The morning after the Straw Hat Pirates left Hachinosu,
Before dawn, the sound of winches turning could be heard through the thin mist of the harbor.
Roy stood on the dock, his Kyros stood silently behind him, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Crocodile emerged from the mist, his Golden Hook appearing and disappearing in the fog:
"Our informants in Elbaf are already in place; the World Government is moving faster than we anticipated."
At least three CP fleets have entered the New World, all heading towards Elbaf.
The Five Elders show no signs of leaving Mary Geoise yet, but Holy Knights have been mobilized.
Roy nodded after listening:
"Keep Bullet and the others where they are. No one is allowed to leave Hachinosu without my order."
Inform Tesoro to raise the port security level to the highest level, requiring all ships entering and leaving the port to undergo double-checking.
"Clear."
"But if you're going to Fish-Man Island, is now really the right time?"
"Now is the perfect time."
Roy turned around, his tone flat.
The World Government's attention is entirely focused on Luffy; the fighting in Elbaf hasn't even started yet, and everyone's eyes are on the Giant Kingdom.
If I go to Fish-Man Island now, no one will notice.
Crocodile didn't say anything more.
Roy gestured to Kyros, and the two boarded a specially made submarine that had been waiting in the port.
The ship is entirely black, and its streamlined hull is covered with ocean current control runes produced by Vegapunk Laboratories, enabling it to sail at speeds far exceeding those of ordinary ships in the deep sea.
The hatch closed, and the submarine silently slid beneath the surface of the sea.
On the second day of the voyage, Kyros's Observation Haki suddenly twitched.
"There's something ahead." He opened his eyes.
Roy put down the data in his hand and walked to the observation window.
Visibility in the deep sea is very low, but with Telekinesis, chaotic energy fluctuations could indeed be detected in a small area of the sea not far away.
The ripples from exploding shells, the desperate struggles of humans, the sound of iron cages slamming against the ship's deck.
"Human traffickers," Roy uttered three words.
The submarine approached silently.
In the crevice between two trenches, a fishing boat flying an unidentified flag was hauling several large iron cages with its nets.
Several Fish-Man, men and women, were locked in a cage. The youngest looked to be only a teenager, and their scales gleamed faintly in the dim seawater.
Kyros.
Kyros nodded, the hatch opened, and Roy Telekinesis to isolate himself from the seawater, allowing him to walk on water as if on flat ground. In a flash, he disappeared into the deep sea.
Seconds later, the hull of the fishing boat was sliced in two by a flash of sword light. Before the screams on the sea could even spread, the boat was swallowed up by the surging seawater.
When Kyros returned, the Fish-Man had already been released from their iron cages and were staring in shock at the person they had never seen before.
One of the older Fish-Man asked, trembling:
"Who... who are you?"
" Hachinosu." Kyros said only this, then turned and went back into the ship.
Roy did not reappear.
The ship continued to dive, and the rescued Fish-Man stood there stunned until the submarine's taillights disappeared into the deep sea. Only then did they seem to wake from a dream and swim towards Fish-Man Island.
By the evening of the following day, the outline of Fish-Man Island appeared in front of the observation window.
Even for Roy, this wasn't the first time he had seen this miraculous island located 10,000 meters below the surface of the ocean.
The entire island is enveloped in a double layer of soap bubble shields, and the coral forest glows softly in the deep blue light of the sea. Schools of small fish swim past the shields like flowing ribbons of color.
The submarine passed through the outer protective shield and slowly docked at the port Ryugu Palace.
At the harbor, King Neptune was already waiting with his men.
This enormous Fish-Man king, even when bent over, was still much taller than everyone else present. Standing beside him were Queen Otohime, the three Poseidon brothers— Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi —as well as a group of elite royal guards.
"Lord Roy."
Neptune's voice was deep and resonant, carrying the air of a king.
" Neptune, long time no see," Roy said with a smile as he stepped off the ship.
"Yes! Long time no see!"
Neptune responded with a smile.
Please come with me.
The group headed towards the main hall of the Ryugu Palace.
The main hall of the Ryugu Palace remains as magnificent as ever.
The coral pillars soared to the top, and the pearls embedded in the dome emitted a soft light. Two rows of guards stood straight, their eyes falling on Roy in unison.
Roy didn't beat around the bush.
" Fish-Man Island is no longer safe."
Roy stood in the center of the hall, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally settling on King Neptune.
" The World Government will soon be free to deal with this."
Fish-Man Island, as one of the gateways to the New World, will undoubtedly be their first target for reckoning.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
The ministers on either side exchanged glances, and the third brother of the Fukaboshi, the Manboshi, muttered something under his breath.
King Neptune was silent for a moment:
"Lord Roy, the World Government has always been wary of our Fish-Man Island."
But this kind of reckoning shouldn't go to such lengths...
" Poseidon," Roy interrupted him softly.
The moment those four words were uttered, the temperature in the main hall seemed to drop several degrees instantly.
Neptune's expression changed, Queen Otohime's shoulders trembled slightly, and even Fukaboshi subconsciously took a step forward.
Roy continued:
This secret is no longer a secret.
The World Government have been waiting for a reason.
When they take action against Fish-Man Island, everyone will think it's only natural.
You won't get any outside help, and you have no room to resist.
King Neptune closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Roy looked at the old king who had guarded Fish-Man Island for decades, and softened his voice:
"In the sea area controlled by Hachinosu, there are three uninhabited islands, which are quite large and suitable for the Fish-Man Race to live in."
I will send a fleet to provide support, and supplies will be guaranteed for at least three years.
Your Fish-Man Island remains, as a second home, and you are still free, just in a safer place.
"Not a vassal." Neptune opened his eyes and repeated softly.
"Not a vassal." Roy nodded.
Silence fell over the hall once more.
The ministers on either side huddled together and whispered. Fukaboshi clenched his fists, seemingly wanting to say something, but was pulled back by Ryuboshi.
Neptune did not answer immediately. He leaned on the armrests of the throne, slowly rose to his feet, and his fishtail lightly patted the ground.
"Let this old man... think about it."
Roy didn't rush him.
"I've heard Princess Shirahoshi is on the island," he suddenly said. "Could I see her?"
Neptune's pupils contracted slightly.
Shirahoshi stayed inside the coral tower all day and didn't come out.
King Neptune eventually agreed.
Queen Otohime led Roy through the long corridors of the Ryugu Palace. The deeper they went, the more abundant the coral became, and the softer its colors grew.
" Shirahoshi... she's never been very willing to meet outsiders since she was little."
Queen Otohime said softly,
"Please forgive me if I have been impolite in any way."
"Won't."
Otohime stopped at the entrance to the Coral Terrace, gestured for Roy to enter, and did not go in herself.