Chapter 47

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Chapter 24– New Living Arrangements.

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"Oi, Detoro. How much longer will this building take? We have things that need to be done." I look up from the plans I was going over, turning around to see Arlong walking over, his face smiling as he approaches, but his snarly grin frightens the other people around, who quickly scurried out of the way. The workers don't even look at the man, the fish man, as he approaches me, and I notice the men around me quickly finding something urgent to do elsewhere.

You would think after all this time working here without once being shouted at or accosted by any of the fishmen, they would have cooled down by now, but they haven't. In fact, they are even more twitchy and frightened than they would otherwise be, being in such close proximity to their terrorisers. Thankfully no accidents or anything has happened over the last few weeks since we began, which is how it should be since that is what I demanded.

"It will be done when it gets done. No faster, no slower. Now, did you want something else?" I say, turning back around to continue working on the plan for the future Arlong Park. How I hate that name. If I could, I would love to do a shoddy job and fuck it all up so it collapses on them all one day, but apparently, they are taking Nami after it is built, so I can't do that. And also, to be honest, I refuse to make something half backed without proper effort. I might be a shoddy self-taught craftsman, but I still have my pride, and everything I make, no matter the purpose, will always be to the best of my ability. To do anything less would be shameful.

"Come on, Detoro. I have given you everything you asked for, but me and my men are getting tired of not having a place to call home. So hurry it up, kid." He puts his big blue-clawed hand on my head and... starts to ruffle my hair. Immediately I was incensed, not only because of him ruffling my hair like we got along but because of him calling me kid, just like Garp called me it. I don't know what the fuck is going on in this fuckers head, but I know I don't like it.

After that day at Nami's, I have been staying with her and Nojiko at that house, with Genzo coming to check in every day. With Nami and me being in the same sort of situation, she feels like we should stick together, and Nojiko is a lovely girl that feels the same. It was only the next day that Arlong came and ordered for me to start work on Arlong Park, and Nami ushered me to go along with it, telling me to wait until the Marines undoubtedly arrived.

I went along with it because there was a good chance of the marines coming, and I myself am not strong enough to beat them yet, at least not according to the fight I had with Arlong. So far, I have seen both the best and the worst of the marines, if Garp can even be called the best. So the middle ground should at least be someone capable, and right now, I am holding out for them to come. Nezumi isn't the only marine captain around these parts, after all.

So I got to work, beginning with the planning, and after getting the frame of the scope of just what Arlong wanted, I gathered all the builders and workers on the island and got them working on it. Everybody had already paid for the one month, and so I told Arlong that I would only do this if I were in charge without interference if he bought all the materials and if he waived all the workers and their family's payments for the next month's. Surprisingly he agreed, which I did not expect, and then, even more weirdly, he started acting all pally with me and mostly giving me the things I asked for.

And so I have been working on this stupid project for the last few weeks, which infuriated me enough, but to add on top of that, Arlong has been acting all buddy-buddy with me while the other fishmen have all been keeping their distance like I have the plague. Two extremes that have seriously concerned me, though I don't have time to worry over that.

"Do you want this done fast, or do you want this done right? Because if it is the latter, then you will stop crowding us and let us work. These men find it hard to function properly when you and your crew are around." So I tell him, still looking down at the plans, but I am hardly focusing on them. I can't, not when this fucker is behind me acting all friendly, and the weird thing is, I think he actually is trying to be.

"Shahaha! But not you, right Detoro? You aren't like the rest of these weak humans, are you?" Arlong laughs, good-naturedly patting me on the shoulder. At least from his perspective, he feels like he is giving me a compliment and praising me, but from where I am sitting, he is taking the piss out of me and mocking me. But, I have experienced much the same over the last few weeks, so I ignore it with familiarity, not ease, because it is anything but easy for me to restrain myself.

"Whatever. Now can you go? We have work to do and don't come back until we are done, you or your men. We will get stuff done faster without you looming over us." I say, turning around to look him straight in the eyes, showing I am not messing around. In turn, the jovial look- I think that was the look he had, it's hard to tell with all the sharp teeth- on his face turns into a hard stare, no longer so nice.

"How long." No more niceness in his tone, but no anger or anything either. His voice is level, calm and, most importantly, serious. He expects an answer, and no matter how lenient and hospitable he is, he demands results. I don't know what this dude's game is, what he wants here on this little island while bleeding us for all we have, and frankly, I don't care. All I care about is the end of his continued existence, whether that be tonight or two years down the road, as long as it happens. An idiot can only wait a single day for revenge, but a strong man can wait ten years.

"A month. Month and a half. Definitely no longer than two months. It is hard to give an exact time frame since there is a lot to account for, but two months is what we are aiming for. most of our time is going to be focused on reshaping the land and giving you that water entrance you want, big enough for the sea cow of yours." And wasn't that a surprise, discovering a massive fucking seaking was under their control. Just thinking about it gives me shivers, especially after that time when I was drowning, and there were hundreds of the bastards coming to eat me and would have if Garp didn't save me.

If there were one reason other than Nami that would keep me from attacking these fishmen, then it would be this fucking big seaking. Momoo. It is a cute name for the big fish, and I guess it fits as it is primarily white with patches of green, and its face looks like a cow with horns and even a bull ring. So it could be a seabull. Either way, it is big with the power to match its stature. I have seen it in action. And more worrying than that, it is very scarred of Arlong and follows his every order.

"Good. It better be. I am being very magnanimous and generous right now, but don't take my lenience for weakness. If it isn't finished, then that waiver of fees will no longer be in effect, and Momoo has been hungry lately." He says, utterly serious. If there were one thing that would be an effective threat to the people on this island, then it would be Momoo. So Arlong gathered all the islanders and had them witness Momoo rise out of the sea and terrorise a patch of woodland, completely destroying the area. But, of course, everybody wants to survive, and so they will work as hard as possible to avoid such a fate.

"It will be done, don't worry," I assure him with a nod of my head, not backing down. I might have to follow his orders and work for him, but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it, and I am not going to make it a smooth ride for him, either.

"Shahaha. Good, don't forget this isn't just for us. You and Nami will be living here as well. You are building your new home." He says, irking me again. Damn bastard, destroying my home and then making me build on top of it, and then even going as far as to say it will be my home too. As if. He destroyed my home. I don't have one anymore. But Arlong has a home as well, his crew. I can tell he cares for each and every one of them, truly cares, which I find hard to believe given how vicious the man is. I wonder if he would be as distraught as I was if I were to take his home from him.

"I don't understand. You only needed me to build this house. Why would you want me to stay here? Haven't I served my purpose after Arlong Park is finished?" Seriously, I hate this man. He knows I hate him. And yet he wants me close to him. He gives me nearly all the things I request and even wants me to live with him after the park is built. Why? What does he want from me?

"Shahaha! Don't sell yourself short, Detoro. You have a lot to offer, more than you know. Be sure to keep me updated. You wouldn't want me jumping to conclusions, would you? Shahahah!" Laughing and leaving me with those ominous words, he turns around and moves back towards the village. More than that, he has left me with confusion because I still don't know what he wants from me. Just what is it that I have to offer?