"Hmph... Damn it!"
Across from the Den Den Mushi, Hody Jones was nervously preparing everything in Fish-Man District, coldly cursed.
"Foolish Vander Decken IX, that madman is an insult to the name of Vander Decken, he doesn't even consider the consequences, he just wants to deliver himself to the door!"
Originally, I hoped to reach a defensive agreement with him, allowing him to act as my vanguard against the Celestial Dragon Shirahoshi when we were better prepared!
But now..."
Hody Jones took a deep breath, then coldly gave the Den Den Mushi an order.
"We don't need to worry about him anymore, let's get back to Fish-Man Island as soon as possible!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Hody Jones hung up the phone. Amidst the purring of the Den Den Mushi, he gritted his teeth, his anger burning fiercely.
"I'm standing here, "Daruma asked nervously.
"Brother, Vander Decken has already made his move. What should we do?"
I just received a message from my subordinates that Shirahoshi and her group have left the Mermaid Cafe and headed to the Sea Forest!
If we choose to cooperate with Vander Decken when he arrives at the Sea Forest, the Sea Forest is really not a suitable place to make our move!
The area is vast, making it unsuitable for encirclement tactics, and the open space also makes it Jinbe..."
"Shut up!"
Hody Jones roared.
"That damned bastard, from the moment he parted ways with Brother Arlong and chose to become Shichibukai and a lackey of the World Government, he was no longer our Fish-Man's leader!"
"Big brother is right!"
Daruma nodded quickly.
"I'll continue, brother. Judging from Jinbe's skillful Fish-Man Karate, it will be very difficult for us to restrain him in the Sea Forest!"
Only by capturing enough civilians, especially enough women, to take them hostage, can Jinbe be deterred from further resistance!
There aren't many people in the Sea Forest!
Judging by the speed of Vander Decken's projectiles, he probably won't be long before he reaches Shirahoshi's location!
"I see!"
Hody Jones gritted his teeth and spoke each word carefully, then stood there, lost in thought.
It wasn't until about half a minute later that Hody Jones finally looked at Daruma.
"Are the Giant Sea Beast ready?!"
"Ready? We'll gather them around the outskirts of Fish-Man Island."
"Have the Giant Sea Beast ready to move at any time. Also, instruct your men to prepare a surprise attack on Mermaid Park. Once they receive my order, they must immediately capture enough of our compatriots as hostages!"
I must set off now. Vander Decken is a formidable force; Neptune Army hasn't been able to capture him even once in five years. It would be a shame to waste such a valuable asset!
I will personally keep an eye on Shirahoshi and his group. You await my orders. If you capture enough of your own kind, remember to notify me immediately. I will decide the timing of the operation based on the situation on the ground.
Finally, I want to tell my brothers that the grand ambition of the Fish-Man rests on this one gamble today!
Only victory is allowed, defeat is not an option, all for the rise of the Fish-Man!
"For the rise of the Fish-Man!!!"
Daruma shouted with immense excitement, then immediately turned and left. After Daruma left, Hody Jones raised his right hand.
"Bring me my disguise and enough Energy Steroid!"
"Yes!"
His underlings quickly went to fetch it, and before long, Hody Jones was wearing a heavy cloak and a hood.
Hody Jones picked up a large box full of the Energy Steroid stuffed it into his pocket.
"I'm leaving. Tell the brothers to be on standby!"
"Don't worry, big brother!!!"
A group of his underlings started shouting excitedly, while Hody Jones turned and walked away without looking back.
Meanwhile, in the direction of the Sea Forest.
When Jinbe carried Gawain on his back and followed Shirahoshi's trail, they finally stopped deep in the forest.
Shirahoshi sadly placed Gion on the ground, turned around, and whispered to Gawain.
"Gawain, could you... wait a while...?"
"Certainly."
Gawain nodded, but knowing what Shirahoshi was going to do, he didn't smile at her for the first time.
It wasn't what Shirahoshi was doing that displeased him, but rather that this wasn't a place where smiles should be. This was the burial place of Queen Otohime, and her tombstone stood eighty meters ahead of Gawain!
With Gawain's consent, Shirahoshi nodded quietly, turned around, and silently walked towards her mother's tombstone.
