Fish-Man Island
Just as Ace and Enel boarded their ship and left Onigashima to reunite with Sakazuki, another coated Warship was slowly traversing the ocean currents, heading towards Fish-Man Island under the azure dome.
Fish-Man Island, located 10,000 meters below the surface of the Holy Land Mary Geoise, is a necessary stop on the way to the New World. It is also the birthplace of most Fish-Man Race and Merfolk and is known as the "Undersea Paradise," a dreamlike paradise.
It was protected by "Whitebeard" for decades and maintained a facade of peace for a long time.
However, after Whitebeard's death in battle and the loss of his protective aura that shook the world, this blue island was suddenly plunged into a power vacuum.
To prevent widespread chaos, Jinbe, one of the Shichibukai, resolutely remained stationed on Fish-Man Island, striving to maintain order.
However, beneath the surface, where he could not reach, slave trading, plundering, smuggling, and Pirate battles were already raging.
The weak mermaid girl keeps disappearing, and ordinary mermaids are being robbed. Jinbe is heartbroken by this, but ultimately feels powerless to help.
Meanwhile, Charlotte Linlin of the Big Mom Pirates extended a helping hand to King Neptune, offering seemingly "merciful" terms: she would be willing to "protect" Fish-Man Island if it provided a massive amount of Desserts every month.
Neptune and Jinbe are discussing this matter repeatedly. If they agree, Fish-Man Island may be able to avoid the current disaster, but it will also mean that it will be completely brought under the control of the "Four Emperors" and become part of "Soul and Appetite".
Fish-Man Island, Ryugu Palace, Council Chamber
"Bang--!"
The heavy palace doors were suddenly pushed open, and a Fish-Man soldier, soaking wet, stumbled into the hall, his face filled with terror.
"Report! Vice Admiral Roy of the Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral has landed at Fish-Man Island Harbor!!"
"What?!" King Neptune abruptly stood up, slamming his scepter onto the floor with a thud, his pupils shrinking sharply.
Jinbe, standing nearby, also paled and jumped to his feet, his eyes filled with wariness. "It's that... man Pops defeated Whitebeard and Golden Lion?!"
What's he doing here?!
Fish-Man Island Harbor
"Splash--!"
A large, coated Warship broke through the water and docked in the Harbor.
The entire ship was shrouded in a tense and ominous atmosphere, plunging the once bustling Harbor into a deathly silence, and causing an uproar among the Pirates in the Harbor.
"Hey, hey—that's... Vice Admiral Roy?! That monster?!"
"Why are the Navy here at Fish-Man Island?! Weren't they saying only Big Mom and the Shichibukai were interested?!"
"Run!! Get out of there now--!"
The moment the Warships landed, chaos erupted at the dock, and panicked Pirates scattered like a tidal wave.
Roy's gaze remained calm, and he didn't even glance at them.
He simply raised his head slowly, looking at the towering, radiant Ryugu Palace in the distance.
A slight smile played on his lips. "Looks like... we've arrived just in time."
"Law, deal with all the Pirates still on Fish-Man Island..."
Luo's eyes narrowed, "ROOM!" His figure vanished instantly.
A moment later, in the Ryugu Palace Council Chamber
King Neptune said in a deep voice, "Vice Admiral General, may I ask what brings you here?"
Roy's smile vanished, his gaze sharpening. "I've heard that... things aren't very peaceful on Fish-Man Island lately?"
Jinbe stepped forward, his tone wary. "We'll handle the Fish-Man Island matter ourselves; the Navy doesn't need to interfere."
Roy, however, did not get angry. He simply replied calmly, "Is that so? So your consideration of accepting Big Mom's asylum... is also something you can 'handle yourself'?"
Neptune was shocked, his face changing drastically. "You... how did you know about this?!"
Roy didn't answer, only smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping over each of them, his tone leisurely yet carrying an invisible pressure:
"A large amount of Desserts every month in exchange for the 'protection' of Four Emperors... Sounds like a pretty good deal."
"But have you considered that once you accept it, Fish-Man Island will no longer be an 'independent' kingdom, but will become a vassal state under the rule of Pirates?"
"To become her 'Cake Farm,' 'Desserts Warehouse,' and 'Soul Contract Nation'..."
