Chapter 82: Fisher Tiger

──Sabaody Archipelago.

Located roughly at the halfway point of the Grand Line, this island cluster sits near both Marine Headquarters and the Holy Land, attracting a wide variety of people—pirates, Marines, even Celestial Dragons.

But precisely because of that, these islands are steeped in “darkness.” Especially in the areas labeled GR 1 through GR 20, which are known as lawless zones, illegal establishments thrive unchecked.

“──Hurry up!! Today’s merchandise is insane!!”

“Yeah… I heard they’re putting a Devil Fruit up for auction…!!”

It was an underground transaction. A shady shop that held auctions for slaves and rare items, drawing in a steady stream of participants—mostly pirates.

The shop was secretly operated by the pirate group known as the Donquixote Family and had earned a solid reputation in Sabaody’s underworld.

According to the chatter among those gathered, a Devil Fruit was up for bidding this time.

No one knew exactly which Fruit it was. But just the mention of a Devil Fruit was enough to stir any sailor’s curiosity. For a pirate preparing to venture into the New World, it represented a powerful potential asset. It was a treasure of the sea—so it was only natural that people would flock to it.

——But most of them didn’t realize that the fruit was never truly meant to be sold.

"Heh heh… Look at all these idiots, biting the bait."

Watching the crowd from the back of the auction house was Diamante, one of the Donquixote Pirates' top executives. He had been entrusted with overseeing this auction—or more accurately, the Devil Fruit itself.

The fruit up for auction—the Goru Goru no Mi, capable of generating infinite gold—was nothing more than a decoy to lure in customers.

Undercover members of the Donquixote Family hidden among the bidders would ensure that the fruit remained in their possession. And once someone consumed it, they could produce endless gold, making their future operations far smoother.

Right now, they needed money. Without enough funds, negotiating with the big players of the New World would be impossible. That was why they had sent a top executive to oversee things.

"——Quite the lively crowd… Perfect."

——But the man in the hooded coat already knew everything—about the Goru Goru no Mi being offered, about the Donquixote Family’s scheme to keep it.

Money could buy information, even from the lowest ranks. Smirking beneath his hood, he had already calculated his next move.

"——FIRE!! FIRE!!"

"Run!!"

"Ugh, even the smoke…!?"

——And finally, he made his move.

"…!! Hey!! Grab the Goru Goru no Mi and get outta here!!"

"Y-Yes, sir!! …Wait, huh?"

By the time the Donquixote Family, including their top executive, tried to regain control, it was already too late.

The power to create gold was now in the hands of a man who had lost everything to gold.

"Ha… Hahahahaha!!! Finally… FINALLY!! The power of infinite gold is MINE!!!"

The man with slicked-back, yellowish-green hair was—Gild Tesoro.

He was the mastermind behind the criminals who set the fire, the one who used the chaos to steal the Goru Goru no Mi.

Freed from slavery years ago, Tesoro had secretly continued his activities as a pirate, searching relentlessly for this very Devil Fruit.

"Now… no one will ever control me again…!!! With this, I’ll become a supreme who rules over everything…!!!"

Tesoro immediately devoured the fruit, reveling in the changes surging through his body.

To him, money was everything.

Money could buy anything. Money could bring happiness.

The poor had no right to live. Even human lives could be bought with gold.

In this twisted world, gold was the ultimate ruler.

"Just watch… you Celestial Dragon scum…!! With this power, I’ll crush even you…!! And those so-called monsters of the New World—I’ll dominate them all with the power of GOLD!!!"

His mind was already filled with grand ambitions.

Tesoro knew the underworld inside-out. He hadn’t spent his years since age twelve mingling in the shadows for nothing.

In the Grand Line, the strongest forces were the Emperors of the Sea—the Four Emperors.

If he wanted to make his mark as a pirate in the New World, allying with one of them was the best path forward.

And fortunately, Tesoro had connections—if they could even be called that—with one of the Four Emperors.

With his newfound power and wealth, forging an alliance was possible. It was time to gather a proper crew and make his move as a true pirate.

"——But the New World can wait."

Yet Tesoro remained calm. Though the thrill of obtaining the Goru Goru no Mi still burned in his veins, his lips curling into a grin, he quietly slipped away from Sabaody by ship.

He could head straight into the New World, but he decided against it.

