OPTC Chapter 322: The Revolutionary Army's Invitation
"Super Transformation Mode!"
Facing an opponent like Hack, Shark Chili found himself struggling a little in his normal state. Determined not to embarrass Jinbei, he decided to activate his Super Transformation Mode.
The transformation completed in an instant. Shark Chili's height shot past two meters, his fists tightening as strength coursed through his body. He liked this feeling—powerful, solid—though for some reason, he suddenly had the urge to do laundry.
Hack, of course, had no intention of taking advantage of Shark Chili's brief distraction. He stood in a textbook Fishman Karate stance—one hand raised like a blade before him, the other drawn back into a fist at his waist. "Transformation, huh? As expected from a cyborg. I've heard that your power increases greatly after transforming. I'd like to see that for myself."
"My apologies," Shark Chili replied, mirroring Hack's stance. "I'll be fighting with everything I've got."
"Please—come at me."
Though both men were waist-deep in the sea, they moved as if on solid ground, rushing toward each other and throwing their charged punches.
"Fishman Karate: Four Thousand Tile True Punch!"
"Fishman Karate: Five Thousand Tile True Punch!"
Boom! The yellowish fist met the gleaming black metal one with a heavy crack, and both fighters were blasted backward across the waves like skipping stones.
"What terrifying strength," Hack muttered, rubbing his sore wrist. In terms of raw power, he was completely outmatched. His technique might give him a slight edge, but even that felt meager. He'd been training in Fishman Karate since childhood—how long had Shark Chili even been learning?
"As expected of Jinbei's friend," Shark Chili said. He could feel the other's mastery in every move. Even though he'd matched Hack's attack with the power of five thousand tiles, he was still a step behind in finesse.
They clashed again and again until Shark Chili's transformation time ran out. Neither could gain the upper hand.
Despite the long battle, Shark Chili wasn't exhausted, though Hack was clearly winded. It wasn't nearly as easy for him as sparring with Jinbei.
"Thank you for the guidance," Shark Chili said politely.
"I've learned much as well," Hack replied, flexing his numbed arm with mixed feelings. He knew his own limitations—no matter how hard he trained, his progress was slow. But Shark Chili… he was a rising star of Fishman Karate, blessed with both strength and talent. With time, he might even surpass Jinbei himself.
After exchanging a few more words and techniques, the two climbed aboard the Amber.
"You must be Mr. Zhang Da Ye," Hack greeted politely. "Sorry for the sudden visit."
"Hello, Mr. Hack. You came from Fishman Island, right? How are Jinbei and Queen Otohime doing?" Zhang Da Ye asked.
Artoria poured tea from her pot, setting out cups for everyone.
"Jinbei's in great shape," Hack said. "With him protecting the island, many troublemakers have been deterred. The people are very grateful. He also asked me to pass along his greetings."
Jinbei had been one of the Seven Warlords for quite some time now. Though once controversial, his honorable actions and defense of Fishman Island had earned him a heroic reputation—almost like Crocodile's in Alabasta, though for all the right reasons.
"Queen Otohime is still gathering signatures for her cause," Hack continued. "I hear she's making good progress, though I rarely get to speak with her." As a member of the Revolutionary Army, he avoided contact with royal figures whenever possible.
"I also met Mr. Tom, said to be the world's greatest shipwright. He spoke very highly of all of you."
"So Tom's back on Fishman Island?" Zhang Da Ye smiled. "We just happened to meet him by chance."
Nearby, Tom tilted his head at the mention of another Tom, then, growing bored of the conversation, wandered off to fish. Fishmen weren't edible, after all.
Most of the others had either been to Fishman Island or fought Fishmen before, but for Wendy and Carla, this was their first time seeing one. They sat at the table, wide-eyed with curiosity.
Perona, unimpressed by the adults' talk, chose not to sit with Wendy for once. Shark Chili stayed with them, chatting amiably with Hack.
Artoria sat quietly in the corner with her tea and snacks. She could happily stay in one place for hours like that. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that Hack's visit had more purpose than a friendly spar.
Rui Meng Meng, Ye Yan, and Brook dropped by briefly to greet the newcomer before returning to their own tasks.
Hack had clearly done his homework before arriving—he knew nearly everything about the Amber crew, even their recent encounter with the Kingdom of Bridges.
The papers had reported that the Amber Group had helped the Marines and World Government defeat pirates, though over a thousand enslaved workers had escaped. Hack didn't believe that had been a coincidence.
When the topic came up, Zhang Da Ye insisted the laborers had escaped on their own and denied any involvement—no matter how much Hack praised him for saving civilians.
"I just hunt pirates," Zhang Da Ye said. "No hidden motives—just bounties."
