Jinbe

The outcome of the battle in Fish-Man Street was made public by the Neptune Army, and the news spread throughout the streets and alleys of Fish-Man Island. In addition to the Fish-Man, it also caused an uproar among the pirates passing through the island.

Mermaid Cafe, beautiful mermaid ladies and part-time dancers perform on stage, singing and dancing.

Because of the presence of young and beautiful mermaids as waitresses, countless pirates flock here, making the business booming and always packed with customers.

"Did you see that?"

A few moderately famous pirates sitting in the right corner were discussing among themselves.

"The Whitebeard Pirates' flag at the main entrance of Fish-Man Island is gone... replaced by that Shichibukai!"

"That one? Oh... that newly Shichibukai is really something. He caused a huge ruckus at Marineford not long ago, and although his bounty was increased, he wasn't hunted down by the World Government's top forces. Instead, he was conscripted. It's truly enviable. But we'll probably never have such an opportunity in our lifetime..."

"Stop daydreaming. Don't you realize he's a member of the Pirate King's crew? Another member of his crew has become one of the Four Emperors, ruling the seas. Compared to him, what's so special about him?"

"That's true, but he's definitely not a peaceful guy. Have you heard? That entire Fish-Man Street was ransacked—that was his doing!"

"The Mermaid King really dared to make him do that... He's definitely powerful. Rumor has it that all his subordinates are death row inmates from Impel Down, each one vicious and ruthless... I wonder how they compare to that Blackbeard."

"Blackbeard... that guy? It's said he's taking over the territory of the former Four Emperors Whitebeard in the New World. However, the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates, led by Phoenix and Fire Fist, are also putting up a fierce resistance. It's hard to say who's stronger."

"Please enjoy your meal!" The beautiful mermaid waitress brought over the coffees one by one, interrupting the pirates' conversation, before slowly leaving.

"You lot, stop talking and come on... have some coffee." One of the pirates raised his warm cup, watching the mermaid's graceful figure disappear into the distance. "We've finally made it to this beautiful island. Let's forget our troubles for now and just enjoy each day as it comes!"

"What are those pirates saying?" The mermaid waiter who had just been carrying coffee returned to the waiting area, and several beautiful mermaids beside him asked in a low voice.

"What else is there to talk about... these days, isn't the most discussed topic on the island that Buggy the Star Clown?"

"It's him! Those villains in Fish-Man Street should have been wiped out long ago. Lord Buggy did a great job!"

"But having humans handle the island's affairs... I just don't feel comfortable with it."

"But after hearing about this, it seems Fish-Man Street is going to be turned into an amusement Paradise, just like the one on Sabaody Archipelago!"

"Oh... that's true!"

"Camie, what do you think? You're not saying your little pet Pappag is going to participate in the amusement Paradise design too, are you?"

"Ah! It's me..."

After delivering the food, Camie was halfway there when several mermaid sisters pulled her aside. She thought for a moment and said, "Lord Buggy must be a good person, right? He even saved me from human traffickers..."

"You actually had such an experience?! Tell us about it!" Several mermaid waiters looked on with great interest and curiosity.

"It was before..." Camie stammered, but then she suddenly heard Madame Shyarly's voice, "Don't gather together... the guests are still waiting, go back to work."

Faced with the coffee shop owner, Madame Shyarly, the beautiful mermaid waitress asked no more questions and hurriedly scattered like a bird or beast.

"Buggy ..." Shyarly put down her pipe and murmured softly, somewhat lost in thought.

The entire Fish-Man Island was abuzz with discussion. From the servants and guards of the Ryugu Palace to the common people of Fish-Man Island, everyone was talking about this Shichibukai. The events happening so close to home were far more shocking and unsettling than anything reported in the news, especially such a momentous event.

As for the pirates passing through this area, they were cautious in their words and deeds, and their behavior became even more discreet. Whether they were pirates who were mainly on adventure and treasure hunting, or pirates who were fond of burning, killing, and plundering, they were unwilling to cause trouble on this island after seeing the Buggy Pirates' flag flying high. It wouldn't be surprising what this "ruthless" pirate would do next, since he could even meddle in the internal affairs of Fish-Man Island. Having already gone through so much hardship to get close to the New World, no one wanted to stop here and end their pirate journey.

