The End and the Truth

Hody sank like a dead fish, drifting aimlessly.

His face still showed a look of astonishment.

His body landed lightly.

The surrounding seawater was stained crimson, and in the deep sea, blood floated like ribbons.

Vander Decken's eyes widened. Hody, this guy was taken down so easily! Just what kind of monster is this so-called Pirate Emperor?!

"Hody!!"

The other Fish-Man who had come with Hody instantly changed their expressions, exclaiming in disbelief.

"Oh right, and you guys too."

Sirius nodded slightly.

With a few casual flicks of his fingers, the water transformed into cannonballs, blasting the chests of the remaining Fish-Man apart with a few "plop plop" sounds.

The masterful Fish-Man technique allows him to use the power to fling a drop of water like a cannonball.

However, the power of the Finger Pistol wielded by Sirius far surpassed that.

Dealing with someone of this caliber, the only outcome is, of course, instant kill, instant kill, and instant kill again.

"..."

Vander Deiken trembled all over.

What kind of enemy has that madman, Hody, provoked?

This time, he really got me killed.

Neptune's heart almost stopped beating.

Hody might not be particularly strong, but this guy did consume the secret treasure of Fish-Man Island, the Evil Drug ES!

He just ate a whole bunch of them; his strength should have increased exponentially.

But this Pirate Emperor was still so utterly vulnerable!

Is the Pirate Emperor really that powerful?

"Kindness?"

While everyone was utterly horrified, Sirius raised a slightly surprised eyebrow, "He's still not dead?"

It refers to Hody.

This guy is still alive.

It struggled to lift its head from the ground, its bloodshot eyes still fixed on me.

Is this guy really that resilient?

He was clearly a pitifully weak guy.

Was it because of the Energy Steroids?

If I remember correctly, that thing gains power by burning life force, right? It even enhances life force?

"Humans!!"

Hody's eyes were filled with hatred.

It was as if Sirius had killed his entire family.

Sirius's only reaction was to raise his hand again.

"Damn humans!!"

Born and raised in Fish-Man District, Hody Jones roared with blood gushing from his mouth, "Inferior race! Inferior genes! We Fish-Man should be the masters of this world!"

"Sooner or later! All lowly humans will be enslaved by the noble Fish-Man!"

"Rise up, Fish-Man! We are the true rulers of the world! Let that day come quickly!"

He was practically a hero of a national liberation movement.

Sirius didn't react, intending to silence the guy completely.

"No, no--"

But at this moment, the tears didn't stop. Princess Shirahoshi, who had been sobbing, suddenly spoke up. Her voice was childish, "My mother said that one day, humans and we will be able to live in peace."

At that moment, she was filled with courage.

"..."

Hody suddenly turned his head, his face covered in blood, looking like a demon. The little princess trembled and instinctively lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze.

"Just like your disgusting mother!" Hody struggled to his feet, roaring through gritted teeth, "It's because of bastards like you that humans become even more unscrupulous!"

Princess Shirahoshi sniffed, and tears began to well up in her eyes again.

"War! We need war! To conquer people by force—"

"It's so noisy, who can understand what you're saying?"

Sirius calmly pointed his finger, and finally, all was quiet.

And then...

He looked at Vander Deiken.

Van der Deiken felt his body go limp instantly.

He is Paramecia Target-Target Devil Fruit User. Anything he touches becomes a target, and whatever he throws will automatically fly to the target.

That ability is good, but it's completely useless right now!

Vander Decken pulled a dagger from Princess Shirahoshi.

"Don't come any closer, or I'll—"

Sirius frowned, an invisible aura surging forth.

Vander Decken's body went limp this time, and then Sirius fired another Finger Pistol, and Vander Decken followed in Hody's footsteps.

Along with Vander Decken's crew, the pirates were all knocked unconscious by Sirius's Conqueror's Haki. The only exception was the bald sea god Wadatsumi, who sat down on the ground and began to wail after seeing Vander Decken die.

Sirius glared at him, and he covered his mouth in horror, silently weeping.

And that was the end of it all.

Blood sloshed in the nearby seawater, and Neptune fell silent.

Then he said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Sirius, it's such a hassle to turn such a pleasant banquet into this situation, and I'm sorry to have troubled you with this."

"Nothing,"

Sirius casually replied, "The guys who're causing us trouble are, of course, ours to deal with."

Neptune sighed. "I didn't expect their hatred for humans to have reached this level. Perhaps, as Hody said, we Fish-Man Island and humans really can't coexist peacefully."

Neptune's feelings toward humans were complex, after all, his beloved wife had died at the hands of humans.

Sirius smiled but didn't say anything.

This has nothing to do with him.

The conflict between races, discrimination and anti-discrimination—this is a huge topic, and Sirius felt it was really not something he, as a pirate, should be concerned with.

"But Mother said," Princess Shirahoshi began, sobbing, "That the time when everyone can understand each other will eventually come."

Neptune remained silent.

What could he say?

Is it true that not only the Fish-Man of Fish-Man District harbor hatred towards humans, but he himself also harbors resentment towards them?

Every year, mermaids go missing and become slaves to human nobles, and the slavery of Fish-Man has never ceased.

Even your mother died at the hands of humans?

Jinbe sighed, "The hatred that accumulates generation after generation will eventually lead to more and more guys like Hody."

Just like he used to be.

If it weren't for Tiger's teachings and guidance, he would never be the way he is today.

Jinbe said, "Perhaps the death of the Queen four years ago further intensified the hatred in everyone's hearts."

Four years ago, Queen Otohime, who enjoyed great prestige on Fish-Man Island, was assassinated by humans, and the peace negotiations she spearheaded broke down, further fueling Fish-Man Island's resentment towards humans.

Jinbe felt that there might be a causal relationship between today's attack and that incident.

However, Shirahoshi gritted her teeth.

Tears, unstoppable tears, welled up and instantly merged into the seawater.

That's not how it works.

She said, "My mother wasn't killed by humans."

"What?"

Neptune and Jinbe's expressions changed simultaneously.