Chapter 300: Ambush on Fishman Island (paused)
Chapter 300: Ambush on Fishman Island
_______
A group of fishmen approached the entrance, led by two imposing figures.
One was a man with a crown atop his head, his robust frame complemented by thick, fluffy orange-red woolly hair and a matching beard.
The other had stormy eyebrows and sideburns, a stout build, a thick, short black beard, and two prominent teeth jutting from his lower jaw.
These men were none other than King Neptune of the Ryugu Kingdom and Captain Jinbei of the Sun Pirates.
Following them were soldiers from the Ryugu Kingdom and members of the Sun Pirates.
Jinbei spoke, his voice steady, "Your Majesty, I have accepted the World Government's invitation to become a Shichibukai."
"Thank you, Jinbei," Neptune replied, his tone earnest.
Though a single Shichibukai would not entirely solve the issues plaguing the fish-men, it was still a significant step toward alleviating their struggles.
Jinbei shook his head. "This is my duty. Next, I plan to visit the Whitebeard Pirates."
"The Whitebeard Pirates..." Neptune's expression grew heavy with emotion.
Even at a depth of 10,000 meters beneath the sea, the fish-men were not spared from the cruelties of humans. Daily harassment and the constant capture of their people were the norm.
It was Whitebeard who had declared Fishman Island under his protection, allowing them to escape a life of peril and gradually find stability.
At that moment, the group suddenly halted, their attention drawn to the entrance.
A three-masted sailing ship rested on the water, surrounded by a tense group of mermen.
"Is someone causing trouble?"
A fishman with a sun tattoo on his chest stepped forward, his tone sharp. "I didn't expect this before we left. Your Majesty, leave these pirates to us."
"Wait!" Jinbei commanded, his voice stern. His gaze locked on the ship, and his expression turned grave. "That's… the Burning Heaven Pirates."
"What?"
"The Burning Heaven Pirates?"
The group's demeanor shifted drastically, including King Neptune's.
The name was well-known on Fishman Island. Recently, the Dragon King and the Burning Heaven Pirates had become a hot topic. While the Whitebeard Pirates protected the island with their name and flag, the Burning Heaven Pirates were a force on par with Whitebeard's crew—a terrifying presence.
Onboard the three-masted ship, a man stood calmly.
As Aoki activated his Observation Haki, he sensed multiple powerful auras nearby. One, in particular, stood out.
Turning his head, he saw two familiar yet distant figures enter his field of vision.
"Jinbei? Neptune? Excellent, you've arrived at the right time."
Suddenly, Jinbei felt an oppressive prison of thunder appear before his eyes, blue lightning crackling in the air and an overwhelming aura of destruction pressing down on him. He shut his eyes instinctively. When he reopened them, the scene had vanished—it had been an illusion conjured by two piercing gazes.
Aoki's figure flashed, appearing directly before Jinbei and Neptune.
The soldiers of the Ryugu Kingdom and the members of the Sun Pirates instinctively raised their weapons.
"Stop!" Jinbei commanded sharply.
The tension eased as the group snapped out of their fear-induced stupor. Cold sweat glistened on their brows as they quickly lowered their weapons, terror etched into their faces.
This was Aoki, the Dragon King—the man who had defeated Big Mom and led the Burning Heaven Pirates. A confrontation with him could mean the destruction of the Ryugu Kingdom.
Stepping forward, Jinbei spoke calmly, "It's an honor to meet you, Lord Dragon King. I am Jinbei, captain of the Sun Pirates. This is our king, His Majesty Neptune of the Ryugu Kingdom."
Aoki paid Neptune no mind, his focus elsewhere. "Where is Fisher Tiger?" he asked, his voice firm.
He had consulted Robin the day before and learned that Fisher Tiger had still managed to accomplish the incredible feat of scaling the walls of Mary Geoise with his bare hands.
He had thought that after his two earlier attacks, the Celestial Dragons would be on high alert, making it nearly impossible for Fisher Tiger to succeed.
Unexpectedly, the event had unfolded just as it had in the original timeline.
The arrogance of the Celestial Dragons was deeply ingrained in their bones; they never believed that anyone could pose a real threat to them.
