"Sig, I can sense the anger hidden in your heart, but I can also sense that you don't resent humans..." Queen Otohime sobered up a bit and wanted to continue her verbal attack.
However, Sig interrupted, "Of course I don't resent humans, because... I'm human too."
"I see... Half Fish-Man?" Neptune didn't know much about Sig, and it was only now that he was completely certain of this.
His understanding of Sig was limited to what he read in the newspapers and what Hody and his ilk had said in a one-sided way!
"So you also agree to coexist peacefully with humans?" Queen Otohime asked expectantly.
"Of course," Sig said, but his expression was anything but "friendly."
Before Otohime could speak, Sig interrupted, "However... it's absolutely different to work together with countless oppressed human compatriots to create a future, or to grovel before the World Government that oppresses our human and Fish-Man Race brethren!"
Sensing that King Neptune was displeased again, Sig added, "Sorry, I was too direct."
"Queen Otohime's words make a lot of sense to me... Fish-Man Race also yearn for sunlight, earth, and air. Even if it's just for the sake of the next generation and the generation after that, we should do something. If there are obstacles, then kick them away! However... I don't think that humans are the obstacles!"
The newspapers certainly didn't report it in detail, Jinbe probably wouldn't have told you guys about it, right? Regarding Fisher Tiger's death...
Sig then told them the story of Koala.
"What? Such a thing actually happened?" Queen Otohime burst into tears again upon hearing this, sobbing as she said, "But I believe that Koala's parents were only trying to protect their child, not..."
"I know! I don't resent them. What I'm trying to say is... most humans are no different from Fish-Man Race. They cry, they laugh, they fear the unknown, they are grateful for kindness, and they can also be oppressed and harmed!"
Forgive my bluntness, but constantly telling the people to 'trust humanity' and binding the World Government to 'humanity' is an insult to the vast majority of ordinary humans. Pursuing peace with the World Government is not only irresponsible towards our Fish-Man Race, but also... a prejudice against our human brethren.
Since Queen Otohime also believes that Fish-Man Race are human, then please understand who our enemy is.
The obstacle preventing the Fish-Man Race from returning to the land is not the rejection within their own Fish-Man Race, nor the fear of the Fish-Man Race among ordinary humans... but rather the World Government and the Celestial Dragons who created this oppression and cruelty.
The anger in my heart has never subsided, but... what I'm saying is not about taking my anger out on others!
Without needing Sig say anything more, Queen Otohime could directly sense the determination in Sieg's expression.
Seeing his wife speechless, Neptune said with displeasure, "So what are you trying to say? That we should go to war with the World Government? Do you even know the World Government's strength?"
"Did His Majesty Neptune spend three years as a slave in Mary Geoise? Was His Majesty Neptune's leg broken by the navy and imprisoned? Did His Majesty Neptune... witness his comrades being killed by the navy?"
Sig stared directly at Neptune— "Do you think you know more about World Government than I do?"
Neptune was stunned by what he heard. Even Fisher Tiger, back then, was very reluctant to talk about being captured and enslaved.
When Neptune and Otohime asked him, "What did you see after you went to sea that made you want to liberate the slaves?" Fisher Tiger only answered with the word "humans," and the atmosphere had reached a point where he could not ask any further questions.
In contrast, the sheer composure and unwavering resolve of Sig in the present moment already filled him with admiration... and fear.
Although Neptune, at twelve meters tall, was already at the average height of a normal Giant Race, Sieg's Sig presence was overwhelming.
"I'm sorry... but that's precisely why I understand how you feel, but..."
Before Neptune could finish speaking, Sig interrupted, "Of course we won't allow His Majesty to declare war on the World Government now! However... whether to prepare for war and whether to launch a war are two different things."
"Mr. Sig, do you know what war means?" Queen Otohime asked seriously.
"Sacrifice, victory or defeat," Sig replied.
"Can you just stand by and watch your comrades sacrifice themselves?" Queen Otohime's eyes reddened as she looked at Sig with disappointment.
"Yes." Sig nodded matter-of-factly.
"You... I can't pretend I didn't hear that!" Neptune was furious at his flippant attitude.
Sig vaguely sensed the aura of Conqueror's Haki —as the king of five million Fish-Man Race and one of the greatest masters of Fish-Man Karate, it wasn't surprising that Neptune possessed Conqueror's Haki. On the contrary, it should have been his "restraint and patience" over the past decade that had caused his Conqueror's Haki to weaken.
"As expected of... the king of the Ryugu Kingdom. Seeing your anger, I am happy for my fellow Fish-Man Race, but..." Sig paused, then unleashed his Conqueror's Haki as well. "If you were to answer again, the answer would be the same!"
War means sacrifice! The sacrifice might be mine, or His Majesty's, or even anyone's parents, brothers, or children, but... freedom, the right to live in the sunlight, and peace cannot be obtained by groveling and begging. Those who lack even the awareness of war are not worthy of discussing victory or defeat!
Neptune's Conqueror's Haki had also been released, clashing invisibly with Sig's Conqueror's Haki.
Red-Hair and the others couldn't help but look towards the council chamber. Shanks muttered to himself, "This is really... intense."
The Minister Right realized what was happening and looked like they were about to slam their fists on the table, but Shanks quickly put on a "toasting" face. "Don't rush, it's still early, let's continue drinking..." He raised his glass to the Minister Right were about to draw their weapons, still chatting and laughing.
Inside the council chamber, Neptune stared intently at Sig and asked, "Do you know what losing the war means?"
Just then, Sig grinned...
The invisible clash of their Conqueror's Haki Distortion the air, creating an abnormal mist. Within this mist, Sig's lips moved, uttering words that caused King Neptune and Queen Otohime's pupils to freeze... no, it should be said that their pupils "earthquaked"!
After a brief moment of stunned silence, King Neptune's Conqueror's Haki had already extinguished, and even seemed somewhat weak— Sig's feeling was correct; more than a decade of restraint and patience had "worn down" Neptune's Conqueror's Haki considerably.
"You... did not inherit Fisher Tiger's will!" King Neptune was somewhat listless, no longer knowing how to refute Sig's words.
Not because it makes sense, but because... it's too shocking.
"But I'm doing this for what Fisher Tiger expects, for the future of the Fish-Man Race... a future where they can live in peace with humans and enjoy the sunshine and the earth equally!" Sig said firmly.
"Peace? Doesn't it seem ridiculous to hear that word from your mouth?" Neptune said listlessly.
"Of course it's for peace, but at least I understand... peace will survive if we seek it through struggle, but it will perish if we seek it through compromise!"
Sig could sense that Neptune, despite his apparent anger and even disdain, had actually taken some of what he said to heart.
"So what? What are you planning to do? Use those brats from Fish-Man District?" Neptune demanded.
"No, I hope His Majesty Neptune can offer some small assistance," Sig said matter-of-factly.
Neptune scoffed – You still want my help? Doesn't not kicking you out count as helping me?
"I want to be Sea King!" Sig declared firmly, disregarding Neptune's attitude.
Neptune:!!!