Ryugu Palace, built above Fishman Island, was the royal palace of King Neptune, and the most grand and magnificent structure in this entire sea region.
To welcome his close friend Whitebeard's return visit, Neptune specially arranged a grand banquet inside this splendid, gold-and-jade palace.
The palace lamps shone brightly, music and dancing filled the hall, and the atmosphere was lively and joyful.
However, one sentence from Whitebeard instantly cooled the festive scene to silence.
"The Whitebeard Pirates… have disbanded!"
At once, the great hall fell completely silent. Neptune's mouth hung open, his face full of shock and disbelief.
For this sudden news, he was utterly unprepared.
"This… how could it be?"
Because of the deep-sea's unique location, news spread far slower here than on land. And recently, for reasons unknown, the pirate crews coming to Fishman Island had also become fewer and fewer, so this world-shaking news had yet to reach the palace.
Whitebeard's expression did not change. Calm and composed, he continued drinking from his cup.
"In short, my flag has long lost its former deterrent power. I can no longer protect Fishman Island the way I once did."
Wiping away the foam of wine from his mustache, his gaze blazed like torches.
"Those petty villains who are itching to move… will soon turn their eyes here. Neptune, you must make preparations in advance."
Neptune no longer felt like drinking. His expression stiffened, his eyes filled with worry.
Although Fishman Island lay hidden in the depths of the sea, its terrain difficult for outsiders to access, it held immense wealth.
Countless people coveted this place.
What's more, merfolk had always been the most rare and sought-after commodity in the slave markets.
In the eyes of the greedy, this was no kingdom at all, merely a breeding farm for mermaids.
Whitebeard, fully aware of Neptune's inner troubles, set down his cup, his expression grave.
"Things… are not as hopeless as you think. This man has the qualifications to take my place and continue protecting you. But…"
He pointed at Jotaro, then suddenly changed the subject.
"All the efforts you've made up to now… may end up wasted."
Everyone turned at once, their gazes falling upon the man being named.
Jotaro sat casually, drinking in a manner that was far from refined. But Neptune knew, the combat strength of this man, who seemed indifferent to everything, was truly on the same level as a Yonko.
And his notoriety at present was in no way inferior to Whitebeard's.
With Jotaro's protection, in theory Fishman Island should be able to regain its former peace.
But things were not nearly that simple.
"All the efforts we've made up to now…"
Neptune's lips moved slightly, not understanding Whitebeard's deeper meaning.
"If Jotaro is like Rocks was over thirty years ago, openly making the World Government his enemy, then the World Government will never tolerate his existence."
"If you accept his protection, you will inevitably enrage the World Government."
"And the World Government will never approve the migration proposal you submitted to live on land."
Whitebeard rose to his feet, fixing Neptune with a sharp gaze, his voice ringing with force.
"But I don't believe this is a bad thing."
"Because from the very beginning, the path of relying on the World Government to achieve Otohime's dream was impossible!"
"The Celestial Dragons are more brutal than you think. In their eyes, even human lives are worth nothing, so how could they possibly care about the lives of 'non-human races' like you?"
Noticing the puzzled looks of Neptune and the three princes behind him, Whitebeard's mouth curved into a meaningful grin.
"Seems it's time I told you a long-buried old tale… the slaughter contest that took place more than thirty years ago on God Valley!"
———
When Whitebeard finished recounting that blood-soaked history, the entire great hall fell into deathly silence.
Jotaro's face was dark, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles creaked.
Neptune, and especially the three princes behind him, had all gone pale, without question, horrified by the Celestial Dragons' cruelty.
"To pin your hopes on such people to realize Otohime's ideals…" Whitebeard lifted his head and took a huge gulp of wine, the corners of his mouth curling in a mocking smile. "That is nothing but a fool's dream!"
"Could it be… that all we've done, in the end, was just wasted effort?"
Neptune's voice trembled.
Not only Otohime, his children too had worked tirelessly for the dream she had cherished.
And now he was being told that the very nature of the Celestial Dragons made the ideal of "coexistence with humans" utterly impossible.
For a time, he could not accept it.
There was only so much Whitebeard could say.
The choice now lay in Neptune's hands.
Whether or not to accept Jotaro, it was a decision only he could make.
Whitebeard was one of the few who knew Fishman Island hid the Ancient Weapon, "Poseidon."
But his only pursuit in life had always been family; he had no interest at all in conquering the world.
That was why Roger had trusted him and told him this secret.
From Whitebeard's perspective, he naturally hoped that such a force that could shake the world might end up in Jotaro's hands.
"By the way, what about Otohime's little crybaby daughter? Why haven't I seen her all this time?"
"You mean Shirahoshi?"
Neptune let out a deep sigh. Without hiding anything, he told Whitebeard what had happened to her after Otohime's death.
"That bastard!"
Hearing that Shirahoshi had been cursed with the "Target-Target" mark by a man named Vander Decken IX, and had been harassed all these years, forced to hide away in the Hard-Shell Tower, Whitebeard's fury erupted. With a single punch, he shattered the wine table in front of him.
Who would dare have the audacity to bully his good friend's daughter?
"Neptune, bring your daughter out. With me here, I want to see who would dare lay a finger on her!"
"This…" Neptune hesitated, his movements uncertain.
This was a matter concerning his daughter's safety. Even knowing Whitebeard's great power, he had to act cautiously.
Seeing this, Whitebeard did not press the matter.
"In that case, why not take us to meet her in the Hard-Shell Tower?"
For ten years, his daughter's life had been under this constant threat.
For ten whole years, as both king and father, Neptune had not been able to resolve this problem.
If not for their deep friendship, Whitebeard might even have scolded him, 'As her father, have you truly done your duty?'
"…Very well."
Neptune finally nodded.
If it was inside the tower, then the risk shouldn't be too great.
He led Whitebeard and the others toward the Hard-Shell Tower.
"What do you think?"
As they walked, Whitebeard exchanged a glance with Jotaro at the back of the group.
To be precise, they had opened a private voice exchange within the team.
Through Ripple, they could transmit sound information, even without moving their mouths, they could converse freely.
"Which aspect do you mean?"
Jotaro frowned slightly, already having a rough guess in his heart.
"This place, Fishman Island…" Whitebeard grinned. "Do you want to take it under your wing?"
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/XenosX
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