34. Kuroobi

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They hadn't walked far under Nojiko's lead before Aero abruptly stopped.

Nojiko looked up at him, puzzled. "What is it?"

Aero didn't respond. He stood still, gaze fixed ahead. Tension rippled through the crew behind him.

Eddie slipped a few lead bullets between his fingers beneath his cloak.

Dylan calmly dropped his gear bag, opened it, and pulled out a pair of clawed gauntlets his signature cat claws, reminiscent of the infamous Captain Kuro.

The rest of the Hurricane Pirates followed suit, weapons sliding from sheaths or tightening beneath cloaks.

They crouched low, eyes sharp.

Behind them, Genzo sensed the shift and instinctively stepped forward, shielding Nojiko. He unsheathed his green katana, blade gleaming in the daylight.

Then—

Tap… tap… tap…

Footsteps echoed along the path.

Aero's eyes narrowed.

A tall figure approached. Gray-skinned. Shark-like features. Hair pulled up into two pointed topknots. A dark blue gi hung loosely from his massive frame.

A Fish-Man.

Genzo's face twisted in rage.

He recognized the scars on his own body carved by this very man.

"Kuroobi… Officer of the Arlong Pirates," Genzo snarled, his grip on the hilt tightening.

Aero stepped forward, placing himself between Genzo and the approaching enemy.

---

"That's Black Belt Kuroobi," Eddie whispered, flipping through a stack of bounty posters. "Bounty: 9 million Berries. Still a million below you, Captain."

Nojiko and Genzo both tensed behind him. The idea that Aero had a higher bounty than one of Arlong's top lieutenants stunned them but it also sparked hope.

They were placing everything on this gamble.

Even if the odds were slim… it was still hope.

The villagers exchanged glances. They hadn't realized just how serious this new pirate was not just a pirate, but a wanted one.

Maybe… just maybe…

---

Eddie stepped beside Aero, offering the bounty poster, but Aero didn't take it. He just stared ahead.

"Where's Arlong?" Aero asked flatly.

Inside his robe, wind was condensing, pressure building silently in his palm. He wouldn't waste his best techniques-not yet. He couldn't afford to burn out before reaching Arlong himself.

Fish-Men were notoriously tough. If Kuroobi escaped back into the ocean, Aero would be useless as a Devil Fruit user.

He needed to end it fast and clean but first, he had to gauge his opponent's strength.

---

"Kuroobi," Aero said again.

The Fish-Man crossed his arms, surveying the crowd, particularly the armed villagers. His tone was condescending, his voice dripping with disgust.

"So, the humans of Cocoyashi Village are planning betrayal?"

Gasps rippled through the villagers.

Some faltered.

But no one dropped their weapons.

Genzo stepped forward, fury burning in his eyes. "We've had enough! We've lived under monsters long enough! This ends today!"

Kuroobi squinted at him, then laughed. "The village police? You're still alive?" He smirked. "Should've finished the job last time."

Eddie leaned in and muttered to Aero, "He's really enjoying this."

Kuroobi turned back to them. "Pirates. Leave. I'll give you a chance to walk away."

He looked at Aero, then at Eddie. "But of course… humans never learn."

---

Without warning, Kuroobi lunged at Genzo.

His hand gripped Genzo's katana, wresting it from his grasp.

He scoffed and pointed the blade toward Aero. "You think he can beat Arlong? Don't make me laugh."

Then, mid-sentence, Kuroobi suddenly froze.

The blade he was about to thrust into Aero's face had been caught not by Aero, but by a man in black, clawed gauntlets hissing against metal.

Dylan.

Sparks flew as his cat claws clashed with the stolen katana.

At the same time, Kuroobi's raised leg meant to kick Genzo was halted mid-air.

Another cloaked figure had blocked it.

A hood fell away, revealing flaming red hair and a sharp pair of black sunglasses.

Eddie.

Genzo stumbled backward. Nojiko caught him, pulling him to safety.

Behind them, five more crew members stepped forward, flanking the civilians and forming a protective wall.

"We've got them!" one shouted, weapons drawn.

"Stupid fish-man," Eddie taunted, grinning. "Looks like you're not as tough as you thought."

Kuroobi's smirk disappeared as he realized he was surrounded.

And these weren't amateurs.

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