Jinbei broke the silence, his voice heavy. "Brother Tiger unfortunately passed away, and I took over as captain of the Sun Pirates."
His eyes betrayed his inner turmoil—not just because this topic brought back painful memories, but also because of the presence of the Dragon King.
The Sun Pirates held complex feelings toward the Dragon King.
It wasn't due to his immense strength; no matter how powerful the Dragon King was, it had little direct impact on them.
More than four years ago, the Dragon King had caused chaos in Mary Geoise, killing numerous Celestial Dragons. In the ensuing chaos, countless slaves had escaped, including several fishmen.
A year later, Fisher Tiger climbed the Red Line barehanded and rescued a large number of slaves from Mary Geoise.
In a way, the Dragon King had been a trailblazer, striking at the Celestial Dragons and paving the way for Fisher Tiger's later actions.
Aoki's voice cut through Jinbei's thoughts. "Did humans die because they refused blood transfusions?"
The question caused Jinbei and the Sun Pirates to visibly stiffen, their expressions darkening.
In truth, Fisher Tiger had refused a human blood transfusion because of his deep-seated hatred for humanity, a hatred born from his experiences as a slave.
It was Arlong who had later tampered with the facts, blaming humans for Fisher Tiger's death.
Aoki spoke again, his tone calm but firm. "I have news for you."
Jinbei looked surprised. He had never had any prior interactions with the Burning Heaven Pirates and had not expected the Dragon King to have news for him.
Aoki didn't hesitate. "Arlong is dead, and the Arlong Pirates have been wiped out."
He saw no reason to hide the truth. Moreover, with Octopus Hatchan still alive, the news would eventually spread. It was better to be upfront now and address any concerns immediately, avoiding future complications.
Jinbei fell silent, the weight of the news sinking in.
After Jinbei became a Shichibukai, the World Government had released Arlong and his followers from Impel Down. Due to ideological differences, Arlong and his group had split from the Sun Pirates shortly after.
This had happened recently, and Jinbei hadn't expected something like this to occur so soon after their departure.
The expressions of the other Sun Pirates also shifted.
Despite their differences, Arlong and his crew had once been their comrades.
After a moment of contemplation, Jinbei spoke in a deep, measured tone. "Arlong and the others had already left the Sun Pirates. They are responsible for their own actions."
In truth, Jinbei had anticipated that this day might come.
With Arlong's personality and extremist views, it was only a matter of time before he provoked a powerful human.
What Jinbei hadn't expected was how quickly it would happen—or how devastating the outcome would be.
Aoki nodded. "Don't worry. I harbor no ill will toward the fishmen. I killed Arlong because they attacked us first."
Everyone present let out a subtle sigh of relief, though some couldn't help but feel conflicted.
Given the strength disparity between the Arlong Pirates and the Burning Heaven Pirates, any attempt by Arlong to attack them was nothing short of suicidal.
As for whether the Dragon King was telling the truth, no one doubted him.
First, with his identity and strength, the Dragon King had no need to fabricate lies or deceive them.
Second, they had nearly attacked the Burning Heaven Pirates themselves just moments earlier.
They all knew Arlong's character.
If the two sides met at sea, it was entirely possible that Arlong and his crew would take the initiative to attack the Burning Heaven Pirates without even recognizing them.
At this time, Neptune, who had been left out of the conversation for a long while, finally spoke up. "May I ask why the Dragon King has come to Fishman Island?"
Aoki looked at him and replied simply, "kill."
"Kill?"
Everyone was stunned, and the worries that had just subsided were immediately reignited.
Aoki continued, "The sea is full of pirates and scum. I plan to clean it up."
"What?"
Everyone was shocked, their expressions frozen in disbelief.
Wasn't this the job of the World Government and the Navy? And here was a pirate—one of the Four Emperors, no less—proclaiming his intention to clean up pirates?
Jinbei quickly composed himself, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you planning to kill the pirates traveling to and from the New World through Fishman Island?"
Aoki nodded. "That's right."
Jinbei was speechless for a moment.
The others exchanged confused looks, their minds reeling with questions.
Why was he doing this? Was it because there were too many pirates? Could it be that the ferocious Dragon King was secretly some kind of justice-driven enforcer?
