Chapter 291: The Navy Of Fish-man Island
She informed the executives of the Pirate Crew’s possible recent mobilization, told them to make preparations, and then Aoxi hung up the Den Den Mushi.
With her hand pressed to her chest, the discordant throbbing of the Divine Power Core still appeared sporadically… She had to go find La and take a look.
Meanwhile, on the distant Fish-Man Island.
“We’re here. This is the old man’s home.”
The Old Fish-Man and Jinbe chatted as they walked, finally arriving at the destination half an hour later—a small house located on the outermost edge of Mermaid Harbor.
“Come on, get inside and put down your luggage. That big bag looks heavy.”
While stepping forward to take out the key and open the door, the Old Fish-Man turned his head and called out to Jinbe:
“I heard from that kid Burufaruto that you’re going to stay on Fish-Man Island for a while, so why not make do here with the old man for now.”
“My house isn’t big, but it’s more than enough for two people.”
“Eh?! This… this won’t do. How can I trouble you like that!”
Hearing the Old Fish-Man say this, Jinbe hurriedly refused. He couldn’t cause trouble for others like that.
“Ha~ What are you saying? Are you looking down on the old man’s shabby shack?”
Seeing Jinbe about to explain, the Old Fish-Man waved his hand and said:
“The old man has lived here alone for so many years that it’s felt lonely for a long time. Now that you’re moving in, you can keep me company with some chats.”
“Let me tell you… It’s not as easy to get a whole house on Fish-Man Island these days as it used to be.”
“Ever since gaining Lord Whitebeard’s protection and the island gradually becoming safe, housing prices have been skyrocketing~”
“If you want to settle down here in the future, you’ll have to…”
Creak~
The old door was opened~
While leading Jinbe into the house, the Old Fish-Man kept chattering nonstop from his mouth.
The topics he talked about were all everyday matters of common folk—not complaining about rising vegetable prices or grumbling about so-and-so always dumping trash at his doorstep… In short, all trivial little things.
But for Jinbe, who had never experienced such an ordinary life, this was all very novel.
In this world, ordinary people like the Old Fish-Man actually make up the vast majority, but they often just exist as background. The world’s line of sight forever focuses only on those big figures who can stir up storms.
Although Jinbe had not yet grown to the point of attracting the world’s attention, his growth trajectory was already completely unrelated to ordinary people.
Orphan birth, childhood spent mixing in the lawless land…
His life trajectory might originally have been to slowly climb up step by step, first leaving Fish-Man District, then joining the Sea God Army through his own effort~
Afterward, if he got lucky, he might become a leader in the Sea God Army and thus connect with the royalty.
But under a series of butterfly effects, he leaped directly from the very bottom to the center stage of this world in his youth.
Here, the ones he contacts are famous Great Pirates on the Sea, the ones accompanying his growth are the most dazzling group of people in this world… His future is destined to become a focus of the world’s attention as well.
But right now, with these bits of family trivialities entering his ears, Jinbe actually started to feel a bit dazed.
『Perhaps, he should stay here a bit longer…』
Jinbe had a premonition that what he had always been pursuing might be hidden in these seemingly ordinary Fish-Men and Mermaids.
“Oh, right.”
The Old Fish-Man’s words interrupted Jinbe’s thoughts, as if he had suddenly remembered something important.
“That shark brat who used to follow behind your butt—what’s he up to now?”
“Shark… Oh, you mean Arlong?”
“He’s doing well now, training hard every day.”
“What about his temper? Still as cocky as before?”
“Uh… Well, he should be a bit more restrained now~”
“Oh~”
The Old Fish-Man nodded, then spoke cautiously:
“Then… does he have time recently to come back?”
“Hm? Is something up?”
“It’s like this—that kid’s gambling addict old man gave him a new sister, just last year.”
“But seeing how that deadbeat doesn’t change, he probably won’t raise her properly. He’s been talking lately about finding an opportunity to abandon the child~”
“Ah?!”
Yes, Arlong says he’s an orphan but he’s not completely alone. He was actually treated as a burden and abandoned in Fish-Man District by his own father.
He was only four at the time, but he understood his father’s meaning, so even after nearly starving to death on the street several times, he never went back to his father… Effectively severing the father-son relationship.
However, Arlong’s luck in surviving doesn’t mean his sister will, or rather, a young Female Mermaid in a place like Fish-Man District most likely won’t live more than a few days.
Thinking of this, Jinbe resolved that no matter what, he couldn’t let this matter slide.
“Old man, I…”
Before Jinbe could open his mouth, the Old Fish-Man spoke first:
“I was thinking, if he can’t come back or doesn’t want to deal with it, then as someone with no children of my own, maybe I can take the child in and raise her.”
“We can’t just watch the child get abandoned, right?”
“…”
Given Arlong’s current situation, it’s indeed not easy to handle this new sister.
Beasts Pirates isn’t an orphanage, much less a Charity Hall. They can’t just let you bring family along and stuff more people in.
Jinbe thought to let Arlong focus on cultivating with Beasts Pirates for now, and until he could stand on his own, he and the Old Fish-Man would take care of her first.
“Thank you. I’m thanking you on Arlong’s behalf.”
“Hey, what are you saying. I—”
“Boss! They’ve ordered a muster up top. There’s an emergency mission to assign!”
Just as Jinbe lowered his head to give thanks, an urgent voice suddenly came from outside the door… It was one of the members of the Old Fish-Man’s squad.
“Muster? Didn’t I take half a day off?”
“Aw man! Boss, this is a mandatory muster. It’s an order directly from King Neptune—everyone has to show up!”
“Hm? This urgent? What’s the important matter?”
“I don’t know either. But let’s hurry—they’re demanding we get there at top speed!”
“Oh, oh! Then Jinbe, you… you…”
Hastily putting his helmet back on, the Old Fish-Man grabbed his standard-issue spear while calling to Jinbe.
“Old man, you go take care of your business. Don’t worry about me.”
……
Watching the two jog away, Jinbe set down his luggage and decided to head to Fish-Man District first.
He wanted to revisit the place where he had struggled to make a living back then—just as La had once told him: If you’re feeling lost about the future, go back to your origins and take a look.
Though his memories of Fish-Man District were mostly tied to hunger and violence, that place also held people and things that formed the foundation of his current personality.
Pondering the vague directions from his memory, Jinbe stepped into the bustling Mermaid Harbor ahead… It was the gathering area for Mermaids, the most popular spot on Fish-Man Island, also known as the Holy Land for outsiders.
If he remembered correctly, the destination should be in some remote corner after passing through this prosperous area.
Ten minutes later, in the center of Mermaid Harbor, as he walked with his head down thinking about the exact location of Fish-Man District, he suddenly heard a different conversation from the young Mermaids’ chatter.
First came a lazy, flippant voice:
“Wow~ As expected of its reputation. The Mermaid misses here are really easy on the eyes~”
“Shh~ Whew~”
Responding to him was a slightly hoarse, low voice:
“Alberich, we’re here on a mission. Act like Navy!”
“Aw~ Vice Admiral Mien, don’t be so serious~”
“Rare chance to come here—relax a bit~ The mission’s got CP handling it. Leave it to them~”
“But…”
“Hey! Look, it’s the legendary Mermaid Cafe!”
“Let’s go in and try it! Maybe the Fish-Man Island specialty snacks inside can cure your anorexia~”
