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Boom!!
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In Cocoyasi Village, the normally peaceful streets were now in ruins, and the villagers were fleeing in terror.
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Another house collapsed with a loud crash, and a nearby fish man nonchalantly retracted his hand.
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"Hahahaha!!"
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A group of burly fishmen laughed wildly as they watched the humans scatter.
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"Humans are a lower species, completely powerless to resist!" Arlong, the leader of the Arlong Pirates, sneered at the villagers with a look of brutal contempt.
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"Shut up!! You vile pirates!" Genzo, the village policeman, stood up and shouted angrily.
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Behind him stood a group of villagers wielding weapons. Although their faces were filled with fear, they stood before the fishmen.
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They were afraid, but they had no choice but to stand up!
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Two years ago, a child protected the village, and although they didn''t show it, they still felt a sense of guilt.
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Their home had to be defended by themselves!
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Summoning his courage, Genzo grabbed an iron rod and led the villagers in a charge!
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However, the innate differences between species were not something ordinary people could overcome.
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Arlong looked dismissively at the humans who dared to resist and said calmly, "Chew! Show them a lesson!"
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Beside Arlong, a tall, slender fish-man with a long mouth resembling an iron cannonfish stepped forward, his lips painted with lipstick.
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The fish-man named Chew glared listlessly with dead fish eyes, then lowered his head and rapidly spat out several water bullets from his long mouth!
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Bang! Bang! Bang!
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The sound of rapid strikes echoed as Genzo was hit by the water bullets and fell like dominoes.
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The villagers clutched their wounded bodies, groaning in pain, while Genzo''s face twisted with unwillingness!
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Why?!
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Are the fishmen really this strong?!
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They didn''t even take us seriously and they could defeat us all in an instant!
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Bell-mère stood with the villagers, her eyes filled with anger, holding Nami and Nojiko by the hands.
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The two little girls cowered behind Bell-mère''s legs in fear, and Nojiko worriedly thought: Brother, where are you...
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Seeing the fear on everyone''s faces, Arlong felt even more satisfied and laughed arrogantly.
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"Fishmen are naturally a superior race, and dirty humans shouldn''t even exist!"
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"Humans defying fish-man''s rule is like defying the laws of nature!"
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
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Arlong enjoyed seeing the humans he despised being so powerless. He extended five fingers and said, "If you want to live, pay for it!"
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"50,000 Berries for each child, 100,000 Berries for each adult. Fair enough, right?"
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"Being allowed to live in my Arlong Empire is a lifelong honour for you!"
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The villagers bowed their heads in humiliation, while Genzo roared in anger, "Damn fish-men! How could we!"
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Arlong''s thick eyebrows furrowed, and Kuroobi, a sawfish fish-man beside him, rushed forward.
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With a fierce punch, Genzo''s body was sent flying, uncontrollably spewing blood from his mouth.
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Barely alive, Genzo knelt on the ground, and Kuroobi coldly said, "Do not resist the fishermen!"
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Seeing Genzo collapse, someone finally couldn''t bear the immense pressure.
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"We can''t beat them... Let''s just give them the money."
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"What are you saying?!"
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"We don''t stand a chance. Not giving them money is just throwing our lives away…"
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"No one can defeat them…"
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Arlong watched the crowd gradually give up resisting and smirked.
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"You''re wrong!"
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At that moment, a young voice rang out, and Arlong''s smile froze.
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Nami had somehow run out from behind Bell-mère and shouted, "My big brother Noir is the strongest!"
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"You filthy fishermen, Noir won''t let you off!"
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Noir—a name too familiar to forget.
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The villagers suddenly remembered a ten-year-old child who defeated a pirate with a bounty of 15 million Berries and sank a pirate ship.
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A glimmer of hope flashed in Genzo''s eyes as he struggled to get up, muttering, "Right, Noir is still…"
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"If that brat comes back and sees this, he''ll laugh at me!"
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The villagers seemed to regain their fighting spirit, while Arlong glared at Nami, puzzled.
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Who is Noir? Is he the strong one in this village?
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What kind of strength could someone from a small village have?
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Bell-mère quickly pulled Nami back, shielding her from Arlong''s murderous gaze.
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Arlong looked at Kuroobi and ordered, "Kill that man. Let them see some blood!"
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"Yes!"
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Kuroobi picked up a fallen sword and swung it down mercilessly!
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"Genzo!"
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"Genzo!"
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The villagers shouted in anger, but the blade did not slow down.
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At the critical moment, a gust of wind blew, and a figure appeared!
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Clang!!
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Instead of the expected blood, there was a clear sound of metal clashing.
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Kuroobi looked in surprise at the hand that caught the blade—it was pitch black!
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Haki? How could it be?!
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Looking further, he saw a young face under a heavy cloak.
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What?!
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Arlong''s eyes widened as he looked at the newcomer.
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"Genzo, I just got back. How did the village get filled with so much trash?"
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"Haven''t you been managing it well?"
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Genzo looked at the cloaked man in surprise. He would recognize that voice anywhere!
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When this rascal was a kid, he used to pull out Gonzo''s leg hair for fun!
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Slowly removing his hat, a handsome and dashing face was revealed.
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With short, smooth black hair, sharp eyebrows, and deep, star-like eyes, he had a mysterious and lethal charm!
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It was none other than the dashing Noir!
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"Noir!"
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"Big brother!"
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"You brat!"
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"My dear!"
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Hearing the villagers'' joyful cheers, Noir grinned with satisfaction.
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As expected, my popularity hasn''t waned!
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Wait!
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Did I hear some weird nickname mixed in?
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In the crowd, a certain orange-haired loli shrank her neck...
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Looking at the villagers as if they were chasing a star, Arlong wanted to point at Noir and curse—Who the hell are you?!
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This atmosphere... this heat...
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Who do you think you are?
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Are you a returning king?
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The returning king Noir turned around and met Arlong''s hateful gaze, revealing a cold smile.
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Pointing at Arlong saw-shaped nose, he said:
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"Stop staring, Arlong!"
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"I''m coming over to send you—to the afterlife!"