Aoki turned to Neptune. "I understand that Fishman Island depends heavily on the wealth brought by pirates. My actions will cause trouble for your economy.
As compensation, you can take a portion of the wealth seized from the pirates, or you can make other requests."
Neptune crossed his arms and fell into deep thought.
From a practical perspective, this plan had both advantages and disadvantages for Fishman Island.
The advantage was that with the Burning Heaven Pirates stationed at the entrance, pirate attacks would decrease dramatically, leading to a significant improvement in public safety.
The disadvantage, however, was the potential economic impact. Fishman Island's economy relied on trade and resources brought by passing pirates.
But despite the downside, refusing didn't seem like an option.
Jinbei finally broke the silence. "Dragon King, may we have some time to discuss this?"
"Of course," Aoki said, his tone calm. "I'll be right here. Come to me anytime."
With that, his figure flashed, and he reappeared on the deck of his ship.
Robin, who had been observing, approached him. "How did the negotiations go?"
Aoki replied casually, "Not bad. They're relatively rational."
His status as one of the Four Emperors had undoubtedly played a significant role in the negotiations. This was the weight of reputation.
Neptune gave orders for the fishman soldiers to withdraw.
Aoki flew into the air, hovering above the ocean, and raised his hands.
With a loud crash, rocks and soil rose from the seabed and quickly merged, forming a massive fortress that spanned the entrance to Fishman Island.
He then retrieved Capsule No. 1 from a universal capsule box.
With a bang and a puff of white smoke, a luxurious villa appeared at the top of the fortress.
Aoki inspected it carefully and nodded in satisfaction. "I'll be staying here for a while."
The fishmen watched this scene unfold from afar, their eyes filled with shock and confusion.
But under Neptune's strict orders, no one dared disturb the humans, no matter what happened.
---
That evening, Neptune and Jinbei visited the villa at the top of the fortress. They were accompanied by a petite mermaid with long, wavy golden hair—Queen Otohime, who was also dedicated to changing the future of fish-men and humans.
As the three entered the villa, their eyes wandered over the shiny floors and luxurious decorations, their faces filled with shock and curiosity.
Queen Otohime couldn't help but ask, "Jinbei, do all humans out there live in houses like this now?"
Jinbei shook his head. "Lady Otohime, that's impossible. This is more luxurious than most royal palaces."
Queen Otohime understood and continued to look around, her eyes sparkling with wonder.
"To be able to build this fortress and this house out of thin air in a single day… the Dragon King is truly no ordinary person," she said with admiration.
Jinbei remained silent.
The Dragon King was certainly no ordinary person. He was one of the Four Emperors, a figure of immense power in the world.
Of course, even for one of the Four Emperors, constructing a fortress seemingly out of thin air was astonishing.
Aoki, dressed in casual clothes, was sitting on the sofa but stood up when he saw the three visitors.
"Your Majesty Neptune, Jinbei, you're here. And this is… the Queen, correct?"
Queen Otohime looked at him curiously. "What a peculiar mind!"
She was visibly surprised, studying Aoki with seriousness. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency Dragon King. I am Otohime."
Aoki responded with a nod. "It's nice to meet you too, Queen. Please, just call me Aoki."
A trace of excitement appeared on Queen Otohime's face.
At that moment, Esdeath entered the room, glancing briefly at Neptune, Jinbei, and Otohime.
The smile on Queen Otohime's face froze instantly.
What a terrifying presence.
This woman radiated coldness and cruelty, like a forbidden zone of life buried beneath a deadly snowstorm. Even though Esdeath showed no overt hostility, the sense of danger she exuded was suffocating.
Esdeath ignored their reactions and turned to Aoki. "Pirates are approaching."
Aoki replied calmly, "Don't rush to deal with it. Let the soldiers train."
Esdeath nodded. "Understood." She turned and left without another word.
As Aoki's gaze followed her for a moment, he gestured to the others. "Please, have a seat."
When it came to commanding troops and training soldiers, no one could rival Esdeath. Aoki had no need to concern himself with such matters.
Queen Otohime and Jinbei sat down on the other two sofas, but Neptune, being too large, had no choice but to sit on the floor with his head lowered.
