Vander Decken IX

"New Fish-Man Pirates? Have they already started moving?"

After talking, Moonlight learned why Jinbe had been waiting for them here, while Jinbe also learned what Moonlight and the others had gone through.

Especially when he heard that Moonlight and the others had encountered the New Fish-Man Pirates at the entrance, a sharp glint flashed through his eyes! Clearly, he knew of this pirate crew—and knew them very well.

Moonlight and Robin also understood that Jinbe had sent word for them and waited here simply because he wanted to see how much the Straw Hat Crew had grown over the past two years! Especially their captain, Straw Hat Kid Luffy!

As for why, Jinbe had not said it, but Moonlight already understood.

Just as Shanks had wagered one of his arms on Luffy, Jinbe was wagering the fate of Fish-Man Island on Luffy as well.

Whether because of Fish-Man Island's history, or because after the Marineford War Jinbe had once again been stripped of his Shichibukai title and branded an enemy of the World Government, or because Whitebeard had died and Fish-Man Island, having lost its protection, had become a place of chaos once more.

As captain of the Sun Pirates and protector of Fish-Man Island, he had to make plans for Fish-Man Island's future!

He had set his sights on Luffy and the others!

Of course, Moonlight was the only one who could understand Jinbe's intentions.

Robin, however, was completely bewildered. She could not understand what Jinbe, this whale shark, meant, but all her attention was focused on the Poneglyph. Before a Poneglyph, she had no room in her eyes for anything else!

Moonlight nodded to Jinbe to show that he understood, then studied the Poneglyph together with Robin.

Of course, Robin did most of the translating while he committed it to memory.

Yet what disappointed him was that, rather than historical material, this Poneglyph was more like a letter of apology.

It was an apology from someone named Joy Boy, who had lived during the Void Century. He had once made a promise with Fish-Man Island's Mermaid Princess, but because he could not fulfill it, he left this apology behind! However, through her analysis, Robin ultimately concluded that the Mermaid Princess was Poseidon, one of the three Ancient Weapons!

She possessed the terrifying ability to communicate with enormous Sea Kings, and there was also the colossal ship Noah, which was half the size of Fish-Man Island.

That answer was already shocking enough, yet Moonlight shook his head.

So far, he had obtained two Poneglyphs in total. The first had been in the underground royal palace of Alabasta, while the second had been on Skypiea. The one in the Alabasta Kingdom recorded the existence of Pluton, one of the three Ancient Weapons, while Franky had already memorized its exact construction method. The Poneglyph on Skypiea had been in the Golden City Shandora, where Roger had also left his mark.

This was the third Poneglyph. Though it merely recorded a simple letter of repentance, Moonlight sensed something from it.

This Joy Boy had lived during the vanished hundred years of history, and he had made a promise with Poseidon of that era.

How could someone capable of making a promise with Poseidon be ordinary? Combined with what Dragon had told him, Moonlight could more or less make a guess. This person was very likely a member of the Clan of D! Of course, it was only a guess! He needed more Poneglyphs!

"If that's really the case, then it explains why the Clan of D are called the enemies of the gods. If the Celestial Dragons who formed the World Government a hundred years ago were called gods, then the Clan of D were their natural enemies, opposing them. The Clan of D possessed the ability to control the three Ancient Weapons—Poseidon, Pluton, and Uranus—and fought against the gods. Although they failed, they must have shaken the gods' rule. That is why those hundred years were forcibly erased: to prevent anything that could shake them from appearing again in the future..."

Moonlight analyzed.

Though there was no evidence whatsoever for this analysis, logically, that was how it had to be!

"Th-this..."

Robin was immediately stunned by Moonlight's analysis. If that was true, it was far too terrifying! Yet Moonlight's reasoning made perfect sense, and she could not refute it at all! Unless she found evidence, the conclusion Moonlight had reached would be the truth!

But Moonlight shook his head. It was probably not just that!

If Luffy's mother was that person, then it would be utterly unbelievable! And the Sea Devil... was that her too?

Moonlight shook his head again, feeling that the closer he came to the truth, the more unbelievable it became!

Of course, only after finding all the Poneglyphs and restoring the truth of history would he truly understand everything! What exactly had happened during those vanished hundred years? "Bang!"

At that moment, a tremendous sound suddenly came from outside the Sea Forest, and an enormous figure entered the three people's sight.

It was a gigantic mermaid with flowing pink hair styled like taiyaki, blue eyes, and a pink fish tail shaded in light and dark hues. She was incomparably beautiful—and incomparably huge!

The Mermaid Princess, Shirahoshi! "Why is she here? Luffy?"

Moonlight's heart stirred. At the same time, he spotted Luffy standing atop Shirahoshi, tiny as an ant, and immediately understood. Luffy must have brought her here!

