Vander Decken IX stared in disbelief at the ashes drifting down from the sky...
It was hard to believe that just seconds ago, he had been standing beside the Regional Justice Faction, basking in their borrowed authority.
Now, as Michael landed beside him, Vander Decken IX collapsed to the ground, paralyzed by fear.
"Tsk tsk, peeing yourself already?" Michael lowered his head, glancing at the foul-smelling liquid staining Vander Decken IX's pants, then subtly took two steps back.
"Neptune, this traitor of Fish-Man Island is yours to deal with. I've no interest in overstepping my bounds."
"Hohohoho! Michael, your timing couldn't be more perfect!" Neptune boomed with laughter as he rushed forward to embrace Michael, his massive hands lifting the man clean off the ground.
"You've saved Ryugu Kingdom once again!"
"Ah well, I've grown rather accustomed to this sort of thing," Michael sighed. "How's Shirahoshi doing?"
"Shirahoshi has been inside the Hard-Shell Tower with her brothers."
Michael nodded.
As the Ancient Weapon Poseidon, Shirahoshi's existence held immeasurable importance for the entire Pirate King World.
This was all due to the "truth" Vegapunk had uncovered... that the entire world would eventually be submerged underwater.
Though this so-called "prophecy of the future" lacked a precise timeline, Vegapunk was credible... and Oda wouldn't treat it as mere misinformation either.
Thus, under these circumstances, Shirahoshi's significance surpassed even that of Uranus and Pluton combined.
When the seas became the world's sole domain, Poseidon's power would expand exponentially.
"I'll go check on your daughter and sons now."
"Please."
Neptune agreed to Michael's request without hesitation.
With Neptune's tremendous effort, the enormous, heavy door of the Hard-Shell Tower slowly creaked open just enough—though "just enough" was relative, as the several-meter-wide gap could easily accommodate Neptune himself.
Michael, Neptune, and Queen Otohime then entered the tower.
Deep inside, three young mermen stood shielding Shirahoshi protectively behind them.
When the doors had begun opening, they'd already prepared to die defending their sister.
But seeing their parents enter, they collectively exhaled in relief.
Once the tension faded, overwhelming post-fear emotions came flooding in.
The eldest, Fukaboshi, and second son, Ryuboshi, handled it relatively well.
But third son Manboshi, barely older than Shirahoshi, ended up sobbing uncontrollably in his sister's arms.
Michael and Neptune exchanged a knowing, resigned look.
Bearing life-and-death pressure at such a young age was truly difficult for children.
However...
Michael spread his wings and flew before them.
"Stop crying now."
With just those words, Shirahoshi's tears miraculously ceased.
Meanwhile, the still-wailing Manboshi was promptly dragged aside by his brothers, who clamped hands over his mouth.
"Your wings... they're so beautiful."
"But you should know mere beauty brings no advantage in this world."
"That's not what I meant, I just... felt compelled to say it," Shirahoshi immediately waved her delicate hands in protest. "Somehow, your presence gives me this profound sense of familiarity from the depths of my soul, yet... I shouldn't know you at all."
"Well, not exactly. I did come to see you once when you were born."
When Shirahoshi was born, Michael had indeed secretly visited Fish-Man Island in disguise.
At the time, he hadn't thought much about it—he simply wanted to witness the birth of one of the world's most important figures.
...
But what Shirahoshi mentioned clearly wasn't about that.
Which meant...
There was likely some kind of hereditary connection between successive generations of Poseidon.
If that was the case, then it made perfect sense for Shirahoshi to find him familiar...
He already knew Joy Boy, so it wasn't strange for Poseidon, one of the three Ancient Weapons, to recognize him.
"Though judging by your condition, you seem fine now," Michael nodded, then casually cast a gentle Holy light over Shirahoshi.
The current Shirahoshi was far from awakening the power of Poseidon—she was merely an ordinary giant whale shark mermaid.
"Regarding the attack on Fish-Man Island by the Regional Justice Faction this time, you must be the first to spread the news. Make sure to clarify their identity—they're a group of villains who were expelled from the Marine and are now seeking revenge!"
"Expelled from the Marine?" Neptune frowned. "Has the Marine made any new moves recently?"
"It's the N.E.W Marine... In any case, Fish-Man Island has now completely become our most important special economic zone," Michael patted Neptune's hand. "From now on, both the Marine and the Whitebeard Kingdom will strengthen Fish-Man Island's defensive measures."
"I understand."
Neptune nodded.
He had always been a man who repaid kindness with gratitude.
Although the majority of the profits from the establishment of the neutral trade buffer zone initially went into Fish-Man Island's accounts, he understood the principle that "a man's wealth is his own ruin."
Such an immense fortune would inevitably draw the attention of the World Government sooner or later.
Ever since the World Government practically begged and persuaded the Ryugu Kingdom to become a member state, granting it direct voting rights in the World Council, they had been subtly trying to meddle in Fish-Man Island's neutral trade buffer zone...
To take a share of the profits.
However, Neptune had long seen through the true nature of the World Government.
Over the years, aside from placating them with trivial concessions, he had already prepared to reserve all wealth beyond Fish-Man Island's construction funds as war funds for Michael.
He no longer considered fighting for the survival rights of fish-men and merfolk under the rule of the World Government.
As long as the World Government existed, the days of darkness would inevitably return.
Michael raised his head, looking into the blazing fire in Neptune's eyes, and chuckled softly:
"Rest easy, my friend. The day we both long for will come sooner or later."
"Only those who dare to sacrifice can change the world."
...
The Flower Room.
At this moment, only Imu was present.
And now, she didn't resemble the lofty ruler she usually was.
Instead, she sat casually beside the giant straw hat that once belonged to Joy Boy.
She rambled on.
"Joy Boy, before you died, you once said that I was the devil of desire, the embodiment of jealousy..."
"But is that really the case?"
"Did I... truly ask for so much?"
"From the very beginning, you all saw me as an unreasonable villain."
"But none of you ever understood... what I truly sought."