The next day, Fish-Man Street in the early morning was enveloped in the soft glow of the deep sea, with tiny bubbles drifting between the mottled coral buildings.
Between the dilapidated houses, several young Fishman children were chasing and playing, their laughter exceptionally clear in the quiet seawater.
However, when Gern and his two companions appeared at the end of the street, the atmosphere of the entire Fish-Man Street instantly solidified.
"It's humans!" A small Fishman hiding behind a coral reef widened his eyes, his fin-like fingers gripping the edge of the reef.
"How did they get here?" Another child nervously Shrink his neck, his fishtail restlessly flapping the water.
"Shh! Be quiet, Tiger is with them!" Another child nervously tugged on his fin.
Libo's rabbit ears twitched slightly, keenly catching the rustling whispers around them. She leaned closer to Gern and whispered, "Gern, they seem very afraid of us."
Gern's gaze swept across both sides of the street, and behind the half-closed doors and windows, pairs of vigilant eyes were secretly observing them.
"Not fear, but wariness."
Gern walked at the forefront, his gaze calmly sweeping the street.
The environment of Fish-Man Street was even more rudimentary than he had imagined, but compared to the future chaos, Fish-Man Street at this time was more like a sanctuary for orphans.
Although Tiger had traveled abroad for many years, his prestige in Fish-Man Street was still unmatched.
So when Tiger appeared, the residents of Fish-Man Street relaxed slightly, but their puzzled gazes still lingered on Gern's Marine uniform.
Suddenly, the water flow ahead rippled.
"Tiger! Tiger!"
Suddenly, two deep voices came from the side.
Gern looked sideways and saw a blue-skinned Whale Shark Fishman striding over, followed by a tall, thin Fishman with a saw-like nose.
"Jinbe, Arlong." Seeing that it was his subordinates, Tiger stopped and nodded slightly.
Jinbe bowed respectfully, his gaze vigilantly sweeping over Gern and his two companions: "Boss, who are these three?"
"What are the Marines doing in Fish-Man Street?" Arlong, on the other hand, directly crossed his arms, his serrated nose twitching slightly, not hiding the hostility in his eyes.
"This is not where they should be!"
The two, who obviously often learned about the outside world through Tiger, knew Gern's identity.
Hearing Arlong's words, Tiger frowned: "Arlong, watch your attitude, they are guests of Fish-Man Island now."
"Guests? Heh, clearly just a human..." Arlong snorted coldly.
But out of respect for Tiger's authority, he still closed his mouth, though his eyes, full of malice, remained fixed on Gern.
Gern observed the two Fishmen in front of him with interest.
At this time, Jinbe was still young, and although there was vigilance in his eyes, there was more calmness.
Arlong, on the other hand, was a complete troublemaker, exuding a volatile aura.
"You are Arlong?" Gern suddenly spoke, "More... spirited than I imagined."
Arlong was startled, then narrowed his eyes: "You know me?"
"I've heard of you." Gern smiled slightly, "'Arlong the Saw' of Fish-Man Street, hot-tempered but very loyal.
Even secretly forming a pirate crew and secretly attacking pirates who landed on Fish-Man Island, am I right?"
"Arlong, you..." Tiger had no idea about this, so he turned his gaze to Jinbe, who helplessly pursed his lips, tacitly admitting it.
"Arlong, you better explain this to me properly!"
Arlong's expression immediately became complicated.
Being evaluated to his face made him very uncomfortable, but the other party's words carried a hint of appreciation, which left him unsure how to react.
"And you two, behave yourselves, don't forget the scene a few months ago when you were defeated by that samurai from the Roger Pirates!"
Jinbe keenly sensed the subtle atmosphere and whispered, "Boss, you mean..."
Tiger was silent for a moment, his gaze falling on Gern's back, and he said softly: "That man... his strength is second only to Roger, who visited last time.
Kozuki Oden, whom you two thought was invincible, was once completely defeated by him alone in a frontal confrontation!"
"What?!" Jinbe and Arlong simultaneously widened their eyes, looking at Gern in disbelief.
Roger's name was well-known on Fish-Man Island; the Pirate King who had once visited, his strength was so impressive that all Fishman warriors remembered him.