It's always better to avoid trouble.

Meanwhile, Ryugu Palace, Neptune was also full of enthusiasm for the sweeping renovation plan of Fish-Man Street. He wanted to get involved in everything, even the construction industry, which he knew nothing about, and he kept offering suggestions. Of course, most of the time his opinions were rejected by the craftsmen, but he still enjoyed it.

The capture of Vander Decken IX, who harassed his daughter Shirahoshi; the transformation of Fish-Man Street; the powerful protection granted to Fish-Man Island; the Reverie two years later—thinking about all these wonderful things, he barely slept for five days. Every night, he tossed and turned, finally waking up in bed laughing out loud.

This was probably the happiest thing that had happened to him in recent years.

Because of Vander Decken IX's imprisonment, Shirahoshi no longer had to hide in the Hard-Shell Tower in fear and anxiety, and the smile on her face became more and more frequent.

She was timid and prone to tears, but after learning of Vander Decken IX's capture, she felt immense gratitude towards Buggy and, fueled by her curiosity about this visitor from the sea, she had been asking him many questions these past few days.

"Lord Buggy, is the blue sky over the sea as blue as it is on Fish-Man Island?"

"Lord Buggy, aren't the white clouds over the sea more beautiful?"

"Buggy, I've heard there are many other strange creatures on the sea. Do they have three heads and six arms?"

"Lord Buggy, are there many islands in the ocean? Are they even bigger than Fish-Man Island?"

"Lord Buggy..."

Shirahoshi's questions are mostly compared to Fish-Man Island, or for her, who has been living in the Hard-Shell Tower for many years, the small Fish-Man Island is her whole world, and even that world is only remembered from the last time she saw it eight years ago.

Buggy was naturally eager to curry favor with this [Poseidon], but faced with Shirahoshi's almost incessant questioning, he became dizzy and couldn't help but shout, "Enough! That's enough for today!"

Upon hearing Buggy's reprimand, Shirahoshi's eyes immediately filled with tears of grievance. Her voice trembled with a weak sob as she softly apologized, "Lord Buggy... I'm so sorry..."

"..."

Buggy paused for a moment, then his voice immediately became very kind and gentle, sounding like a father giving advice and guidance to his child. "I'm not blaming you, Shirahoshi. May I ask you a question?"

"What... question do you want to ask me?" Shirahoshi immediately stopped crying and asked softly.

"These past few days, you've asked me so many questions, and I've answered them all, haven't I?"

"Um."

What do you think of my answer?

"I never knew what the outside world was like, or how it would differ from my imagination. But you told me so much, and I realized, oh, there are so many interesting things in this world! There are colorful Rainbow Fish, islands floating in the sky, islands that are summer all year round, and islands that are winter all year round. Sometimes it's windy, sometimes it rains, sometimes it's foggy... These are all things I didn't know before. Lord Buggy has answered all my questions for so many years. I..." Shirahoshi choked up again as she spoke, "I am so grateful to you!"

Buggy shook his head. "My opinion is exactly the opposite of yours. I think my vocabulary is far too limited, completely insufficient to describe even a fraction of this real and beautiful world. I think you should see for yourself what this world is really like, experience it with all your senses, instead of absorbing information from other people's words and constructing an unreal, ultimately collapsing fantasy world. Do you understand what I mean?"

Shirahoshi was completely stunned. "Experience the world through your senses?"

"Hmm..." A sly glint flashed in Buggy's eyes, his words brimming with seduction, "When you feel you can stand on your own, come find me in the New World, and I'll show you the sights of this world... let you see a vibrant and colorful world."

"Really..."

Hearing Buggy's promise, Shirahoshi's heart was filled with excitement and joy as she longed for the outside world. She quickly wiped away her tears and tried her best to appear mature. "Lord Buggy, I will definitely listen to you and become independent as soon as possible so I can see that beautiful world outside!"

It's a deal.

"Okay, it's a deal!"

Shirahoshi hooked her little finger with Buggy's, a very happy expression on her face—probably the happiest she had smiled in years.

