Chapter 771: Flying Fish Riders` Base

Meanwhile, deep within the hidden Flying Fish Riders' base, a heavy, metallic breathing echoed behind a massive iron mask. A heavily armored man sat on a chair. He was wearing a distinctive great helm that obscured his face. He wore a dark, open leather jacket and a set of massive, olive-green mechanical pauldrons studded with circular rivets. He sported a pair of cross-body belts over his bare, scarred torso. He had slim black trousers held up by a purple-studded belt. He had oversized, pointed black shoes and carried a primitive-looking harpoon gun in one hand.

“Sir Duval, they have arrived back,” one man shouted as he watched the three pirates on fish come to a stop.

"Boss, why did you call us back?” one asked.

“We could have captured them,” another added as he put his hands in the pocket.

"You idiots,” Duval roared as he moved his hand up and fired three harpons at the pirates. They hit the ground in front of them.

The pirates stood up. They looked shocked.

"I have been waiting for this day,” Duval said. “I have been waiting for the arrival of these pirates,” he added as he put the harpoon gun on his shoulder. “Whenever I think of that man my blood boils with a hatred that could set the ocean on fire,” he said. “Every day, I have cursed that man,” he said.

“Boss is angry," the pirate said.

“I am going to kill that guy,” Duval remarked.

“Yes boss,” a large shirtless pirate responded.

“That is why we have to make sure to do this properly,” Duval said.

At that moment, three fishrman appeared.

“Marco, Gyaro and Tansui are here,” one pirate said.

“You called boss?” Macro questioned. He had a  lean, muscular build. He was a gulper eel-type Fishman. He had sharp, jutting lower teeth and a wide mouth. He sported a distinctive black hairstyle with thick, finger-like spikes pointing backward and wore an open black jacket with red floral patterns. His chest is decorated with colorful beaded necklaces and a prominent dark tattoo, and his lower half is clad in light-colored trousers with a dark sash.

“We are here,” Gyaro added. He was a tall, pale Fishman with a remarkably elongated face and a small, pointed ponytail atop his head. He had massive, protruding pop-eyes which sat high on his face. He wore a simple, light-colored t-shirt with a blue cloud logo and had a dark tattoo visible on his right bicep.

“I was sleeping,” Tansui remarked. He was a bulky, heavy-set Fishman with a thick neck and a broad, drooping jawline. His head and shoulders were covered in large, golden-brown scales. He wore a shaggy green fur pelt draped over his shoulders like a cape and a thick gold chain around his neck. He had a simple white waistband.

“Boss, this guy is totally freaked out,” Gyaro said.

“Oh shut up,” Marco said.

“It is fine and thank you guys, I can finally meet them,” Duval said. “The Strawhat pirates,” he added.

“Strawhats?” Marco questioned. “Who are they?” he asked.

Besides them, a six-armed fishman sat tied up. “The Straw hats?” Hatchan muttered. He looked at Duval.

“Hey you big guy,” Hatchan said.

“It is Sir Duval. Show some manners, you octopus,” Marco said as he turned around.

“Are you saying that Camie has been captured by the Straw Hat Pirates?” Hatchan asked. He thought the Love Pirates and the Straw Hate Pirates had some sort of alliance. They were working together recently. He had seen it in the newspaper.  “Are they coming here as well?” he questioned.

“Yeah they are heading here right now,” one of the pirates replied. “And when they come we will capture them all and sell them to the Human shop,” he added.

Hatchan thought those guys and the Love Pirates were incredibly strong. The two crews together are almost unstoppable but even one of them was a threat. He thought Arlong was killed by Ben. They let him live. He thought Nami and Nojiko might be on them. He thought they would be mad and might be here to finish the job. Hatchan thought of course they were. He thought he needed to get out of her or they would beat him up again.

“Duval Boss, the Straw Hats are here,” a man shouted from a tower.

“Say, Marco, if you let me go, I will give you lots of takoyaki,” Hatchan said.

