69novels Chapter 353 Tiger's Hands
Chapter 353 Tiger's Hands
The entire Sun Pirates crew consists of fish-men and mermaids. Compared to human ships that must rely on established routes and islands for supplies, they are the least in need of logistics.
When they're hungry, they can jump into the sea to catch fish to eat anytime. Even mermaids, who don't eat fish, have no trouble finding snails and shellfish.
Therefore, in theory, it would be very difficult for the Navy to locate the Sun Pirates' resting place, let alone surround it.
Unless... there's a mole within the Sun Pirates who revealed the location of the uninhabited island they use for rest and recuperation to the Navy.
Tiger refused to believe this cruel truth and needed the Navy to help him deny it.
Storoberry looked at Tiger's bloodshot eyes, pondered for a few seconds, and then replied, "You once dismissed a group of people. We found them and got the information from them."
"You're talking nonsense!!"
Jinbe immediately launched into a tirade of profanities.
"Those brothers who returned home could never betray Brother Tiger!!"
Storoberry remained unmoved, simply watching Tiger calmly.
"I can give you one more minute to consider. In one minute, Admiral Kizaru's reinforcements will arrive near the island. If you don't surrender, you will only face death!"
"Kizaru?"
"Borsalino?"
"It turned out to be him?!"
Upon hearing Kizaru's title from Strawberry, the Sun Pirates, who had been incredibly resolute, instantly began to stir.
With the promotion of the three admirals over the years, they have carved out their formidable reputation in the first half of the Grand Line using the most ruthless methods.
As former allies of the Navy, the Sun Pirates were well aware of just how terrifying the strength of the three admirals was.
Now that the Navy has dispatched Kizaru to capture them, if they don't jump into the sea and escape now, they might really not be able to escape later!
In an instant, all the fishmen and mermaids focused their attention on Tiger.
The navy has now surrounded them, and the coastline is at least two hundred meters away from them.
Break through the encirclement and jump into the sea; one minute should be enough.
However, this requires Tiger's approval; personally, they are still not very willing to go against the World Government and the Navy.
Feeling the gazes focused on him from behind, Tiger looked at Storoberry.
He knew that Storobelli had just lied and wasn't telling the truth.
Within the Sun Pirates, or more precisely, among the fish-men and mermaids currently surrounded, there are traitors.
The reason Storoberry pinned the blame on those who had been dismissed was a divisive tactic, and also a way to protect the spy who had secretly defected to them.
Tiger had guessed this, and he had even narrowed down the candidates based on the different personality traits of each person on the ship.
only……
We're all of the same race after all!
Tiger closed his eyes sadly.
"If I surrender, will you guarantee my men's safe departure?!"
A smile finally appeared on Stromberg's face.
"If you don't believe me, I can release them back into the sea right now."
"As the leader of the fish-men, I think you should know very well that once they can enter the sea, even if Admiral Kizaru himself comes, it will be very difficult to bring them back."
Tiger nodded slightly.
While the swimming ability of the fish-men is not as good as that of the merfolk, that is only relative.
Compared to normal humans, who are entirely terrestrial creatures, the difference in swimming ability between the two can be described as astronomical.
Even if it's Aokiji instead of Kizaru who arrives later, as long as they have just one minute to swim, Aokiji won't be able to freeze them in the sea.
"Fine! I surrender! But you must keep your promise! Let them leave first!!"
"Brother Tiger!!"
Jinbe shouted a few times, and Tiger grabbed Jinbe's shoulder with his hand.
"Jinbe!!"
"Bring all the brothers home safely!!"
With just one sentence, all of Jinbe's advice was swallowed back down.
As Tiger's trusted second-in-command, Jinbe knew very well why Tiger made this choice.
Similarly, he was also very clear about what the right thing to do at that moment was.
"Brother Tiger!!"
Jinbe wanted to try one last chance, but Tiger shook his head firmly.
"It can only be said that we are not working hard enough yet; the world is not yet ready to allow our ideals to become reality."
"Brother Tiger..."
At Tiger's insistence, Jinbe had no choice but to lead the remaining brothers, step by step, away from the encirclement cleared by the Navy.
And under Tiger's watchful eye, they entered the sea one by one.
However, none of them left immediately. Instead, they floated on the sea, gazing at Tiger from afar.
Stolberg slowly stepped forward and took out a pair of shackles.
"Cooperate, Tiger. I've already released your men, so there's no need for us to take action anymore, right?"
Tiger took a deep breath; at this moment, he actually had a very good chance of breaking through the encirclement.
After all, his companions who were holding him back were safe, so it wouldn't be difficult for him to single-handedly defeat this group of Marines whose combat strength wasn't particularly high.
only……
Tiger eventually cooperated and extended his hands.
On the distant sea, Kizaru sat leisurely on a deck chair.
He was originally hunting Katakuri.
However, since the Sun Pirates were indeed very close, he had no choice but to come and take a detour to provide some support for Strawberry's operations.
Using his Observation Haki, Fisher Tiger obediently followed Strawberry and boarded the naval warship.
The fish-men floating in the sea all shouted Tiger's name.
Kizaru, who was originally sitting on the recliner clipping his nails, lay down even more leisurely.
Beside him, Kizaru's adjutant couldn't help but remind him, "Mr. Borsalino, aren't we going to capture those fish-men as well?"
Kizaru took off his sunglasses and placed them on the coffee table next to him, then casually picked up an eye mask and put it on.
"The order from above is to capture Tiger; there's no need to bother with the rest of the merfolk."
The adjutant replied respectfully, "I understand..."
Watching the naval warships gradually disappear into the distance, Jinbe and his crew ultimately didn't have the courage to hijack the ship.
"Let's go back to Fishman Island!!"
With tears streaming down his face, Jinbe reluctantly but resolutely carried out Tiger's final captain's orders.
"Brother Tiger is not dead!"
On the way back to Fishman Island, Jinbe kept reminding the remaining crew members.
"We had no choice but to let Tiger be captured by the Navy! In the future, when we are strong enough, we will definitely rescue Tiger from the Navy!!"
"Yes! That's right! We'll be the ones to save Tiger in the future!!"
Encouraged by Jinbe, the remaining members of the Sun Pirates gradually began to regain their morale.
After all, Tiger isn't dead yet; he's just been captured. They still have a chance to rescue him in the future, it's just a matter of how difficult it will be.