The Arlong Pirates, their guests and their prisoners swam towards Fish-Man island. They were all fatigued to some extent by the long swim here, yet not a single one asked for a break.

Soon enough, they reached the great bubble surrounding the island. Strictly speaking, there were two bubbles with one slightly smaller and nested within the other. Arlong took a few moments to recall why this design was used.

It's for… redundancy, that's right. Even if the chance of a bubble popping is tiny, it would be a disaster for the island, letting the seawater rush in all at once. Having two means both'd have to be popped at once to threaten the island. And it makes it harder for intruders to get in without using a proper entrance.

Can't believe I took that long to remember… I've been away for too long.

They approached the Paradise-side entrance to Fish-Man Island. This comprised two massive gates, one embedded in each bubble, with an airlock between them. The gates were made of a special alloy that prevented them from rusting or being fouled by organic growth. As a result, they still gleamed brightly in the light of Eve.

A small group of fish-men and merfolk, all armed with tridents and wearing armour with a shell motif, were waiting outside the outer gate. These were the border patrol of Fish-Man Island. Their job was to defend against the never-ending raiders from the surface, those who wanted to capture the islanders as slaves.

However, the border patrol didn't show any hostility towards Arlong's group.

"Oh?" One of the patrol said. "You're… most of you are Sun Pirates? You've got the brand."

"But I don't recognise any of you," said another. Then he looked at Camie and Pappag. "Oh, it's you two… did you have to be saved from getting eaten again?"

"Uh, well, that's kinda…" Camie said, looking awkward.

Off to the side, Arlong noticed the Macro Pirates sweating. He thus came to two conclusions.

First, the guards here had to be relatively new. They must have been recruited no earlier than nine years ago, the last time any of the Arlong Pirates had come here.

Second, the Macro Pirates must not have returned here recently. Clearly, they feared punishment for their crimes.

Third… his two recent guests had no sense for survival whatsoever. Arlong wondered how this idiotic mermaid and starfish were still alive.

"You must've heard of the Sun Pirates splitting up a while back," Arlong said to the border patrol. "We're the ones who went independent—" he felt a spike of anger at the Macro Pirates, but pushed that down, "—but now we want to come home again, just for a break."

"Long as you don't cause any trouble, welcome back to Fish-Man Island," the first guard said.

The guards moved aside to let Arlong's group pass. Additionally, one of them shouted for the gate to open.

Accompanied by the creaking of enormous gears, the two halves of the outer gate parted. It didn't open up all the way, as that was only done when very large groups wanted to enter.

Arlong's group passed through the outer gate and the bubble that lay just behind it. They all felt the jarring transition from high-pressure water to thin air.

It was then that Camie, the lone mermaid of them, took out a long piece of Bubbly Coral and pressed one end, causing a large bubble to inflate from the other end. She formed this into a ring around her fish tail, allowing her to float and "swim" through the air.

Without the air here, she wouldn't need that toy to keep up with us, Arlong thought. Well… I guess there's also advantages to living in the open air.

In between the gates was a bridge of coral, which Arlong's crew travelled along. Through clever arrangements of different colours and textures of coral, the bridge's surface formed a great mural of fish-men and merfolk swimming amidst countless sea creatures.

"Was this so decorated the last time we left…?" Arlong asked, a little confused.

"I don't remember it either, nyoo…" Hatchan replied.

"Oh, the mural was made just seven years ago!" Pappag explained, hopping up and down excitedly. "It's for welcoming visitors to our wonderful island!"

"Well… the artists did a pretty good job, choo," Chew said.

Arlong said nothing further, but his eyes twitched in annoyance at what he'd just learned.

Welcoming visitors… when they're always trying to hurt our kind? What is the current king thinking? He must be even more addled by peace than when I last heard of him…

But Arlong wasn't foolish enough to try destroying this mural. As long as he was home, he would abide by the laws.

The group continued along the bridge, keeping a careful distance from the edges. This was due to the abrupt drop-off on either side of the bridge. It was another security measure, ensuring that any would-be intruders who tried going around the official entrance would fall helplessly to their deaths—unless they could fly, of course.

After half a minute of walking, they reached and passed through the inner gate.

"Oh…"

"We're finally home!"

Arlong's crew were joyous at stepping foot on Fish-Man Island again. Hatchan was sobbing and would have collapsed if Kuroobi wasn't holding him up. He wasn't the only one crying, either.

Camie and Pappag were calmer, but they still looked happy at being back.

On the other hand, Macro, Gyaro and Tansui looked much more conflicted at coming here. After all, they'd attempted to commit one of the worst crimes imaginable. It would only be a short time before they were sent off to prison.

...I still get the urge to punish them with my fists, first. But I can't. I have to control my anger.

To try to cheer himself up, Arlong looked around. While there were changes in the minor details, the basic appearance of Fish-Man Island was just like in his memories: buildings made from coral in all shapes and sizes, bubble-encased pathways of water that snaked through the air, groves of kelp tended to by farmers, beds of oysters and mussels…

Then Arlong's eyes passed over a certain pirate flag that flew from the tallest building. This flag had a white skull and crossbones on a black background… and the skull had a distinctive moustache, large and shaped like a crescent moon.

