Ian learned from the newspaper that King Neptune of the Ryugu Kingdom was going to attend the World Summit.
The fact that Fish-Man Island was participating in the World Summit was so shocking that almost every major newspaper reported on it extensively.
The World Summit is held once every four years.
Each time, the World Government invites dozens of kings from allied nations to Mary Geoise to discuss the past four years and decide the government's direction for the next four years.
Strictly speaking, the World Summit is the highest authority of the World Government.
Decisions are made by dozens of kings voting on-site, along with remote votes from all allied nations' kings.
The authority of these decisions surpasses even that of the Five Elders, and the World Government must fully implement them.
Of course, this is only how it works in theory.
Fish-Man Island has been a member of the World Government for a full two hundred years.
Yet in the forty or fifty World Summits held during that time, Fish-Man Island had never received an invitation to attend.
Let alone traveling to Mary Geoise for the Summit, the kings of Fish-Man Island throughout history didn't even have the right to vote remotely.
They couldn't participate in the decisions proposed by the kings at the World Summit — they didn't even have the right to know what was going on.
Everyone else had attended the World Summit — except for you.
It felt like everyone had been invited to a party, except you were left out.
What kind of American-style bullying was this?
But this two-century-long neglect was broken this year.
For the first time in history, Fish-Man Island was invited by the World Government.
And King Neptune of the Ryugu Kingdom officially accepted the invitation and would attend the World Summit.
This was truly an unprecedented event.
Will the relationship between humans and Fish-Man Island finally ease?
Almost every newspaper was discussing this matter.
But Ian just rubbed his temples, feeling a slight headache.
He put down the newspaper and looked somewhat wistfully at the two restless figures sitting on the sofa across from his desk.
"What do you guys think?"
"It's definitely a World Government conspiracy!"
Jinbe and Tiger, who had been invited by Ian to discuss this issue, responded in unison almost immediately.
"Yeah, no matter how you look at it, it's a World Government plot."
Ian sighed softly, "But it seems Neptune doesn't see it that way."
"Both Neptune and Queen Otohime are too naive."
Tiger clenched his teeth.
"Do they really think the World Government wants to ease relations with Fish-Man Island?"
How could that be possible?
Two hundred years of discrimination and oppression don't just vanish overnight.
Tiger knew better than anyone that the Celestial Dragons, residing high in Mariejois, were the largest buyers of fish-man and mermaid slaves in the world.
They bore no goodwill toward Fish-Man Island.
"So what's really going on here?"
Ian was confused too.
This event didn't exist in the original story.
In the original, the World Government's invitation to Fish-Man Island to attend a meeting would only come twelve years later.
By then, Shirahoshi had grown up, and when the Straw Hat crew clashed with the New Fish-Man Pirates, the unrest among the Sea Kings forced the World Government to react.
But why now?
Shirahoshi was only four years old, and the Sea King's powers had not yet awakened at all.
Could it be that the government, realizing the strength of their Fish-Man troops, was planning to create their own Fish-Man army by copying the idea?
"We have to stop King Neptune and Queen Otohime from doing something foolish, Lord Ian!"
Jinbei hurriedly said, "Mary Geoise is far too dangerous!"
"Better to ask the main parties themselves," Ian replied.
He pulled out his Den Den Mushi and made a call.
Fortunately, he had King Neptune's contact information; otherwise, he'd be completely lost right now.
Honestly, Ian didn't really care about what would happen to King Neptune and his wife.
After all, their cooperation with Fish-Man Island was already on track, and even if the country changed its ruler, everything would continue as before.
But these two were Shirahoshi's parents.
The Sea King was extremely important.
The call connected quickly.
"Ian?"
Neptune's voice sounded somewhat surprised on the other end.
"Neptune, I read in the newspaper that you're going to Mary Geoise to attend the world conference?"
Ian spoke up.
"Oh—oh! You heard about it too!"
Neptune's voice wavered with a hint of guilt.
"How could I not? It's all over the newspapers, isn't it?"
Ian glanced at Jinbe and Tiger.
Both were clenching their jaws tightly.
"King Neptune, what exactly is going on?"
Jinbe couldn't help but lean in and speak loudly, "Don't you know how dangerous Mary Geoise is? Don't you know how cruel the Celestial Dragons really are?"
"Jinbe?"
Neptune looked surprised. "You're here too?"
"And me as well."
Tiger, who had completely changed his appearance and was keeping a low profile within the Sun Pirates, quietly spoke up.
"Tiger? You're here too?"
"This kind of big event—I couldn't pretend I didn't know," Tiger's voice was serious.
"Neptune, what's really happening? From what I remember, you're not the type to trust humans so easily."
Neptune hesitated. "No matter what, Otohime insisted on attending this World Conference. You all know her—she's always advocated for reconciliation with humans. She said this was the perfect opportunity."
"Come to think of it, Ian, this is actually thanks to you."
"My credit?"
Ian raised an eyebrow.
So he's just blaming his wife's recklessness on him now, huh?
Neptune, you're really despicable now.
"Yeah,"
Neptune said, "Otohime said you helped so many fish-men and mermaids migrate to the open sea, letting them coexist peacefully with humans. That shows her vision was right."
"So no matter what, she wouldn't miss this chance."
Ian's mouth twitched slightly. "Neptune, haven't you tried to persuade her?"
Neptune remained silent without answering, but everyone already knew the truth.
Idealists can be deadly.
"Besides," Neptune finally spoke, "I actually think this might be an opportunity."
"Because, Ian, haven't you already proven to us?"
Neptune continued, "Not all humans harbor malice against us. There are still many willing to accept our existence."
"The World Government may have hidden agendas, but not all the allied nations at the Levely are like that! This is a great chance to let the world truly understand Fish-Man Island!"
"Sorry, Ian, but please believe me—no matter what, this won't affect our cooperation."
"I'll take care of everything. Only Otohime and I will go. If there's any danger, we'll face it ourselves."
Ian sighed.
Great.
In the end, it really became my problem.
Is this what they mean by if you've never seen daylight, you won't yearn for the light?
Jinbe and Tiger both looked at Ian.
Neptune had said so much already, and they couldn't find any way to stop them.
After all, the World Government still represented the majority of the world.
If they could truly gain the World Government's recognition, then the Fish-Man Island's centuries-old wish might actually be fulfilled.
No matter how well the Beasts Pirates performed, in the end, they were still just pirates.
Ian let out a light sigh, his voice turning serious. "Neptune, you haven't told us the most important part, have you?"
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