Because this year, the New World was in turmoil.

He didn’t even need his underworld contacts to know—the newspapers had been blaring the news for all to see.

The reason lay in the recent headlines clutched in Tesoro’s hand. The name of the pirate with three scars over his left eye was——

"Red-Hair… Now this guy’s a real madman."

——Red-Haired Shanks.

His name was legendary in the pirate world, infamous even to the Marines.

His past duels with Hawk-Eyes Dracule Mihawk were the stuff of myth.

And the chaos he had recently unleashed in the New World? Insane.

But it all traced back to an incident months earlier—one that Shanks had set into motion. The headline read:

——RED-HAIRED SHANKS LOSES LEFT ARM IN EAST BLUE!!!

That’s right—months ago, everyone had been stunned.

Shanks, who had left the Grand Line for the East Blue—the weakest of all seas—had returned missing an arm.

For a swordsman of his caliber, rivaling legends like Hawk-Eyes, King of the Blazing Fires, and Flower Sword Vista, losing an arm was unthinkable.

And when he returned to the New World, the fallout was predictable.

Countless pirates held grudges against him. They saw a one-armed man and thought he was vulnerable.

A brutal war erupted.

Shanks was known as a proper pirate—not the type to pick fights unprovoked.

——But when angered, he was terrifying.

That was common knowledge in both the government and the underworld. Once Shanks snapped, he was nearly unstoppable.

The pirates who challenged him learned that the hard way.

But the battles that followed shook the New World to its core—even drawing the attention of the Four Emperors.

"Clashing with Whitebeard… driving off Big Mom’s Sweet Commanders… wounding Kaido’s top officers… This is madness."

Somehow, the Red-Hair Pirates not only survived but thrived, disrupting the balance of power in the New World.

Their clashes with the Emperors’ forces triggered a chain reaction, throwing the entire sea into chaos.

Many assumed they’d be crushed—but the opposite happened.

They repelled the Emperors’ crews.

Even without the Emperors themselves stepping in, their top officers were monsters in their own right.

Rumors said the government had even offered Shanks a Warlord position—but he refused.

Did that mean he sought freedom… or dominion?

Either way, his ambitions reached even higher.

"Tch… What a nuisance."

Thanks to that, the Navy had started moving more aggressively. For Tesoro, who was preparing to take serious action soon, it was an unwelcome development.

But if one of the Four Emperors decided to crush him in earnest, his days would be numbered. With that thought, Tesoro set down the newspaper—just as it happened.

“…Hm.”

His eyes turned to the newspaper dropped onto the deck of the ship. Dawn had already broken. Since he was a subscriber, the News Coo must have dropped it off just now. Tesoro picked it up and checked the headline. It wasn’t worth as much as gold, but information was still valuable.

“!!?—”

But the moment he saw the paper, Tesoro’s face went pale.

For someone who had spent years as a pirate and rarely showed his emotions even when surprised, his expression now was frozen in shock. He trembled. That’s how great the impact was. It was the first time in years something had shaken him like this.

The headline read—

“Captain of the Sun Pirates… Fisher Tiger, dead…!!”

It was an article reporting the death of one of the men who had once saved him from slavery.

---

──A few days before the world would be shaken by that news.

──A lone ship sailed through the Grand Line.

“—Koalaaaa!! We can see it!! Your hometown’s in sight!!”

A voice rang out aboard the ship, its figurehead shaped like a fish.

Every person aboard had features that set them apart from ordinary humans.

“It’s gonna be lonely without you!!”

“Take care of yourself—!!”

“Didn’t think there were humans like you out there!! Uwooooon!!”

Webbed hands. Fins. Fangs.

Some had multiple arms. Some had the lower bodies of fish.

And all of them bore the mark of the sun somewhere on their body.

They were fish-men or merfolk. And pirates.

The Sun Pirates, led by the legendary Fisher Tiger—the hero who freed slaves—had finally reached Foolshout Island in the Grand Line.

They had traveled far, bonded deeply, and forged an unbreakable connection—all to bring back one human girl who had once been a slave: Koala.

“I’ll tell everyone in the village!! That there are lots of kind fish-men out there!!”

“…Heh. All right, time to go.”

“Yeah!!”

Koala’s face, once a tragic mask frozen in a smile no matter what was done to her—still scarred from the trauma just months ago—now shone with life.

