose as he jabbed a finger at the octopus Fish-Man.
"Don't forget how Fisher Tiger died! You want us to save Arlong and let Jinbei sell his soul to the government? Get real! Arlong can rot for all I care!"
"You bastard!" Hatchan, the octopus Fish-Man, clenched his fists as his companions glared at Willy and his group. Willy's side returned the hostility in kind.
"What? You want to fight?" Willy sneered, reaching for the spiked flail at his waist. "Without Arlong around, you're no match for me. I'll take you all down myself!"
As tensions boiled over, Jinbei finally intervened, his booming voice cutting through the chaos.
"Enough! Willy! Hatchan! Do you intend to tear each other apart?"
Reluctantly, Willy lowered his weapon but spat angrily, "I'll say it again. We can't agree to the World Government's terms, and we're not risking our lives for Arlong. If you choose to save him, Jinbei, I'll leave the Sun Pirates!"
With that, Willy stormed off with his followers, disappearing into the forest. Hatchan and his group retreated in the opposite direction, leaving Jinbei standing alone on the deck.
Jinbei glanced around, his gaze falling on Macro's crew watching idly from the sidelines. He sighed deeply.
"What a mess..."
Aladine, his hair tied into a spiky ponytail, approached Jinbei.
"The crew's morale is at its lowest, Jinbei. You need to make a decision soon. Whatever you choose, you know we'll stand by you."
Jinbei looked at Aladine and the group of former slaves behind him. The weight of their trust only deepened the furrows on his brow.
Late that night, Jinbei sat alone, poring over the documents from the Navy. His face was lined with uncertainty, but as he considered the consequences, his resolve hardened. Becoming a Warlord of the Sea would invite scorn from his kin and intensify his hatred for the World Government. Yet it would also free countless former slaves and allow Fish-Men to return to Fish-Man Island in peace. It might even pave the way for coexistence with humans, fulfilling Fisher Tiger and Queen Otohime's dreams.
With a decisive stroke, he signed his name.
Emerging from his cabin, Jinbei stepped onto the deck and gazed out at the moonlit sea. He murmured to himself,
"Tiger, I hope this is the right choice. And I hope one day, your dream will come true."
Suddenly, he squinted into the dark horizon.
"Huh? What is that...?"
Out of the inky blackness, a massive silhouette loomed, illuminated faintly by the moonlight. Jinbei activated his Observation Haki, scanning the presence ahead. Then, a thunderous voice rang out across the sea:
"Sun Pirates! My brothers and sisters!
"Your hope has arrived!"
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg