The first few days on the Sabaody Archipelago passed in a blur of chaotic energy, with each member of the Spade Pirates scattering to pursue their own interests.
Ace, naturally, embarked on a grand culinary tour of the island. He blazed a trail from one restaurant to the next, his laughter echoing through the groves as he devoured everything in sight. Hot on his heels was Deuce, who had the unenviable triple duty of acting as Ace's wallet, preventing his captain from accidentally starting an international incident, and frantically scribbling story ideas into his notebook whenever inspiration struck.
Their journey wasn't entirely peaceful. The sweet scent of Ace's bounty, now soaring past the 100 million Berry mark, was an irresistible lure for the archipelago's less discerning residents. Cocky local gangs, ambitious bounty hunters, and rival pirates seeking to make a name for themselves would periodically leap from the shadows, eager to challenge the infamous "Fire Fist." Ace, however, treated these interruptions as little more than an after-meal exercise, dispatching them with a few casual, fiery swipes before returning to his quest for the island's best dishes.
Meanwhile, Jerry had dedicated himself to a more spiritual pursuit: finding the perfect fishing spot to reassert his dominance over the aquatic world. The unique geography of Sabaody, with its massive mangroves creating a network of rivers and estuaries, seemed like a fisherman's paradise. For two days, he and Kotatsu explored the relatively safe, numbered groves from 30 to 50, setting up his line in a new location each morning, noon, and evening.
The results, however, were disappointingly mediocre. He caught fish, but they were mostly small fry and shrimp, barely enough to constitute a decent snack for Kotatsu, let alone a satisfying meal. The proud lynx was beginning to look at him with a hint of judgment in its feline eyes.
After two days of this humbling experience, Jerry concluded the problem wasn't his skill, but his location. He had been casting his line in the civilized, tourist-heavy parts of the island. On the morning of their third day, he made a decision. It was time to venture into the lawless zone.
With Kotatsu trotting faithfully by his side, Jerry made his way toward the groves numbered 1 through 29. The air here felt different—thicker, heavier with unspoken threats. The usual cheerful chatter of tourists and shoppers was replaced by a tense quiet. Even this early in the morning, when most of the area's dangerous "lazy snakes" were still asleep, the atmosphere was palpably unwelcoming. After a brief survey of the volatile territory, Jerry found a promising spot: a wide, calm river that flowed between the single-digit and double-digit groves. It was secluded, quiet, and felt teeming with potential.
As he began to set up his gear, a familiar notification chimed in his mind.
[Ding! Random Quest Triggered: Fishing in the Bubble Coral Islands.]
[Quest Description: The unique ecosystem of the Sabaody Archipelago is full of surprises. Make a truly noteworthy catch in this challenging environment.]
[Reward: 2x Daily Quest attribute rewards for one week & one (1) Surprise Treasure Chest.]
[Penalty for Failure: Administer ten (10) kisses to a mermaid.]
Jerry's eyebrows shot up. The reward was fantastic, but the penalty… the penalty was hilarious. A wide grin spread across his face. "Wuhu! Not bad at all," he chuckled, patting Kotatsu's head. "Looks like I picked the right spot. Today's going to be a good day."
The clear blue sky, fluffy white clouds, and warm sunshine certainly seemed to agree. He felt a surge of optimism as he skillfully baited his hook with a new lure he'd crafted, cast his line into the gentle current, and settled down on the riverbank. With one hand stroking Kotatsu's soft fur, he let his mind drift. The entire process was a seamless, practiced motion.
Jerry cherished these moments of tranquility. The quiet leisure of fishing was the perfect environment for him to relax and think. It was during these long, peaceful hours that he did his best work, mentally cataloging his system-granted abilities and devising new ways to combine them. He would run through countless combat scenarios in his head, refining his use of Fishman Karate and Jujutsu, ensuring that when the time came for a real battle or a friendly spar with Ace, his movements would be fluid and instinctive, not clumsy or hesitant.
He was deep in thought, picturing a new application for a water-based attack, when a sudden series of bubbles erupted from the surface right where his float bobbed. The disturbance was immediately followed by a muffled, frantic sound.
