Glug...
A bubble rose, illuminating a dimly lit, quiet street where menacing-looking Fish-Man walked.
In a dark and cramped room, several fierce-looking, powerful Fish-Man sat on chairs in the lobby, with three others standing below them. The one in the middle wore a round black hat, the one on the right had an extremely long neck, a pointed mouth, and green skin, and the one on the left was a drunken Fish-Man.
"... Lord Hody, this is how it is..."
The Fish-Man in the middle bowed his head and respectfully reported the information they had recently gathered to Hody Jones, the blue-skinned, muscular Whale Shark Fish-Man in front of him.
Ta-da-ta-da...
" Luo Chen, one of the Shichibukai? Interesting..."
Hody sat in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table with an inscrutable expression.
"Hey, Zeo... how's our plan going? Will that guy affect our ability to continue carrying out that plan?"
A moment later, Hody turned to the Japanese Fish-Man executive Zeo, who had many black and white stripes, a tattoo on his right leg, and a "02" tattoo on his chest, and asked him a question.
"It's alright. There's still over a year, almost two years, before the plan is fully implemented. As long as they don't stay here for an extended period, it won't have any impact on us."
After thinking for a moment, Zeo replied.
"Is that so? Alright, then I, as the leader, will give you all an order: before those pirates leave, try your best not to have any contact with them. Just stay here and wait for them to leave. Also, try to keep your men in check. Understand, men?!"
Upon hearing this, Hody nodded and then loudly gave the order to everyone in the room.
"Oh~"
Everyone standing in the room was either a high-ranking official or an important subordinate. Hody's direct order to them was tantamount to issuing a command to the entire dark forces of Fish-Man Island. After everyone unanimously agreed, the room fell silent once again.
Turning to Luo Chen and his group, just as they stepped off the coral reef where their ship was docked and entered Coral Hill, they noticed several small tails following them. However Luo Chen and Phil pretended not to know anything about them and let them follow and monitor them.
Dududu...
Dududu...
Click!!
"Hello, it's me... Hmm, I understand. I'll go and extend the invitation right away. Rest assured, I will guarantee the mission's successful completion!"
Click...
Suddenly, a sound came from the Fish-Man soldier's pocket. He immediately looked around carefully and, seeing that no one was paying attention to him, cautiously answered the Den Den Mushi. After receiving the invitation from the other party and speaking quietly, he hung up the phone and, no longer concealing his whereabouts, walked towards Luo Chen and the others who were wandering around.
clatter...
"Huh?! After following me for so long, you finally decided to come out?"
Hearing footsteps behind him, Luo Chen turned around and saw the Fish-Man soldier who had been following them and the Right Minister, an important official of Fish-Man Island. They finally came out to meet Luo Chen and his group, led by the Right Minister. Upon seeing this, Luo Chen's lips curled up slightly, and he looked at him with a smile.
"Looks like you all noticed what I was doing just now..."
Upon hearing this, the Right Minister knew from Luo Chen's words that their whereabouts had already been exposed, but he remained calm and replied with a composed gaze.
"That's right. From the moment you decided to follow us, I had already been fully aware of your every move. The only reason I didn't expose you was to see what you were really up to!"
Seeing the Right Minister so calm, Luo Chen was also taken aback, but then calmed down after thinking about his identity, and continued.
"Well, since our whereabouts have already been exposed, we will no longer follow you. I have received orders from the Ryugu Palace to invite Mr. Luo Chen and everyone else to the Ryugu Palace for a discussion. King Neptune of the Fish-Man Race specifically instructed us to invite you there with utmost respect. King Neptune, along with the three princes and Boss Jinbe, have already prepared a banquet there to properly welcome you..."
Just as the Right Minister finished speaking, a sea beast carriage sped through the sky and came to a stop in front of everyone. He stepped forward and waved his hand in invitation.
"..."
After exchanging glances, the group all looked at Luo Chen, leaving the decision-making power to him.
"Alright, since our host has so kindly extended the invitation, how can we, as guests, refuse? Let's go and experience the hospitality of Fish-Man Island!"
After a moment's thought, Luo Chen made his decision.
"Okay!!"
Since the captain had already made the decision, the crew members naturally wouldn't go against him and all nodded in agreement to the invitation.
The group quickly boarded the ship and, propelled by sea monsters floating in soap bubbles, sped towards the Ryugu Palace.
Wow...
On the dilapidated and decaying ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman, Vanda Decken stared anxiously outside for a long time, completely absorbed in his fantasy of intercepting Luo Chen, impersonating them, and entering the Ryugu Palace to meet Shirahoshi. A drop of water trickled from the corner of his mouth before he asked his subordinates.
"Aren't we there yet? How far is the Ryugu Palace now? I can't wait to see my adorable Princess Shirahoshi..."
"Uh... please wait a little longer, Captain Decken. I'm hurrying along, and we'll reach the Ryugu Palace Luo Chen less than half an hour."
The Fish-Man's subordinate rubbed his hands together as he approached cautiously and replied.
"Damn it, there's still half an hour left! You all better hurry up! My Shirahoshi is still waiting for me, her future husband, to propose inside the Hard-Shell Tower..."
Hearing that there would be some time, Vanda Decken's face showed impatience as he loudly pointed at his men.
"Yes..."
Those people had no choice but to do their best to speed up the Flying Dutchman as much as possible, hoping to get there before Luo Chen and his group arrived at the Ryugu Palace.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, more than half an hour had passed. The Ryugu ship that Luo Chen and his group were on had arrived at the special passage connecting Fish-Man Island and Ryugu Palace. Under the verification of the operators, the passage slowly opened, and the sea beasts pulled them in as they prepared to swim in.
"Stop right there..."
Just as the sea monster had half its body inside and was about to be completely inside, a sharp shout came from not far away, followed by a dilapidated pirate ship rushing towards them from the side at Extreme Speed.
"Huh?! Who is it?"
When Luo Chen and his entourage, along with the Right Minister who was accompanying them, saw the dilapidated ship that had suddenly appeared before their eyes, and it seemed that there were still people staying inside, they couldn't help but ask.
"Who am I? Hehehehe, since you're so eager to know my identity, then this great one will generously show you..."
Upon hearing this, the voice inside paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. After laughing, a four-legged, ugly, and lewd-looking merman uncle wearing a black bowler hat and green clothes appeared before everyone.
Uh... you are...
Upon seeing Vanda Decken's face, the Right Minister instantly became excited.
Who is he?
Everyone else except Luo Chen looked confused, and the Right Minister asked a question.
"Uh... you don't even recognize me? I'm a descendant of the great pirate Vanda Decken I from hundreds of years ago, and the most vicious criminal on Fish-Man Island, Vanda Decken IX! How dare you little pirates say you don't know me?! This is outrageous!!"
When Vanda Decken heard that these people didn't recognize him, he became furious and started yelling at them hysterically.