Fish-Man Island: Sea Forest

After waiting at the port for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, two squads of Fish-Man soldiers marched in from the end of the street. The leader was a burly Fish-Man wearing silver armor, carrying a trident, and his steps were neat and powerful.

He stopped in front of Lin Yuan and saluted. "Human, King Neptune requests your presence. Please follow us to the Ryugu Palace."

Shira whispered, "His Majesty the King must want to thank you in person."

Kaido took the Iron Club off his shoulder. "Just thanking me is enough? Aren't you going to treat me to a meal?"

The soldier, without batting an eye, said, "His Majesty the King has prepared a banquet; we cordially invite you all to attend."

Kaido grinned. "That's alright."

Lin Yuan nodded. "Lead the way."

The residents lining the streets of Fish-Man Island parted to observe the group of humans with curiosity. Some stood at their doorways peering out, while others peeked out of their windows. A Fish-Man child tried to run closer to get a better look, but his mother pulled him back, giving him a quiet scolding. The child retreated into the house, leaving only half his head sticking out, his bright eyes fixed on the outsiders.

Shira walked beside the group and said softly, "It's rare to see so many people together on Fish-Man Island. They... aren't used to humans."

"I understand," Lin Yuan said.

"But word has spread that you saved Shira," Shira said with a hint of pride. "They fear you, but they are also grateful to you."

Bullet scoffed. "Fear mixed with gratitude is the easiest way to run into trouble."

"No, with King Neptune here, no one will dare cause trouble."

Located in the center of Fish-Man Island, the Ryugu Palace is a magnificent palace built of giant corals and seashells, glowing pink under the bubble light.

Neptune sat on the throne, a burly man draped in royal robes and wearing a golden crown. His red beard reached his chest, and he held a trident in his hand. Beside him stood Queen Otohime, gentle and dignified, with a calm gaze. The three young princes hid behind their mother, the youngest of whom was clutching a shark toy, only peeking out with half his head, timidly observing the newcomer.

Neptune's voice was deep and resonant. "Humans. I heard you rescued my fellow Fish-Man Island from Sabaody Archipelago?"

"Yes, we stopped by Fish-Man Island on the way," Lin Yuan said.

"On the way?" Neptune raised an eyebrow slightly. "From Sabaody Archipelago to Fish-Man Island, there's a ten-thousand-meter-deep seabed between them. Your 'on the way' is quite a distance."

Kaido interjected, "Someone tried to capture her at that auction, so we just happened to beat up Celestial Dragons."

Neptune's expression changed. "You attacked Celestial Dragons?"

"I hit it," Bullet said, his tone as flat as if he were remarking on the nice weather.

Neptune was silent for a moment. He looked at Lin Yuan, then at Kaido and Bullet, and finally his gaze settled on King and Huijin —the features of the Lunarian could not escape his eyes.

"Humans fought the Celestial Dragons, rescued the Fish-Men, and then came to Fish-Man Island." Neptune's voice deepened. "What do you want?"

"Two things," Lin Yuan said. "First, the Poneglyphs of Fish-Man Island and the Sea Forest. Second, an alliance."

"Alliance?"

"If Fish-Man Island runs into trouble, contact me. I'll help," Lin Yuan said. "I need a favor from Fish-Man Island, and the right to pass through Fish-Man Island waters."

Neptune stared at Lin Yuan for a long time. "What makes you think you can help Fish-Man Island? What can a human pirate like you do underwater?"

Lin Yuan didn't answer directly. He raised his hand and opened a small door in the air in front of Neptune —on the other side of the door was his own alternate dimension, a void of darkness. Then he closed the door and withdrew his hand.

"I can open the door. I can be there anytime."

Neptune's gaze lingered on the vanished door for a long time. Then he leaned back in his chair, his voice softening slightly. "The Sea Forest does indeed have two Poneglyphs. One is Joy Boy's apology, in blue. The other is the red Road Poneglyphs. Which one do you want?"

"I want both," Lin Yuan said. "Make rubbings. Don't take the originals."

Neptune squinted. "Do you know what's written on that blue piece of paper?"

"Joy Boy's apology. He failed to fulfill his promise to Fish-Man Island eight hundred years ago."

"Since you already know, why do you still want to expand it?"

Lin Yuan looked at him. "Hahaha, there aren't many things that can be called Poneglyph. It's not a bad idea to make a copy and take it back for your collection. You won't lose anything."

Neptune remained silent for a long time. Queen Otohime walked gently to his side and whispered a few words. Neptune listened, his gaze lingering on Lin Yuan for a long time, before finally nodding slowly.

