Pursuers and a Fork in the Road

At the harbor of Hachinosu, in the early morning, the fog had not yet dissipated, and the sun had just risen above the horizon, casting long shadows on the wooden planks of the dock.

Lin Yuan stood at the end of the dock, with Bullet and King beside him. Kaido leaned against the ship's railing, gnawing on meat. Ginny ran out of the Castle with a notebook in her hand and shoved a folded piece of paper into Lin Yuan's hand. "I've reconfirmed the coordinates for Fish-Man Island. Do you still have the mark you left last time?"

"Spatial Perception can directly lock onto the target."

Are you sure you don't need a boat?

"I'll open the door to go through; I don't need a boat. The same goes for coming back."

Ginny glanced at Bullet and Jhin: "Is it enough for you to take the two of them?"

"Enough. We're going to Fish-Man Island to negotiate, not to fight."

Kaido swallowed the meat. "What about me? Can't you just open the door and send me to Wano Country?"

"Take a boat. Entering Wano Country openly through the port will be more effective than showing up suddenly. You are now the acting shogun of Wano Country. If you enter through the port, the samurai will at most be unwelcoming, but they won't attack you directly."

Kaido, then slung the Iron Club over his shoulder. "Alright. I'll go check the status of the Pluton seal first, then see if Oden and his gang left anything behind."

Lin Yuan raised his hand and opened a door in front of him. Behind the door was deep blue seawater and a faint light—the bubble walls of Fish-Man Island were faintly visible through the crack in the door, and the light shining through the water refracted into tiny blue specks of light, which fell on the wooden planks of the dock.

"Bullet, Jhin, let's go."

The three people walked through the door, which closed behind them.

Huijin stood by the window on the second floor of the Castle, looking at the closed door. The sea breeze blew in through the window, ruffling her loose hair. She said nothing, turned, and walked deeper into the corridor. Ginny passed by her. "Aren't you going?"

Lin Yuan asked me to stay behind.

You want to go?

Huijin didn't stop. "It's the same wherever we stay. Fish-Man Island is for negotiation, not fighting."

Ginny watched her figure disappear at the end of the corridor, then glanced down and wrote in her notebook, "Lunarian. Quiet. Quite aloof, isn't she?"

The air on Fish-Man Island was much more humid than on Hachinosu, carrying the distinctive salty smell of the sea, but with an added layer of scent reminiscent of coral and sweetness. The three appeared at a street corner near the harbor, just in time to avoid the sight of the patrolling guards. Fishermen were unloading their cargo on the dock, carrying seaweed and shells. A young female Fish-Man looked up, holding a basket of conch shells, and froze for a few seconds, almost dropping the basket. "Captain Lin... Captain Lin Yuan?!"

Lin Yuan glanced at her. "Shira."

Shira put the basket down and ran over. "How did you get here? I didn't even see the ship!"

"They came straight in as soon as the door opened."

"King Neptune said you would return—he was right," Shira said with a smile. "The King is at the palace, Queen Otohime is there too. I'll lead the way."

"OK"

Shira walked ahead, her steps light and quick. Bullet followed behind Lin Yuan, his gaze sweeping over the coral buildings on both sides of the street and the schools of fish swimming overhead. Jin brought up the rear, the golden flames behind him almost invisible in the sunlight of Fish-Man Island.

Bullet said in a low voice, "This place is more lively than the last time I was here."

"Neptune has been pushing for trade with humans," Jhin said, "And it's more open than before."

Is it useful?

"At least the people of Fish-Man Island know that there are humans outside, and they're not here to capture them."

Bullet didn't ask any more questions.

Ryugu Palace Neptune sat on his throne, with Queen Otohime beside him. Their gazes fell on Lin Yuan, carrying a sense of confirmation.

Neptune: "You arrived faster than I expected."

"Haha, I didn't expect it to come so soon."

Neptune was silent for a moment. "You went through the gates to the Final Island?"

"They're inside."

"Then you've seen what Joy Boy left for the world."

"Um"

Queen Otohime asked softly, "That promise... is it still valid?"

Lin Yuan looked at her. "Yes, but the agreement isn't what you think. What Joy Boy failed to deliver on, we now have to deliver ourselves."

Neptune raised his hand from the armrest. "What do you want Fish-Man Island for?"

"We don't need Fish-Man Island to send troops. We need Fish-Man Island to speak up at the last minute—to tell the world which side Fish-Man Island is on. Not now, but when. Once we're ready, you just need to say a word."

Neptune remained silent for a long time before looking at Queen Otohime. Otohime nodded slightly.

Neptune turned to Lin Yuan: "I can make Fish-Man Island speak out. But there's one condition—if the World Government retaliates after Fish-Man Island speaks out, you must open the gate to rescue them. No matter when."

Lin Yuan didn't hesitate. "Okay."

Neptune leaned back in his chair. "Now tell me, what exactly is Joy Boy's agreement?"

Lin Yuan: "Eight hundred years ago, Joy Boy promised Fish-Man Island that he would bring them to live on the surface. He didn't keep his promise. Not because he didn't want to, but because the Ancient Kingdom was destroyed. He entrusted Fish-Man Island to those who came after him."

