Morning.
The sky, cloudless.
A warm spring breeze glided gently across the ocean surface, carried by the current.
The False Merry sailed smoothly, its sails billowing, taut with wind.
Along both sides of the ship, schools of fish skimmed the surface, racing ahead like living waves.
Some playful ones leapt out of the sea, splashing droplets that sparkled in the sunlight, casting rainbows in the air.
Above, seabirds circled hungrily in droves.
Since setting sail, the crew hadn't seen this many birds in the sky—a sure sign that land was nearby.
A few days prior, they had dined at the floating restaurant Baratie, stocked up on supplies, and resumed their voyage into the vast blue.
As for Sanji, Zeff hadn't brought him up, and Kouta hadn't asked.
Now, aboard the False Merry.
Kouta lay sprawled atop the figurehead, a sheep's head—basking in the sunlight.
Kuina sat nearby on a lounge chair, scanning a newspaper and a sea chart.
Their course was set: the Conomi Archipelago—territory of the Arlong Pirates, and home to Nami's village, Cocoyasi.
To get there, Kouta had specifically asked Old Man Zeff for a sea chart with coordinates to the Conomi Archipelago. The East Blue was vast, and without it, finding the islands quickly would've been impossible.
"Hey, Kouta, why are we headed to the Conomi Archipelago?" Kuina finally asked the question that had been on her mind since they left Baratie.
"What's so special about that place?"
They were originally headed straight for Loguetown. Then, out of nowhere, Kouta had changed plans.
Kouta opened his eyes and, squinting at the sun, spoke in a low voice. "It's nothing really. Just that... there's a dragon there. I want to see it for myself."
"A dragon?"
Kuina blinked, then said, "You mean the Arlong Pirates, right?"
"Yeah. That's the one."
"But what do they have to do with us?"
Kouta paused. Watching a black-and-white seagull cut across the sky, he said quietly, "It's not just that Arlong rules over the nearby villages. He's also playing games with a certain naive girl."
"A girl?" Kuina stood up sharply.
Realizing he'd slipped up, Kouta tried to keep his tone neutral. "Yeah. A girl. You know how legends about dragons always involve a maiden, right?"
"Do they?" Kuina frowned, clearly unconvinced.
"They do," Kouta said, with more conviction than before.
Kuina gave him a long, suspicious look. Then her expression changed.
"You could've just said you want to slay the dragon and save the villages—be a hero. Why make it sound so mysterious?"
She lowered her head in thought. Then her calm eyes suddenly lit up.
"Hmm… A beautiful girl who slays a dragon. That sounds amazing!"
She turned her gaze toward the horizon, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I've made up my mind!"
"About what?"
"I'll be the one to defeat Arlong," she declared, locking eyes with Kouta.
"Alright, alright," Kouta chuckled. "Our brave dragon-slaying maiden, Kuina. One day, legends will be written about you."
Kuina lifted her chin slightly, pride in her posture.
Seeing that she had dropped the subject of the girl, Kouta wiped the sweat from his brow in secret.
He had almost let the truth slip.
The real reason he changed course was because he'd suddenly thought of Nami—and the dozens of villages still suffering under Arlong's rule. If he didn't intervene, they'd have to wait two more years for Luffy to set sail and liberate them.
But in those two years... how many families would fall apart?
He couldn't help the people he didn't know. But if he did know, then he had to help.
It was that bone-deep sense of justice he'd been raised with, growing up under the red flag of his past life.
And for him, taking down the Arlong Pirates was no harder than squashing an ant.
If it's simple and it's the right thing to do, then of course he would act.
Not because he was some saint. No, Kouta wasn't the type to spare villains in the hope they'd "put down the butcher's knife and find enlightenment."
Evil was evil.
If sinners could just be forgiven, then who would carry the burdens of those they hurt?
Who would repay their suffering?
So anyone he encountered who had chosen evil
He'd send them straight to hell for repentance.
As more seabirds gathered in the sky around them, a long coastline slowly emerged on the horizon.
The scent of earth wafted toward them, faint but clear.
Kouta sat up straight, stretched out his legs, and spun around atop the sheep head to face the shore.
"Hm."
He scanned the coastline ahead but saw no sign of Arlong's base.
If memory served, their hideout was right by the sea.
He leapt off the figurehead and shouted toward the helm, "A Tao! Adjust course! Let's circle the island and find the entrance to Arlong's territory."
"Got it!" came the reply.
Inside the steering room, A Tao jolted upright from his daze, stood up, and responded loudly through the window.
He walked to the helm, tucked the cigarette between his lips, and gripped the wheel with both hands, giving it a sharp turn left.
Outside, the False Merry banked gracefully, redirecting its course.
At that moment, A Hua emerged from the galley, holding a bounty poster.
He walked slowly to the bow and glanced at Kouta, pushing up his glasses as a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
"So it was the Arlong Pirates," he muttered, as if confirming a theory.
Kouta gestured for him to hand the bounty poster to Kuina.
"Kuina. Take a look. This is the enemy you'll be facing. Until you become a true swordmaster, never underestimate anyone."
"Got it," she replied, taking the poster from A Hua.
"So they're all Fish-Men…" she murmured as she looked at Arlong's bounty. Then she frowned.
"Ugly as sin."
"Don't be fooled by appearances," Kouta said. "They're a new race—hybrids of fish and human. Stronger than ordinary people, and in water, their strength multiplies."
He shared what he knew.
"Six years ago, the Fish-Man Pirates from the Grand Line disbanded. Arlong broke off and formed his own crew, then came to East Blue and took control of the Conomi Archipelago."
"How do you know so much?" Kuina asked, squinting at him.
"Me? I read the paper. And a bunch of weird books too."
"True… I've never seen you without a book since we were kids," she nodded, recalling old memories.
She turned back to the bounty poster, ready to study it further.
Just then, she paused and looked suspiciously at the trio now standing with her at the bow.
"…What are you three up to?"
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 100, 200, 300 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!