That damn flag… it's still up there!?

The flag of the Whitebeard Pirates had been flying above Fish-Man Island for well over a decade. And its presence was a warning to all that attacking this island would incur the wrath of Whitebeard, the Strongest Man in the World.

...which was exactly why Arlong had repressed those memories until now. Being indebted to a human was simply too much to bear.

Kuroobi noticed where Arlong was looking. "Captain Arlong, that's—"

"Nothing," Arlong said, raising a hand dismissively. "I'm not going to start any trouble over it."

Arlong did note that Camie and Pappag didn't even glance at the flag. To them, it must have been just another part of the scenery.

Is this the fate for Fish-Man Island? To become… nothing more than a territory of humans, a tourist trap?

Still, Arlong couldn't let his worries infect his crew. They'd come here to relax, after all.

"Alright, men, listen up!" Arlong called out. "I won't keep you here any longer! Go out and have fun, you've earned it!"

Whooping with laughter, the Arlong Pirates began running off in all directions. Some of them ran so fast that they could have put up a good contest against Soru users.

That left Arlong together with Camie, Pappag and the trio who'd kidnapped them. The trio were now looking very nervous.

"...All of you, come with me to Ryugu Palace," Arlong growled.

The Macro Pirates immediately breathed sighs of relief.

"I gave my word already," Arlong said. "I won't go back on it. Now, come with me."

The group of six began moving deeper into Fish-Man Island. It was an image of peace and prosperity. There was no damage to the coral buildings, as was common in the era of slave raids, and there were no improvised fortifications. The people worked, laughed and played without any worries.

Some of those people looked up at Arlong's small group. The older ones had respectful expressions, obviously knowing at a glance what the Sun Pirates' brands meant. The younger ones simply looked confused.

Ah… it's really been too long since I was back home… can't believe so many don't recognise us…

However, as time passed, Arlong started noticing some fear and revulsion directed at the Macro Pirates. It wasn't all that frequent, but seeing parents usher their children away was… thought-provoking.

"..I though you said you never kidnapped any of our kind," Arlong said in a low voice.

"We didn't, I swear," Macro replied, sweating bullets.

It still didn't sound like he was lying. Presumably, the Macro Pirates had gained some infamy for their actions against humans.

Softhearted idiots… Arlong sneered internally. Who cares about humans getting sold off? It's allowed by their own laws, at least in this part of the world…

Eventually, Arlong and his three prisoners reached a Fish Bus stop. They waited a few minutes for a Fish Bus—an enormous green fish with a coating bubble on its back—to arrive. Then they got on and rode it upwards.

Ryugu Palace was situated on top of the main bubble covering Fish-Man Island, in a smaller bubble of its own. It wasn't a place Arlong had ever been to before, but now he had no choice, for Fish-Man Island's only major prison was located here.

At the junction between the main bubble and Ryugu Palace's bubble was a metal gate, similar to the entrance to the main island. Near here, floating in bubbles, were two Ammo Knights, the elite warriors who protected the Neptune Family. And they did not look happy to see Arlong.

"You…" said one Ammo Knight.

"What are you doing here, Arlong?" said the other.

These two Ammo Knights looked to be in their forties. They were old enough to remember Arlong… including the time when he'd gotten into a fight with some of them over the late queen's foolish petition. That wasn't something these veterans would forget easily.

Arlong simply glared at the two and said, "I'm not trying to meet the royal family or anything. Just bringing in some criminals to be locked up."

"What?"

"These three—" Arlong gestured at Macro, Gyaro and Tansui, "—kidnapped the mermaid and starfish and tried to sell them into slavery."

"Is that true!?" the guards asked, now looking at Camie and Pappag.

"Y-Yes!" Camie replied. "Mister Arlong, and his friends, saved me and Pappag from them!"

"Without him, we'd be getting auctioned off right now," Pappag confirmed.

"We did do that," Macro admitted. "Now we… we want to turn ourselves in."

"We let down Fisher Tiger…" Gyaro said, weeping.

"And Koala…" Tansui added, his body shuddering.

Arlong felt another surge of anger at that reminder, but he kept it down. Once again, he couldn't afford to lose control.

Meanwhile, the two Ammo Knights looked at each other uncertainly, then at Arlong.

"Do you think we're all lying?" Arlong asked.

"N-No!" the first Ammo Knight said. "It's just…"

"We need to refer this to our superiors," the second Ammo Knight said.

-ooo-

The case was settled in two hours. With even the perpetrators confessing to their crime, there was no need to hold a trial or bring in the royal family to deliver judgement.

"Macro, Gyaro, Tansui," said the Minister of the Left, an elderly catfish merman. "You admit to kidnapping and selling seventeen humans into slavery, and attempting to do the same to a mermaid. For these crimes, I sentence you all to fifteen years' imprisonment."

Arlong and many others were gathered in an outer room of Ryugu Palace. At the Minister of the Left's command, Ammo Knights took Macro's group out of the room, bound for the palace's Prison Tower.

