Beneath the eaves lining both sides of the village road.
The villagers stood frozen, staring blankly at the dismembered remains littering the ground.
At first, they instinctively took a step back. Then, as if something finally clicked within them…
Their long-dulled eyes, like mirrors wiped clean of fog, began to shine with a glimmer of hope.
They gazed in awe at Kuina as she walked past the corpses, not daring to utter a single sound.
They were afraid.
Afraid that everything before them was just a dream.
Scenes like this had appeared countless times in their dreams. Each time, they'd awaken with trembling excitement, only to be crushed by the same bitter truth: it wasn't real.
But this time was different.
This time, they knew, it wasn't a dream.
And yet, they still didn't dare to break the heavy silence.
As Kuina approached, Aken felt the killing intent lingering on her body and instinctively tried to back away.
Then it hit him, this wasn't a Fishman, this was their savior. There was no reason to fear.
He shook his head and stared at Kuina with growing emotion.
When Kuina stepped closer, Kouta's eyes softened. He reached out and gently wiped away a drop of blood that had splashed on her cheek.
"Kuina, you've really become a hero now."
Only then did the icy mask on Kuina's face melt, and a smile as dazzling as a field in full bloom spread across her face.
That smile not only lit up Aken's despairing heart, it also awakened the hearts of the villagers around them.
Six whole years…
It might not sound like a long time but when every day feels like a year, it's an eternity.
In those six years, who knows how many families, how many lives were lost to these brutal Fishmen?
But now, finally, someone had come.
A person, no, a hero.
She had slaughtered the Fishmen as if they were nothing more than fish on a chopping board.
They had waited for this moment far too long.
Aken stared at Kuina, his whole body trembling with an emotion he couldn't begin to put into words.
"Who… who are you people?" he asked.
"We?" Kouta smiled and took Kuina's hand, then looked around at the villagers whose eyes were brimming with hope and excitement.
"You can call us... allies of justice."
"Justice?"
"Justice, huh?"
They hadn't felt justice from the Navy, but from these two strangers—they finally did.
By the time they came to their senses, Kouta and Kuina were already walking away, headed out of the village.
The villagers watched their backs from afar, eyes alight with burning hope, and shouted in unison:
"Please! You have to defeat the Arlong Pirates!"
"Justice's allies!"
Even from a distance, their passion could be felt.
It was a wave of emotion long suppressed, now erupting like a volcano, a release so fierce and uncontainable that Kouta and Kuina could feel it deep in their souls.
Kuina narrowed her eyes with satisfaction. Being relied on, especially by so many was an intoxicating feeling. No wonder so many people dreamed of being heroes.
She opened her eyes, turned around, and solemnly declared to the villagers whose eyes were full of hope:
"Don't worry. We'll stake our lives on this. The Arlong Pirates will be wiped out completely."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it rang clear in the ears of every single villager.
They watched the two young figures walking off toward Arlong Park and stood in silence for a long time.
They etched the memory of those two into their hearts, especially the girl.
Her beauty, the cold, detached look in her eyes as she killed, and the radiant smile she gave at the end—it would be unforgettable.
They prayed. Prayed that she would succeed in slaying the dragon. Prayed she would return unharmed.
Even if she didn't succeed…
They would never again submit to the tyranny of the Arlong Pirates.
Because the corpses of the Fishmen lying around them made it undeniably clear.
Fishmen were not invincible.
And so, the shackles and fear deep within their hearts had finally been broken.
On the road to Arlong Park, Kuina kept her head lowered, lost in thought.
Kouta looked at her with concern. "What's wrong, Kuina?"
"It's nothing. Just… something I can't figure out."
"Tell me. Maybe I can help."
"When we first entered the village, I could clearly feel the fear and numbness in the villagers," Kuina said quietly. "That kind of numbness doesn't happen overnight. It only comes from years of oppression."
She looked up at Kouta with furrowed brows.
"But I just don't get it."
"The East Blue, it's big, sure, but not that big. How could a pirate crew be allowed to enslave a human village for six years, treating people like livestock?"
Her voice rose in agitation.
"Where was the Navy? Where was the so-called justice?"
Kouta gently patted her head, then looked into the distance at Arlong Park. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"Don't assume the Navy's higher-ups are truly just. Most of their so-called 'justice' serves the nobles. As for the common people… they don't really care."
"Those who care the most about the people are usually the lowest-ranking Navy soldiers. But they don't have the authority or the strength to stand up to powerful pirates."
"I see…" Kuina nodded, as if suddenly understanding.
"Then what about Garp, the Navy Hero? We grew up hearing stories about him. A pirate like Arlong shows up in our home sea, and he doesn't come?"
She sounded genuinely upset.
There weren't many in the East Blue who didn't admire Garp. He was one of their own, and a hero.
But even heroes have limits.
Even heroes have rules. The rules of the Celestial Dragons and the World Government.
Don't let Garp's title fool you—he wasn't as free as people thought.
The New World needed him. Marine Headquarters needed him. Every time a powerful pirate appeared, they needed Garp.
He was so busy, he even left his grandsons in the care of mountain bandits, both of whom, ironically, grew up to become pirates.
Then again, with personalities like Ace and Luffy, even if Garp had raised them himself, they might still have gone down the same path.
That's why being a hero isn't so easy.
If Garp had accepted a promotion to Admiral, he probably wouldn't even have had the chance to take a yearly vacation to visit his grandsons.
But Kouta didn't explain all that to Kuina. He simply said,
"Maybe he just never knew. After all, it's not like he comes back to the East Blue often, right?"
"And besides."
"What?" she asked.
"I heard that the Arlong Pirates are in cahoots with the local Marine captain of the 16th Branch… a man named Nezumi."
"That's why the other bases, those with officers who truly believe in justice never received word about what was happening here. They couldn't come."
Kuina's eyes gleamed with fury. She clenched her teeth and spat out the words:
"That Nezumi bastard deserves to die."
Sometimes, it's not the obvious enemies that are most terrifying.
It's the traitors. The collaborators.
These are the ones who are often more cruel and more detestable than the enemies themselves.
Cowards who bully the weak, flatter the strong, and hide behind their positions.
"Yeah," Kouta nodded. "Don't worry. None of them are getting away."
A flash of red gleamed in his eyes.
He had already sensed two unfamiliar presences within Arlong Park.
Judging by their aura, they didn't feel like enemies.
That meant they had to be allies.
Which also meant, Nezumi was already inside Arlong Park.
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 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!