Just as the atmosphere in the tavern was becoming increasingly tense,
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the tavern. Queen Otohime, accompanied by her guards, quickly pushed open the door and, seeing the tense situation, immediately spoke up to stop it.
"Stop!"
Otohime quickly stepped between the two sides, first giving Roy an apologetic look, then turning to Fisher Tiger.
" Fisher Tiger, lead everyone to leave. These are distinguished guests from the Ryugu Palace."
"Your Highness, these humans..."
"I've investigated the matter thoroughly; it was Arlong who was in the wrong first."
Before Otohime could finish Fisher Tiger, Fisher Tiger interrupted him immediately.
She was truly afraid that she might inadvertently anger Roy and the others, at which point the entire Fish-Man Island would face annihilation.
The surrounding Fish-Man boys, hearing the queen's words, also glared angrily at Arlong.
"Damn it, Arlong actually dared to deceive Brother Fisher Tiger!"
After understanding the truth, Fisher Tiger also glared at Arlong, then bowed to Roy and said...
"I was being rash."
Roy nodded, accepting Fisher Tiger's apology.
Roy still held a favorable impression of this Fish-Man Hero who would later dare to climb the Red Line alone to rescue the slaves.
However, if they had dared to make a move just now, Roy wouldn't have minded teaching them a lesson.
Queen Otohime breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the misunderstanding between the two had been cleared up.
She could sense the unfathomable power emanating from Roy; if they were to actually fight, the entire Fish-Man District would likely be reduced to ruins in an instant.
Otohime stepped forward, a smile on her face.
"Thank you for your understanding. I wonder if everyone is settling in well on Fish-Man Island?"
"Not bad, especially the various seafood and the Sea God's Tears."
When Queen Otohime heard Roy's praise of the Fish-Man Island's delicacies, her smile became even more genuine.
She could sense that Roy's words were genuine, which eased her anxiety slightly.
"It is an honor for Fish-Man Island to receive your praise."
Otohime bowed slightly, her posture elegant.
"If you don't mind, His Majesty Neptune and I cordially invite you to visit the Ryugu Palace. We also formally apologize for the misunderstanding earlier."
Upon hearing this, the tavern immediately fell silent.
The boys of Fish-Man District, including Fisher Tiger and Jinbe, all looked surprised. It was rare in Fish-Man Island's history for the Ryugu Palace to take the initiative to invite human pirates.
Savi, Enel, and Pea looked on with curiosity and excitement; Ryugu Palace sounded so grand!
Roy's eyes flickered slightly, and he instantly understood Otohime's intention.
On the one hand, it is indeed to express apology and demonstrate the goodwill of Fish-Man Island.
On the other hand, they probably also wanted to observe this group of "dangerous elements" up close to ensure the safety of Fish-Man Island. After all, they have a reputation, and their strength has only just been revealed.
"What does the boss mean?"
Bullet looked at Roy; he wasn't fond of such official occasions, but he respected Roy's decision.
Hawk Eyes wiped the scabbard of Black Blade Yoru, remaining noncommittal; to him, it didn't matter where he went.
Roy smiled. Since the other party had shown goodwill,
He didn't need to shut people out. Besides, he was indeed somewhat interested in Queen Otohime, who could influence other people's emotions, and the royal family of Fish-Man Island.
"Since Your Highness has so kindly extended the invitation, then we will certainly be in your presence."
"Great! Please follow me."
When Otohime saw Roy accept the invitation, a smile immediately appeared on her face. She turned to Fisher Tiger and the others and said gently...
" Fisher Tiger, you should all go back first. Remember, the future of Fish-Man Island requires understanding and communication, not constant confrontation."
Fisher Tiger nodded silently, gave Roy a deep look, and left the tavern with Jinbe Fish-Man boys.
Under the guidance of Queen Otohime and the guards of the Ryugu Palace,
Roy and the others, riding on a flounder enveloped in a giant bubble, left Fish-Man District and headed towards the Ryugu Palace, located at the top of Fish-Man Island.
Upon entering the Ryugu Palace, King Neptune, a tall figure wielding a golden trident, was already waiting. Behind him were three young mermaid princes— Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi —curiously observing Roy and his companions as they entered.
"Welcome to the Ryugu Palace, Heavenly Dao 'Heavenly Path' Roy, and all of you. I have prepared tea and refreshments in the palace. Please come in."
"You're too kind, Neptune."
Roy nodded slightly as he looked at the tall Neptune and followed him toward the Ryugu Palace.
"Wow! This king is huge!" Tesoro whispered to Roy, "And the queen is only..."
Tesoro gestured to his chest.
Roy glared at Tesoro, "Hey! He's kindly inviting you, show some respect!"
Stella, annoyed, stepped forward, grabbed Tesoro's ear, and dragged him to the back of the line.
The atmosphere inside the Ryugu Palace's reception room was much more relaxed than in the previous tavern.
The Fish-Man girl didn't set out any fancy snacks or drinks; everyone took their seats according to their status as guests and hosts.
Queen Otohime even personally poured wine for Roy.
" Roy, if I may be so bold, what are your views on the relationship between the Fish-Man Race and humans?"
This question instantly silenced the meeting room.
Roy picked up the cup of " Sea God's Tears," looked at Queen Otohime, and thought, "You are indeed quite presumptuous to ask a pirate like me."
However, this queen, who has always advocated peaceful coexistence with humans and hoped to lead the Fish-Man onto land one day through negotiations,
Roy was willing to say a few more words, after all, they had always been treated well.
Chen Che gently swirled the wine in his glass, the liquid shimmering under the light.
"In my view, racial conflicts boil down to three things: interests, power, and historical grievances."
"The reason why humans enslave the Fish-Man Race is simply because Fish-Man are naturally strong and excellent laborers, and mermaids are the most favored by the world's nobles, thus allowing them to reap enormous profits."
"And the Fish-Man hate humans because of the bloodshed and humiliation they have suffered over the centuries—these are facts."
Neptune's expression was grave, and a flicker of pain crossed the eyes of his guards. But Roy changed the subject:
"But to lump the entire ethnic group together is the most foolish thing to do."
"Among humans, there are slave traders, but also those willing to treat each other as equals; among Fish-Man, there are extremists, but also wise individuals like the queen who pursue peace."
"On my ship, only strength and loyalty matter, not background."
Bullet crossed his arms and scoffed, "Strong enough naturally earns respect, who cares what race they are!"
Hawk Eyes nodded slightly. "Prejudice stems from weakness. True strength lies only in the obstacles that must be cut down."
Tesoro toyed with his gold ring, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Everyone is equal before gold. So-called discrimination is nothing more than not having enough money."
Stella was relatively mild-mannered. "The sea is so vast, every race has something to learn from it."
The three little Savi nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Hearing these straightforward answers, Otohime, though disagreeing with Roy's view that strength was paramount, still stood up and bowed respectfully:
"Thank you all for your honesty! This makes me even more convinced that communication and understanding are possible. Fish-Man Island will one day walk into the sunlight and truly coexist with humanity!"
"Though the road ahead may be difficult, this is the long-cherished wish of both me and Otohime."
Roy put down his glass and said finally, "Ideals are beautiful, but changing the world requires more than just belief; it requires the strength to break the mold. Good luck to you."