She sat in front of the tombstone with her tail curled up, her hands clasped together in front of her chest, and silently bowed her head.
This time, the little crybaby didn't shed a single tear, which was unprecedented.
She simply closed her eyes and remained silent for a long time in front of the tombstone.
Seeing Shirahoshi's actions, Jinbe took a long breath, then leaned close to Gawain's ear.
"Saint Gawain, that's where Queen Otohime's..."
"I know."
Gawain raised his hand, stopping Jinbe from speaking.
Gion stepped back two steps, returning behind Gawain, and gently patted Jinbe on the shoulder.
Seeing Jinbe looking at her, Gion shook her head slightly, then pointed to Queen Otohime's tombstone.
Jinbe nodded, then remained silent, and the three of them fell silent as well.
In the silence, faint footsteps and the sound of a tail swishing through the air could be heard in the distance.
Shirahoshi didn't turn around to look; she remained in the same position, silently commemorating and remembering her mother.
Gion and Jinbe glanced back, then immediately turned back.
A huge shadow loomed over Gawain, King Neptune, along with his three princes, Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, Manboshi, stood behind Gawain, together with Mjosgard.
Gawain raised his hand without turning his head, holding his index finger in front of his lips.
Seeing Gawain's actions, Mjosgard nodded frantically, then joined Gawain in standing there quietly in mourning.
Seeing how respectful Gawain and Mjosgard were to his deceased wife, Neptune, who had been somewhat unsettled, suddenly relaxed completely.
He stared intently at Gawain's retreating figure.
The human in front of me, though short, possessed an imposing presence, showing such respect even to a dead Merfolk.
If that's the case, then surely he can also bring true peace and freedom to the living Merfolk and Fish-Man?
It definitely can!
Unbeknownst to him, Neptune's confidence in his decision soared. He felt his mind expand and, along with the others, quieted down.
One minute, two minutes, three minutes...
Shirahoshi's thin spine gradually bent, her upper body became more and more hunched, her hands were hidden in her chest, and she lowered her head.
Tears were finally about to well up, but...
My mom doesn't like me crying.
But if I weren't crying in sorrow, my daughter would have already left the Hard-Shell Tower, and Gawain would have promised me that he would bring a future of landing on land to Fish-Man Island!
Mom, may I cry? If these are tears of joy, can I stop holding them in?
I'm enduring it... it's so painful...
Shirahoshi tightly closed her eyes, desperately trying to hold back her tears, but no matter how hard she tried, she really couldn't stop them!
Large tears streamed down her cheeks and fell onto the seaweed and coral-covered ground around her. Shirahoshi struggled to breathe, trying to suppress her sobs, but the more she tried, the more heartbreaking her kitten-like whimpers became.
Even someone as resolute as Gawain couldn't help but feel a slight sadness for a moment.
But just as he felt sorrow, Gion and Jinbe on either side of him turned away one after the other.
Noticing their actions, Gawain's sorrowful gaze suddenly changed.
He didn't turn around, but glanced at the two of them, then raised his right hand and made a heavy horizontal slash across his neck!
Upon seeing this movement, Gion tightened her left hand, causing the blade of the Kompira sword to tremble instantly.
Jinbe exhaled a breath of stale air, then clenched his fists and turned to leave.
Jinbe and Gion split into two groups, one running on the ground and the other in the sky.
Jinbe's fists flashed with black light as he charged straight at a series of inexplicable ship hulls and pieces of furniture.
Gion stepped into the sky, passing directly around the furniture, heading towards a more distant place.
A moment later, a sofa that had been stepped on came into her view.
On the ground, Jinbe first retracted his fists, then suddenly slammed them forward, causing the air to vibrate violently from the impact of his empty Air Hammer!
Upon seeing Gion's figure in the sky, Vander Decken opened his mouth, about to announce his arrival with a loud laugh.
But Gion saw him open his mouth, her footwork instantly quickened by three times.
Clang!
Gion's left hand was completely invisible as she instantly teleported behind Vander Decken.
And Vander Decken.
His body, along with the sofa, continued to charge towards Jinbe was trying to block the furniture.
And the upper half of his head, starting from his mouth...
That half-face, bearing a look of utter astonishment, stopped completely behind Gion...
Then it fell to the ground in vain.