Jinbe's Resolve!

Fish-Man Island - Hard-Shell Tower

Sunlight pierces through the underwater ceiling, scattering onto the pristine white coral slabs, as if coating them with a layer of holy light.

Shirahoshi slowly stepped out of the Hard-Shell Tower, still a little unsteady, but it was the first time in many years that she had stepped out of that heavy door.

She stood outside the tower, gazing up at the long-lost sky, the azure light reflecting in her tearful eyes.

"So... this is what the outside world is like..."

"So... warm..."

Tears fell silently, reflecting the starlight on the sea.

Neptune and her three princely brothers surrounded her, speechless for a long time, their eyes filled with both relief and heartache.

"Shirahoshi... is finally free."

Roy stood not far away, silently watching this scene, his gaze softening for a moment.

Then, he slowly turned his head, his expression turned cold, and his gaze fell on Jinbe, who was standing silently to the side.

"Jinbe."

The sound wasn't loud, but it felt like a nail being driven into my heart.

Jinbe jolted, his back straightening, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

He stepped forward with his head bowed and asked in a deep voice, "Vice Admiral Roy... what are your orders?"

Roy narrowed his eyes, his tone emotionless yet undeniably authoritative: "Righteousness and compassion—"

"This is no longer a good thing for you right now."

Jinbe was taken aback by his words, his expression faltering. "What... do you mean by that?"

Roy raised his hand and casually pointed at Vander Decken IX, who was still bound and unconscious on the ground. "Don't tell me... you can't handle this kind of trash with your abilities?"

Jinbe remained silent for a moment, his brows furrowed, and said in a low voice, "... Indeed, with my abilities, I should have been able to deal with him long ago."

"But..."

Roy interrupted him, his tone icy. "And those idiots in Fish-Man District."

"I don't want to hear any more news about them 'inciting rebellion'."

"Fish-Man Island is now under the protection of the Navy."

"If you still want to fulfill Queen Otohime's wish and allow the Fish-Man Race to truly live in the sunlight, you must learn to interact with the human world."

"Instead of raising a bunch of maggots who fantasize about revenge and hate humanity."

Jinbe's expression grew increasingly serious, his fists clenched, and his eyes became extremely complex.

But the next moment, Roy's voice turned somber, and he casually uttered a sentence—

"By the way, Queen Otohime's assassination was not an accident."

"The killer is Hody Jones."

"What?!!"

Jinbe's pupils dilated Jinbe, and he looked as if he had been struck by lightning, taking a sudden step forward!

"What did you say?! That incident... wasn't it supposed to be a shooting by a passing human Pirate?!"

Roy glanced at him sideways and sneered, "Do you even believe that lie yourself?"

"Naval intelligence indicates that Hody Jones bribed human Pirates to set fire to the autograph box, and personally sniped Otohime while she was collecting autographs, also killing the human Pirates he hired."

"His hatred was deeply ingrained, long since consumed by poison and paranoia."

"Leaving those people in Fish-Man District is like planting a time bomb next to Shirahoshi."

Jinbe gritted his teeth, his face turned ashen, and his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"Hody... he actually..."

"He betrayed Queen Otohime... he betrayed the hopes of all his people!!"

Roy looked him straight in the eye, his tone icy. "I don't care what methods you use."

"I only care about the results."

"From this day forward, there can be no more internal strife on Fish-Man Island."

Don't let me down.

These words struck Jinbe's heart like a hammer blow.

After a few seconds of silence, he raised his head, his eyes more resolute than ever before, his voice as loud as a vow. "I understand."

"I will deal with Hody and his gang personally."

Roy nodded slightly, his tone finally softening a little. "Very good."

"That's more like a Trust Knight of the Sea."

Neptune listened to their conversation with a solemn expression.

Shirahoshi was still gazing at the sky in the distance, her face glistening with tears of freedom.

The following day, Fish-Man Island, Coral Hill

Seawater streamed down from the sky, its light refracting among the colorful corals, making the whole world seem like it was embedded in a dream.

Princess Shirahoshi sat gracefully on a giant pink seashell chair, her hands supporting her cheeks, her eyes fixed on the beautiful coral reefs and swimming fish before her, her gaze filled with wonder and joy.

"Mr. Roy! What's that sparkling thing?" she asked, pointing to a point of light moving in the water in the distance.

Roy turned his head and looked over, a slight smile playing on his lips, "Those are Coral Lightfish, rare creatures found only on Fish-Man Island."

Shirahoshi blinked her bright eyes. "So beautiful... it looks like a group of little stars dancing."

Luo leaned against the Reef behind him, arms crossed, and couldn't help but smile at the scene.

Not far away, Neptune and the three princes watched from afar, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.

