Demoted to a Corporate Drone, Never a Day Off

In the Dragon Palace, Neptune, the three princes, and Luo Wen were discussing matters in a palace.

After Nami and the other girls resolved the crisis for the New Fish-Man Pirates, they began to explore Fish-Man Island again. They also took the opportunity to visit the Sea Forest so that Robin could see the Poneglyph there.

Inside the Dragon Palace.

"Neptune, what are you planning to do with those Fish-Man?"

Luo Wen took a sip of water and said in a deep voice.

Neptune and the three princes exchanged glances and pondered for a moment.

Although those Fish-Man wanted to seize Fish-Man Island, they were, after all, their own people.

And with so many people, it's really difficult to manage.

"Maybe we should just let them go."

"They are my people too; they've all been misled by Hody Jones."

Neptune sighed; his heart had softened.

Since it didn't cause too much damage, we let it go.

As for wanting to kill his entire family, well, they haven't done it yet, have they?

"Um..."

Do you have a son named Jesus?

Luo Wen stared at Neptune with a deathly gaze, utterly speechless.

This guy is even more saintly than the Virgin Mary.

The statue of the Virgin Mary in the cathedral should be sculpted in the likeness of Neptune.

Everyone wants to seize your throne and slaughter the entire royal family.

Such a deep-seated hatred, if it were directed at him, wouldn't be an exaggeration to use the Nine-Clan Stripping Technique.

With such indecisiveness, it's no wonder Fish-Man Island hasn't developed.

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

"We don't have enough manpower to lock them all up. And I really can't bring myself to kill them all!"

Neptune said with a wry smile.

He also knew that most of these Fish-Man were not clean, and that their crimes weren't limited to today.

But the entire Fish-Man Island only has 5 million residents, and he can't spare the manpower to guard 70,000 to 80,000 criminals.

They couldn't bring themselves to kill 2% of the Fish-Man Island's population.

"In that case, let them undergo labor reform to atone for their sins."

After a moment's thought, Luo Wen offered a solution.

If Neptune doesn't want to kill, then he won't.

But letting those Fish-Man go would be detrimental to governance.

"Labor reform?"

Neptune didn't understand what Luo Wen meant.

"Simply put, it means making them perform high-intensity, unpaid labor, with the profits used to compensate for their mistakes."

"Taking the intensity of mining work as an example, each person needs to work 16 hours a day and complete sufficient targets. After ten years, they can finish the rehabilitation and start anew."

"For other tasks, in terms of intensity, we need to increase working hours and extend the renovation period."

Luo Wen took a sip of water to moisten his throat and gave a brief explanation.

This was his punishment: demoting these Fish-Man to wage slaves. Still wage slaves, they had to pay their own way to work.

Let them keep working, keep working until they die.

What? You're saying I can start over in ten years?

Living for 16 hours a day mining for two years is already an achievement.

Such people should normally be called slaves.

But Luo Wen is now Neptune's sun god, and calling him a slave would damage his image.

"..."

Neptune stared at Luo Wen in shock, as if he were looking at a monster.

Mining is such an intense job that you have to work sixteen hours a day for ten years before you can be considered a human being again.

Is it really possible for anyone to complete such labor reform?

You should know that on their Fish-Man Island, even the most strenuous work isn't as tiring as mining; they only work a maximum of eight hours a day.

Even so, quite a few Fish-Man still complain about how tiring it is.

"Luo Wen, shouldn't we reconsider? This seems a bit too much."

Neptune asked cautiously.

"Is this going too far? Have you interrogated those Fish-Man leaders? Do you know how many bad things they've done?"

Luo Wen sneered and said disdainfully.

He wiped out most of the New Fish-Man Pirates' officers in one glance, but he didn't have time to search them one by one. Among the remaining 70,000 to 80,000, there must be a few officers among them.

Your wife Queen Otohime, died at the hands of those Fish-Man.

Queen Otohime's wish for humans and Fish-Man to live in harmony was also destroyed by that group of Fish-Man.

"It's already under review, and I believe we'll have a result soon."

Seeing that Luo Wen's tone was unpleasant, Neptune became defiant.

He quickly ordered Fukaboshi, who was standing nearby, to fetch the confession of the Fish-Man cadre.

A moment later, Fukaboshi stormed in, angrily holding a report. "Father, Mother wasn't assassinated by a human, but by Hody Jones!"

Neptune was stunned upon hearing the news.

Back then, it was Hody Jones who claimed that Queen Otohime was assassinated by humans.

Unexpectedly, it was the thief crying "stop thief!"

"Why? Queen Otohime has no grudge against him, does she?"

Neptune asked, bewildered.

He racked his brains but still couldn't figure out Hody Jones's reasons for targeting Queen Otohime.

The reason was simple: Queen Otohime was very helpful, and Hody Jones had received her favors many times.

"That official said that Mom's plan to reconcile with humanity displeased Hody Jones, who hated humans."

"Therefore, he murdered his mother and framed humans to sabotage this plan!"

Fukaboshi was furious and nearly lost his mind.

"Damn it..."

Neptune was about to swear.

Isn't that insane?

If you really hate humans, go fight them! Why the hell did you kill my wife?

"King Neptune, how do you feel about my labor reform program now?"

"Those Fish-Man in the New Fish-Man Pirates all grew up under Hody Jones's influence. Without some discipline, it's hard to guarantee they won't go insane."

Luo Wen looked at the furious Neptune with a half-smile.

Sure enough, people only get anxious when the fire is burning their own backside.

"Your Luo Wen, I will listen to you and make sure they undergo proper labor reform!"

Neptune made up his mind, and his voice became firm.

Queen Otohime said, "Do not pass on hatred to the next generation."

If these crazy Fish-Man are allowed to leave without being reformed, the next generation might all turn into Hody Jones, and then everything would be ruined.

"Let's make it clear beforehand that I'll take a share of the value created by these people, to be used to complete the unfinished work."

Luo Wen's expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice.

Unfinished business?

We definitely need to lend a hand!

Perhaps this will fulfill the Fish-Man's wish to go ashore.

Neptune's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "No problem, all the profits they generate are yours. The treasures of our palace are all yours too!"

"Isn't this a bad idea?"

Luo Wen said somewhat embarrassedly.

In her mind, her little hands frantically tore open the pocket, signaling for the treasure to be handed over.

"There's nothing wrong with that. Luo Wen is now the guardian deity of Fish-Man Island, so it's only right."

"If you don't accept it, we'll feel uneasy."

Neptune was very perceptive.

"Then I shall accept."

Luo Wen nodded and reluctantly accepted it.

That's right, a king must have some brains!

Just because you're so sensible, I've decided you're the father-in-law!