Momonga: This Isn't a Misunderstanding-We're Here for Trash Like You!
Ortolan raised his glass and clinked it against Neptune's. After downing the drink in one gulp, he exclaimed, "The wine from the Ryugu Palace is indeed extraordinary; its flavor is truly unforgettable..."
Upon hearing this, Neptune said happily, "If Admiral likes it, I'll have someone pack some for you before you leave."
"Hahaha, then I won't be polite!" Ortolan laughed loudly.
Although this was my first time meeting Neptune at the Ryugu Palace, the atmosphere between us was quite good, and we were both very friendly.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the banquet continued, but Ortolan and Neptune tacitly got down to business.
"Before we talk about the cooperation on Golden City and other matters, there's something else I need to confirm with King Neptune," Ortolan said, putting down his wine glass and looking at Neptune.
"Please speak, Admiral," Neptune, setting down his glass as well.
"It's like this, the World Conference on Mary Geoise is approaching, and the World Government intends to invite Fish-Man Island as one of the fifty participating countries to Mary Geoise World Conference. However, we haven't received a response from you yet, so since I'm here, you asked me to inquire on the way to see if you have any interest?" Ortolan raised an eyebrow and said.
Before Neptune could speak, Ortolan added, "Of course, whether you intend to participate in the World Conference or not will not affect any of our future cooperation in the New World."
Neptune pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then asked, "Admiral, do you have any personal preferences?"
After a moment's thought, Ortolan said, "Personally, I don't think the World Conference is very interesting, and I won't be participating this time. However, it should be a good stage for Fish-Man Island. If you are worried about security, please rest assured. Recently, Mary Geoise has shown great respect and importance to Fish-Man Island. Moreover, our Marines will have high-ranking officers participating. Admiral Kuzan is a good friend of mine, and he will ensure your safety on Mary Geoise..."
As soon as Ortolan finished speaking, Neptune stopped hesitating and immediately nodded, saying, "Since you want Fish-Man Island to participate in this World Conference, then let's go."
That was a very eloquent statement, giving Ortolan plenty of face.
Ortolan was very pleased to hear this and laughed, saying, "Then thank you very much, Your Majesty Neptune."
After putting that topic aside, Ortolan and Neptune began discussing the Golden City.
Neptune had read the Golden City's proposal many times and was quite familiar with the project. He and Ortolan had also finalized many details.
This further increased the level of participation from Fish-Man Island.
After that, Fish-Man Island will provide Golden City with special products from the deep sea. At the same time, it will also relocate some people to settle in Golden City, and form song and dance troupes, performance troupes, etc., to join Golden City's entertainment and employment system. It will even provide some strong Fish-Man Race to become part of Golden City's guard force.
This deepened cooperation was good for both parties, and they happily settled on the matter.
Outside the Golden City, Ortolan discussed with Neptune the development of seabed resources, such as establishing a deep-sea mining development company, with Ortolan and the Ryugu Palace as shareholders, to develop and sell the many rich mineral deposits on the seabed.
In addition, the two sides also plan to cooperate in the fisheries sector, which involves the food industry. In this world, which is dominated by the ocean, although planting and animal husbandry are very important in the food industry, the proportion of fisheries is also high.
As the fishing king of the New World, Ortolan naturally values these industries.
Although Merfolk are friends with fish and do not eat them, Fish-Man Race do not have this custom, especially those Fish-Man Race who cannot make a living in the Fish-Man District. Most of them rely on their racial talent to catch fish to eat when they are hungry.
In this respect, they are naturally gifted, and so Ortolan also plans to organize and invite most of the Fish-Man Race to become proper 'fishermen' and build large fishing grounds in the New World, making them the backbone of his food industry and fishing industry.
Neptune, being Merfolk, wasn't particularly interested in such matters and had no intention of taking a stake. However, he supported the arrangement, which would provide more jobs on Fish-Man Island, absorb the thugs and gangsters of Fish-Man District into the workforce, and alleviate social security problems.
Jinbe and Fisher Tiger aren't here, so Neptune plans to put Arlong in charge of this matter.
After all, although Arlong is a nobody, he is still considered the third-ranked boss in Fish-Man District.
In the days that followed, Ortolan stayed in the Ryugu Palace, discussing these issues with Neptune from time to time, enriching and refining their opinions and cooperation arrangements.