And Fisher Tiger, there to see her off, wore a similar expression. Though he had never told anyone, he too carried a storm of trauma, hatred, rage, and sorrow deep in his heart.

But for this one moment, his heart was calm. The feelings buried inside wouldn’t vanish—but maybe, just maybe, they could start to change.

This human child, the people of his home—Fish-Man Island—and those like Queen Otohime, who believed in coexistence between fish-men and humans… maybe the next generation, shaped by that vision, wouldn’t be forced to choose the path of violence and conflict.

Watching the tearful reunions between mother and daughter, and seeing his own crew bid her farewell, he let himself believe that.

Koala had waved back with gratitude.

With hope in his chest, Tiger turned back to his ship and set out once more—

“—Fisher Tiger, captain of the Sun Pirates, I presume?”

“!!!”

—Or so it should have been.

Until that moment, Tiger had managed to think of humans without hatred in his heart.

“I am Vice Admiral Strawberry of Navy Headquarters!!! We received a report from a resident of a certain island that you were headed here!! The adults in the village you just visited are also aware that there might be a bit of trouble here… in exchange for us turning a blind eye to the girl—who was once the property of the Celestial Dragons.”

—The charges were “assault” and “escape.”

Marines surrounded Tiger. Countless guns were aimed at him. Intent to kill, thick in the air.

And the ones responsible for this situation… were the humans. The same former slave who had begged the Sun Pirates to bring Koala home. The villagers who had just reunited with her.

And the Navy, waving the banner of “justice,” were not only condemning Tiger for attacking the Holy Land, but also for escaping from it—reminding him that both were unforgivable crimes.

Gunfire erupted. Blood sprayed from Tiger’s body. His fury surged.

—At the same time, the Sun Pirates were also under attack.

“A Navy trap…!?”

“Look at this… This is what humans are!!!”

Would you like help with another scene from the same work?

"Everyone!! Abandon the ship and dive to the seafloor!!! The boss Tai's in danger!!!"

The surrounding warships bombarded the Sun Pirates without mercy.

They abandoned their ship and moved to rescue Tiger and seize the navy vessel.

The villagers pretended not to hear a thing. The Sun Pirates’ retreat had begun.

—Some distance away, far offshore, a lone ship floated.

“—Three navy ships incoming. On board we’ve got… who was it again, let’s see… Ah, it’s this guy. Vice Admiral Borsalino of Navy HQ. A Logia-type Devil Fruit user with the Glint-Glint Fruit. Known as a monster and rumored to be the next Admiral… So? Want us to kill him? That’d earn us some serious credit.”

“Kuhaha… Tempting offer, but forget it. Fighting without reason only gets you losses.”

The pirate, peering through a telescope, checked the list in his hands and reported to his captain, who sat on the deck. The captain responded with a twisted grin.

“Especially now—it’d be bad timing. Let’s finish our job and get out of here! I’ve had it with this boring sea. Stay at a distance and observe!”

“Got it.”

Following the captain’s suggestion, they concealed their ship to avoid detection.

Neither the Navy nor the Sun Pirates noticed the hidden vessel.

—The Sun Pirates barely managed to escape the Navy’s ambush.

But their ship was seized, and Tiger sustained fatal injuries.

“Don’t give it to me!!! I don’t want to live off that blood!!!”

“!!?”

Without a blood transfusion, Tiger would die.

But he flatly rejected the human blood. He wouldn’t listen to reason, no matter how much his crew pleaded with him.

Tiger’s rare blood type meant that unless they used the human blood stocked on the seized navy ship, he wouldn’t survive.

“I won’t submit to humans!!!”

Even while gasping, he resisted with all his might.

He didn’t want kindness. Didn’t want pity. Didn’t want to be kept alive by the blood of the filthy humans who had always looked down on fish-men.

“I… was a slave!!!”

“What…!!?”

“……!!!”

“Boss…!!”

Yes—he had been a slave.

Many of the fish-men heard this truth for the first time and were deeply shaken. The expression of pain and sorrow on their hero’s face turned their own pale.

But Tiger had never wanted them to know.

In truth, he didn’t want this rage to be passed on to the next generation. He wanted it to end with them.

He didn’t want to stand in the way of good humans like Koala, or noble souls like Queen Otohime who dreamed of coexistence.