At that moment, a soldier from the Ryugu Palace approached and respectfully said to Buggy, "Lord Buggy, His Majesty Neptune requests your presence."

Buggy nodded, said goodbye to Shirahoshi, and headed towards the Ryugu Palace under the guidance of the soldiers.

"It wasn't me looking for you." Neptune, seated on his throne, hesitated upon seeing Buggy. "It was Jinbe..."

Buggy raised an eyebrow. "What does he want with me?"

"You should talk to him about this..." Neptune handed over the Den Den Mushi.

"Hello." Buggy calmly took the Den Den Mushi.

"Lord Buggy, this is Jinbe." The person on the other end clearly recognized Buggy's voice, and their tone was quite serious. "We must have met a few times during the Marineford War, haven't we?"

Buggy said calmly, "That's right, you did a lot to save Ace."

Jinbe said, "I have come to see you because I heard that you are now protecting Fish-Man Island under the banner of the Shichibukai. For this, I express my heartfelt gratitude!"

"You're welcome," Buggy replied casually.

"However, there's one more thing, about Hody Jones..." Jinbe paused, suppressing his excitement, and said with a questioning tone, "I heard you completely destroyed Fish-Man Street and the New Fish-Man Pirates... Is that true?!"

"So what if it is, so what if it isn't..." Buggy, somewhat annoyed. "I don't need to report to you, do I?"

"That seems to be it. Hody Jones has been taken to Whole Cake Island by Baron Tamago and imprisoned by Big Mom as a prisoner. That's how I found out about it."

Jinbe took a deep breath. "I don't know why you did this... Perhaps you don't realize that the conflict between humans and Fish-Man has existed for two hundred years. Your intervention and destruction, representing humanity, will only make the Fish-Man more fearful, resentful, and disgusted with humans. In the long run, the differences between the two sides will only continue to widen and deepen, eventually becoming irreconcilable... This war probably started because of your selfish desires, but now it has caused incalculable consequences. I cannot stop what happened in the past, but I do not want such things to happen again in the future. I beg you... please stop attacking the Fish-Man on Fish-Man Island. Let this island have more peace and understanding!"

"Jinbe, you can no longer protect Fish-Man Island, so stop making presumptuous statements..."

Buggy sneered. "I really don't like your tone. Let me tell you, conflicts never disappear. They've always been, are, and will always be. Even the history of a race's internal development is a cycle of division and reunification, let alone between races. There's never been lasting peace in the world. Humans and Fish-Man might understand each other someday, but it's definitely not the 'false peace' you're talking about now. Even if I don't attack Hody Jones, this conflict will eventually erupt. I'm just pulling this evil seedling out of the way ahead of time."

"I know that Hody Jones has always harbored deep resentment towards humans. He is the embodiment of the accumulated resentment of the Fish-Man... Even if you defeat and crush him, an even more powerful embodiment of resentment will still appear, stirring up a bloodbath!"

"Don't get me wrong... I'm not interested in the conflict between Fish-Man and humans, nor do I have any intention of getting involved in it. I only cleared out Fish-Man Street because it's my territory. Jinbe... you don't naively think I'm a kind-hearted pirate, do you?"

"I have never thought of such a thing..." Jinbe paused for a moment, then said righteously, "But Fish-Man Island -Fish-Man Island is my home, home to millions of my compatriots. It is my inescapable responsibility to ensure its future is filled with hope..."

"Hmph." Buggy snorted and tossed the Den Den Mushi to Neptune. "Neptune, you talk to him."

Neptune took the Den Den Mushi. "Jinbe, I've already discussed this with Buggy. I will periodically send volunteer Fish-Man to accompany Buggy to the New World. Otohime is right; what we lack between us and humans is [communication]. As more and more of my people understand humans and no longer avoid them, this [hope] of coexisting with them will eventually be passed down to future generations. At that time, everything will be completely different. I have no objection to what Lord Buggy has proposed."

"Is... is that so? I see..."

After a long silence, Jinbe spoke as if he had realized something, "It seems I was wrong, terribly wrong..."

"If you feel guilty..." Buggy added casually into the Den Den Mushi, "Come with me. Perhaps you'll see a whole new future..."