The outline of Cocoyasi Village gradually came into view on the horizon. Nami's knuckles turned white as she gripped the ship's railing, turning for the third time to look at Bahr, who was leisurely reclining on a deck chair smoking a cigar. "Yanzu, are you really confident about this? Arlong and his crew..."
"How many times are you going to ask? Relax," Bahr replied, somewhat exasperated. Just how much psychological trauma had Arlong inflicted on Nami to make her this anxious?
"Those bastards... they nail villagers to the village entrance as public warnings. If they find out I brought you here..." Nami bit her lower lip as the sea breeze tousled her orange hair. Her voice trembled involuntarily at the end, her hands gripping the railing tightly.
She had personally witnessed Bahr's abilities, yet fear still consumed her.
Understanding this was Nami's anxiety from excessive worry, Bahr instantly appeared beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "Nami-chan, don't worry. Killing them will be as easy as gutting fish."
Nami paid no attention to Bahr's casual touch now, her pupils fixed unblinkingly on Cocoyasi Village, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
"Tell you what—I'll go meet Arlong alone. Even if something goes wrong, they won't be able to catch you," Bahr said, following her gaze.
He knew Nami was simply afraid of the consequences of failure.
"No!" Nami whirled around, her eyes filled with terror. "If you get captured... they'll..."
She wasn't exactly a law-abiding good girl—she'd done her fair share of stealing and swindling. When she first sought out Bahr, she had indeed planned to use his strength.
But to send someone straight into the blades of Arlong's gang of thugs? She couldn't do that!
"Nami-chan, who do you think I am? Mere fish-men are nothing to me—I could wipe them out with a wave of my hand." Bahr raised an eyebrow with a smirk, completely unconcerned about the so-called "Arlong Pirates."
Nami stared into Bahr's eyes and suddenly said, "If things go wrong, don't push yourself. Arlong's gang is insatiable. The Berries I have... might be enough to keep you safe."
This touched Bahr's heart. To think the Little Cat Burglar, who valued treasure more than life itself, was willing to spend her emergency funds on this "helper" with "ulterior motives"...
No wonder Nami was so popular—it almost made him feel bad about his plans!
Fine, he'd go easy on her then.
Looking toward the island, as Cocoyasi Village's outline grew clearer, his gaze fixed on the northwest. "That's where Arlong's gang is, right?"
"How did you know...?" Nami followed his gaze, astonished.
"Secret." Bahr chuckled. In truth, he had sensed a cluster of relatively strong presences there and guessed it was the Arlong Pirates' base.
Hearing his "secret" answer, Nami exhaled softly in relief. The more unbelievable Bahr's abilities seemed, the more confidence she felt.
Bahr suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist. "Before we set off, shouldn't you pay some 'deposit'? Like a lucky kiss?"
"Who would give you—"
Nami reflexively pushed back, but the tips of her ears visibly reddened. Then, remembering he was about to face Arlong's crew, she steeled herself, stood on tiptoe, and pecked his cheek like a dragonfly skimming water.
The electric sensation made her lower her head, flustered. "T-this is just part of the deal! Don't get the wrong idea!"
Though she usually acted bold, this was actually her first kiss. If not for saving her village, who would let this presumptuous guy take advantage!
"That's it...?" Bahr clearly wasn't satisfied.
He wasn't into pure romance!
"You're pushing your luck!" Nami's eyes widened, her cheeks flushing crimson. But Bahr suddenly closed in, fingers gripping the back of her neck.
In her panic, Nami tried to struggle. Feeling his audacity, she swung a fist at him—only to hit empty air.
"Wait for my good news. Remember our deal." His teasing voice came from the side. Nami turned to see Bahr walking on air.
"You just wait!" Nami stomped her foot angrily, roughly wiping her lips. Yet her gaze uncontrollably followed his retreating figure.
The sea breeze lifted her orange locks as she gripped the railing, knuckles white, watching his shrinking silhouette. Silently, she added in her heart, "Please... come back alive."
Bahr strode through the air—not teleporting, as continuous teleportation would be too draining. Instead, he used his ability to create barrier-like platforms in the air.
He could use them as stepping stones or form solid spatial barriers to block attacks.
The jagged flag of Arlong Park flapped noisily in the wind. The fish-man guards below reacted first, tridents slicing through the air toward him.
Bahr smirked, flicking a finger. An invisible "Dimensional Slash" erupted, severing both weapons and fish-men arms. Blood drew eerie arcs in the air.
"Who goes there?!" A shrill roar exploded from deep within the park.
Arlong charged out with his fish-men, murderous intent radiating. His serrated teeth gleamed ominously in the sunlight. "Daring to cause trouble in my territory?"
"I heard the fish here are good. I'm in the mood for some." Bahr landed leisurely.
The blatant taunt darkened everyone's expressions. One fish-man swung his axe down with a whistling slash aimed at Bahr's head.
Bahr didn't dodge. The moment the axe struck, his figure vanished, reappearing behind the attacker in the next instant.
He casually swiped at the fish-man's neck. A miniature spatial rift tore open—the sharp "Dimensional Slash" instantly decapitated him, warm blood gushing forth.
Arlong's pupils contracted, realizing his opponent was no ordinary foe. With a furious roar, his serrated jaws stretched to a grotesque angle. "Fish-Man Karate: Saw-Tooth Slash!"
Dozens of foul-smelling slashes surged forth like a tidal wave.
Bahr's right hand clenched empty air. A translucent spatial barrier materialized before him. The slashes crashed against it, sending ripples through space, yet failing to breach it.
"Is this all you've got?" Bahr's lips curled in mockery.
"You lowly human! How could you possibly match us mighty fish-men?!" Arlong's veins bulged, his muscles swelling to their limits.
His answer came as an invisible "Dimensional Slash." The flash of cold light cleaved Arlong's massive body neatly in half. The once-dominant fish-man leader collapsed heavily into a pool of blood, a gruesome sight.
Bahr scoffed inwardly. He wasn't like Luffy—even with Four Emperors-level strength, getting held up by small fries wasn't his style.
The remaining fish-men watched their leader's brutal death in horror, then attacked enraged. Bahr raised his hand, unleashing "Dimensional Slashes" that reaped lives like a grim reaper's scythe.
"Baa-baa-baa...!"
Hachi the octopus fish-man desperately blew a horn toward the sea. The waters churned as the colossal sea cow Moo-Moo erupted from the waves with a roar—only to be bisected by a cold flash, blood dyeing the spray crimson.
The fish-men finally tasted fear, shrieking as they leaped into the sea in frantic escape. But Bahr didn't stop. His fingers flicked relentlessly, "Dimensional Slashes" raining down like a storm, chasing the fleeing fish-men until the last one fell silent.
With the battle over, Bahr sat on a beach chair, lighting a cigarette. He calmly surveyed the carnage, his heart unmoved.
In this brutal world of pirates, it wasn't as if he'd never killed before.
As for racial hatred... he'd never oppressed these fish-men. On the contrary, these bloodstained thugs were all seasoned murderers and plunderers.
Much later, Nami cautiously entered, her eyes widening at the bloody scene. She stood frozen, mouth agape enough to fit a coconut, her brain short-circuiting on the spot.
Bahr blew a smoke ring, wearing a roguish grin. "Told you—just gutting some fish. Now, Nami-chan, it's time to fulfill our deal."