"Okay. You can go to the Sea Forest. Both areas can be developed. But don't talk about the blue content."

"I won't tell anyone, I won't spread it," Lin Yuan said.

Neptune stood up, his trident tapping on the floor. "But since we're here, let's eat first. The feast on Fish-Man Island is no less impressive than anything on land."

Kaido's eyes lit up.

The banquet was held in the side hall of the Ryugu Palace, with a long table filled with dishes specializing in Fish-Man Island — Sea Kings meat skewers, deep-sea fish sashimi, jelly-like desserts that glowed with a pale blue light, coral-flavored thick soup, and dozens of other dishes whose names I didn't know.

The mermaid chef in charge of serving the dishes was a chubby uncle with a colorful little fish the size of a palm on his head. As he arranged the dishes, he enthusiastically introduced them, "This is deep-sea fish sashimi, it melts in your mouth! This is coral soup, it'll refresh you! This is glowing jelly, kids love it!"

Kaido had already eaten five skewers of grilled meat, with sauce still smeared on his lips. "This meat is much better than the one from Sabaody!"

"You think everything tastes delicious," Bullet said, but still reached for another skewer.

"It was delicious to begin with. You ate it and said 'it was okay'? It was clearly delicious."

Bullet took a bite, chewed it, and said, "... It's actually not bad."

Queen Otohime sat at the table, smiling as she watched them eat, "The ingredients on Fish-Man Island are all unique to the deep sea; you really can't find them on land. Please eat more."

The youngest Prince Manboshi, clutching a shark plush toy, hid behind his mother, peeking out with half his head and staring intently at Huijin's wings for a long time. Finally, he mustered his courage, ran up to Huijin, and looked up to ask, "You... is that black thing behind you a real wing?"

Huijin looked down at him without saying a word.

Fukaboshi was startled by her silence and took a half step back, but didn't run. Huijin was silent for a moment, then the black wings on his back unfolded slightly before retracting.

"Really," she said.

Fukaboshi's eyes lit up even more. "So cool! Even cooler than a shark's fin!"

Huijin's lips twitched slightly—a rare, almost imperceptible smile.

Neptune, seated at the head of the table, had been watching Lin Yuan closely. He raised his glass. "Lin Yuan, you said Fish-Man Island can contact you. How?"

Lin Yuan took something out of his pocket— Den Den Mushi specially made by Ginny —and handed it to Neptune: "From now on, we'll communicate through this. If anything happens, just contact us via Den Den Mushi, and we'll be there as soon as possible."

Neptune took the Den Den Mushi, looked at it, and put it in his pocket. "Okay. Fish-Man Island owes you a favor. I'll use it if I run into trouble in the future."

After the meal, Shira waited at the entrance of the Ryugu Palace. She had changed into clean clothes and washed her face; her eyes were still a little red, but she seemed much better than before. Seeing Lin Yuan and the others emerge, she smiled, "His Majesty the King has agreed to let you go to the Sea Forest?"

"Agreed," Lin Yuan said.

"Then I'll lead the way. The Sea Forest is on the southeast side of Fish-Man Island; it'll take a while to walk there."

The Sea Forest is part of an underwater ruin. Along the way are glowing corals and ancient shipwrecks. The further you go in, the dimmer the light becomes and the quieter it gets.

Shira stopped at the entrance to the Sea Forest: "This is all I can take you. It's Holy Land inside; people from Fish-Man Island can't just go in."

Lin Yuan nodded. "Then wait outside for a moment."

Lin Yuan, Kaido, Bullet, King, Huijin, and the others entered the Sea Forest. In the center of the forest, two enormous stone tablets stood side by side in an open space. The blue tablet was on the left, its surface covered with moss and coral, engraved with ancient characters, and had a crack along its edge from which tiny white corals grew. The red tablet was on the right, its surface smooth as a mirror, the characters clearly visible, and emitting a faint red glow.

Huijin stopped before the blue stone tablet, his gaze grave. "Joy Boy... what is his connection to our Lunarian?"

Jin stood beside her. "I don't know. Go back and ask Ginny."

Lin Yuan walked to the red stone tablet, took out rubbing paper and a charcoal pencil, and gently rubbed the surface of the tablet. His movements were skilled and fluid. After finishing the red rubbing, he put away the rubbing paper, turned around and walked to the blue stone tablet, and did the same.

Kaido squatted down beside him and said, "Didn't you say you wouldn't touch anything blue?"

"I'm not saying we won't develop it, I mean we won't research it. We can take it back to Ginny; whether she looks at it or not is her business."

Kaido: "... You really know how to talk in circles."

Lin Yuan ignored him. After finishing the rubbings, he folded the two sheets of paper, put them in his pocket, and turned around. "I'm leaving."

