Arrival

In the Ryugu Kingdom, Neptune slowly polished his trident. Once it gleamed brightly enough, he took it in hand and moved anxiously toward the palace gates.

At the palace entrance, his eldest son, Fukaboshi, swam up to greet him. After nodding in salute, Fukaboshi said worriedly,

"Father, based on the time the Celestial Dragons' attendants informed us of yesterday, Saint Gawain and Saint Mjosgard should be arriving soon!"

As his words fell, Fukaboshi's tail swayed uneasily.

"Because of the Celestial Dragons, all the residents of the Fish-Man District are restless, and Hody Jones still hasn't given us any indication of his stance."

"Oh?"

Neptune folded his thick arms and asked thoughtfully,

"Where is Jinbe? Does Hody Jones refuse to see even Jinbe?"

"He did see Jinbe, but he gave no promise..."

Fukaboshi shook his head regretfully.

"I'm afraid their hatred toward humans, especially Celestial Dragons, still runs too deep. If we leave them alone, I'm worried..."

At that, Fukaboshi fell silent and shook his head anxiously.

Hearing Fukaboshi's words, Neptune nodded and said,

"We needn't worry too much. Though Hody Jones has ambitions, he surely understands the consequences of attacking Celestial Dragons.

Aside from Hody Jones, has there been any news from the prophet?"

"Madame Shyarly?"

Fukaboshi nodded and said,

"I personally visited Madame Shyarly. Regarding the Celestial Dragons' arrival, she made no particular prophecy, only shook her head.

Still, I think having no prophecy may be a good thing. As for her shaking her head, I understand Madame Shyarly. They are Celestial Dragons, after all. What nation would be willing to receive them?"

As he finished speaking, Prince Fukaboshi drifted back slightly and reminded Neptune,

"Father, everything should be ready. I have also arranged close surveillance near the Fish-Man District, so it is time for us to welcome the Celestial Dragons!"

"Let's go!" Neptune nodded.

Having received the order, Fukaboshi swam behind Neptune. As they moved, Fukaboshi asked softly,

"By the way, Father, Lord Jinbe wishes to accompany you as your guard for the time being, in case of trouble with the Celestial Dragons.

Do you think he should come?"

"Forget it. Ask him to continue holding the Fish-Man District. Even if he has become a Shichibukai, he is still one of Tiger's crewmates, and Tiger once freed large numbers of Celestial Dragon slaves!

Thus, his appearance before the Celestial Dragons may have the opposite effect."

"Understood!"

Fukaboshi nodded, then continued accompanying his father aboard the giant whale, rushing toward the special coating zone outside the bubble membrane of the upper level of the Ryugu Kingdom, an area specifically used to receive passing ships.

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the New Fish-Man Pirates in the Fish-Man District.

The Fish-Man known as Knight of the Sea Jinbe raised a cup of hot tea and gently swallowed a sip.

After drinking the tea and setting down the cup, Jinbe looked at the Fish-Man before him and sighed.

"Jones!"

He spoke softly.

"I have emphasized this many times. The Celestial Dragons' visit carries special significance. They have not come to plunder, and they have even brought back forty-six of our compatriots who went missing in recent years!"

"Hmph!"

The moment Jinbe finished speaking, Hody Jones shook his head disdainfully.

"Whether they are foolish Merfolk captured by those inferior humans, or Merfolk enslaved by those inferior creatures for five whole years, they are the shame of our Fish-Man race!"

"Shut your mouth!"

Jinbe clenched his teeth and rebuked Hody Jones in displeasure.

"They are Merfolk, our kin. They have endured countless hardships on land and only now have the chance to return home!

In the past, I could tolerate you spreading your claims of Merfolk supremacy across the island. But today, on the day our compatriots return home, if I hear another word like that, something that could hurt those compatriots..."

At that, Jinbe lightly tapped the tea table with his right hand. Instantly, the entire small building they occupied trembled twice.

Jinbe said with utter seriousness,

"If I hear such words, I will personally teach you a lesson in Brother Tiger's place!"

"Hmph!"

Hody Jones was deeply dissatisfied, but faced with Jinbe's fury, he ultimately said nothing.

Why?

