Belus

Seth woke up to find himself on a bed. He looked around but he couldn't recognize the place.

(Is it someone's house?)

The last he remembers, he was drowning in the sea.

Did someone save him then?

A sweet aroma drifted through the air. Just from the smell it was obvious how delicious the meal was.

He walked outside the room, turning right towards the source of the smell.

The smell came from the clay pot on the earthen stove.

"Seems like it is done"

A person walked towards the pot, picked it up and brought it near the table.

He wasn't too big, only a foot taller than Seth. But what stood out most was the colour of the skin. Brown like the wood with dark brown spots all over the body. A wide mouth with small weed like whisker lobes all around it and a small nose with gill like slits on both sides. Large eyes but they are almost always closed making us wonder if they were

ever opened.

All in all, he didn't look anything like a human.

"Fishman!?" Seth exclaimed.

The race of the sea with traits of fish and other sea creatures. Lives in Grand Line, especially the Fishmen Island.

A powerful race with powers twenty times that of a regular human on land and twice that in water. It was one of the most famous race in the One Piece manga.

(What is a Fishman doing here? Is he related to Arlong Pirates? But Cocoyashi is far away from here)

"Oh so you know what Fishmen are? Most people just call me 'Monster'. Are you scared?" the fishman asked.

Seth knew about the discrimination between the two races. It was from both sides. Humans criticized, discriminated against fishmen for ages even setting up a slave trafficking network, whereas the fishmen in general had their own prejudices against humans.

But Seth as a fan of the series was above all these indiscriminations.

"No, I know a few fishmen. I don't have the same feelings as most humans" he answered. He wasn't lying. Though he may not know anyone from this world, he knew about Jinbei, Neptune, Hachi and many others from the manga.

"I see" the fishman nodded convinced by the answer. He took out two bowls and poured the contents of the pot, serving one to Seth while the other for himself.

Seth looked at the fishman suspiciously and asked "You were the one who pulled me into the sea, weren't you?"

He had seen Jinbe manipulate water with his fishmen karate. Maybe this fishman can too. But it was strange that he had tried to kill hin earlier and now was courteously pouring him the soup.

"Yes" the fishman replied as he drank "You are an outsider. You don't know how strong Babon is. Don't fight him. He has the backing of Marines. Many had tried fighting him in the past, all dying in the end."

"So you tried to save me, is that it?"

"You are strong and has the power of a devil fruit but that is not sufficient to defeat Babon. You are young. Don't waste away your life."

Seth could understand his perspective but no way could he accept that. His crewmate was missing and it is highly likely, he was held captive, if not yet dead.

Seth slowly drank his share of meal, replying "My ship is missing and I have to search for my friend and I am sure that Babon is after this."

The fishman looked serious "Then we may have a chance."

"Chance? What kind of chance?" Seth asked inquisitively.

"Babon publicly executes his prisoners on Saturday, and that would be tomorrow. I am sure that your friend, if he was captured will be brought to the town square tomorrow for the execution. The security will be tight but with your abilities, saving him from there will be more easy than blasting into Babon's villa."

"But.. "

"You may not believe me but that is the only way to save your friend" Before Seth could say anything, the fishman interjected.

"What's more, I will also help you in this mission" he added.

Seth was convinced. The plan seems credible. And it had more chances to succeed than barging into the enemy territory.

As for the fishman, he didn't seem like a bad individual. If he was really an enemy, he would have killed him earlier. At the very least, he wasn't working for Babon.

He didn't want to take his help but he can't be careless. It is not only his life that is at stake. With Belus' help if there will be more chances to successfully rescue his friend then he should take it.

"Tomorrow it is" he accepted.

"But we need to be wary of one thing. Dark Shadow. We need to save your friend quickly before Dark Shadow arrives. Else we can forget about not only your friend but our lives as well."

Dark Shadow.

A strange entity. Wherever he went, Seth heard its name. Who is this Dark Shadow anyway?

But Seth promised, it doesn't matter who arrives tomorrow, he will rescue Francis.

"By the way, my name is Belus, a Wobbegong Fishman"

Seth shaked his hands replying "And I am Seth, a pirate."

-:- Scene Change -:-

Jake's Muffins. Even if for the town the shop was closed for months now, it was a secret hideout for the rebels planning a coup against Babon and the Marines.

But today, two new faces were present beside the original members. Covered in moss green hoods and robes, they sat on the table. Opposite them, sat a man with other men standing beside him like bodyguards.

It was mostly dark in the shop, only illuminated by a few candles hung on the walls.

The man introduced "I am Razor, leader of the rebels. We need to know who our allies are. Otherwise we may not be able to accept your help."

The large man kept shut allowing the slimmer partner to carry on the conversation. Now that the partnership has reached so far, it was no use hiding their identity.

"We are from the Revolutionary Army."