"This..."
After hearing Gawain's words, Neptune pondered for a moment before asking gravely.
"Saint Gawain, is the reason you wanted to ride Hoe with me so that I would make up my mind to investigate what happened back then?"
"Hoe?"
Gawain was taken aback, and Neptune hurriedly explained.
"Ah, Hoe is this big fellow, my giant whale.
Hoe, say hello to Saint Gawain."
"Woo woo woo~~~!"
The giant whale beneath them swished its tail and let out a series of low calls.
After the whale finished calling, Neptune took a deep breath and continued.
"What happened back then... is there really any need to investigate it, Saint Gawain?
I... although I am in pain too, perhaps the truth would only hurt me more!
At least now, I believe I have executed the murderer.
But if we investigate it to the end, what would either I or my people gain from it?"
Neptune sighed.
"They killed Otohime only because they did not want us Fish-Men going to the surface. It is not that I do not understand; I just do not dare to understand.
If we investigate, there are only a few possible outcomes. Perhaps the one who sent the assassin was a Celestial Dragon like you, or perhaps it was some great pirate opposed to Whitebeard.
Or perhaps the one who killed Otohime was simply one of us Fish-Men—one of the compatriots she had always trusted and loved, those radicals who loudly proclaim that our race stands above all else, who have never been to the surface and know nothing of the world.
Saint Gawain, isn't it ridiculous? Whether it is the Celestial Dragons or great pirates, we are no match for them.
If it was one of my own people, what position should I take in this matter?
If my people truly do not wish to go to the surface, then would Otohime and I not be tyrants forcing them against their will? And if we were tyrants, what would be wrong with being killed by our own people?
Most absurd of all, the people least likely to have killed Otohime are the slave traders I hate most.
Who would want us to reach the surface more than slave traders? It would make capturing us far too easy!"
When he finished speaking, Neptune closed his eyes and fell into sorrowful silence.
Gawain stood beside Neptune, momentarily left without an answer.
Was Neptune truly foolish?
Of course not!
This was not a manga, but a real sea. Even historians could not record the full scope of history, so how could a manga artist possibly draw an entire real world?
Now that he thought about it, Neptune was not merely un-foolish. On the contrary, he was incomparably rational!
After a moment of silence, Gawain pondered before softly trying to persuade him.
"I understand what you mean, King Neptune. Since the result will never be the one you want, a result like that is worse than no result at all, right?
But I absolutely cannot agree with that!"
Gawain pointed toward the distant Sea of Clouds, his voice impassioned.
"A result is called a result because it represents the end of everything!
Yet now, you have only executed the nominal culprit while allowing the true mastermind to remain at large. That only proves that Queen Otohime's death is not yet the end!
Once the times change, once people forget that Otohime ever existed, who will be the next to die?
You, your children, your people—someone will become their next target. You do not think that just because Otohime died, no Fish-Man on Fish-Man Island will continue longing for the surface, do you?
Even just now, did you not speak to me of your dream of going to the surface?
So next, if I grant your request and bring Fish-Man Island an official document from the Five Elders, then once that document reaches your hands, will you become the next Otohime?
I regret Otohime's death deeply, but I sincerely hope she will become the last regret on Fish-Man Island.
What do you think?"
After he finished speaking, Gawain raised his head and met King Neptune's gaze.
Faced with Gawain's stern eyes, King Neptune breathed heavily, then nodded with great force.
"You are right!"
Neptune clenched his fists once more. He thought of the sorrow of the past five years, of his son who had been disappointed in him, and of his daughter, who could only hide in Hard-Shell Tower.
Over the past five years, the hearts of Fish-Man Island's people had never been united. The anti-surface faction and the pro-surface faction had argued without end.
If one day the pro-surface faction won a complete victory, what would the mastermind do?
And if the anti-surface faction won a complete victory, then...
Neptune shuddered. He had nearly forgotten that even he himself belonged to the pro-surface faction that had inherited Otohime's ideals.