Huijin took one last look at the blue stone tablet and followed.

On the way back, Shira led them through the busiest streets of Fish-Man Island.

"This is the Manatee Bakery. Their bread is the best on the entire Fish-Man Island," Shira said, pointing to a small stall. "This is deep-sea jelly. Eating it will make you glow—not actually glow, but your skin will give off a slight sheen for a while."

Kaido had already bought three deep-sea jellies, and he was eating them one after another, exclaiming, "Oh my god... delicious!"

"Everything you eat tastes good," Bullet said.

Huijin bought a cup of coral tea and sipped it slowly. Jin, standing next to her, also bought a cup, took a sip, and said, "It's alright."

All you can say is "it's alright".

"It's alright, it's alright."

Huijin didn't speak again, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

As they passed Fish-Man District, Shira said, "That's Fish-Man District, where many orphans live. There's a little brat Jinbe who's only three years old, but he's already the eldest."

Lin Yuan looked in the direction she pointed. On an open space at the street corner, a blue-skinned, stocky Fish-Man child was fighting three children a size older than him. He took them down one by one with swift, decisive blows. After finishing, he dusted off his hands, put his hands on his hips, and asked, "Who else?"

No one answered. The three older children ran away.

Lin Yuan looked at the child, a slight smile playing on his lips, "He'll be a big shot someday."

Kaido: "Oh ho ho... So young and already so strong, this kid's not bad."

"Haha, he took on three people at the age of three, what will he be like in the future?" Bullet said.

Jinbe seemed to sense someone watching him, turned his head, and met Lin Yuan's gaze. He put his hands on his hips, tilted his head back, and had a "what are you looking at?" expression on his face, but there was no hostility, only curiosity.

Lin Yuan didn't walk over, nor did he say anything. He looked at it for three seconds, then turned and left.

Jinbe watched his retreating figure, scratched his head, and ran off to find new playmates.

Upon returning to the Ryugu Palace, Neptune and Queen Otohime saw him off together.

"Fish-Man Island owes you a favor," Neptune said. "If Fish-Man Island needs anything, please feel free to ask."

Lin Yuan nodded. "Haha, if anything happens on Fish-Man Island in the future, you can contact us."

"If you ever find Laugh Tale, remember to tell Fish-Man Island —someone has fulfilled Joy Boy's promise from eight hundred years ago."

Lin Yuan was silent for a moment, then said, "Okay."

Shira ran up from behind, holding a small pendant made of seashells, and stuffed it into Lin Yuan's hand. "I made this myself. It contains the sunshine and seawater of Fish-Man Island. If you carry it with you, you won't get lost."

Lin Yuan looked at the small conch shell in his hand; its light blue shell was smooth and warm, with a faint luster inside. He tied the conch pendant to his belt, hanging it alongside the Seastone fragments. "Thanks."

Shira smiled, but tears streamed down her face.

The Void sailed out of the bubble barrier of Fish-Man Island, the resin membrane re-wrapped the hull, and sank into the deep sea. Shira stood on the dock waving to them, while Kaido, perched on the stern, shouted, "Don't cry! Go back and live a good life!" Shira laughed through her tears.

In the deep sea, the Void slowly rises to the surface. Schools of fish swim around it, sunlight shines down from above, and the seawater changes from inky black to deep blue, and then from deep blue to light blue.

Lin Yuan stood at the bow of the ship, holding a water glass. Ginny's voice came through the Den Den Mushi: "Did you get them? Both of them?"

"Both areas have been marked. The red one contains the Road Poneglyphs, and the blue one contains an apology."

"You even made a blue one?" Ginny's voice held a hint of surprise. "Didn't you say you wouldn't touch it?"

"Since we're already here, let's make the rubbing first. Whether you watch it or not is up to you."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the Den Den Mushi. Then Ginny's voice came through again, tinged with laughter. "Okay. Come back to me."

How long will it take to finish translating?

"The red area will last three days. The blue area... we'll see."

Lin Yuan took a sip of water. "See you in three days."

The Void surfaced, the first rays of morning sunlight illuminating its deck. Kaido leaned against the gunwale, gazing at the distant horizon. "Where to next?"

Lin Yuan stood at the bow of the ship, the water glass in his hand reflecting the rising sun. "Let's go back to Hachinosu first. We'll decide on the next step after Ginny finishes translating."

"Then what?"

"Then, go and get the last piece of the Road Poneglyphs."

Kaido slung the Iron Club over his shoulder. "Okay... alright."

The Void cut through the sea and headed towards Hachinosu.

(End of Chapter 92)