They were wrong. Lashing out at all humans with hatred and revenge—it was wrong.

But even knowing that, Tiger couldn’t let it go.

“I just… can’t… love humans anymore…!!!”

—The demon in his heart refused to yield.

He didn’t want to tell this to his comrades who had traveled with him. He would carry the truth and terror of mankind to the grave — so that peace might have a chance.

With that wish in his heart, he was ready to die.

“Boss!!! Don’t say that!! Please, live…!! You still can!!!”

“—Oi oi! That’s right! You dying would be a problem… even for me!!”

“!!?”

At that moment—the wall exploded and in came a large man.

His build rivaled, perhaps even slightly exceeded, Jinbe’s — massive even by fish-man standards.

He brought a group of pirates in with him.

“They’re not marines…!!”

“Who the hell are you people!!!?”

“Ji-Jinbe-san…!! They’ve docked their ship!!”

They weren’t marines. But dragging along multiple humans, there was no doubt they were pirates.

And their ship—was right next to the navy vessel. It must have been a surprise attack, timed when most of the Sun Pirates were below deck tending to Tiger. Several fish-men were already down on the deck.

“Well, well, look at all these fish-men and merfolk lined up like fish in a barrel… Today’s gonna be a good haul. Should’ve brought Pe-tan along for the fun…!!”

“……!! You… You’re…!!”

“Th-That flag…!!!”

Tiger and Jinbe turned pale at the sight of the ship’s flag and the intruders.

There was no way they didn’t know them. They had ties even with the Sun Pirates.

This was a crew belonging to one of the Four Emperors who ruled the seas.

—The flag bore the skull with two horns.

The name of the crew: Beasts Pirates.

“Beasts Pirates ‘Tobiroppo’ Sasaki – Bounty: 544,000,000 Berries”

“You’re Tiger, right? Then you know what we want. Nue-san wants a word with you… and your crew while we’re at it!!”

“Wh-Why the hell is a Yonko’s ship here of all places!?”

The Sun Pirates gasped.

One of the notoriously dangerous fighters of the Four Emperors was here.

And Tiger, gritting his teeth, cursed the sheer hopelessness of it all.

“D-Don’t screw with us!!! You humans… Humans are…!!!”

“!! Stop!! Arlong!!!”

Arlong, shaking with rage, lunged at Sasaki through tears, ignoring Tiger’s warning. He aimed to rip the man apart with his proud nose.

To Arlong, this pirate was a personal insult—he couldn’t contain his fury.

—But he never stood a chance.

“GYAAAHHH!!!?”

“Arlong!!?”

Arlong screamed on the floor, clutching his nose. Sasaki’s wooden sandal had slammed down onto his face, snapping his nose clean in half.

Sasaki let out a sigh as he looked down at him.

“Come on now… don’t go flying off the handle like that. You’re just a shark bred for meat, an afterthought at best. Put simply, I’ve just been sent on a little errand.”

“A-an errand…!?”

“Yeah—capture Tiger and the rest of the fish-men and bring ’em into our crew. That’s the job.”

“What…!?”

Jinbe and the rest of the Sun Pirates were stunned. In other words, this was a recruitment offer—straight from a Yonko.

Sasaki grabbed Arlong by the scruff of the neck and flung him behind him. The pirates accompanying Sasaki quickly moved in and began restraining him.

“Like I said—it’s a request from Nue-sama. You really think I’d bother coming all the way out to the first half of the Grand Line if there wasn’t something in it for me? I’m only here ‘cause there’s profit to be made. You get that, right? So don’t go testing my patience.”

“…!!”

Sasaki glared at them with a twisted grin. The fish-men, realizing they were up against a superior force flying the banner of a Yonko, instinctively stepped back.

Sensing their fear, Sasaki chuckled.

“Would help if you just tied yourselves up already—we’re busy too. Babysitting a bunch of clowns bickering about humans and fish-men is too damn boring for my tastes.”

“Why you…! Let me go, you bastard!! Gah—!!”

“Oh, and by the way. Anyone who refuses to come along? I got full permission to do whatever I want with ‘em. Heh… So I’ll say this once outta kindness—give it up. If not… let’s see… maybe I’ll sell half of you off, and serve the other half up as appetizers for Nue-sama’s drinking party. Fitting, right? Fish food and all!”