Because he knew perfectly well that Jinbe's fists were bigger than his!

After a long silence, Jinbe took Hody Jones's silence as acceptance of his decision.

Jinbe rose imposingly and said,

"I will watch over the Fish-Man District, and I will watch over you too, Jones."

With that, Jinbe turned and left, leaving Hody Jones only his back.

After Jinbe departed, Hody Jones's indignant underlings surged forward and crowded around him.

Before the underlings, several officers of the New Fish-Man Pirates spoke in turn.

"Boss, Jinbe has really fallen further and further over the years. He's practically a dog now!"

"That's right! Not only has he given up avenging Tiger, he even accepted the orders of those inferior humans and became their lapdog, a Shichibukai!"

"Exactly! Even Arlong is stronger than Jinbe. At least Arlong has made a bit of a name for himself in human territory."

"That's East Blue, the hometown of Pirate King Roger. Arlong has already put down roots there!"

"Boss, the Celestial Dragons actually dare come to our Fish-Man Island. Why don't we take him out?"

"Take him out! What are Celestial Dragons? Even if they're nobles, they're just trash nobles among the inferior race known as humans!"

"Yeah, Boss, this is a great opportunity! If we kill the Celestial Dragons and pin it on that mediocre king Neptune, won't the Ryugu Kingdom be ours?"

On the main seat, listening to his subordinates, Hody Jones drew a deep breath.

Then he pressed one hand downward and said,

"Enough. Though this is indeed a good opportunity, I still cannot properly adapt to multiple Energy Steroids!

As I am now, there is still some gap between Jinbe and me!

Besides, the production volume of Energy Steroids is nowhere near sufficient. Our stockpile cannot possibly equip every Fish-Man brother!

In short..."

Hody Jones gritted his teeth, and boundless fury surged across his great-white-shark-like face.

"In short, stay quiet for now and ignore those damned Celestial Dragons.

Continue contacting and training the Kraken. We must ensure it can remain in a frenzied state for a long time when we need it!

The production of Energy Steroids must also increase. We need more Energy Steroids to equip our hundred thousand brothers. Once we have enough, Ryugu Palace will not be able to stand in our way!"

At that, Hody Jones closed his eyes. Breathing heavily, he leaned back in his seat.

"Neptune, Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, Manboshi, and...

Jinbe!

Sooner or later, you will learn that only I can save Fish-Man Island.

And only I am the most suitable ruler of the Ryugu Kingdom!!!"

Leaving aside Hody Jones's ambitions, Gawain's ship had already passed through the undersea volcanoes.

Though he was ten thousand meters beneath the sea, Gawain felt sunlight gradually appearing before his eyes.

Inside the cabin, Gion had changed clothes and emerged. Her left hand rested lazily on Kompira, while her right held the rail as she softly said to Gawain,

"Amazing, isn't it, my lord? Even ten thousand meters beneath the sea, we can still see light."

"Yes. The first time I saw this, I also thought it was an unimaginable sight. That is the great Sun Tree Eve!"

Mjosgard took over from Gion. As he explained to Gawain, he pointed into the distance.

There lay Fish-Man Island, enveloped by a gigantic bubble. The light shining down upon it came from the roots of Sun Tree Eve.

The crown of this immensely massive tree stood at Mary Geoise, while its roots extended to Fish-Man Island.

The bubble outside Fish-Man Island was formed from the resin of Sun Tree Eve, a variation of the bubbles found at Sabaody. The air within Fish-Man Island was likewise brought by Sun Tree Eve's breathing.

The top of the tree absorbed sunlight, then transmitted that sunlight to the ocean floor, becoming Fish-Man Island's only sun.

As Mjosgard pointed toward Fish-Man Island, the more than forty Merfolk on deck laughed and cried. They were home!

Still pointing at Fish-Man Island, Mjosgard said with immense excitement,

"Seeing sunlight means we have arrived in the Ryugu Kingdom!

Gawain, thank you. With your help, I finally did it!

Queen Otohime, I am about to come pay my respects to you!"

I got dropped from promotion. The follow-up readership is too poor. I suppose readers nowadays still prefer brainless power-fantasy system novels.

No one reads slow burns anymore. Sob, sob.