Who came after them?

"They are people who yearn for freedom."

Queen Otohime's fingers gently tightened around the hem of her skirt.

Lin Yuan stood on the high terrace of the Ryugu Palace, watching the light of Fish-Man Island —the seven-colored rays refracted by the bubble walls covering the entire city. Bullet leaned against a pillar, wiping a piece of metal. "Finished talking?"

"We've finished talking."

"Has Fish-Man Island agreed to take sides?"

"I agree."

Jin stood on the other side, looking at the bubble wall above him. "Where to next?"

"Let's go back to Hachinosu first."

Bullet put the metal sheet away. "Let's go then."

Lin Yuan took one last look at the light of Fish-Man Island, then opened a door. Behind the door was the sky above Hachinosu's port. "Let's go."

The three people went through the door.

Mary Geoise, Room of Authority. All Five Elders are present, and the CP0 report spread out on the table covers most of the surface—abnormal fluctuations in the Final Island sea, the appearance of the Void, the battle report of the two CP0 pursuing ships being repelled, and the record of Garp accompanying them but not taking action.

Saint Saturn's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear. "They have already reached the Final Island."

Saint Mars tapped his finger on the document. "This means they know the truth about the Ancient Kingdom, D's mission, and the location of the Ancient Weapons."

Saint Warcury: "The news must not be allowed to spread. They must die before the news spreads."

Nusjuro: "Target?"

Saint Saturn: "Hachinosu, and Lin Yuan himself."

Saint Shepherd Ju Peter: "What did Kong say?"

Saint Saturn: "Kong is already mobilizing troops. Sengoku is leading the charge."

Where's Garp?

Saint Saturn paused for a moment, then said, "He's been acting strangely ever since he returned from the Final Island. He didn't directly disobey orders, but he also didn't volunteer for battle. Let's bypass him for now and let Sengoku take full command."

Nusjuro: "Buster Call. Activate it directly in the name of Mary Geoise."

No one objected.

At the Marine Headquarters port, warships were departing one after another, their sails billowing in the wind, flags on their masts fluttering in the sea breeze. Sengoku stood at the bow of the Flagship, behind him a formation of ten warships, their cannons already loaded with ammunition, and the decks filled with soldiers awaiting orders. A soldier jogged over to report, "Sengoku Admiral, the fleet is ready. Target: Hachinosu."

"Let's go." As the voice of the Sengoku faded, the sails billowed in the sea breeze, and the fleet sailed out of the harbor.

Crane stood beside him. "Are you sure Lin Yuan is on Hachinosu?"

"It's alright if he's not here. Let's surround Hachinosu first. He'll naturally run into us when he comes back," Sengoku said. "Where's Garp?"

Tsuru glanced at him. "Still at headquarters. He said he was tired."

Sengoku paused for a moment. "What did he see?"

"Have no idea."

The Sengoku remained silent.

Garp sat in his room, an old document in front of him—a wanted poster for the Roger Pirates. The paper was yellowed and the edges were curled. Roger's photo was printed on it, smiling arrogantly. Garp looked at it for a long time, then closed the document, picked up a senbei on the table, took a bite, chewed it twice, and swallowed it.

"Roger, the thing you've been searching for all your life... I've seen it too. What do you plan to do with it?"

No one answered. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

In the Intelligence Room on Hachinosu, Ginny made a circle with her finger, her eyes gleaming with purple light. Her gaze swept across the sea, skimming the water, and landed in the direction of Marine Headquarters. Her eyes stopped on the black outlines of the warships—ten ships, neatly arranged in formation, sailing at full speed towards Hachinosu.

Ginny lowered her fingers. "Has Jhin come back yet?"

Moria poked his head out from the doorway. "Didn't see him. But Lin Yuan is back."

Where?

"Pier."

Ginny strode out of the Intelligence Room, walked down the corridor through the Castle, and rushed down the steps to the dock. Lin Yuan was walking out of the door, with Bullet and Jin following behind.

Ginny: "The navy has been mobilized. Sengoku is leading a fleet of ten warships. Their destination is Hachinosu."

Lin Yuan closed the door. "How long will it take?"

"Two days."

"The matter of Fish-Man Island is settled. What about Kaido's side?"

"No news yet. His ship should have just arrived in Wano Country."

Lin Yuan was silent for a moment, then said, "Prepare for battle. Set up defenses. The harbor's Waterways are narrow, warships can't get in, but they'll land in small boats. Jin, you'll be on high-altitude surveillance. Bullet, you'll guard the front of the harbor. Kuma will be at the back of the harbor, and Moria and Inazuma will patrol the edge of the island."

Jhin: "What can you prepare in two days?"

"Enough for defense. Enough to wait for Kaido to return," Lin Yuan said. "And enough to let Roger know it's time to make a move."

Ginny: "Should we inform Whitebeard?"

"No rush. Let's wait until Kaido returns."

Lin Yuan walked past her and headed towards the Castle.

Ginny stood on the pier, looking out at the sea. There was nothing in the distance, but she knew that ten warships would appear there in two days.

(End of Chapter 102)