When Uchiha Hiko and his group emerged from the dense forest with the people of Dragon Palace, thunderous cheers immediately erupted from the outskirts of Fishman Island Plaza.
Uchiha Hiko was hailed as a hero and received the reverence of every fishman on Fishman Island. Even though Luo and Urouge were Pirates, they too joined the ranks of those being praised. Even the sailors who had been captured to act were treated like saviors, leaving the group of sailors feeling rather giddy.
The Pirates in the dense forest had already been subdued by Hiko. They were gathered together, driven into a corner, and lined up. King Neptune dispatched Ryugu Palace Guards to detain them one by one.
Jinbe and the mermaid princess had been waiting outside the forest for quite some time. When the Dragon Palace king and the others emerged, Princess Shirahoshi burst into tears again, though she kept sneaking glances at the man in white as she cried.
Hiko stood with his arms folded, looking at Jinbe with an amused half-smile.
There was not the slightest hint of embarrassment on Jinbe's face. Even though Hiko's persuasion had sounded like a fantasy when they first met at sea, causing Jinbe to harbor deep doubts, Jinbe now seemed to have completely forgotten his earlier suspicions. He looked at Hiko with a solemn expression.
"On behalf of Fishman Island, this old man thanks Boss!" Jinbe slowly lowered his head and bowed to Hiko.
"Oh?" Hiko studied Jinbe with interest.
He had not expected Jinbe to be so straightforward. Fishman Island's crisis had only just been resolved, yet he immediately made his choice and submitted to Hiko.
Before Hiko could respond, Urouge squeezed his way over. "Hey, hey! Jinbe, watch yourself. There's a line for joining up, remember? I'm ahead of you.