“You dumbass, what kinda glutton do you take me for,” Marco shouted back.

“Everyone get to your position,”  Duval hissed.

On the deck of the Thousand Sunny, the glowing fish arrow finally dissipated. The ship sailed through rocky waves. “We are approaching it,” Chopper shouted.

They all looked to see a settlement built directly over the water on wooden piers. It had several golden-roofed structures and a prominent, multi-tiered watchtower that dominates the center of the village. Flanking the village were two massive, slab-like stone walls topped with small spherical ornaments. A black pirate flag fluttered from a tall mast.

“So this is where that Hacchin-guy?” Luffy asked with a smile on his face.

“I will go in there and save him in a flash, Camie-chwan,” Sanji said.

“Thanks alot Sanji-chin,” Camie responded. “But everyone, please be careful,” Camie added as she looked serious. "The Macro Pirates have caught me thirty times," Camie added.

“You get captured too much,” Usopp said. “And get eaten too much,” he added.

Cami just awkwardly laughed.

“This is not really an island,” Sanji said.

“Why would they want to set up their base here?” Zoro questioned as he crossed his arms.

“Who knows?” Sanji asked as she smoked a puff of cigarette.

Chopper looked around.  “Why is it so quiet?" he asked.

“Luffy should we?” Usopp asked.

“Forward,” Luffy shouted as he pointed forward with his finger.

“Should we at least not think of a plan?” Usopp asked.

Camie then shouted,” Hey Hatchan.” “Are you alright?” she asked.

“Get out here, Marco,” Pappag said. “Give Hatchan back,” he added.

Hatchan in a cage turned his head. “It is really the Straw Hat`s ship,” he said. “Damn it,” he added as he jumped up. He was tied up and trapped in the cage. He thought there was only one thing he could do. “Zero Visibility. Octopus Hachi Black,” Hatchan said as he squirted black ink from his mouth and covered himself with it. There was black ink all over his body.

The Thousand Sunny sailed forward. “It seems like someone is inside that cage,” Porche said.

“Could that be Hatchan?” Camie questioned.

“This is great, Camie,” Pappag said. “There are not even any enemies around,” he added. “They all must be having a snack,” he added.

“Are you guys serious?” Usopp shouted. “Anyone could tell that this is a trap,” he added as he pointed forward.

Franky crossed his arms. “Everyone is obviously hiding in there, waiting to ambush us,” Franky said.

Pappag and Camie looked shocked. Their mouths were wide open. Their eyes popped out. “What insight,” Camie said.

“I would never consider that,” Pappag added.

“That is why you keep getting caught,” Franky shouted back.

The Thousand Sunny sailed forward and stopped at the cage. “I am okay Camie,” Hatchan said.

“You are all black,” Camie shouted. What happened?” she asked.

“Well, this is kinda my own fault,” Hatchan replied. “Anyway, this is a trap, so hurry up and turn back,” he added.

Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Nami stood at the front. They all looked at him.

“There is something very suspicious about him,” Nami said as he put her finger on her chin,

“What?” Luffy asked.

Sanji thought of a fishman. He thought Nami's home village was once controlled by a fishman. He turned around. “Hey, how is Arlong doing?” he shouted.

“He is dead,” Hatchan responded. “I was about to get captured and I am living my old dream of running a takoyaki-stand,” he added. “Please spare me,” he said.

“Arlong?” Luffy asked as he looked at the fishman covered in black ink. “That name sounds familiar," he added.

Luffy thought back to Ben who told him that he beat Arlong who had controlled Nami`s home town.  “So it was you?” he asked. “You damn squid,” he shouted.

Hatchan shouted. “Damn it.” He thought they figured it out.

“So you're that squid who was with Arlong who Ben beat?” Luffy questioned. “You are that takoyaki-seller Hacchin,” he said.

“What?” Porche asked.

“Well, it was a while ago now,” Usopp replied. “Nami`s home town was once under the control of a nasty crew of fishman called the Arlong Pirates. Nami was in quite a terrible situation and that octopus was one of the top members,” Usopp explained.