And now, not to mention Kozuki Oden, who joined the Roger Pirates from the Whitebeard Pirates.
When the Roger Pirates first landed on Fish-Man Island, Kozuki Oden, out of his mind, beat up everyone in Fish-Man Street.
It was Roger who later stepped in to stop him, bringing Kozuki Oden to apologize to Neptune before it was over.
Now, Tiger actually said that this young Marine was second only to Roger? And had even defeated that perverted, incredibly strong, single-minded samurai!?
Tiger looked at his two shocked subordinates and continued: "Moreover, he came this time... to find your sister, Arlong."
The air instantly solidified.
"Looking for Shyarly?" Arlong's face darkened at a visible speed, his gills opening and closing violently.
"Shyarly? That mermaid?" His voice carried obvious disgust, "She has nothing to do with me!"
"Arlong!" Tiger emphasized his tone, "She is still your blood relative."
"Only half-sister!" Arlong swung his hand abruptly, his sharp nails leaving several white marks in the seawater.
"She's a mermaid, I'm a Fishman, we're not the same kind of people at all!"
Gern looked at Arlong's agitated reaction thoughtfully.
It seemed that Arlong's hatred for humans was already showing early signs, and he was even more repulsed by his sister, who had mermaid blood.
"Lead the way, Tiger." Gern ignored Arlong's temper and said calmly, "I am very interested in that 'prophet'."
Tiger nodded and continued to walk forward.
"Arlong, Shyarly, like you, was abandoned by your father, but compared to you, who were alone at the time.
Now she at least has you as a brother!" Jinbe looked at Arlong worriedly.
"Mind your own business." Arlong stood rooted to the spot, his fists clenching audibly, but he eventually followed.
The alleys of Fish-Man Street grew narrower and narrower, and the surrounding buildings became more and more dilapidated.
Finally, Tiger stopped in front of an inconspicuous small house.
Unlike other houses, this small house had various shell wind chimes hanging on its door, gently swaying with the water flow, emitting crisp clinking sounds.
Tiger stepped forward and gently knocked on the door.
A moment later, the door slowly opened.
A small figure draped in a purple cloak appeared at the doorway.
"Mr. Tiger?"
A clear voice sounded, and a little Great White Shark mermaid girl with purplish-black short hair poked her head out, her eyes large and bright, but with a calmness beyond her age.
Gern narrowed his eyes slightly.
Shyarly, the fortuneteller who would accurately predict Whitebeard's death and the destruction of Fish-Man Island in the future, was still an innocent child.
"Shyarly, long time no see!" Tiger's voice softened a bit, "This is..."
Tiger had not finished speaking when Shyarly, holding her crystal ball, turned her gaze to Gern.
There was no panic, no hostility, just a calm gaze, as if she had long anticipated this moment.
"You really came! Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral..."
"Gern Reginald Sigma."
Hearing Shyarly call out his name, Gern's lips curved slightly: "Hello, Shyarly. Your divination is indeed something!"
Shyarly was silent for a moment, then nodded gently: "Sometimes I see some images."
"Then, could you please tell my fortune once?" Gern initiative squatted down, his tone gentle.
Looking at Gern, Shyarly hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, "No problem."
Watching Gern follow his sister, Arlong gritted his teeth and growled from behind: "I told her not to play tricks! Now she's attracted the Marines."
Tiger placed a hand on his shoulder: "Arlong, calm down."
"But, Boss!" Arlong struggled unwillingly.
"Why let the Marines contact her? Who knows what their schemes are!"
"You still say you don't care about her." Tiger chuckled, patting Arlong's head, "You pretend to dislike her, but do you think I don't know what you do behind her back?"
"Hmph! In all of Fish-Man Street, who would dare touch my sister?!"
...
Meanwhile, Shyarly had already placed the crystal clear ball on a red cushion.
She sat in front of the crystal ball, took a deep breath, and gently placed her small hand on the surface of the sphere.
"So..." Her voice was as light as bubbles at the bottom of the sea, "What do you want to know?"
Gern sat opposite her, a hint of playfulness flashing in his eyes.
"I want to know... what you can see."