“Gyahahaha!! You kill me, Captain!!”

“Man, you got a way with words!!”

Sasaki and his crew burst out laughing. Not a single fish-man present could hear their words without burning rage.

And then—Tiger, even while on the brink of death, forced out his voice.

“Did you say… sell us…?”

“I dabble in the slave trade for side income. Even fish-men or mermen fetch a decent price—even the males. Heh, as for this meat-shark here, maybe I’ll slice off his fins for some quality shark fin soup and pawn the rest off to the Celestial Dragons for a clean one hundred berries. Wouldn’t that be something? Following the same path as his dear big bro—should be an honor!”

“…!! Hah… I’ll kill you…! I’ll kill you, you bastard…!!!”

“You monster…!!”

Arlong and Jinbe seethed at Sasaki’s words. Arlong in particular—having once endured those same horrors—trembled with rage, his bloodshot eyes glaring.

Tiger was no different.

“Hah… hah… Sorry, but I’m as good as dead already…!! I ain’t lettin’ you control us…!! And you can tell that demon of yours the same…!!!”

“That ain’t gonna happen!! Sorry, but we’re dragging you back alive—one way or another!!”

“!!?”

Sasaki roared as his form began to shift. A Zoan-type Devil Fruit—ancient model. His body grew even larger, his power surging as he transformed into a fearsome beast. He loomed over them, instilling raw terror, and advanced toward Tiger.

“Outta the way, small fry!! Unless you wanna get crushed with the rest of ’em…!?”

It was clear—Sasaki had every intention of taking all of them back with him. And so, naturally, Tiger, on the verge of death, was the first he reached for.

The Sun Pirates couldn’t move. Weapons in hand, they hesitated.

Because if they were trying to keep him alive by force… then Tiger might still be saved.

That sliver of hope made their resolve waver.

But then—one man stepped forward. One man alone stood in Sasaki’s path.

“──I won’t let you!!!”

“You…!”

“Jinbe-san!!!”

Jinbe planted his feet and stopped Sasaki’s charge. He was pushed back slightly—but even Sasaki narrowed his eyes at the resistance, visibly impressed. The name “Jinbe” was one he’d heard before.

“Well, well… so you’re Jinbe, huh. Looks like you’re not completely useless.”

“…Everyone, take Brother Tai and run!!”

“Jinbe-san…!! But—!”

The Sun Pirates faltered. And Jinbe understood why.

But he would not allow it.

Clenching his teeth, fists trembling, tears running down his face, he took his stance—and spoke.

“We will honor Brother Tai’s final wish…!!!”

“…!!”

Jinbe had already made up his mind.

Tiger would die. If they surrendered, he might live. But—

“Becoming their comrades might save our skins… but it would only mean going right back under human rule!! That’s the very thing Brother Tai hated most of all!!!”

“Jin… be…”

“Brother Tai… I want you to live…!! But until the moment you die, I’m still your underling!! So it’s only right that I carry out your will—that’s what it means to be your man…!!!”

“Jinbe-san…”

Hearing Jinbe’s words, the Fish-Man Pirates finally solidified their resolve.

Tears welled up in their eyes, yet they glared at their enemies and took up their weapons. All they could see before them were the enemies threatening their captain’s freedom.

Then Jinbe, now standing in as their leader, shouted:

“We will not let you strip the freedom of Brother Tai—the hero of Fish-Man Island!!! Charge!!!”

“YEEEAAAHHHHH!!!”

The Fish-Man Pirates stood united. With tears in their eyes, they charged toward the overwhelming force of a Yonko.

“Tch… these brain-dead weaklings…!! Fine then. I’ll send every last one of you straight to hell…!!!”

With a click of his tongue, Sasaki prepared to face off against Jinbe and the rest of the Sun Pirates alongside his crew.

Watching that scene unfold, the hero murmured his final words.

“I’m… happy… Sorry I couldn’t fight alongside you… but… you’ve got this, everyone…”

“WAAAAAAGHHHH!!! PROTECT THE BOSS!!!”

“BOSS—!!!”

With cries of anguish, the Fish-Men launched into battle against the Beasts Pirates.

And shortly after—Fisher Tiger, captain of the Sun Pirates, liberator of slaves, and hero of Fish-Man Island, passed away.