"Regardless of your intent, you've freed over a thousand innocent people," Hack said earnestly. "And the Golden Lion incident, too—you fought him to protect villagers, didn't you? And on Sampleis Island, you stopped Buggy's pirates and saved everyone there. Your actions are admirable!" His gaze burned with conviction. "Have you ever thought about saving even more people?"
I did all that? Zhang Da Ye sipped his tea, inwardly sighing. So that was what this was about. This guy really knew how to take his time—an hour of small talk before showing his true hand.
"Saving more people…" Zhang Da Ye said slowly. "If I see something wrong, I'll probably try to help. If I can."
Hack's eyes lit up. "Then, what are your plans next?"
"Keep traveling, of course. Catch some pirates, maybe a few crooks. Oh, right—have you heard anything about the Arlong Pirates lately?"
"Arlong?" Hack thought for a moment. "I heard he split from Jinbei and formed his own crew. Not sure where he went. Are you looking for him?"
Zhang Da Ye nodded. "Yeah. I heard he hates humans. If left unchecked, he might harm civilians. I want to find him first—and stop him."
Hack froze. He knew Arlong's power level, and frankly, Shark Chili alone could probably flatten the entire crew. Why was someone like Zhang Da Ye even worrying about him?
"Sorry, I don't have solid information," Hack said. "But I heard he went to Paradise, not the New World."
"Figures," Zhang Da Ye sighed. "He doesn't have the guts for the New World anyway."
Hack pressed on. "But even if you save some people, that won't stop the suffering. If the root cause isn't addressed, more pirates will rise—and more innocents will suffer!"
"What root cause?" Shark Chili asked, humoring him.
"It's the World Government," Hack said firmly. "And the Celestial Dragons behind them! Under their rule, common people can never live happily. That's why the world needs people who fight for the people—who fight to change it!"
The Revolutionary Army wasn't strong yet, and recruiting was risky. But Hack had observed the Amber Group for weeks and trusted their character.
"Mr. Zhang Da Ye," Hack said earnestly, "I believe you care about ordinary people. On behalf of our leader, I invite you to join the Revolutionary Army—to fight for all those who suffer!"
Artoria looked up, surprised. "The Revolutionary Army?" She'd heard Zhang mention them before, but this was her first time seeing one in person.
Wendy and Carla leaned on the table, fascinated. "Fighting to save everyone in the world? Sounds amazing."
"So you're a Revolutionary, Mr. Hack?" Shark Chili asked. "Isn't it risky to reveal that?"
"It's fine," Hack said. "Jinbei spoke highly of you all. Even if you refuse, I trust you won't expose me." His gaze returned to Zhang Da Ye. "I truly hope you'll join us."
Zhang looked around the table. "What do you all think?"
"You decide," Artoria said. She almost mentioned her worries about food—revolutionary camps probably didn't serve fine meals—but bit her tongue. If all else failed, Tom could cook.
"I'll go wherever you go," Wendy said.
Carla nodded. "We're training to grow stronger, after all. Grandeeney asked you to look after Wendy, so it's your call."
"I don't mind either," Shark Chili said. "But think carefully. What they're aiming for—it's not something that'll be done in a year or two. Could take decades. By then, who knows where we'll all be."
Zhang froze. He'd nearly forgotten—everyone here had their own goals. When they achieved them, they might return to their worlds. Would they even see each other again?
If they all joined, with their talent, they'd climb ranks fast—maybe even run the army someday. But what if, right before the big revolution, half of them vanished back to their worlds? That would be a disaster.
The thought of separation made Zhang's chest ache. He wasn't ready for that—not yet.
"Tom will stick with you," Shark Chili added. "Rui Meng Meng and Ye Yan probably will too. As for Brook and Perona, well… we can guess."
Brook's goals were simple—find Laboon, and… well, underwear. After seeing Laboon again, he'd probably stay with him. He was already in his seventies; retirement was overdue.
Perona, on the other hand, only cared about avoiding homework, collecting cute plushies, and eating snacks. She did have one other dream—hanging Zhang and Ye Yan upside down for a good beating. Joining a global revolution? Yeah, that wasn't in her rulebook.
That settled it. Zhang Da Ye smiled apologetically. "I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I'm more of a go-with-the-flow type. Saving or changing the world—that's not really my thing."
Hack's eyes widened. "But you've done so much good already—"
"Yeah," Zhang said quietly. "I've done a lot—caught pirates, saved people. But that's just because I happened to be there, and I could help.
If I had to describe myself, I'd say I'm a decent person. But not a noble one. If I see someone being chased by pirates, I'll step in. But if I see an old lady trying to cross the street… I might not."
Truth be told, aside from Goodman's family on Sabaody, Zhang didn't feel much attachment to the ordinary people of this world. Risking his life for them? Probably not.
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