"Ah! Let me go! Let go of me, you bad guy!"
Jerry's attention snapped back to the river. A small head had just popped out of the water, glaring angrily in his direction from across the bank, sputtering and thrashing.
What is it now? he wondered with a sigh. Why do I always manage to hook the shadiest things?
Before he could process the situation, the sound of hurried footsteps and crashing undergrowth came from the grove nearby. "Don't even think about running away!" a rough voice shouted. "That collar is locked on tight! Be a good girl and this won't have to get painful!"
Jerry's eyes darted from the struggling girl in the water to the direction of the approaching noise. Though the details were unclear, the picture was coming together fast. The girl was tangled in his fishing line, and the men chasing her were the reason she was in the river in the first place.
Whatever the story was, he knew one thing for sure: he had to get her out of there. With a practiced flick of his wrist, he expertly manipulated the rod, using the line's tension to send the girl flying out of the water and toward his side of the riverbank.
"Aaaaaah!" she screamed as she was suddenly airborne.
Instinctively, Jerry reached out and caught the flying figure, his eyes widening in stunned confusion as he got a proper look. His catch was a young mermaid, looking no older than fifteen. Long, sea-blue hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and she wore a simple, light-green printed top. Around her neck was a thick, cruel-looking metal collar. She was thoroughly wrapped in his fishing line, the monofilament crisscrossing her body in a chaotic web.
At that exact moment, another ding sounded in his mind, signaling the quest's completion. Jerry barely registered it. He was too stunned, and then, a slow, strange laugh escaped his lips.
A real, honest-to-goodness highlight moment for any fisherman. He had done it. He had caught a mermaid. Top that, he thought with a surge of absurd pride. Who else can say they've done that?
"Who… who are you?" the little mermaid stammered, her eyes wide with fear. "What are you going to do?" Jerry's bizarre laughter was clearly not helping her feel safe.
He immediately sobered, clearing his throat to try and explain. But it was too late.
"Boy! That's our prey!" The team of pursuers burst from the forest. They were a rough-looking crew, quickly fanning out to surround Jerry, the mermaid, and the ever-watchful Kotatsu.
The man in the lead, a burly brute with a nasty scar across his chin, glared down at him. "Are you trying to pick a fight with the Bell Auction House?"
Jerry shot them an annoyed sideways glance. "Excuse me? I caught it, it's mine," he retorted, his tone dripping with indignation. "Are you seriously trying to steal my catch?"
"Hmph! You better look closer, pal," the leader sneered, cracking his knuckles menacingly. "See that thing around her neck? That's our slave collar! She belongs to us."
Jerry's gaze fell to the iron ring on the little girl's neck. He looked from the collar to her terrified face and pondered for a brief second. Then, he leaned in close to her.
"Don't be afraid," he whispered, so only she could hear. He then raised his hand and, before her horrified eyes could even register his intent, reached out and grabbed the collar.
"STOP! IT'LL EXPLODE!"
The leader, who had been watching with an arrogant smirk, suddenly went pale. His confident sneer vanished, replaced by a mask of pure terror as he shrieked and scrambled backward.
The reaction was instantaneous among his men. Their disciplined formation dissolved into chaos. Some dove to the ground, covering their heads. Others rolled away like panicked armadillos. One man, in his sheer terror, simply flung himself screaming into the river.
"What was that you said?"
Click.
With a sound no louder than a snapping twig, Jerry broke the collar and held the two pieces in his hand. He tilted his head, looking at the cowering group of slavers with genuine puzzlement.
Gently, he lifted the now-freed mermaid and placed her carefully on Kotatsu's back, giving the lynx's head a reassuring pat. Kotatsu let out a low growl, positioning itself protectively in front of her.
Without waiting for their answer, a look of dawning comprehension spread across Jerry's face. He started walking toward the trembling leader, a slight, wicked grin playing on his lips as he held up the broken device.
"Oh! This is yours, right?" he said cheerfully. "I'll give it back to you!"
"DON'T COME OVER!!!" the big man shrieked, throwing his hands up in a hysterical, desperate plea.