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"This is this month's share. It's a pleasure to cooperate," Arlong laughed as he handed a stack of berries to Captain Nezumi with a cheerful expression.
"A pleasure to work with," Captain Nezumi nodded and stuffed the berries into his arms.
Behind him, the Marine soldiers remained silent throughout the exchange, as if they didn't see anything. For them, such practices were already commonplace. Although they knew it was wrong, they couldn't change anything. According to past procedure, after Captain Nezumi received the berries, they would leave with him.
But today, the situation was a little different.
"Oh, it seems I'm lucky," a strange voice echoed through Arlong Park. "I actually witnessed such a scene. It's a pity I didn't bring a Den Den Mushi for recording. Otherwise, I could have reported this to Marine Headquarters. I wonder if they would give me a best citizen award."
Arlong, Captain Nezumi, and the others were startled. They followed the sound and looked up.
On the roof of Arlong Park stood a man with a knife on his waist. In his hands, he carried two fishman pirates.
"Hey, Arlong, aren't those fishmen your subordinates?" Captain Nezumi crossed his arms and looked at Arlong beside him with interest.
"Yes, they are indeed my partners," Arlong replied, the corners of his mouth twisting into a snarl as he looked toward the roof with a ferocious expression. "Although I don't know who you are, you dare to hurt my crew. Don't think things will end easily for you."
As Arlong spoke, he poured the water from the table into his hand.
"Water Shot!" Arlong quickly waved his arm, and the water in his hand immediately transformed into bullets and shot toward Ikki.
Faced with the attack, Ikki tilted his head and dodged effortlessly.
"You're really impatient," Ikki smirked, then threw the two fishman pirates in his hands toward Arlong.
Arlong frowned and immediately raised his hands to catch his thrown crewmates.
"Bastard, you did this to my partners..." Arlong raised his head to look at the roof, only to find that Ikki, who had been standing there moments before, had disappeared.
"Are you looking for me?" Ikki's voice sounded from behind Arlong.
Without hesitation, Arlong set down his crewmates and swung a punch toward Ikki.
BOOM!
A loud impact echoed through the park!
The pirates in Arlong Park, Captain Nezumi, and the Marines looked at the scene before them in astonishment.
"Caught... he caught it?"
"A human actually caught Boss Arlong's punch?"
"I must be seeing things, right? How can a human catch the fist of Boss Arlong?!"
"Damn it, what's going on with this man? Why are our brothers in his hands?"
Seeing Ikki raise his right hand to block Arlong's fist, the surrounding fishmen and pirates nearly bulged their eyes out in shock.
"Is he a bounty hunter?" one whispered.
"Arlong, do you want my assistance?" Captain Nezumi spoke up, moving his right hand backward. Immediately, the Marines raised their guns and pointed them at Ikki.
"No, I'll handle this myself," Arlong replied, baring his sharp shark teeth. "Captain Nezumi, you'd better take your people and leave. I'm quite angry right now. If I accidentally involve you, it would be unfortunate."
"I see," Captain Nezumi shrugged, turned around, and prepared to leave Arlong Park with his Marine soldiers.
Although Ikki had appeared suddenly, he seemed to have defeated some members of Arlong's crew. This surprised Captain Nezumi. But he didn't think Ikki had what it took to beat Arlong.
Others might not know, but as a Marine Captain, he understood quite well: Arlong was a pirate from the Grand Line. Such pirates were simply invincible in the weakest of the four seas, East Blue.
However, Captain Nezumi had only taken two steps when a hand pressed down on his shoulder. At the same time, a cold voice reached his ears:
"Who gave you permission to leave?"
"Hmm?!" Captain Nezumi's body trembled, and he mechanically looked back.
The Marine soldiers who had been following Captain Nezumi raised their guns in panic and pointed them at the position behind their superior.
"Don't shoot!" Seeing the barrels of the Marine soldiers' guns and fearing they might accidentally injure him, Captain Nezumi spoke quickly.
"No... impossible!"
"What happened? Why did Boss Arlong fall to the ground?"
"What happened just now? What did that man do to Boss Arlong?"
"Did he just... punch Boss Arlong in the abdomen?"
A burst of exclamations reached Captain Nezumi's ears. He turned and saw that the surrounding pirates of Arlong's crew were looking behind him in horror.
'It can't be right... Arlong was knocked down?'
'So fast?!'
Captain Nezumi's teeth chattered, and he suddenly realized that he might have encountered someone truly dangerous.