Shark Star's Request

For a while after that, Bright's life focused on just two things.

The first was training. He wanted to awaken Observation Haki sooner and also wanted to strengthen his Armament Haki.

The second thing, of course, was capturing Sea Beasts.

The Sea Lions had already been assigned. One brigade that performed best in training successfully obtained the right to raise Sea Lions.

The other brigades were unconvinced, yet they also yearned for their own Sea Beasts.

Bright didn't want them to be disappointed. The enthusiasm they had finally mustered had to be maintained.

However, as the saying goes, finding suitable Sea Beasts wasn't an easy task.

For this reason, Bright had to spend a lot of money, hiring people in the Fish-Man District to help search for Sea Beasts in the deep sea.

The power of money was evident. In just one week, Bright had captured three more Sea Beasts, averaging one every two days.

At this rate, they would soon achieve the small goal of one Sea Beast per brigade.

The three newly caught Sea Beasts were also assigned. The brigades that had performed excellently were naturally overjoyed, while those that didn't make the cut were naturally dejected.

But after the dejection came immediate encouragement.

They knew that instead of being dejected, it was better to strive. New Sea Beasts would arrive soon, and if their performance continued to be poor, being the last to get a Sea Beast would be a huge embarrassment.

This was what was called healthy competition.

To be honest, assigning the Sea Beasts in advance had somewhat disrupted the training schedule, but it was a necessary measure.

Bright had indeed subdued the Sea Beasts through force, but it wasn't easy to make them a true part of the Immigration Bureau's combat power.

Warriors needed to slowly build a bond with them.

Although Sea Beasts weren't as intelligent as Sea Kings, they were still intelligent creatures with emotions and preferences.

Simple coercion wasn't enough.

They needed to truly become partners.

Therefore, the warriors in the brigades assigned Sea Beasts were working hard to get close to them during their training breaks.

Feeding them, trimming their claws, grooming them – doing whatever made them feel comfortable.

The results were very encouraging. The Sea Beasts, not having very high intelligence, quickly bonded with the warriors after being treated this way.

The plan for the Sea Beast Knights was already showing initial results.

But they couldn't be satisfied yet. They needed at least ten, right?

That evening, during dinner.

"In another week, I think the preliminary training will be almost complete," Jinbe said. "The Immigration Bureau can begin preliminary operations."

"Is that so?" Bright scratched his head with some distress. "It seems we won't be able to gather ten Sea Beasts before the training is finished."

"There's no need to rush. We can take our time with this," Jinbe said, unconcerned. "These guys aren't so fragile that they can't survive without Sea Beasts."

Bright nodded slightly, resigning himself to the situation.

He had done his best to search, but what could he do if he couldn't find them?

The brigades that didn't get Sea Beasts before the training ended would just have to wait a little longer.

"Oh, right. Arlong said you encountered that Sea King again today?" Jinbe suddenly asked.

Bright replied with a strange expression, "That guy seems to have been lingering around Fish-Man Island recently."

The previous Sea King referred to the Lizard Shrimp Sea King they had encountered before.

Today wasn't even the second time they had met it; they had seen it several times already.

That guy had been around Fish-Man Island recently. Every time they met, it was fighting other Sea Kings.

Although its opponents were always much larger than it, it had won every fight, always chasing its opponents away.

"A Sea King is actually circling around Fish-Man Island?" Jinbe frowned. "Could it be planning to attack Fish-Man Island?"

You're purely overthinking it, Brother Jinbe.

Anyone in the world might attack Fish-Man Island, but Sea Kings wouldn't.

The king they had waited for for hundreds of years was currently in Ryugu Palace, sweetly calling for his mother.

"Who knows?" Bright said. "But it doesn't seem to have any intention of approaching Fish-Man Island."

"Next time you see it, drive it away," Jinbe said seriously. "There was an incident in the past where a Sea King smashed through the gates of Fish-Man Island."

Bright knew about that.

It just so happened to be when Roger came to Sharly for a prophecy.

Because the Sea Kings were anxiously awaiting the birth of their king.

"Okay."

However, Bright didn't refuse.

That Sea King was indeed too ferocious; what Sea King fights its own kind all day long?

It might even cause trouble later on.

After all, the Sea Kings only cared about Shirahoshi, the Sea King, and showed no special treatment to any other Merfolk or Fish-men.

For the next few days, Bright continued his daily training as usual. In the meantime, he casually captured a Sea Beast, bringing the total number of Sea Beasts to five.

However, he hadn't seen that Lizard Shrimp Sea King again.

Perhaps it had already left the vicinity of Fish-Man Island.

Then, one evening, as he was returning to the Mermaid Cafe for dinner after finishing his day's training, Bright pushed open the door and saw an unexpected visitor.

"Yo! Bright!"

The woman sitting in the chair greeted Bright with a smile.

Bright raised an eyebrow, "Queen Otohime?"

At this hour, what was this woman doing here?

"The Queen has been waiting for you for a long time, Bright,"

Sharly, sitting opposite Otohime and seemingly enjoying their conversation, still had a smile on her face. "She has something she wants to ask of you."

Although he wasn't particularly fond of Otohime's proposal, Sharly didn't seem to dislike the woman either.

"So, Your Highness,"

Bright looked at another large figure in the restaurant. "What is it? Is it related to Prince Shark Star?"

Shark Star, the eldest prince of the Ryugu Kingdom, a blue-haired merman boy much taller than his mother, floated behind her, his eyes looking at Bright with some excitement.

"As expected of Bright! You guessed it right away!"

Queen Otohime stood up and patted her eldest son's arm. "It was this idiot who pestered me into bringing him here."

The eldest prince's face turned slightly red, likely because the secret of him acting spoiled towards his mother had been exposed.

"Quick, tell Bright your request, Shark Star," Otohime lightly patted her son's lower back.

His Highness the eldest prince took a deep breath and then solemnly said to Bright, "Please allow me to join the Immigration Bureau, Brother Bright!"

Bright was a little surprised.

Was this kid joking?

He was the future heir to this country.

"May I ask why?" Bright didn't immediately refuse.

"I've already heard about the Fish-Man District! It's amazing, Brother Bright! In such a short time, you've truly revitalized the appearance of the Fish-Man District!"

Shark Star's words started to pour out. He said excitedly, "This is unprecedented! Father was right, you are the one who can change Fish-Man Island!"

"I also want to do something for this country!"

"To block enemies who might threaten Fish-Man Island outside the island! I want to be a member of such an organization too! To contribute to protecting Fish-Man Island with my strength!"

Bright felt a headache coming on.

Was this guy this hot-headed when he was young?

He looked at Otohime.

A gentle smile appeared on the woman's face. She gently stroked her son's tense back and said earnestly, "Please agree to it, Bright. This is the first time in this child's life that he has so proactively wanted to do something."

"Yes!"

Shark Star nodded heavily. "Although it's unreasonable, please grant my request, Brother Bright!"

Bright fell silent for a moment.

Having the prince join might indeed be very troublesome.

What if he died unexpectedly in the future?

What if he clashed with the royal family?

But--

Bright looked at Shark Star's sincere eyes.

"Alright."

Bright nodded.

This kid genuinely wanted to do something.

Then let's give him a chance.

"Really?!"

An irrepressible, excited smile appeared on Shark Star's face.

"But don't expect me to treat you like a prince," Bright said seriously.

"Of course!"

Shark Star nodded solemnly.

Then, he excitedly hugged his mother tightly, sharing his joy, "That's great, Mom! I did it--"

Crack.

"Ugh! That hurts!!"

"Whoa! Mom!"

Bright's lips twitched.