Chapter 153 Fight Fire with Fire
"Hordy Jones, you're exactly the same as you were back then. But unfortunately, I am no longer the man I used to be." Manlong looked coldly at the rising Hordy Jones.
This man had been the primary source of the ostracization he experienced on Fishman Island.
It was as if he were nourished by the very darkness of Fishman District.
Whether it was toward humans or his fellow fishmen.
As long as someone had the slightest connection to humans, they would face his ruthless suppression and persecution.
He had only managed to grow up alive back then thanks to his naturally sturdy physique; otherwise, he might not have survived to leave Fishman Island.
"Manlong, you bastard, how dare you side with humans! I—"
Being punched out of the bar by someone he once looked down upon had already infuriated Hordy Jones.
Hearing Manlong's condescending tone now only made it more unbearable.
Bang!!
A deafening gunshot rang out.
A large-caliber bullet flew out from within the bar, heading straight for the shouting Hordy Jones.
His head exploded.
Hordy Jones, who had just been claiming to inherit Arlong's will and using it to establish the New Fishman Pirates, instantly became a headless corpse.
"With a mouth that foul, he had no recruitment value whatsoever."
Baby 5, walking out of the bar with Nico Robin, reverted her right arm from a sniper rifle back to its human form.
She didn't bother hiding her look of disgust as she stared at Hordy Jones's headless body.
Beside her, Nico Robin lowered her crossed arms.
She had also been prepared to strike, but Baby 5 had beaten her to it.
"Manlong, it seems we aren't very welcome here. I'm afraid our recruitment will have to involve some rougher methods from here on out," Nico Robin said calmly, looking at Manlong.
"Yeah. This is the most chaotic place on Fishman Island. While I can't say it's everyone, most are just thugs. As the boss says, this place is perfect for fighting fire with fire." Manlong's eyes didn't flicker as he watched Hordy Jones die.
This man, who had once bullied him, was no longer worth his attention.
He scanned the other fishmen who were looking at him with terror and responded steadily to Nico Robin.
He knew the environment here all too well.
From the start, he hadn't expected to recruit troops peacefully.
Fighting fire with fire was the best strategy for gathering forces here.
Compared to when he appeared in the original story, Hordy Jones was only just beginning to rise at this point in time; the New Fishman Pirates had not yet taken over the entire Fishman District.
Fishman District was still fragmented, occupied by various gangs.
Starting with the New Fishman Pirates, Manlong quickly began 'visiting' the various gangs in Fishman District with the assistance of Nico Robin and Baby 5.
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"You're saying Fishman District has been invaded by outsiders?"
Inside Ryugu Palace, Neptune, who was preparing to visit his daughter in the Hard-Shell Tower, looked in surprise at the subordinate who had rushed in to report.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The invader is a half-fishman named Manlong. He is rampaging through Fishman District with two human women under the pretext of recruitment. Multiple gangs have already been taken down..." The subordinate nodded repeatedly, explaining the situation in detail.
Fishman District was the dark side of Fishman Island.
Ordinary fishmen wouldn't even go near it.
However, as the ruling power of the kingdom...
Ryugu Palace still paid attention to the situation in Fishman District from time to time.
As soon as an anomaly was detected in Fishman District, people from the palace went to investigate immediately.
Now, the findings were being reported to Neptune.
Fishman District.
At the mention of it, Neptune couldn't help but frown.
Fishman District was the lawless zone of Fishman Island.
Naturally, he didn't like it.
But there were far too many rebellious kin who hated humans, and Fishman District had become the best place to settle them.
"Wait, did you say the half-fishman Manlong?"
Suddenly, Neptune caught a key detail and hurried to confirm it with his subordinate.
The subordinate spoke truthfully. "Yes, Your Majesty. The leader is a half-fishman called Manlong."
"Does he have brownish skin and Bowhead Whale lineage?" Neptune described further.
The subordinate was a bit confused.
Although he didn't understand how the King seemed to know this half-fishman, he nodded quickly. "Yes, this half-fishman matches your description exactly, Your Majesty."
Upon receiving confirmation, Neptune's expression began to shift.
It really was that half-fishman, Manlong.
That meant the ones rampaging through Fishman District were the Three-Eye Pirates.
Fishman Island was located in the deep sea, and information from the outside world was somewhat isolated.
But that was only for ordinary fishmen.
As a king, Neptune naturally paid closer attention to external news.
For example, the Three-Eye Pirates.
Having used two Warlords as stepping stones, and being a rare member of the Three-Eye Tribe to boot...
It was impossible for Neptune not to pay attention to the Three-Eye Pirates led by Zane.
"Go inform Shar... forget it, I'll go personally. Go notify the three princes immediately to mobilize the Neptune Army and accompany me to Fishman District."
Although Fishman District was a lawless zone, it was still a part of Fishman Island after all.
As king, he couldn't just leave it be.
Especially when it involved the renowned Three-Eye Pirates.
Neptune couldn't afford to be negligent.
Watching the subordinate leave to deliver the orders, Neptune hesitated only slightly before having a nearby guard bring him a Transponder Snail.
"Is that you, Jinbe? This is Neptune..."
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"I told you that you were biting off more than you could chew. I warned you to act within your limits, but you wouldn't listen. Now look what happened."
On a shell-shaped soft bed, Zane pushed away slender, pink arms and legs, then casually stood up to dress himself.
Looking back at the mermaid lady on the bed—her face still stained with tear tracks, clearly in a deep sleep—Zane clicked his tongue a few times.
Youth truly didn't know the heights of the heavens or the depths of the earth, actually dreaming of shaking a giant tree.
The result, naturally, was him teaching her a good lesson.
'Their reaction isn't slow, but my recruitment plan cannot be interrupted.'
After straightening his clothes, Zane pulled a thick stack of Berries from his Munch-Munch Space and tossed them precisely onto the mermaid's 'granary' before turning to leave.
Thunderclap!
He pushed the door open and walked out.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
Outside Fishman District.
Led by Neptune and followed by the three princes, the Neptune Army rushed toward the area.
Thunderclap!!
Just as Neptune was about to enter Fishman District, a sudden bolt of lightning struck the entrance.
This sudden occurrence startled Neptune and the others, causing them to halt abruptly.
The three princes and the guards hurriedly moved to shield Neptune from behind.
"That's far enough. My subordinates are currently working hard to recruit for me. Could I trouble you not to disturb them?"
Amidst dancing electrical currents, Zane stood with his arms crossed, a faint smile on his face as he surveyed Neptune and the others.
They had been wondering how lightning could possibly pass through the deep sea and strike Fishman Island.
Now, seeing the human emerge from the lightning, the expressions of the three princes and the Neptune Army changed instantly, and they all aimed their weapons at him.
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