Neptune's Children

Wearing a Floating Bubble, Jinbe walked through the air all the way. After the Ryugu Palace soldiers let him through, he entered Neptune's grand hall.

Other than the soldiers on duty, there were only two maidservants recording Gawain and Mjosgard's preferences. Before them, Gawain kept naming dishes he had rarely been able to eat in his previous life, such as live sashimi.

Seeing Jinbe arrive, Neptune gave Gawain a light nod.

He did not stop Gawain from ordering. Instead, after nodding, he rose directly and headed toward Jinbe.

After swimming only two steps, Jinbe solemnly bowed in greeting.

"Your Majesty, I have arrived. The important matter you mentioned..."

"Ho ho ho ho, Jinbe, come over, come over!

Why bother with formalities? Lighten up a little. Why do you look so serious?

Come, let me introduce you to Saint Gawain. You would never guess what kind of person Saint Gawain is!

Come on!"

Neptune interrupted Jinbe's greeting, then grabbed his arm and pulled him toward Gawain and the others.

As Jinbe drew closer, Gawain smiled and waved to the Merfolk maidservants.

"That will be all. Thank you for your hard work."

"Ah?!!"

The Merfolk maidservants were utterly stunned.

"N-No, it was no trouble at all!"

"Yes, my lord, your smile is so beautiful!"

Setting aside the maidservants' overwhelming excitement, even Jinbe could not help showing a startled expression at that moment.

He was not one of those young people from the Fish-Man District like Hody Jones, children who had never even left Fish-Man Island and knew nothing of the wider world.

Having roamed the seas for many years, how could he not know what Celestial Dragons were like?

But... a Celestial Dragon could actually smile so gently and even thank someone for their hard work?

Jinbe could not help looking at Neptune, who revealed an expression of satisfied understanding, as if he had expected this all along.

Beside them, the two maidservants retreated with red cheeks. The moment they left the grand hall, they immediately threw their arms around each other.

"Sea God above, Lord Gawain actually thanked us for our hard work!"

"This lord really is different!"

Inside the grand hall, once the maidservants had left, Neptune pulled Jinbe to stand before Gawain's sofa and eagerly introduced him.

"Saint Gawain, this burly, powerful Fish-Man is the Knight of the Sea, Jinbe, whom I told you about!

Jinbe, this is my friend, the Celestial Dragon Gawain from Mary Geoise!

And that is Saint Mjosgard."

After Neptune finished the introductions, Jinbe did not hesitate. He immediately prepared to kneel before Gawain.

This was not the ceremonial act of kneeling on one knee. Back when Jinbe had been a pirate on land, whenever he occasionally encountered a passing Celestial Dragon...

He had always knelt on both knees!

At the head of the room, seeing Jinbe kneel so readily, Gion, who stood silently behind Gawain, narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

In her view, since this new colleague was so respectful from the outset, he probably would not cause the team any trouble in the future.

As for Jinbe's identity as a pirate, that was nothing. Other than having followed Fisher Tiger, Jinbe had no other criminal record.

As for Gawain, Jinbe knelt swiftly, but Gawain rose even faster.

The instant he stood, Gawain hurried over to Jinbe on his Coating.

Jinbe remained kneeling with his head lowered and spoke softly to Gawain.

"I am Jinbe. Greetings, Saint Gawain. Greetings, Saint Mjosgard."

"Haha, greetings are enough. Get up, my friend!"

Laughing heartily, Gawain extended his hand to Jinbe. He lifted Jinbe's right arm and pulled the enormous, round-bodied man to his feet.

Once Jinbe stood there in astonishment, Gawain patted his arm and remarked.

"No wonder Neptune specifically recommended you as a powerful warrior. Just look at those solid arms!"

With that, Gawain turned and winked at Gion.

"Gion, how long do you think I would have to train before I surpassed Jinbe?"

"My lord, why is it that whenever you meet a powerful warrior, you always want to surpass him?"

Gion teased him, then stepped up behind Gawain. Seeing Jinbe's slightly surprised expression, she nodded to him in greeting.

"It's been a long time, Knight of the Sea Jinbe!"

"It certainly has been a long time, Vice Admiral Gion. The last time we met, you were still hunting Doflamingo!"

Jinbe replied, then smiled. Whether it was Gawain's relaxed attitude or Gion's gentle smile...

Jinbe already knew that the Celestial Dragons who had come this time were nothing like ordinary Celestial Dragons. That alone was enough to put him at ease.

Once Jinbe spoke, Gawain released his arm and said to Neptune.

"Since Jinbe is here, let's have a proper talk."

"That's right."