During this time, he also met Queen Otohime and the newborn Princess Seimei.
To be honest, Queen Otohime is not short at all. Even when standing next to Ortolan, she is not small, as she is over two meters tall.
But when she stood next to Neptune looked quite petite, who was over twelve meters tall and looked like a Giant race.
The two of them standing together look like Neptune marrying a figurine.
Although Ortolan had never asked, he had indeed wondered how the two of them... spent their married life.
How did Queen Otohime give birth to a little girl as old as White Star no Suzu?
Because these questions involved such awkward situations, although Ortolan felt a tickle of curiosity and was very curious, he ultimately didn't dare to ask, fearing that if he did, Neptune would turn against him.
After that, Ortolan visited the giant ship Noah on Fish-Man Island and also loaded the Poneglyph from the Sea Forest onto the ship, intending to take it back. Neptune had no objection.
After spending nearly half a month on Fish-Man Island and attending a farewell banquet, Ortolan and Hina, along with their companions, finally concluded their trip to Fish-Man Island and prepared to return to the New World.
The coated warship slowly sailed away from the port of Fish-Man Island, following the deep-sea currents and heading towards the New World.
On the deck, Ortolan, a cigarette dangling from his lips, gazed at the shrinking Fish-Man Island behind him, lost in thought.
Just then, Hina came over with Den Den Mushi in her hand. "Admiral, this is a message from Mr. Momonga. He says that he has surrounded Kozuki Momonosuke group, and has also managed to corner San Juan Wolf. The capture operation is about to begin. Perhaps you will see the results after you return to the New World."
"Is that so?" Ortolan extinguished his cigarette and said, "Then lift the blockade on the New World Gateway. It's only been half a month, and the Fleet Admiral at headquarters has already called me several times via Den Den Den Mushi to yell at me..."
Sengoku really had a headache with Ortolan. When he liked him, he liked Ortolan to death, but when he hated him, he hated him to the core.
This guy inexplicably sealed off the entire New World Gateway Sea for more than half a month, trapping the twelve Affiliated Nation families in this gateway sea and leaving them unable to move.
Although the royal family members dared not voice any objections, they all obediently complied upon hearing that it was Ortolan's order.
After all, they're established in the New World; who would dare to give a damn about their ancestor, Ortolan?
But the officials in charge of receiving the royal family on Mary Geoise were getting impatient. They waited and waited, but the royal family didn't come. With the World Conference about to start, how could they not be anxious? One Den Den Mushi after another called Ortolan.
However, Ortolan only answered the first few, and then refused to answer the Den Den Mushi anymore, citing "the signal is not working on Fish-Man Island".
So they could only complain to Sengoku, which annoyed Sengoku so much that he had to Den Den Mushi to scold Ortolan for being a bastard who did nothing right. Why couldn't he wait until the World Conference was over to do something?
Meanwhile, at the edge of the New World Gateway Sea.
At this moment, Inuarashi stood on the deck, looking around with a completely bewildered expression. In the distance, there was a colossal giant as tall as a mountain. Only its head was visible above the sea. It seemed to think that it was foolish for hiding without being discovered.
Around the giant and them, more than thirty Marines warships formed a large encirclement, trapping them in the area.
"So... what happened!?" Inuarashi asked helplessly. It seemed like an accident?
They may have inexplicably stumbled into the Marines's encirclement of this colossal giant and were subsequently surrounded by the Marines.
Navigating the three-masted sailboat, hoping to leave quietly, they had only shifted their course by a dozen meters when the opposing warship opened fire, forcing them back.
On the deck, Kanjuro, holding Den Den Mushi, shouted to the Marines opposite him, "It's a misunderstanding! We're not that giant's crewmates, we're a merchant ship, please let us out!"
On the warship directly opposite the three-masted sailing ship, Momonga smiled, holding Den Den Mushi in his hand. "There's no misunderstanding. We're here to find you. Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, former members of the Roger Pirates and current members of the Whitebeard Pirates, Kozuki Momonosuke, son of Kozuki Oden, the Second Division Commander of Whitebeard Pirates Kozuki Oden, you are all pirates or criminals directly associated with pirates. How can you say there's a misunderstanding with the Marines?"
After he finished speaking, a ruthless glint flashed in the Momonga's eyes. "Full fleet, activate signal jamming, block all communication within the sea area. The Admiral's order is that none of these scum are to be let go!"