Sabaody Archipelago.
Among the towering red trees, countless bubbles rose up, sparkling brilliantly under the sunlight—a breathtaking sight.
A warship was anchored at the edge of the island.
"Hina never imagined that Fish-Man Island would one day be invited to participate in the World Conference," said the pink-haired female Marine standing at the ship's railing, arms crossed, her posture emphasizing a certain natural talent as she faced the wind.
"Could it be that centuries of discrimination against fish-men and mermaids are finally coming to an end?"
"Don't talk nonsense," snorted a white-haired man wiping his specially made jitte on one side.
"No need to guess — those old men up top definitely have ulterior motives."
"That's not something a Marine should say, Smoker-kun," Hina frowned sharply, scolding him.
"If you have the guts, then have those old geezers send me to a Enies Lobby."
Smoker's anger boiled over.
"All the rotten businesses thriving on this damn island are out in the open. Don't think those old bastards don't know a thing about it!"
Hina pressed her lips together but didn't argue back.
Human trafficking was an indelible stain on the Sabaody Archipelago.
"So noisy, Smoker," said a man lazily waking up from a chair in the shaded part of the deck, scratching his messy curls and yawning as he sat up.
"Can't I get a decent nap?"
"Kuzan!"
Smoker looked at the man who pushed his eyepatch up onto his forehead, expression blank.
"You're just pretending none of this exists, aren't you?"
"Ahhhh—"
Kuzan yawned and wiped the sleep from the corner of his eye, then lazily said, "Do you know what a soldier is, Smoker?"
"A soldier is someone who follows orders," Smoker replied.
"Damn it!"
Smoker cursed angrily.
It was unclear who exactly he was cursing.
The orders to destroy these human trafficking dens would probably never come.
After all, everyone on this island knew that the biggest buyers of slaves in the Sabaody Archipelago were from Mary Geoise.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Kuzan stood up and walked to the edge of the ship, gazing down at the sea below.
"Is it finally here?"
The surface of the water rippled sharply. Then, a massive figure broke through the waves.
It was a giant whale. From its blowhole, a huge spout of water shot up dozens of meters high—truly a spectacular sight.
But what caught Kuzan's attention the most were the two people riding on the whale's back.
"So this is above the sea?"
Otohime took a deep breath. "The air here smells even sweeter than on Fish-Man Island!"
It was her first time ever above the blue sea.
"What are you talking about? Air is air—there's no difference," Neptune replied casually.
But it was also his first time above the ocean surface, and he couldn't help but marvel at the scene before his eyes.
Green trees, white clouds, blue sky, a gentle breeze, and warm waves.
Everything was more beautiful than anything they had ever seen.
No wonder their ancestors always dreamed of coming above the sea—it was truly a world apart from Fish-Man Island.
"Oh my, I hate to interrupt your admiration of the scenery, but you two must be King Neptune and Queen Otohime from the Ryugu Kingdom of Fish-Man Island, right?"
Neptune and Otohime instinctively looked up and saw a mushroom-shaped head peeking over the side of the nearby warship.
"Oh my," Kuzan said, looking down at the couple, scratching his head in surprise, "Is it really just the two of you?"
They hadn't even brought a single guard.
It was as if they were prepared never to return.
What a headache.
So why did it have to be me to go meet them?
Kuzan thought to himself, but said aloud, "You two, are you ready to set off for Mariejois?"
…
Somewhere in the sky over the New World.
Ian's body was wrapped in a bubble that looked like a soft cat's paw, hurtling forward at high speed.
The clouds parted as he pierced through them, and the long wind saw him off.
Ian was sitting cross-legged inside the bubble, completely relaxed. In one hand he held a Den Den Mushi, and with the other he idly squeezed and twisted a plush doll that looked like Surtur.
Surtur didn't resist at all, almost like it was dead, letting Ian squish and roll it however he pleased.
"How's it going?"
Between squeezes, Ian dialed a number and casually asked, "Viola, how far off course are we now?"
Viola's voice came through the Den Den Mushi, "They're still moving north. At your current speed, you'll end up about ten nautical miles off."
"Good."
Ian nodded slightly. "Keep an eye on them for me. If they change direction, let me know immediately."
"You know you're really putting me out…" came the grumble from the other end.
"Hm?"
Ian's lips curled into a smile. "Viola, did you say something?"
"No way!" Viola responded loudly. "What trouble? We're buddies!"
She added softly, "It's just that Yamato has been causing a lot of trouble. When you left, you didn't even say a word to her. Be ready for when you come back."
"Mm."
Ian nodded lightly, then hung up the phone.
After locating Moby Dick, Ian set off immediately.
Because the Hive Island sea area borders the Whitebeard Pirates' territory and is very close, Viola was able to lock onto the Whitebeard Pirates' course directly.
Then Kuma slapped Ian so hard he was sent flying into the sky.
Long-range air drop! Kid!
But you'll have to fly back on your own.
As for why he was heading to find Whitebeard, it was obvious — Fish-Man Island was still officially under Whitebeard Pirates' protection, with Whitebeard acting as its guardian.
Now that Fish-Man Island was in trouble, how could the Whitebeard Pirates stand aside?
As for the minor grudges Ian held against the Whitebeard Pirates, he believed that Whitebeard, being a man of principle, wouldn't hold those against him.
After all, Whitebeard was a good man.
Though Fish-Man Island had done some things that betrayed him, like making deals with the Beast Pirates, Ian thought that Whitebeard would still put aside past grievances to protect Fish-Man Island.
Because Whitebeard was, after all, a good man.
A single Hive Island might not be enough to pressure the World Government, but with Wano Country and the Whitebeard Pirates involved, things would be very different.
Why didn't he bring anyone else along, choosing instead to go alone?
Well, that was because although Whitebeard was an honorable man, a fight was still likely to break out.
And if it did, escaping alone would be much easier.
Now was definitely not the right time to go to war with the Whitebeard Pirates.
Ian stretched out his long legs and leaned back comfortably on the bubble, gazing at the sun slowly sinking in the western sky.
It should still be morning over in Mary Geoise, right?
Neptune and the others were probably on their way there already.
There was still time.
With all the effort I've gone through for you, Neptune, Otohime... if you don't let Shirahoshi acknowledge me as her godfather, wouldn't that be a little unfair?
Ian mused to himself.
**********
Support me on my patreon and read upto 20 early chapters.
patreon.com/PirateKing24