"So, what do you want to leave for future generations—hope or shackles?"
Jinbe gritted his teeth and retorted in a deep voice, "... That's still better than letting those mermaid girls be kidnapped on the streets right now!! I have no way out!!"
Roy's tone turned cold. "A stupid, worthless choice."
He whirled around, looking Neptune straight in the eye. "If you don't want to become the lackeys of the Four Emperors..."
"Then let's cooperate with the Navy and make Justice the sanctuary of Fish-Man Island!"
The entire room fell silent.
Neptune's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his hands gripped the armrests of the Throne so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"The Navy... or the Four Emperors?"
"But that's the man who defeated Whitebeard..."
The thought echoed repeatedly in his mind, tearing his will apart like ocean currents Impact rocks.
He subconsciously glanced at Jinbe beside him, hoping to find answers from this calm and reliable "Knight of the Sea," even just a determined look.
However, Jinbe's face was even paler than his at this moment.
This "Knight of the Sea" who has weathered countless storms had beads of sweat on his forehead, and his eyes revealed an unprecedented wavering and struggle.
"Jinbe... you're afraid too?"
Jinbe gritted his teeth, a trembling whisper from Hachi's terrified memories of the Sabaody Archipelago flashing through his mind—
"That brat with the Fire Fist... killed the Arlong..."
"The Arlong Pirates... were wiped out by Roy's brother..."
And now, the brother of the man who slew the Arlong Pirates stands before him: a true monster who defeated Whitebeard and Golden Lion!
Suddenly, Roy's cold gaze swept over us, like a blade skimming across the sea.
"Buzz--!"
An invisible, Haki descended like a mountain, freezing the air in the entire Council Chamber. Jinbe felt a tightness in his chest, his breath caught in his throat, and sweat instantly poured from his back!
"Such an overwhelming sense of oppression, this aura... even Whitebeard Pops might not have been able to achieve this..."
"This guy... is a real monster..."
Roy noticed Neptune's hesitation and waved his hand—
"Whoosh!"
Jinbe and all the guards vanished instantly, appearing outside the conference room the next moment!
"Wh... what?!" Jinbe's pupils contracted, he suddenly realized what was happening, and roared as he charged towards the door, "His Majesty Neptune!!"
However--
"ROOM."
A calm voice rang out, and a figure instantly appeared in front of the door.
Trafalgar Law, wielding the "Kikoku" sword, lightly tapped the ground with its scabbard as he stood blocking the gate. "Brother Roy will not harm the Fish-Man King."
"Just stay put."
"You!" Jinbe roared, throwing a heavy punch that covered his arm with Haki, as heavy as a mountain!
"Bang--!"
However, Luo parried it with his sword sheath, causing a loud bang and shaking the corridor. Jinbe was actually forced back two steps, leaving three arc-shaped scratches on the floor with his footsteps!
Jinbe was shocked. "This boy... he actually has such strength?!"
Meanwhile, Council Chamber—
Neptune stood alone as the figure slowly approached.
Roy's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority. "Fish-Man Island, there are only two choices."
"To become Big Mom's slave--"
"Still--"
He stopped, looked directly into Neptune's eyes, and said firmly, "I accept the Navy's protection."
"I will personally vouch for you so that you may return to the sunlight."
Neptune was jolted, a storm raging in his heart. "Wh... what?!"
"Back to... the sunlight?"
Roy nodded. "That's right."
"I will push the government to pass a bill recognizing the legal residency rights on Fish-Man Island and granting you Independent Self-Governing Status."
"Your descendants will no longer need to look up at the sun from the seabed, but will truly stand on the same earth as humankind."
"The beauty of mermaids should not be confined to the corners of the deep sea."
Neptune's hands trembled, his eyes widened, and he remained stunned for a long time.
Sunshine... land... freedom...
The scene that Queen Otohime had dreamed of countless times during her lifetime was now being depicted so vividly by this "outsider" before her.
He murmured to himself, "Otohime... did you hear that...?"
"Our children... may truly... have the chance to live in the sunlight..."
However, the next second, his expression turned serious, and his tone turned cold. "But... Vice Admiral."
"You're so generous... but what is your true purpose?"