Chapter 38: Kon's Outburst

"Ah, Nami, you have returned and with some friends from looks of it," Arlong said, his sharp teeth glinting as he spotted her. He ignored the destroyed wall and other humans that came with her.

He was more relieved that Nami had returned to him. And with her, he could pay the Rear admiral. He needed the navy support to keep running his operations in East Blue. He wanted to avoid getting the attention of an Admiral who would kill him in seconds.

Kaede's eyes brightened as he realized the orange-haired girl was Nami, the one they'd just discussed.

Arlong glanced at the damaged wall, then at Luffy and the other humans. "Why did you destroy the wall? You know how expensive it was to built it? No matter, I would deal with you later. Nami, I have decided to free your village if you manage to give me 50 million berries right now."

Nami's face brightened for a second before tightening. 'There's no way he would have reduced the price. He is too greedy and cruel for that. Instead, he would have increased the price rather than reduce it. Something must have happened, and he needs the money urgently.'

"Nami is not giving you anything, Shark nose! Gum Gum Pistol!" Luffy shouted, his fist elongating and slamming into Arlong, sending him crashing through a building.

Kaede raised an eyebrow, mumbling, "A devil fruit user? Looks like a Paramecia. How unexpected." Nezumi, eyes wide with fear, ducked behind the table.

Kon's gaze locked onto the justice coats worn by Kaede and Nezumi, then swept over the Marines and Fish-Men scattered around Arlong Park.

His small frame trembled with anger as Arlong, unfazed, walked back from the wreckage as if nothing had happened. He looked as if he did not take any damage from the attack.

Kon stepped forward, moving toward the two high ranking Marine officers. He looked up at Kaede, who towered a foot taller, and Nezumi, his eyes blazing. "You two… you disgust me."

Arlong scoffed, "Huh, what are you blabbering about, human? Now get out—"

"Let my vice captain talk shark face, Gum Gum Pistol!" Luffy interrupted, sending Arlong flying back through the building again with another powerful punch.

Kon continued, his voice slow but burning with fury. "Arlong is a tyrant who bleeds villages dry. You both are so-called 'protectors of justice'—yet your hands are stained darker than any pirate's I've ever met. Marines… supposed to be the shield of the innocent. Pirates… supposed to be the threat they stand against. And yet here you are, shoulder to shoulder, counting the same blood-money while children cry in the streets you swore to protect."

Kon remembered the children with fearful eyes when he walked towards the Arlong Park. The children who should be playing with freedom just like when he was a kid.

He remembered crying when he was not allowed to play for a day by his mother as a punishment. He could not think how much the kids would have cried for not playing for years. The kids might have dreamt of becoming Marines to surve justice but their heroes were also responsible for their situation.

He took a step closer, his small fists clenched. "You don't even fight for your ideals—you've sold them for a pouch of coins. Justice? You've twisted it into a tool to fill your pockets. Heh… you two really make me sick."

Kon's voice grew louder, his anger spilling over. "Marines are supposed to protect people. Pirates like me are supposed to fight them. That's how I always thought it worked! But you… you're like some gross soup where all the bad ingredients mixed together. You're both supposed to hate each other, but instead you're here sharing money like best buddies while the people here are starving!"

He gestured toward the villages they'd passed. "You think I didn't see the villagers as I came here? No smiles. No laughter. Just fear. I hate that look. It's the opposite of a party."

His eyes gleamed with passion. "And you know what? I love parties. I love fun. I love when people can eat as many sweets as they want, dance all night, and shout so loud they wake up the seagulls! But you two, along with Arlong—you're sucking all the joy out of this place just so you can eat your fancy food and count your piles of treasure."

"What's the point of having power if you don't use it to make life better for everyone? Don't you like having friends? Don't you like laughing until your stomach hurts? Or are you just so full of yourselves that you forgot what it feels like to be free?"

"You're taking away people's freedom. Their right to smile. And that's something I can't ignore."

Kaede was bored out of his mind as he listened to the speech. He tried to interrupt Kon. "Listen brat..."

Kon's voice rose cutting him, "Since you can't give justice… I'll give you one! My kind of justice! The kind that makes the weak feel safe, the kind that makes bullies run scared, the kind where everyone gets to eat meat until they can't move and still have room for dessert!"

"So listen up—I don't care if you're a Marine, a Fish-Man, or some rich idiot with a badge. If you're stopping people from laughing and living free, then I'll fight you until you can't move!"

"And after I'm done, I'm throwing the biggest party this island's ever seen! Everyone's invited… except you two and Arlong, scumbags!"

With that, Kon moved his hands in a circle, then spread his palms to the sides, releasing a massive burst of air in all directions. The gust roared, sending Marines and Fish-Men flying, their bodies tumbling across the park.