──And then… after the world reeled from the news of the hero’s death.

---

──Wano Country, Onigashima.

There, a certain man’s voice echoed.

As I listened to it while eating some delicious sushi, I let out a disappointed sigh.

“Ehhhh? Tiger’s dead~? And I was really looking forward to meeting him too~”

『Sorry, Nue-san…!! But this isn’t over yet…!!! Just wait a bit longer. I’ll bring back that Jinbe guy’s head as a gift for you and Kaido-san…!!!』

With a piece of sushi in hand, I listened to Sasaki’s report via Den Den Mushi. He’d been sent on an errand.

According to him, Tiger had died, and Jinbe had escaped. Though they managed to capture a few dozen Fish-Men, in the end, Sasaki had been outmaneuvered—by Tiger… no, by Jinbe.

That likely explained the hint of irritation in his voice. He hadn’t lost, per se, but Jinbe had put up a decent fight and succeeded in his goal. I could understand how he felt, honestly. So I just giggled.

“Aha, okay, that’s enough, so hurry on back, will ya? I’m looking forward to the red snapper and the rest of the sashimi you’re bringing♪”

『Tch… But still—』

“Shut up!!! Don’t give me orders!!! I’ll kill you, old man!!!!”

『!!?』

Just as Sasaki was about to object, a different voice exploded through another Den Den Mushi call, stunning him.

Chaos erupted on our end too. But the reason was simple: one of my elder siblings was also talking to someone else over a Den Den Mushi.

And not just anyone—it was someone on the same level as Kaido… another one of the Four Emperors.

『You come here and I’ll sink you, Kaido!!!』

“I’ve got no business with you!!! I’m going to kill that red-haired brat!!!”

『I don’t care what your reason is—if you trespass in my territory, I will make you pay!!!』

“Fine by me!!! I’ll take your head too while I’m at it!!! Get ready, old man!!!”

Kaido roared into the receiver, loud enough to shake the entire mansion—no, the entire island. The skies churned in sync with Kaido’s fury.

As I listened in, Sasaki nervously asked:

『…Kaido-san’s opponent is…?』

“Hmm? He’s going at it with Whitebeard. See, that red-haired punk injured Queen and trashed one of our islands. So now Kaido’s decided to kill him and reached out to Whitebeard about it… But geez, Whitebeard’s being so stubborn.”

『…I see.』

Sasaki went quiet. No surprise—Kaido’s rage was so intense it probably had him on edge, even from over there.

Though, he was holding up better than the rest of the crew. Most of them looked scared stiff.

“Nu-Nue-san!! At this rate, the whole mansion will—!! Can’t we do something to stop them!?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. This place is pretty sturdy… And besides, I kind of get where they’re coming from. I’m a little irritated too.”

“Huh?”

I gave them the real reason with a smile—what that red-haired brat had done.

No need to take it out on the crew, after all.

“Haven’t you heard? That redhead didn’t just beat Queen—honestly, that just means Queen was weak. But then that brat went and wrecked the island and stage I was gonna use for my next live show~~~♪ Aha, I let him off the hook once, and look what I got for it… That little bastard. I’m seriously gonna kill him.”

“……!!!”

—Oops, my bad. Might’ve let a bit of my anger slip through just now. My face tensed up, so I made sure to smile again.

“Anyway, that’s how it is. You guys get the ship ready, ‘kay~~~♡”

“Y-Yes ma’am!! Right away…!!”

“Yup yup♡ I love subordinates who listen properly♡ Sooo, Sasaki~? You hurry back too, okay? I don’t care about the fish anymore. Things are way more urgent over here now♡”

『…Understood.』

“Okay then~♪”

And with that, I hung up and put down the Den Den Mushi.

Kaido had just finished his call too.

“──Oi, Nue!! Let’s move out…!! We’re gonna kill that red-haired brat who dared mess with us…!!!”

“I’m in, I’m in~! Let’s gooo!!!”

“K-Kaido-sama, Nue-sama!! W-Wait, you can’t just go off on your own like that—!!!”

I hopped onto Kaido’s shoulder as he transformed into a dragon and prepared to leave Onigashima. But one of the subordinates stopped us, and I paused—just in case. Might run into the Navy out there or something. Probably safer to take a ship, huh? Aha~ Now then… Time to teach that cocky redhead a little lesson.