Neptune waved his hand, and the palace guards immediately withdrew. The enormous hall was left with only Neptune, Jinbe, Gion, Mjosgard, and Gawain.

Gawain was not polite about it. After taking the seat of honor, he gestured for everyone else to sit as well.

Jinbe took his seat thoughtfully, and Neptune began explaining all the plans they had discussed earlier.

A few minutes later, Jinbe suddenly understood.

"So Your Majesty has decided to join Saint Gawain in uncovering the mastermind behind Queen Otohime's assassination five years ago!"

Jinbe was somewhat excited. Warriors like him, who came from humble backgrounds and traveled from place to place, generally held leaders like Queen Otohime—high-born yet kind and close to the people—in especially high regard.

Jinbe slapped the table decisively.

"I support Your Majesty's decision. Queen Otohime's death should never have been concluded so simply!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jinbe clasped his fists toward Gawain.

"Saint Gawain, I never expected Queen Otohime to have friends like you and Saint Mjosgard. Since even you are willing to take such risks personally, then of course I will spare no effort in supporting you!"

With that, Jinbe wasted no words and rose directly to stand before Gawain.

"From this moment on, I will remain at Saint Gawain's side at all times. I will bear responsibility for your safety on Fish-Man Island with these shoulders. Unless the enemy steps over my corpse, you will not suffer the slightest harm!"

"Haha, don't make it sound so grave. Sit down, sit down."

Gawain waved his hand and spoke gently to Jinbe.

"I have never worried about my own safety. There are not many people with the courage to attack me, and there are even fewer who could break through your and Gion's defenses.

Still, I do not want you focusing on uncovering the truth. What I really want to know is what you think about the plan for Fish-Men to move onto land!"

As he spoke, Gawain lightly rubbed the right side of his jaw before continuing.

"I certainly do not know Fish-Man Island better than you do. Although Neptune is the king of Fish-Man Island, he probably does not understand the thoughts of ordinary people all that well.

You have spent your time among the common folk, Jinbe, so tell me: can this proposal win the support of most Fish-Men?

If it cannot win most people's support, then my terms may not attract the mastermind's attention. We must create the impression that most Fish-Men have already decided to relocate, and that relocation has become inevitable."

"Uh..."

Faced with Gawain's question, Jinbe found it difficult to answer.

As for the current public sentiment on Fish-Man Island...

Of course Jinbe knew that, apart from the Fish-Man District, most other places would likely support the plan to relocate to land.

But could he really say that to Gawain?

Were those extreme brethren in the Fish-Man District not his brethren too?

Thinking of those radicals who regarded humans as an inferior race and mortal enemies, Jinbe pressed his lips together, unsure how to answer for a moment.

Seeing this, Gawain did not press him. He nodded and smiled.

"It seems you cannot say for certain either. How about this? After the banquet, we will take a walk around Fish-Man Island together.

Neptune, arrange for a few people to bring up Queen Otohime's dream on their own when they encounter me.

We will use that to test public sentiment first. At the same time, we can stir the grass and startle the snake, preparing for our later plans."

"I will follow your lead, Gawain. In any case, I have already made up my mind. Do whatever you want to do!"

Neptune supported Gawain's decision with absolute resolve.

Beside them, seeing both his king and Gawain so determined, Jinbe considered whether he should still explain the specific situation in the Fish-Man District.

Hundreds of thousands of radical Fish-Men had gathered there. If they threw out the plan without understanding the situation, the whole situation might collapse!

But before Jinbe could speak, the doors to the distant grand hall had already opened.

Everyone looked toward the entrance. The party that had gone to welcome the Celestial Dragons had returned.

Neptune's three sons walked in front, with the Minister of the Left and Right following behind them. Before they had even swum two steps into the hall, Neptune stood up with a booming laugh.

"Ho ho ho ho, it looks like we can begin preparing for our banquet!

Minister of the Left, I have wanted to say this for a long time. Bring out all the fine wine we have stored away! I want to drink with Saint Gawain all night long!

Minister of the Right, make sure Ryugu Palace's security is properly arranged!

And my children, come greet your Uncle Gawain. He has already become your father's good friend!"

After speaking, Neptune turned to Gawain.

"I have not introduced them before. These three are the children Otohime and I had: Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi!"

"Oh?"

Hearing Neptune's introduction, Gawain frowned and asked meaningfully.

"Only three? Didn't Queen Otohime also have a daughter?

Neptune, you are not favoring sons over daughters, are you? Otherwise, why introduce only your sons to us?

Where is your little princess? She cannot be absent from tonight's banquet. Mjosgard and I even prepared gifts for her!"