The ship's coating had just been completed when Jotaro, without the slightest hesitation, decided to leave the Sabaody Archipelago straight for Fishman Island. No delays, clean and decisive as always.
"Lord Jotaro." Doflamingo walked over slowly, posture respectful, though a trace of slyness flickered faintly in his expression.
"I must remain here to await those noble kingdoms sending ransom. For the upcoming journey, I fear I cannot accompany you."
As he spoke, he respectfully offered up a finely crafted Eternal Pose. "This is an Eternal Pose pointing to Dressrosa."
The climate conditions in the New World were even harsher than those of the first half of the Grand Line, Jotaro had already learned this from Whitebeard's mouth.
Seeing Doflamingo present him with such a precious Eternal Pose, he naturally had no reason to refuse.
"I have already instructed the officers of my family. You will arrive at that place as the new king, fufufufu…"
Doflamingo chuckled softly, his eyes as if brewing some private amusement.
Jotaro's expression remained indifferent, he did not mind. After all, since he intended to bring this world into his grasp, it didn't matter where he started.
Just as he was about to board the ship, Shakky came running, panting heavily, her face full of seriousness.
"Jotaro! Wait, there's something I still haven't told you!"
———
"What?!" Jotaro's eyes shook slightly, his aura around him changing in an instant. "Nezuko… on Amazon Lily?!"
Even for Jotaro, upon hearing this news, it was difficult to remain calm.
He had long firmly believed Nezuko had already died by Akainu's hand, that was Akainu's own claim, and he had even used it to provoke Jotaro.
At that time, he had no reason to doubt it.
After all, with Akainu's molten lava heat, even Nezuko's near-immortal regenerative power could never withstand it.
But now, this sudden news stirred his heart like a storm.
Jotaro's emotions surged violently, but he quickly regained his composure. Looking straight at Shakky, he asked, "Why do you know Nezuko is still alive?"
Shakky smiled faintly. "I am the former-former Empress of Amazon Lily. Although I no longer live on Amazon Lily now, I still keep contact with them."
"This news was sent by Elder Nyon. The message said, 'Jotaro, Nezuko is now my servant. If you wish to redeem her, then come to Amazon Lily yourself and sincerely beg me— The current Empress of Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock.'"
Jotaro's face darkened, silent for a moment, the muscles on his face twitching slightly.
Shakky gave two dry laughs and waved her hand awkwardly. "Don't take it seriously. That's probably Elder Nyon just joking."
"I don't care… knowing Nezuko is alive is enough."
The rest didn't matter to him at all.
"Jotaro-san, when will we go pick up Nezuko?" Shinobu wiped at the damp corners of her eyes, crying from joy.
The two of them shared a deep bond, and they had both come from the same place.
If Nezuko had truly died, then even if Shinobu returned to her original world one day, she would never be able to face her family again.
It could be said that both she and Jotaro had been shrouded in the shadow of Nezuko's death all this time.
Jotaro thought for a moment. Since the battle in Alabasta, he had been actively gathering intelligence about the Government.
He already knew most information regarding the Warlords of the Sea.
"Amazon Lily is located within the Calm Belt, far from the Sabaody Archipelago. We should go there later."
It had taken five whole days to coat the ship, they couldn't afford to throw all that effort away at this point.
Besides, it would actually be quicker to reach Amazon Lily from the New World side through the Calm Belt. So Jotaro decided not to change the plan.
"Everything's ready! Get aboard." Whitebeard urged from the ship.
He had already given Jotaro his own Moby Dick.
This giant vessel would now carry Jotaro toward the New World.
Shakky waved goodbye.
"Goodbye, Jotaro! You're the pirate I have high hopes for. After you've been to Amazon Lily, remember to pass my regards to Elder Nyon."
"Boys! Follow behind Jotaro's ship!"
Seeing Jotaro's ship raise its sails, Bonney immediately stood up, calling her crew to follow along as well.
Standing at the bow, her fists clenched tight.
"Daddy, wait for me, I will definitely rescue you."
———
Although the ship had already been coated and could, in theory, travel freely through the deep sea, the truth was that the vast majority of pirate crews who attempted to reach Fishman Island still met disaster halfway, their lives claimed by the ocean.
The deep sea was far more dangerous than one could imagine, underwater currents shifted unpredictably, colossal sea beasts appeared without warning, and a single mistake could mean total annihilation.
But Jotaro's voyage went astonishingly smoothly.
This was not only thanks to Whitebeard's vast sailing experience, he had passed through Fishman Island many times and was very familiar with the seafloor terrain.
It was also because of Starlight.
As a former Sea King, Starlight possessed the ability to communicate with fish, and her overwhelming aura could, without a sound, intimidate the lurking deep-sea giants into staying still.
Under her protection, the fleet seemed surrounded by an invisible barrier of safety, sailing forward without turbulence, untouched by calamity.
During this voyage, with nothing else demanding his attention, Jotaro immersed himself completely in academic study.
Ever since learning that this world truly had the legendary "merfolk," even Jotaro, who was already used to bizarre sights, couldn't suppress his inner excitement.
Back when he encountered Arlong and those fishmen, Jotaro had already suspected that merfolk might exist in this world, but at the time he had no way to confirm it.
But now, with the gateway to Fishman Island right before him, he was about to witness this dreamlike race with his own eyes.
———
"Your companion, she seems to be more than just an ordinary Sea King."
As they drew closer and closer to Fishman Island, Jotaro finally left his cabin and stepped onto the deck.
The world before him was like a dream, colorful coral forests, enormous schools of fish drifting slowly through the water, and in the distance, a half-transparent dome beginning to appear, all of it left one in awe.
Whitebeard glanced at him sideways, his tone calm yet carrying a trace of praise. "She can release a kind of Conqueror's Haki aura different from humans, one that naturally suppresses these deep-sea creatures."
"But..." he paused, chuckling lowly, "it seems she herself hasn't even realized it yet."
As for Starlight's true identity, Jotaro didn't know much. She was the type who, when asked, always claimed ignorance.
"…Jotaro, we're almost there."
Whitebeard gazed into the distance at the gradually emerging outline of an undersea city, his voice steady and deep. "Fishman Island, it is a magnificent nation. But at the same time, it is also a place full of sorrow."
"Sorrow?" Jotaro tilted his head, eyes on Whitebeard's face. "What do you mean?"
Whitebeard's gaze seemed to pierce through seawater and time itself. "The merfolk may live beneath the sea, but they are still a kind of 'people.' They have human hearts, human feelings, they need air and sunlight, they long to be treated as equals."
"But the world has never intended to grant them such a chance. Many view them as outsiders, as slaves, even as 'lesser beings.'"
"They are shunned, bought and sold. Even though they hide beneath the sea, the so-called prejudice still clings to them like a shadow."
Jotaro fell silent for a moment, a flash of cold light passing through his eyes.
"…That really pisses me off."
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