If his faction were thoroughly defeated, what kind of ending would await him? Was that not obvious?
After thinking it through, Neptune looked at Gawain and spoke heavily.
"Saint Gawain, perhaps I lack the ability to govern my country properly, but I know what kind of person I should trust!
So, what should we do?"
"What should we do?"
Faced with Neptune's question, Gawain nodded in satisfaction before speaking softly.
"Do we still need to consider what to do? Do not forget who we are, Neptune.
Whether you, the king of Ryugu Palace, or I, a Celestial Dragon, we are the ones who make policy. The initiative has always been in my hands!"
As he spoke, Gawain waved toward the ever-nearing Ryugu Palace.
"We are almost there. Hahaha, next you will naturally host a grand banquet for the return of your people, and for Mjosgard and me!
We will tour Fish-Man Island, and we will become friends—not friends like you and I are now, but the kind of friends that will convince both your people and the mastermind that we are friends!
Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the day after, one day I will surely be moved by your warm hospitality and invite you to relocate to the surface.
The document that Otohime once held in her hands, this time I will personally hold it in mine!
Look, I have already prepared the bait for the person behind the scenes. What do you think, Neptune?"
"You absolutely cannot do that, Gawain!"
In his agitation, Neptune even forgot to address him as Saint.
"If you do that, then you... would be placing yourself in danger, my friend!"
"Hahaha, Neptune, how could anyone want to do something yet refuse to take even a little risk?"
Gawain laughed boldly as he patted Neptune's tail.
"Putting the very core of everything that happened back in front of the mastermind is the simplest way to uncover the truth behind Otohime's death!
I have always acted openly and aboveboard. I have never wanted to lurk in the shadows, so I must drag every vile schemer out into the sunlight!
As for my safety, I am not like Otohime. I have never been alone!"
As he said this, Gawain gently took Gion's wrist in his right hand.
"This valiant woman is one of the Navy's only two admiral candidates, Vice Admiral Gion, known as Momousagi!
With her here, ordinary people cannot hurt me!"
"But... but even with Admiral Momousagi..."
Neptune was so anxious that he could barely speak. He cautiously glanced at Momousagi's expression before finally continuing hesitantly.
"This is not the surface, but the seabed ten thousand meters deep. Fish-Man Island may have air, but the sea still occupies the greater part.
I am only speaking hypothetically. If the ones responsible were not humans, but... but us.
Then in this environment, ten thousand meters beneath the sea, even if my old friend Garp acted personally, he might not be able to fight for long!"
Hearing Neptune's words, Gawain smiled deeply.
Neptune, I have finally been waiting for you to say that!
After lightly squeezing Momousagi's wrist, Gawain pretended to hesitate as he asked Neptune.
"You do have a point."
After speaking, Gawain quickly cast aside the hesitation on his face and became bold once more.
He waved a hand and declared decisively.
"So what? My resolve will not retreat because of some danger. Neptune, do as I say!"
"Saint Gawain!"
Faced with Gawain's impassioned resolve, Neptune was overwhelmed with emotion. He breathed heavily, then shouted.
"How fortunate Otohime was to have friends like you and Mjosgard in her life!
I accept your decision, and I will certainly support you with all my strength!
But no matter what, your safety must be guaranteed. Fish-Man Island and I do not wish for our friend to suffer any harm!
Knight of the Sea Jinbe is Fish-Man Island's strongest warrior at present, as well as the strongest Fish-Man Karate instructor of this age.
I hope you can forgive the past offense he and his captain, Fisher Tiger, committed against Mary Geoise, and permit him to serve as your personal guard!
As long as you are willing to accept his protection, I believe that beneath this sea ten thousand meters deep, even if one of the Four Emperors came in person, even if a Navy admiral arrived, Jinbe would still have the strength to fight!"
After speaking, Neptune gave Gawain a deep bow, then said resolutely.
"If you do not agree, then I absolutely will not risk your safety!
Please, you must accept Jinbe!"
We have already reached sixty-second place on the new book rankings!
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