"Jinbe, Moonlight, Robin, you're here!"

"Boss Jinbe!"

At that moment, Luffy spotted Moonlight, Robin, and Jinbe. He leaped down from Shirahoshi and called out.

"Luffy!"

Moonlight and Robin greeted him, and Jinbe nodded as well. But when he saw Shirahoshi, his expression immediately turned grave again. Why was she here?

Had Luffy brought her here?

This was nonsense!

Others might not know her true identity and ability, but he did!

She was Poseidon! She possessed the terrifying power to summon Sea Kings, though this power would only awaken once she reached adulthood! But before he could speak, Nami, Sanji, Chopper, Franky, Camie, and Hachi arrived as well! They all looked somewhat bedraggled, and Hachi had suffered severe injuries!

"What happened?"

Jinbe looked at Hachi and asked.

"Hody and the others wanted me to join the New Fish-Man Pirates. When I refused, Vander Decken IX attacked me and nearly killed me. They saved me. Jinbe, stop Hody quickly! They've already attacked Ryugu Palace. They're going to start a war and overthrow the current Fish-Man Island!"

Upon hearing this, Hachi told them everything that had happened.

It turned out he had ended up in this state because he had refused Hody Jones's recruitment. And Hody Jones had already started a war, intending to overthrow Fish-Man Island's current rule and make enemies of all humanity!

From now on, fish-men would stand against humanity!

"Luffy, why are you here?"

Sanji, Nami, and the others looked at Luffy. After being scattered by the ocean current, they had each had their own encounters.

Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, and Brook should have been together.

Why was Luffy the only one here now?

Where were the others?

"Hey, hey, hey, Luffy, don't tell me you went off on your own again and left them behind?"

Nami suddenly had a bad feeling! Knowing Luffy, it really was possible! Sure enough, Luffy nodded seriously. "There was nothing I could do. The king invited us to Ryugu Palace. I thought there would be a grand feast, but it never came. I got too hungry, so I went looking for food myself. Then I met this scaredy-cat, and after that, I ended up here!"

"..."

"I knew it!"

"Just as expected!"

"Can we get a different captain?"

Hearing Luffy's words, Sanji and the others were left speechless.

Yet Luffy did not notice anything at all and did not think there was a problem.

Instead, Jinbe suddenly said, "They're still at Ryugu Palace? This is bad. If things are as Hachi says, and Hody's people have already begun acting, then they've probably already reached Ryugu Palace!"

Hachi had been rescued, while Luffy and the others had been at Ryugu Palace. There was a very high chance they had run into Hody's group!

If that was the case, the war on Fish-Man Island had likely already begun. Ryugu Palace was probably a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood by now!

"Is that so? Then what are we waiting for? Let's go back immediately!"

Upon hearing that, Luffy and the others grew anxious and prepared to rush straight to Ryugu Palace!

Jinbe had wanted to stop them, but upon seeing Moonlight, he fell silent! With a man like Moonlight here, Hody Jones and the others' scheme was destined to fail!

"Swish!"

But at that moment, Moonlight suddenly drew his sword! He slashed at Shirahoshi! The strike was swift and fierce, and no one had time to react. They could only watch as Moonlight attacked, about to cut Shirahoshi. Luffy hurriedly stood in front of Shirahoshi, unable to understand why Moonlight would do such a thing! "Moonlight!"

Sanji and the others cried out in alarm, but in the next moment, they understood Moonlight's intention! As Moonlight slashed toward Shirahoshi, a gigantic axe appeared three feet from Shirahoshi's forehead, and Moonlight's sword struck the axe exactly!

Moreover, if Moonlight had not acted in time, that axe would have struck Shirahoshi. Even if she had not died, she would have been gravely injured. It could be said that Moonlight had saved Shirahoshi!

"What is this?"

Everyone was shocked.

What was going on? If Moonlight had not suddenly acted, Shirahoshi would have been in serious trouble!

"It's him!"

Shirahoshi began trembling, her huge body quivering! Though she was enormous, she was timid beyond belief! The moment she saw the axe, she wanted to retreat back into her hard shell!

Over the years, she had suffered far too many attacks like this!

"Scaredy-cat, how long are you going to hide? I'll protect you!"

Seeing this, Luffy clenched his fists and shouted!

"Lord Luffy!"

Shirahoshi could not help looking at Luffy. But Luffy was looking toward a man descending from the sky—a man in a tiny top hat, with upturned hair, a beard, and multiple necklaces hanging from his body. He stared at Shirahoshi, his face full of greed and desire!

"Hehehehe, Shirahoshi, are they the helpers you invited? Before me, they're useless. You're going to marry me..."

Vander Decken IX laughed. The moment he appeared, his gaze never left Shirahoshi, and there was no one else in his eyes—not even Luffy and the others.