One Piece: Wind-Wind Fruit

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After Aero asked for supplies, Nojiko paused for a moment, then looked at him and nodded.

"No problem. If you can defeat Arlong everything your crew needs for the voyage, we'll provide."

With that, she turned and walked out, closing the door behind her.

Aero stared at the door for a second and muttered to himself, "So in the end… they still don't quite trust me."

"Captain," Eddie called out.

"Hm?" Aero turned to him.

"Why not just go to Arlong's place now and finish it? With your strength, he wouldn't last the night. Why wait until tomorrow?"

Dylan also looked up, clearly wondering the same thing.

Aero didn't dodge the question. "I need reputation. And you don't rush that."

He stood and explained, "I came back early for two reasons. First, because you two are injured I had to be here. But more importantly, a battle like this needs time to build. Let the tension simmer. That's how you make a name echo across the sea."

"So tomorrow's battle will be our grand reveal to the East Blue," Dylan concluded. "That's what you're aiming for."

"But…" he hesitated, "what if Arlong finds out before then? Once he hears we took down his officer, he might come here tonight. If that happens, the villagers, these people who made room for us, might be in serious danger."

"He won't," Aero said confidently. "Not tonight. If he learns anything, it'll be from tomorrow's headlines."

"Headlines?" Dylan asked.

Aero nodded. "Don't underestimate the press. There's a good chance someone in Cocoyashi Village has a Den Den Mushi. And I refuse to believe no reporter in East Blue knows Arlong's base is here."

"You're counting on the newspapers covering your fight?" Dylan asked again.

"Exactly. If someone challenges Arlong the pirate with the highest bounty in the East Blue it'll be news. Whether I win or lose, people will take notice."

Eddie nodded in understanding. "It's true. If a 10-million-Berry pirate like you goes up against Arlong, that's guaranteed front-page material."

Dylan still looked uncertain. "But what if someone warns Arlong tonight? Or what if he gets suspicious when Kuroobi doesn't return?"

"I can't guarantee anything," Aero said honestly. "But…"

He paused, then smiled.

"You don't think we're missing someone?"

Eddie and Dylan looked confused.

"I sent Gray with two others to block the trail leading to Arlong Park," Aero explained. "Wes and Lassie are watching the village gate. No one's getting in or out without us knowing."

"Gray?" Eddie repeated, then nodded. "Right. If he's on it, we can relax. That guy's solid."

Dylan silently agreed. He and Gray went way back they'd once served together on a ship under an old captain named Scarblade. Eventually, they'd both been reassigned to handle operations at a gambling den.

Aero smiled. "After my fight with Grayserpent back on Rubber Island, he was the first one to reach me. He's the top fighter in our crew after me."

"Alright then," Aero said, stretching. "Let's rest up. Tomorrow's fight will define our name in East Blue."

Eddie and Dylan nodded and headed off to sleep.

Aero opened a door to one of the guest rooms, removed his black cloak, and tucked his red short-blade under his pillow.

—

Elsewhere...

Under the moonlight stood a grand, fortress-like building. Five stories tall, styled in Eastern architecture, with a rooftop shaped like a massive shark's head its gaping mouth full of jagged teeth pointed at the sky.

This was Arlong Park.

High walls surrounded it. The only entrance was a waterway a narrow canal built directly from the palace to the sea.

At the gates sat a hulking Fishman with long black hair, jagged saw-like teeth, and a flower-patterned short-sleeved shirt.

His purple-toned chest bore a large, fiery red sun tattoo. On his left arm was the symbol of the Arlong Pirates, and two oversized diamond rings adorned his fingers.

He reclined in a wooden chair, muscles tense with suppressed power, his yellow eyes scanning a wanted poster laid on the table.

"Heh... HAH-HAHAHAHA!" he roared.

Around him, other Fishmen joined in with mocking laughter.

"Humans are truly pathetic," Arlong sneered. "All they do is fight each other! HAH-HAHAHA!"

He picked up the wanted poster and read it aloud: "Aero, Captain of the Hurricane Pirates. Bounty: 10 million Berries."

He snorted. "That loser Krieg couldn't even protect his own fleet. Wiped out! HAH!"

He tossed the poster to the floor.

"Where's Kuroobi?" he asked suddenly, turning to the pink-skinned, six-armed octopus Fishman beside him.

"Captain Arlong, sir!" the octopus Hachi snapped to attention. "Kuroobi went to check on the humans, to make sure they weren't causing trouble!"

Arlong grinned, eyes glinting with menace.

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