Good News

"Boss Jinbe..."

Shirahoshi knew of Jinbe, and she knew he was very strong. But the other person was her?

What was there about her that was worth Rune's attention...

"Captain Rune, if you don't need anything else from me, I'll head back first."

Without waiting for Rune to reply, Bonney turned and left. She really did not want to watch Rune and Shirahoshi like this any longer. It was a little too much to bear.

This Rune definitely wanted Shirahoshi to join because she was pretty...

"Lord Rune, I..."

"You can take your time to think it over. I'll be staying on Fish-Man Island for a while. Just make your decision before I leave."

As Rune spoke, he took Shirahoshi's hand and continued sightseeing with her. Only after she grew tired again did he take her back to their lodging and arrange a separate room for her.

After that, Rune went straight to Prince Shark Star.

"I want Shirahoshi to join my crew."

Rune got straight to the point, without any polite preamble. Prince Shark Star looked at Rune with a complicated expression.

Shirahoshi had previously been forced to live inside the Hard-Shell Tower because they had never been able to catch Vander Decken IX. Yet as soon as Rune arrived on Fish-Man Island, he captured him.

"I cannot make the decision on this matter. Please speak with my father."

Although Neptune had entrusted Prince Shark Star with handling the matter, since it concerned Shirahoshi, he still felt that Neptune ought to know.

Led by Prince Shark Star, Rune entered Dragon Palace on Fish-Man Island. Before long, he met the king of Fish-Man Island, Neptune.

"Shark Star, you may leave first."

Neptune looked at Rune. He already knew why Rune had come. Faced with this request from a member of the Whitebeard Pirates, Neptune found himself in something of a headache.

He did not want his daughter to leave Fish-Man Island, but he had no way to directly refuse Rune's request.

"Lord Neptune, you and Pops are friends, so I'll call you Uncle."

Rune smiled faintly and casually found himself a seat. At that moment, he did not seem like someone meeting with a king, but rather a guest visiting a friend's home.

"Give me a reason I can accept."

Neptune looked at Rune and waited for him to speak.

Rune merely smiled. "The reason is simple. Fish-Man Island, as it stands, cannot guarantee Shirahoshi's safety.

"In about a year, the next Reverie will take place. As Fish-Man Island's leader, you, the three princes, and Shirahoshi will all have to attend."

Rune looked at Neptune. "What do you think the Celestial Dragons will do if they see Shirahoshi?"

At the mention of the Celestial Dragons, Neptune could not help clenching his fists. Rune's concern might have been somewhat premature, but now that Rune had brought it up...

Neptune truly felt that the Celestial Dragons might do something he could not accept.

This was not groundless worry, but an inference based on the Celestial Dragons' past behavior. Nothing they did would be surprising.

Those people had no morality whatsoever.

And if Shirahoshi was not on Fish-Man Island, then naturally she would not need to attend the Reverie.

"Agree to one condition. If you can do it, I will not stand in your way."

"Please, tell me."

Rune looked at Neptune. He believed Neptune had already weighed the pros and cons. If he cared for his daughter, he should let her stay somewhere safer.

"No matter what happens, you must never force Shirahoshi to do something she does not wish to do."

"I'm recruiting companions and crewmates. Of course I'll respect Shirahoshi's wishes. I won't force her to do anything she dislikes."

Rune pulled open his coat, revealing the emblem of the Whitebeard Pirates.

"I stake the honor of my position as captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' Seventeenth Division."

Rune was merely a fledgling kid; his personal honor did not amount to much. But with the name of the Whitebeard Pirates attached, the weight was entirely different.

If Rune failed to keep his promise, Neptune would not even need to pursue the matter.

Whitebeard would personally deal with him.

Neptune had immense faith in Whitebeard. In his eyes, Whitebeard was the greatest man on the seas.

"As long as Shirahoshi is willing to leave with you, I will not stop her."

Neptune sighed. He also understood that having Shirahoshi join the Whitebeard Pirates might be the safer choice for her. At the very least, the protection the Whitebeard Pirates could offer far surpassed that of Fish-Man Island.

"I'll also be waiting on the island for Jinbe. I hope Jinbe can join my crew as well. I heard Pops mention this Knight of the Sea long ago. Both Pops and I hold his character in high regard."

Rune smiled faintly. "In return, I can help you resolve some of Fish-Man Island's hidden dangers."

"You seem to know a great many things."

"Yes, I know a great many things."

Rune smiled faintly. "Shirahoshi is going to be my companion. As her captain, I ought to avenge her mother."

"Do you need the Neptune Army's assistance? Your squad does not seem particularly large."

Rune smiled as powerful Conqueror's Haki suddenly burst forth. As Fish-Man Island's king, Neptune naturally was not knocked unconscious by the pressure, but he was still startled.

This kid was so young, yet the intensity of his Haki already rivaled that of some veteran powerhouses.

"Before me, troops and numbers have no meaning. And by the way, there are people in my squad capable of releasing Conqueror's Haki at the level you just felt."

Rune smiled.

"There are two more."

Naturally, Rune was referring to Luffy and Yamato. Luffy's Conqueror's Haki was still inferior to Rune's, but knocking out a group of ordinary soldiers would not be a problem.

If they were comparing Haki alone, Yamato was actually a little stronger than Rune. Her overall strength was no weaker than his.

"What do you need us to do?"

"I actually do need something."

Rune smiled faintly. "I hope Uncle Neptune can pretend to be ill for a while, then have the three princes put on a public performance of fighting over the throne.

"That way, those lurking beneath the surface will definitely be unable to resist."

Rune did not know Hody Jones's whereabouts, but if he did this, Hody Jones would certainly see it as an opportunity. With Rune around, that little fish would not be able to stir up any waves.

On Fish-Man Island, Hody Jones after taking the Energy Steroids could be considered fairly strong. But someone who might not even be able to defeat Luffy in Gear Second simply had no idea how vast the world was.

Rune was not considered a powerhouse in this world. Compared to admirals, the Four Emperors, or people like Joy Boy and Davy Jones, he still fell far short.

But on Fish-Man Island, Rune was an absolute powerhouse.

After bidding Neptune farewell, Rune returned to his lodging. This time, however, he saw Kuma sitting at the entrance with a smile.

Bonney was eating beside him and had not noticed Rune's return.

"Rune, I have some good news for you."

Kuma smiled faintly, looked at Rune, and slowly rose to his feet.