“So he is an old enemy,” Franky said.

“Of course, Ben and I, with the help of others, kicked the crap out of the whole crew,” Usopp said with a smirk.

“Usopp you are awesome,” Chopper said.

“Yeah, I guess,” Usopp gloated with a smile. “Kaya told me they ran into former Arlong pirates but she never mentioned Hatchan. I guess he came this way,” Usopp said.

Brook drank a cup of tea. “You have been through a lot," Brook said.

“Hey, squid. Now that we know it, there is no way we will save you,” Luffy said. “I wanted to beat Arlong but Ben beat me to it,” he remarked as he raised his fist.

“But,” Luffy responded as he lowered his fist. “Is your takoyaki really as good as I heard it was?” he asked.

“Oh come one! Getting caught between your appetite and your reason,” Sanji remarked.

“So he was part of that crew,” Zoro said.

“You mean, you know Hatchan?” Camie asked. “Is he your old friend?" she asked.

“He is not our friend,” Zoro stated as he stared at her.

Camie slumped down.

“Luffy, this is Ben`s enemy and we have an alliance with him,” Zoro said. “If we save him then that might make Ben angry,” Zoro warned.

Luffy heard this and smiled. “Ben would never get angry with me because we are best friends,” Luffy proudly said.

“Is there a risk that would happen? Chopper asked. “I don't want to fight them,” Chopper added.

“Of course not,” Usopp said. “I hope,” Usopp added.

Nami thought she had kissed him that day. She thought Ben was kissed by Alvida, Belo Betty and her that day. She sighed. “Turn the ship around,” Nami said.

“Nami-chin?” Camie said.

“Sorry, Camie,” Nami said as she put her hand on her face. “We never would have thought your friend was that guy,” she added.

“No way, won't you help me to save him after all?” Camie asked with tears in her eyes. “Hatchan,” she shouted.

“Camie, that is okay. Just turn back. This is a trap,” he added.

“No, I will save you,” Camie said with a determined look. “Hatchan you are always saving us after all,” she added. “Pappag, let's go,” she said.

Pappag stood up. “That is right. I never thought you guys would be such a load of unfeeling halfwits,” he said. “Idiots,” he said as he turned around.

“Shut up,” Zoro said.

Camie and Pappag stood on the ledge of a railing. “Wait for us, Hatchan,” she added as they both dived towards the water.

“Camie-chan,” Sanji said as he took a step forward.

As Camie went into the water, she was captured by Marco, Gyaro and Tansui. “We got you now Camie,” Marco said.

“Oh come on, that is just pathetic,” Usopp said as she watched Camie get hoisted by the three fishman.

“Now we are gonna be rich," Marco remarked.

“With Hachi who always saves you, in that state and all,” Gyaro said.

“You will not get away, Camie,” Tansui said.

Camie screamed. “Let me go,” she said.

“That's why I told you to run,” Hatchan said.

Nami looked at Hatchan and how worried he was.

“Why, you Camie has not done anything,” Sanji said as he walked forward.

“Wait Sanji-kun,” Nami said as she looked at Hatchan banging his head against the cage. She thought about it. She took a deep breath and sighed.

“Fine, let's save Hatchan,” Nami stated.

“What?” Usopp asked.

“Hatchan is not that bad,” Nami said. “He is actually harmless,” she added. “And we did make a promise to Camie,” she remarked. “Also, about Ben, I doubt he would mind us saving him,” she said.

“Nami-sawn, that firm determined appearance is just wonderful,” Sanji said as hearts came off his body.

“Are you sure?” Zoro asked.

“Luffy,” Nami said with a smile.

“If that's what you want, then let's save him,” Luffy said as his mouth was dripping.

“Your eyes turned into takoyaki,” Usopp said.

“Besides, you are right, Ben would not mind,” Luffy said. “Shishishi,” he laughed. “Now, takoyaki,” he said.