Tiger also stepped forward and said, "Queen Otohime, among humans there may be some people like Vane who oppose slavery, but most of them are unreliable—especially the lawless Celestial Dragons."
"They are the least trustworthy, and the World Government is not trustworthy either. We absolutely cannot entrust the future of Fish-Man Island to the mercy of others."
Perhaps the World Government is friendly today, but tomorrow it may become slave owners. If Fish-Man Island lacks strength, it will become a repeated sacrifice of the World Government.
Not to mention, among them are those unpredictable Celestial Dragons who constantly cause trouble.
Queen Otohime could not turn her thinking around for a moment.
"But we are ultimately still an affiliated nation of the World Government."
Tiger suddenly tore open his upper clothes with a ripping sound.
"Your Majesty, take a look. This is the mark left on my body by those Celestial Dragons protected by the World Government."
A glaring mark of the Celestial Dragon's Hoof was exposed in front of everyone.
"I have one too!"
"Your Majesty, King Neptune, we all have them."
"This is the mark they branded onto our bodies with red-hot irons."
With Tiger taking the lead, these Fish-Men bravely revealed the ugliest parts of their bodies.
More than a hundred Fish-Men tore open the cloth tightly covering their bodies. One after another, hideous marks appeared.
Along with the marks came painful memories.
Queen Otohime possessed an ability similar to Observation Haki, allowing her to resonate with others' emotions. She saw those painful memories—the scenes of Fish-Men being branded by red-hot irons.
"Queen of Fish-Man Island! The World Government is not trustworthy. Not just Fish-Men—anyone who is not a Celestial Dragon will become their slave."
Some human men also revealed the marks on their bodies.
"Yes, the World Government cannot even manage humans properly. How could they possibly care about the feelings of Fish-Men?"
Sadness and despair began to spread. Queen Otohime's ability caused her to fall into deep pain.
"Is there really no other way?"
"It's not that there's no way. It's that you shouldn't place your hopes on others. Once your own strength rises, the Fish-Men of Fish-Man Island will naturally have a way out."
...
Fish-Man Street, one of the more chaotic places on Fish-Man Island.
There were many Fish-Men here who hated humans, such as Arlong, and also the young Hody Jones.
Arlong currently resisted and despised humans. His true descent into darkness would happen after Tiger's death. As for Hody Jones, his hatred toward humans was rooted deep in his bones—formed from constant exposure since childhood.
However, the current leaders of Fish-Man Street were still Tiger and Hakuza. Hakuza's influence was somewhat smaller.
With them present, Arlong would not develop evil intentions, and Hody Jones did not have the opportunity either.
Today, the atmosphere in Fish-Man Street was joyful. Many people were reunited with their families. More than a hundred Fish-Men meant nearly a hundred families—affecting several hundred Fish-Men at once.
Adding Tiger and Hakuza's influence meant several hundred more.
Then there were ordinary humans and members of other races, who had finally escaped the Celestial Dragons' control and joined the celebration.
A banquet of several thousand people—how grand it was. If Tiger and Hakuza had not led the hunt and brought back several sea beasts, there would not have been enough food at all.
"This is Fish-Man Island's specialty wine and desserts."
"And deep-sea fish too—things you can't eat outside."
For the first time in a long while, many races on Fish-Man Island were together in harmony, without much division.
Until the Sun Tree Eve switched into night mode, everyone lay freely beside the bonfires. Many slaves did not even dare to fall asleep.
Back in Mary Geoise, what they wished for most was sleep—it was one of the few times they were free.
But now they were afraid to fall asleep, worried that when they opened their eyes the next day, they would find cages, shackles, and whips again—and that this was all just a dream.
"Tiger, what are your plans for the future?"
By the large bonfire, Vane began guiding Tiger step by step.
"Plans? Not for now."
Tiger used to want to be an adventurer. Now he was in a confused stage.
"Then I can give you a suggestion… establish a pirate crew, Tiger. A pirate crew composed of Fish-Men."
Forming a pirate crew? That was indeed an option. But since Vane wanted him to do this, he must have his own purpose.
The other party had saved him and saved more than a hundred of his compatriots. As long as it did not violate his principles, Tiger would do his best to accomplish it.
"What would you like me to do?"
"Form a pirate crew. The main activity of this pirate crew will be protecting Fish-Man Island and resisting invading slave traders."
Fish-Man Island was vast. Although the kingdom army existed, its strength was only enough to protect part of Fish-Man Island. Additional forces were urgently needed, in different forms, to protect Fish-Man Island.
"In addition, occasionally go to the surface to gather intelligence on the slave trade. Once you obtain information, you don't need to act—just relay the information to our Rocket Team Pirates."
"Our Rocket Team Pirates will also provide your pirate crew with funding and technological support unavailable elsewhere."
Vane supported them in establishing a Fish-Man pirate crew not to have them conquer lands for him, but to protect their homeland and resist the slave trade?
This… this was practically giving Fish-Men benefits without asking for anything in return.
"This… absolutely won't do. We Fish-Men can't take all the benefits!"
"Yes, we Fish-Men value loyalty greatly."
The blue fat man Jinbe shook his head repeatedly. Even as an "observer," he felt it was inappropriate, let alone Tiger himself.
"Vane… your great kindness must be repaid. You must give us Fish-Men a chance to repay you. And now you even support the establishment of our Fish-Man pirate crew—this is yet another kindness."
He had accurately grasped your personality, making you feel that the debt could never be repaid.
"I, Tiger, have decided to establish the Fish-Man Pirates. Our pirate ship will fly the flag of the Rocket Team Pirates and become an affiliated pirate crew under the Rocket Team Pirates! We will follow the Rocket Team Pirates in opening up the New World."
Tiger solemnly poured two cups of wine—one large and one small.
He held the small one himself, and pushed the large one toward Vane.
The subordinate's wine. Once both sides drank this cup, it would confirm the relationship of leader and subordinate.
Subduing Tiger was Vane's goal. At a time like this, he naturally would not refuse.
Both sides drank the wine in one gulp.
"Tiger, there's no need for the Fish-Man Pirates to follow me to the New World. I wasn't lying before. Your pirate crew's mission is to protect Fish-Man Island and Fish-Man Street."