"Shirahoshi... she can finally smile like a normal girl," Fukaboshi said softly.

"This is the first time in years that she's voluntarily stepped out of her Hard-Shell Tower." Ryuboshi were filled with tears.

Manboshi nodded emphatically, his expression filled with emotion. "All of this... is thanks to Vice Admiral Roy."

Meanwhile, within the World Government

A confidential document, handed over by Vice Admiral Roy, was slowly unfolded on the Five Elders' conference table.

Proposal for the Integration of Terrestrial Symbiosis on Fish-Man Island

The content includes key measures such as designating Fish-Man Island as a "special symbiotic zone" and establishing a "land-based sunlit relocation zone" in phases.

At the end of his proposal, Roy left only one sentence. "If world peace must come at the expense of the weak, then I would rather shake the foundations of the world."

In the end, in silence, the Five Elders tacitly approved the proposal.

The World Government announced that the "Fish-Man Island Land-Based Symbiosis Proposal" has been approved, and a sea-based transitional resettlement plan will be launched within the next five years.

Ever since the Navy's "Justice" flag was raised high on Fish-Man Island, Vice Admiral Roy publicly declared that "Fish-Man Island is under his personal protection" --

The world was shaken.

Pirate raids on Fish-Man Island have decreased by 90%!

The Big Mom Pirates have paused their pressure on Fish-Man Island!

The Underworld has also issued an order forbidding its subordinates from interfering in the affairs of Fish-Man Island!

Fish-Man Island is bustling again.

Shops that had been closed for a time reopened, and Fish-Man Race and Merfolk took to the streets, laughing and running with their children.

"Have you heard? The moment Vice Admiral Roy arrived, the entire seabed became peaceful!"

"Now even bounty hunters from the open sea dare not approach this area!"

"That's great... I can finally live in peace..."

"My goodness, the navy can be this reliable?"

The Fish-Man Race inhabitants, who were originally wary of the navy, are now beginning to truly accept the word "Justice".

In stark contrast, in the distance, a street remained gray and dilapidated.

Jinbe stood calmly at the Fish-Man District, gazing at the dilapidated walls, scattered graffiti, and angry eyes lurking in the shadows.

"Hody Jones... you bunch of idiots, you still couldn't see the situation clearly."

He took a deep breath, stepped in, his steps firm and powerful, heading straight for the central square, where he was quickly surrounded by the New Fish-Man Pirates.

"Hey! Who dares to trespass on our territory...?"

As the crowd parted, Hody Jones emerged from the darkness, his eyes bloodshot and a mocking smile on his face.

"Yo~ Isn't this Boss Jinbe? What brings you to inspect our 'dirty' place?"

Jinbe's expression was cold and his voice was like a hammer. "Hody, stop."

"Fish-Man Island has been reborn. Princess Shirahoshi has stepped out of the Hard-Shell Tower, and the people have regained their freedom."

"Vice Admiral Roy even won us the opportunity to return to living in the sunlight!"

Stop spreading hatred! Now is a chance to start afresh!

Hody's face darkened, then he threw his head back and burst into wild laughter. "New students?! Born from human charity?!"

"Are you now willing to be Roy's lackey?"

"Jinbe! You have betrayed the pride of the Fish-Man Race!!"

"It seems... you're beyond saving."

Jinbe said no more, his figure Flash, and he suddenly threw a punch!

"Fish-Man Karate - Shark Tile Fist!!"

"Bang--!"

A powerful punch sent Hody flying more than ten meters, crashing into the coral wall behind him!

"Cough--!" Hody coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground, convulsing.

Upon seeing this, the Four Chief Officers roared in unison, "Attack together!!"

"Whoosh--!"

Four figures rushed towards Jinbe!

Jinbe clasped his hands together and pressed down hard.

"Fish-Man Karate - Water Flow Dance!!"

A powerful surge of water pressure swept out like a torrent, sending the four people flying and crashing into a wall, where they collapsed unconscious!

"Crack--!"

The echo reverberated throughout Fish-Man District, even startling the remaining members of the gang hiding in the dark alleys, who fled in panic.

Hody struggled to his feet, his face filled with horror and resentment. "You... you dare to touch me... I am... the future of the Fish-Man Race!"

"Future?"

"You are a disgrace, a cancer!"

"And I am the one who cleans up the cancer."

Jinbe's tone was as heavy as a hammer, and he stomped down hard!

"Bang!!"

Hody's eyes rolled back, and he completely lost consciousness!

Fish-Man District has fallen silent.

Standing amidst the ruins, Jinbe gazed up at the sea's reflection in the sky, and finally made up his mind—

"The future of Fish-Man Island must not be disrupted."

"From this day forward, I will protect this peace in my own way."