Chapter Five: Jinbe, the So-Called "Four Emperors"

Page (1/3)

Lost in thought about the future, Chu Yang appeared somewhat dazed. To Tiger, Chu Yang exuded an unmistakable aura of confusion. Tiger patted Chu Yang on the shoulder, offering comfort: "How about this—you come away with me first, and we can figure things out later."

Chu Yang asked in surprise, "Where to? Fishman Island?"

"Do you think I can still go back to Fishman Island?" Tiger smiled bitterly. "After tonight, I’ll probably be wanted by every navy in the world!"

"In that case, if I return to Fishman Island, it would bring untold disaster upon it."

Chu Yang sighed, "That’s true."

Tiger asked, "Are you willing to sail with me?"

The Sun Pirates?

Chu Yang’s mind stirred; he had nowhere else to go at the moment. So he agreed to Tiger’s invitation.

The two of them sneaked to the harbor, preparing to seize a pirate ship and set sail.

Every ship was guarded by crew members.

But at this hour, they were all resting below decks.

Since it was just the two of them and Chu Yang lacked sailing experience, Tiger planned to take a small three-masted schooner for easier handling.

Robbing a pirate ship—neither Chu Yang nor Tiger felt guilty. They saw it as robbing the rich to help themselves.

Once they had their target locked, Tiger and Chu Yang prepared to strike. A small three-masted schooner did not have many pirates aboard—no match for them.

After dealing with the henchmen, Tiger was about to pilot the ship away when a familiar voice reached his ears.

"Brother Tiger, I’ve been waiting for you a long time. What are you up to?"

Chu Yang and Tiger turned around.

A large group of Fishmen stood by the shore, led by a burly blue figure.

He looked familiar...

Isn’t that Jinbe, the so-called "Lowly Emperor"?

Tiger’s expression turned serious.

To avoid implicating his comrades, he had chosen to go alone to the Holy Land—yet they had followed him.

Gazing at the raging flames reflected above the Red Soil Continent, Jinbe guessed Tiger had succeeded. He said, "I can’t stop you from dealing with those slaves, but you won’t stop us either."

Page (2/3)

"Jinbe!" Tiger was furious!

Yet helpless—he knew Jinbe was a man of great loyalty.

"Brother Tiger, though we can’t do much to help you, we can leave with you!" Jinbe’s eyes shone with a profound light, like the deep ocean.

"Yeah, Brother Tiger! Even if the navy comes after you, they’ll have to get past us first!"

"I’ve long disliked those humans. Bring them on, and I’ll take them down!"

The other Fishmen began to cheer in agreement.

Tiger was moved, but knowing he couldn’t refuse these men, he agreed to let them join him and set sail together.

"Sorry, little brother, looks like we’ll have to bring more people with us," Tiger apologized, knowing that aside from himself, the other Fishmen wouldn’t welcome this young human.

Only then did the Fishmen notice Chu Yang, their expressions darkening instantly.

Jinbe was more tolerant; while he held no fondness for humans, he at least did not openly show hostility.

Then a tall Fishman stepped forward, eyes coldly fixed on Chu Yang, asking, "Brother Tiger, who is this boy?"

Tiger stood in front of Chu Yang, voice grave: "Arlong, he escaped from Mary Geoise with me and saved me once."

"Saved Brother Tiger?"

Young Arlong’s hostility toward Chu Yang did not waver; his expression was hostile. "Brother, you don’t really intend to bring this human kid out to sea with us, do you?"

"Who knows if he’ll betray us later."

At these words, the other Fishmen echoed the sentiment, their voices dripping with resentment toward Chu Yang’s human identity.

Having faced near death, Chu Yang’s mindset had changed.

Confronted with such blatant hostility, he looked coldly at them.

If he could kill a jailer, killing these Fishmen was no trouble.

"Enough! Shut up!" Tiger rarely lost his temper with his comrades. "Do you want me to become ungrateful like those humans?"

His outburst silenced the Fishmen led by Arlong, though Arlong still glared fiercely at Chu Yang.

"Just because I’m young, you think you can push me around?" Chu Yang smiled; it seemed he had to show Arlong who was boss to earn his place in the Sun Pirates.

Seeing the tension, Jinbe stepped forward to smooth things over: "Brother Tiger, many of them have suffered persecution by humans and are understandably wary. Please understand."

Tiger sighed; of course he understood. Even he had lost any goodwill toward humans. If Chu Yang hadn’t genuinely helped him, he might have ignored the boy altogether.

Page (3/3)

Afterward, in the tense atmosphere, Chu Yang boarded a massive pirate ship alongside the Fishmen.

This was prepared before Jinbe’s arrival.

Tiger personally raised the legendary flag of the Sun Pirates.

The pirate flag fluttered in the night wind as the ship slowly left the harbor, heading toward the boundless sea.

Standing on deck, Tiger smiled and asked Chu Yang for his name for the first time.

"My name is Chu Yang!"

The boy’s clear and confident voice echoed.

"Quite a unique name," Tiger thought. Though a bit awkward to pronounce, he committed it to memory.

After enjoying the breeze on deck for a while, Chu Yang planned to rest. Suddenly, Arlong volunteered to take him to his quarters.

Arlong’s sudden enthusiasm led Tiger to believe their relationship had improved, so he gladly agreed.

Chu Yang’s lips curled into a cold smile; he didn’t expose Arlong’s ulterior motive and was actually eager to have a "chat."

Arlong led Chu Yang into the cabin, descending quickly and bypassing the living quarters to reach the storage hold at the bottom.

Outside the hold, Arlong stopped abruptly, turning with a cold gaze and sneering, "Human kid, you really thought I was taking you to rest, didn’t you?"

Arlong expected to see fear on Chu Yang’s face, but only found amusement.

Young Arlong was no rookie boss of Cocoasia Village yet, and even if he were, he was no match for Chu Yang.

Failing in his intent, Arlong’s face twisted with rage as he roared, "Kid, you’d better get off this ship while I’m still talking nicely!"

"Annoying!" Chu Yang raised his right hand, and thick vines and trees erupted from his arm, swelling rapidly to ensnare Arlong, rendering him immobile.

The trees squeezed Arlong’s body relentlessly; the suffocating pressure terrified him. He stared at Chu Yang in horror, "You’re a Devil Fruit user?!"

Chu Yang said nothing, only intensified the pressure until Arlong’s mouth and nose bled profusely.

His internal organs suffered severe damage!

Arlong’s agonized expression thrilled Chu Yang, who revealed a pure, unrestrained smile.

Seeing this, Arlong shuddered with dread!