Just off the eastern coast of Hive Island, in the shallow sea not far from the shore.
The weather on Hive Island was beautiful today, and the water was so clear that one could see the seabed beneath the surface with perfect clarity.
Below were houses built from coral, shimmering and dazzling under the sunlight that penetrated the water.
This was a brilliant underwater town.
When the immigrants from Fish-Man Island first migrated to this island, neither fish-men nor mermaids could live underwater—they could only survive on land.
But after all this time, the underwater town had been completed.
Mermaids who couldn't live on land and fish-men who preferred life beneath the waves had all moved into this town.
Johnny carefully groomed his pale yellow hair, making sure every strand was in place.
His wife behind him chuckled, "You didn't even take care of yourself this seriously on our wedding day."
"Don't flatter yourself!" Johnny replied without turning around. "I'm going to meet Lord Ian soon. Do you really think you can compare to him?"
With that, his wife gave him a half-smile and a light kick, pushing him out the door.
Johnny spat angrily toward the house entrance.
"Be back for lunch!"
Leaving a sharp remark behind, he swam up to the sea surface.
Johnny was an octopus fish-man. Though male mermaids could never transform their tails into legs even at thirty, Johnny's tentacles allowed him to move freely on land.
Standing on the soft seabed of the shallow sea, Johnny looked up at the sky.
Sunlight, blue sky, white clouds, sea breeze.
These were things he had never dared to dream of when living on Fish-Man Island, yet now they were right in front of him.
Even after living on Hive Island for a long time, Johnny still felt a surge of excitement in his heart.
He had really come to live at sea—was this what their ancestors had longed for, generation after generation?
Before Lord Ian appeared, he never imagined it would be so simple.
"Have you arrived?"
Someone was already waiting for him on the shore. Jinbei greeted him warmly.
"Brother Jinbei!"
Johnny respectfully returned the greeting.
Since Brother Tiger's death, Jinbei had become the eldest brother of Fish-Man District.
Although Johnny was not from Fish-Man District, he greatly admired this brother.
After all, Jinbei was now a high-ranking officer under Lord Ian, the leader of the eleven pirate crews belonging to Hive Island.
"Let's go. Lord Ian is waiting for you."
Jinbei led him onto the land of Hive Island.
Nervously, Johnny followed behind and couldn't help but ask, "Brother Jinbei, what kind of person is Lord Ian, exactly?"
"Lord Ian?" Jinbei chuckled. "No need to be nervous. He's a kind and tolerant man."
"And this time, he's having you come as a reward."
Johnny carefully nodded, a hint of anticipation appearing on his face.
As Johnny walked through the streets of Hive Island, the scene before him still felt unreal.
On the not-so-wide street, humans and fish-men mingled.
Fish-men and humans walked side by side, chatting and laughing together.
"Yo! Johnny! What are you doing following Boss Jinbei?"
Someone even greeted Johnny first—it was the owner of the town's tavern.
Johnny often went to his tavern to drink, so they were on friendly terms.
"Heh heh," Johnny smiled proudly, "It's something very important, but I can't tell you right now!"
"Pfft! Sounds like you're just bragging! What important thing could you possibly have?"
Back then, Johnny never would have imagined that one day he'd be chatting casually with humans.
At first, when the humans and the fish-man immigrants all came to this island, prejudice and barriers still existed.
In the beginning, humans and fish-men barely interacted. Both sides mostly stayed within their own living areas and didn't communicate at all.
But Hive Island wasn't that big—avoiding contact was impossible.
As time passed, both sides had no choice but to start interacting.
With interaction came understanding.
Humans realized fish-men weren't so different from them—they both bled the same bright red blood, and their languages and cultures were quite similar.
Fish-men and merfolk discovered that not all humans were ruthless villains; at least on this island, most people behaved well.
Contact gradually grew closer, and then it became a habit.
Now, you couldn't say fish-men and humans on this island got along perfectly, but at least there was some harmony.
Many humans had even made friends with fish-men and merfolk.
Johnny was one of them.
That said, it was impossible not to have some peace.
Who would dare cause trouble on this island?
Life here was completely different from that on Fish-Man Island.
Johnny was truly grateful to have answered Lord Ian's call for immigrants and come here.
Soon, Johnny followed Jinbei to the square outside the Skull Building.
The young people under Lord Ian's command were training here.
Johnny watched with curiosity as the children fought fiercely on the plaza.
Though they were just kids, the power they wielded was extraordinary. Many of them even possessed Devil Fruit abilities.
When they fought, they could easily shatter the ground beneath them and break stone pillars.
This is Lord Ian!
Even these children, who might not be considered frontline fighters, possess such strength!
With such thoughts in mind, Johnny stepped into the Skull Building.
This was his first time here.
After all, this building was the headquarters of Lord Ian and his officers. Ordinary people were never allowed inside.
Walking carefully inside, Johnny was cautious not to disturb any important figures.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly. Following Jinbei, he soon arrived before a large-headed doll.
"Mr. Jinbei," The large-headed doll, Tanaka, nodded lightly at Jinbei and then glanced over the somewhat nervous Johnny.
"Lord Ian wants to see him," Jinbei said.
"Then please follow me," Tanaka replied, bowing slightly before turning and heading toward the wall behind him.
At Jinbei's signal, Johnny placed his hand on Tanaka's body, and together they passed through the wall.
It was a truly strange experience. Johnny could clearly feel himself moving upward through the wall.
To be traveling inside a wall like this!
The octopus fishman's mind was filled with astonishment. No wonder Lord Ian was so formidable— even his guides were ability users!
Soon, the two emerged from the wall and arrived before a heavy office door.
Johnny's heart suddenly tightened. An unprecedented nervousness caused sweat to drip down his forehead.
Behind this door was Lord Ian!
One of the invincible Pirate Emperors, ruler of Hive Island!
And also the great benefactor of Fishman Island!
"Come in."
A young man's voice came from inside.
Jinbei pushed the door open.
Johnny quickly followed him inside.
The spacious office wasn't cluttered with many things.
There was a sofa and a coffee table for guests, a huge bookshelf against one wall, and a desk by the window, behind which sat a handsome young man.
**********
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