Chapter 710 The Catastrophe at Fish-Man Island!

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Completion implies that something must be brought to a close. If it hasn't been completed in 800 years, it means this matter is still ongoing. Suddenly, Rowen thought of a possibility.

"East Blue, the Kingdom of the Bridge or Tequila Wolf."

Mentioning this name alone might not ring a bell for many, and within the vast seas, it exists only as a legend. Shrouded in dense fog and surrounded by iceberg-filled waters, it's nearly impossible for outsiders to reach. 

Add to that the fact that it isn't even an island but a massive, perpetually under-construction bridge, and it becomes a place even the most advanced navigation tools cannot guide ships to.

This was, however, the location where Nico Robin ended up after being flung away by Bartholomew Kuma in the original story.

In known history, the government ordered the construction of this bridge 800 years ago, conscripting slaves from across the world to build it— a project that has continued without interruption for centuries.

Thus, the construction of the bridge came first, and Tequila Wolf was established later.

In the original story, the focus was on Nico Robin and the Revolutionary Army exposing the government's ruthless oppression, showcasing just one icy corner of this chilling iceberg. Yet, the image of this bridge, continuously built over hundreds of years, suddenly surfaced in Rowen's mind.

The room was filled with contemplative silence. The Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) bore solemn expressions, as though recalling something ominous. Meanwhile, Rowen pondered deeply, wondering what storms this line of thought might stir if his reasoning was correct.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

At that moment, the office door was knocked on, breaking the tension.

The group was startled and raised their heads.

The long-mustached Gorōsei adjusted his attire and said calmly, "Enter."

"Yes, sir!"

A messenger cautiously entered. Faced with the highest decision-making body of the government, his demeanor reflected the nervousness of a normal person in such a situation.

Inside the spacious office, he knelt on one knee at the door, trying to suppress his fear.

"Terrible news, Gorōsei Sama. According to reliable information... Fish-Man Island… is gone!"

"What?!"

…

The story began not long ago when the Marines set out to clear out the pirate coalition.

Due to the news that "Shanks has taken the Pure Gold," many pirates lost interest in continuing a direct conflict with the Marines. Instead, they turned their sights on entering the New World to compete for the treasure.

However, with Sabaody Archipelago serving as the center of Marine command, there wasn't a single gap in their defenses.

Unable to break through, the pirates had no choice but to wait— for a decisive outcome between the Marines and the pirates.

Finally, after a resounding victory, the Marines emerged triumphant. To rebuild their ironclad defensive network, they dispersed their forces. Fleet Admiral Akainu and other key commanders withdrew to Marineford to oversee the Iron Triangle of the Maelstrom.

The pirates, after days of cautious waiting and probing to confirm the Marines had indeed left, began to reappear at Sabaody, preparing their ships for coating.

This delay in movement consumed not just one or two days.

When the pirates finally made their way to Fish-Man Island, expecting resistance, they were shocked by the eerie stillness that greeted them.

In the past, even those merely passing by with an Eternal Pose would be driven off by the royal guards of Ryugu Palace. Yet now, not a single Fish-Man soldier could be seen.

Some daring pirates crept closer, only to be horrified by the sight before them.

Everywhere they looked, Fish-Man Island was in ruins, blood staining the waters.

The once-peaceful and beautiful Fish-Man Island was now a wasteland of smoke and corpses.

Whether it was the radical Fish-Man supremacists or the ordinary civilians, everyone lay dead in pools of blood.

The bodies of Ocean Knight King Neptune and the three Star Princes were found in the royal palace. The island's entire defensive force had been wiped out, leaving it a ghostly wasteland.

While some pirates were terrified and fled, others, emboldened by greed, stayed to loot.

The news didn't escape the watchful eyes of the government. With Fish-Man Island practically under their noses, it was impossible to hide such a shocking incident. CP0 immediately reported the matter to the Gorōsei.

"This must have happened while we were focused on dealing with the pirate threat!"

At this moment, it is at the Marine Headquarters in Marineford.

In the Fleet Admiral's office, Akainu's face was dark as storm clouds.

Fish-Man Island's relationship with the government may have been strained, but it remains an Allied Kingdom Member with a formal treaty written in black and white.

Now that it has been massacred, Marines cannot escape their responsibility.

Aokiji and Kizaru's expressions were equally grim. Aside from Allied Kingdom Members that declared independence due to the Revolutionary Army, this was the first Allied Kingdom Member to disappear due to their negligence. It was a blow to Marine's reputation.

But there was nothing they could do.

Fish-Man Island, as an Allied Kingdom Member, enjoyed special privileges. Unless they voluntarily accepted Marine protection, Marine had no right to station troops there, nor even to approach without prior authorization.

Vice Admiral Tsuru's face darkened, and she turned to ask, "Rowen, what do the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) say about this?"

Hearing this, Rowen, who was perched on the corner of a crimson desk, silently exhaled a puff of smoke and took out a piece of A4 paper.

"This is a sketch of the culprit based on eyewitness accounts by survivors, drawn by CP0 before I left."

He quietly distributed the sketch. Moments later, Akainu's furious roar echoed through the room.

"Orrick!!!"

That's right. Even with the mask obscuring most of the figure's face, the visible jawline was unmistakable. The culprit was none other than Orrick.

Orrick hadn't even tried to conceal his identity. He knew full well that the events at Fish-Man Island couldn't be hidden. By the time Marine turned its attention to this matter after their battle with the pirates, he would be long gone, beyond reach.

It was brazen to an absurd degree—

He had carried out a massacre right under the government's nose, while Marine heavily guarded Sabaody, and then vanished without a trace.

"Why would he do this? Does he hold a grudge against the Fish-Man race?"

Tsuru furrowed her brows and asked.

"I don't know, but…" Rowen shook his head and replied, "He's a Celestial Dragon, and not just any Celestial Dragon, but Orrick, who's notorious even among them for his arrogance. Rather than saying he has a grudge against the Fish-Man race, it's more accurate to say the Fish-Man race has a grudge against him."

Celestial Dragons don't have enemies. They are only seen as enemies by others.

That is the absolute authority of the Celestial Dragons!

"Additionally," Rowen continued, "CP0 found a Poneglyph in the Ocean Forest of Fish-Man Island. Its contents are currently unknown. Also, Princess Shirahoshi has gone missing from Neptune's house and was likely abducted."

"He killed everyone else but spared Princess Shirahoshi?"

Tsuru frowned in thought. "Why?"

Naturally, because Shirahoshi is the current Ancient Weapon— Poseidon, the Sea King.

But there was no need to elaborate on this, so Rowen merely shook his head.

"I don't know. But one thing is clear— he didn't do this out of hatred or boredom. There must be a deeper motive!"

"Perhaps something hidden on Fish-Man Island caught his attention."

"That's possible," Tsuru agreed. "But now that the Ryugu royal family is either dead or missing, we won't get any answers from the few survivors hiding in fear."

Aokiji scratched his unruly hair with an exasperated expression. "Orrick must have realized this and decided to massacre everyone, eliminating all possible sources of information and sealing the truth."

"The only reason there were any survivors at all is likely because Marine's decisive victory forced him to leave in a hurry before his presence could be detected."

"No, there's still one!"

Akainu suddenly raised his head, his eyes fixed forward.

"There's still one person who might know the truth!"

"Don't tell me…"

Aokiji's pupils contracted as realization dawned on him.

(End of chapter.)