For a moment, Arlong made eye contact with Macro. This would be the last time they'd see each other for years… and both had regret in their eyes.

Then Macro was led out of the room entirely. Arlong looked down at the floor.

...It's done. Those three will pay the price for their crimes…

Then a deep, booming voice resounded through Arlong's core.

But you have not paid the price for yours, said Jinbe, vice-captain and later captain of the Sun Pirates. You held an entire island in slavery for eight years, far worse than what those three did. If you care about justice, why don't you turn yourself in as well?

Shut… up… Jinbe!

Arlong managed to avoid saying that part out loud. He wasn't able to avoid lashing out with a fist, cracking a nearby coral wall.

"Eep!" "What the!?"

Camie and Pappag hugged each other in fear. They and everyone else in the room stared at Arlong.

"Young man, what is the matter!?" the Minister of the Left asked.

Arlong slowly removed his fist from the wall. "Sorry, I was just… just thinking again about what those three did," he said.

"Yes, they are grave crimes indeed," the Minister of the Left said, stroking the yellow whiskers of his moustache. "It's only natural to be angry. Don't worry, we won't ask you to pay for the damage, not after your heroic act—"

"I'm no hero," Arlong said bluntly. "Just a thug who's better at fighting than most thugs."

That left the old catfish speechless. Camie and Pappag looked like they wanted to say something, but Arlong cut them off first.

"Now, unless there's anything else you need me for, I'd like to go."

"W-Well…" the Minister of the Left stammered. "You've given your testimony already. The only thing left would be for you to meet the Neptune Family, to be congratulated for your actions."

"I'll give that a pass," Arlong said bluntly. "Then it's time for me to leave."

Arlong marched out of the room, Ammo Knights hurrying to clear his way.

As Arlong walked down a corridor towards the exit of the palace, he heard voices call out to him.

"Please, wait!" "Wait, you big imbecile!"

Arlong was sorely tempted to just run for the exit and leave them behind. An odd pang of sentiment made him stop, allowing Camie and Pappag to catch up to him.

"M-Mister Arlong," Camie said. "Why are you so… I don't know, cold?"

"It's not every day you get to meet royalty!" Pappag added.

Arlong sighed. "This is easier for everyone. A pirate and—before that—a thug from the Fish-Man District shouldn't be in the same room as royalty. You're not changing my mind on this."

"I can't believe you're so stubborn," Camie said, looking down. "But you did still save me and Pappag, so we'd like to make it up to you. Um, it's not much, but please come to the Mermaid Cafe if you ever want to have a good time!"

"And, should you ever want to change your outfit, please stop at any of the shops under my brand," Pappag said. "You'll have the best Criminal outfit—"

"Us saving you was almost by accident," Arlong said bluntly. "And it wasn't much effort for us. There's no need for any reward."

"—a-and it'll all be on the house," Pappag finished, looking annoyed by the interruption.

"Still, we really owe you for this!" Camie insisted. "We would've been in a huge pinch otherwise!"

'A huge pinch'… that was a tremendous understatement. These two were too young and too isolated to know of the true horrors of slavery. They hadn't been around in the early years of the Golden Age of Piracy, when slavers raided Fish-Man island practically every week. They'd never had to hide in dark corners to avoid being caught, had to listen to the screams of those less fortunate being dragged off… or killed for mere sport. They hadn't heard the stories of what happened to the World Nobles' slaves, of the reason why mermaids younger than thirty sold for such high prices…

But Arlong chose not to break their innocence. He simply said, "Hmph… I might take you up on your offers, when I feel like it. Now, get lost."

Despite Arlong's harsh words, the mermaid and starfish continued smiling. It was… irritating, yet not as much as Arlong expected.

The three of them left Ryugu Palace via Fish Bus. Camie and Pappag got off first, waving goodbye to their saviour, and then Arlong was alone.

Arlong spent a while just sitting on the bus, long enough for dozens of passengers to board and then disembark. Twisted memories continued to haunt him.

The Sun Pirates don't fight to kill as many humans as we can, a bloody Fisher Tiger said. We fight to bring freedom, to let all slaves see the sun again, no matter who they are!

If you didn't want to serve under Jinbe, you could have retired to Fish-Man Island like many others, said Aladine, a goatsbeard brotula merman even taller than Arlong himself. You chose to keep being a pirate, and dragged others with you.

You know, I don't really mind you killing me, said a human woman with long purplish hair. She pulled a rifle from nowhere and aimed it at his face. But for what you did to my daughters, to everyone else on Conomi—!

The sound of a gunshot caused Arlong to jump in his seat. He hurriedly felt his face, but there was no wound there, no outpour of blood.

Gah… what am I even doing!? She's nothing but bones now, there's no way she can hurt me!

Yet Arlong could not calm his racing heart. So when the Fish Bus next stopped, he stood up and hurried off the bus.

Arlong now stood in the bright, colourful landscape of Coral Hill. This was one of Fish-Man Island's most popular locations, packed with hotels and shops and restaurants… including the Mermaid Cafe.

It's time I paid my sister a visit...