The navy sailed into the deep, and the Fish-Men pledged their hearts to the empire! (Part two)

For the next three days, the Hua Empire's fleet did not rest for a moment.

Zhou Yu held detailed discussions with King Neptune and Jinbe about establishing diplomatic relations, finalizing trade and mutual assistance treaties between the empire and Fish-Man Island. Gan Ning and Zhang Liao, meanwhile, led the imperial navy in a systematic sweep of the waters ten thousand meters deep around Fish-Man Island.

Whether they were pirate crews that had fled from the New World or mercenary bands specializing in capturing Fish-Men and Merfolk to sell to traffickers supplying the Celestial Dragons, Gan Ning and Zhang Liao wiped them all out with devastating force, without exception.

In the waters ten thousand meters deep around Fish-Man Island, Gan Ning unleashed the full power of his Kyogre Fruit. He could freely manipulate deep-sea currents, draw seawater into terrifying whirlpools, and turn it into blades that could cut through anything. Even pirates hiding in trenches ten thousand meters deep were easily dragged out and slain with a single sweep of his halberd.

Zhang Liao's Zacian Sacred Sword cleaved open countless caves where pirates hid. Even hulls coated in Armament Haki were split in two with a single stroke.

In three days, the pirates who had plagued the waters around Fish-Man Island for decades were completely eradicated, with not a single survivor.

As the people of Fish-Man Island watched the imperial navy slaughter every last one of those wicked pirates, and saw their stolen wealth and abducted kin returned one by one, their gratitude toward the Hua Empire grew ever deeper.

On the fourth day, Liu Bei also arrived at Fish-Man Island with his escort fleet.

He went into action the moment he arrived. Seeing the island's soil, impoverished by years without sunlight, and the Fish-Men left permanently disabled or gravely ill