Aoki glanced at Neptune apologetically. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty Neptune. The house was designed to fit ordinary human standards."
Neptune, standing at a towering twelve meters tall—equivalent to a four-story building—could only fit into the villa because of its spacious living room.
Queen Otohime, though petite by comparison, was over 2.2 meters tall.
In contrast, Aoki seemed like a small figure next to them.
Neptune waved off the apology with a smile. "No need to worry, Dragon King. If the house were built to my size, it wouldn't be suitable for humans."
Without further pleasantries, Aoki got straight to the point. "Have you decided what you want? Any requests?"
Neptune opened his mouth to respond, but Queen Otohime interrupted him.
"Mr. Aoki, may I ask you a question?"
Aoki turned his attention to her. "Oh? Of course, Queen. Go ahead."
Queen Otohime's expression turned serious.
"Although merfolk can live in the sea, we deeply long for sunlight," she began. "We have always yearned for life on land. My greatest dream is for our people to return to the surface and live under the sun."
Aoki listened silently, his expression neutral.
On Fishman Island, houses closer to the surface were more expensive, and the royal palace, Ryugu Castle, sat at the very top. The reason for this was simple: sunlight.
The higher you went, the brighter and more abundant the light became.
Princess Otohime continued, "Our ultimate dream is to migrate to the land and live peacefully alongside humans.
However, there is deep hostility between humans and fishmen, and the divide is enormous. I preach peace, but no one listens. The dream of moving to the surface seems impossible.
What advice do you have, Mr. Aoki?"
Both Neptune and Jinbei looked surprised.
It was clear that this question had not been discussed with them beforehand—it was entirely Queen Otohime's own decision to bring it up.
Aoki said, "Queen, as an outsider and a human, I am afraid it's not appropriate for me to express my opinion on this matter."
Queen Otohime looked at him intently and said, "I don't mind. Mr. Aoki, please speak freely."
Aoki met her gaze and paused for a few seconds in thought. "Alright. I'll share my perspective, and the Queen can take it as she wishes."
Queen Otohime nodded, her eyes burning with anticipation.
Aoki began, "In my homeland, there is an old saying: 'Peace survives when it is sought through struggle, but it dies when it is sought through compromise.'"
Queen Otohime's body trembled as she murmured, "If peace is sought through struggle, it will survive. If peace is sought through compromise, it will die?"
Neptune and Jinbei's expressions changed subtly as they fell into deep thought.
Aoki continued, "In my view, the Queen's desire to let go of hatred and pursue peace is noble and not wrong.
However, for the merfolk, turning completely against humans would be a dead end.
That said, constant compromise is equally dangerous. If you keep compromising and showing goodwill, others will simply see you as weak and easy to exploit."
He gestured lightly. "The current peace Fishman Island enjoys is not because of your strength but because of the Whitebeard Pirates' flag flying over your island."
Queen Otohime asked earnestly, "Then, Mr. Aoki, what do you think we should do?"
Aoki replied, "Convey your desire for peace while demonstrating that you are not afraid of war."
"To express our desire for peace while showing that we are unafraid of war?" Queen Otohime repeated his words, her gaze fixed on him. "But the fishmen lack the power to compete with humans."
The situation of the fishmen was indeed unique.
While the strength of fishmen was far greater than that of ordinary humans—ordinary fishmen possessed ten times the strength of a typical human—their situation was complicated.
They even had exceptional individuals like Jinbei, who was strong enough to be invited by the World Government to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Though Jinbei's strength did not place him among the absolute top-tier fighters, he was firmly in the second echelon.
For someone of Jinbei's status and strength, protecting a nation should have been feasible, much like Hancock's protection of Amazon Lily.
But the case of the Ryugu Kingdom was different.
Their primary oppressors weren't ordinary pirates or the Navy—they were the Celestial Dragons, who harbored an insatiable desire for merfolk and mermaid slaves.
This was the root of the fishmen's suffering.
Aoki looked at the group, a faint smile forming on his face. Shaking his head meaningfully, he said, "No, you do have the power."
Neptune's expression shifted slightly.
Queen Otohime inhaled deeply and said slowly, "Mr. Aoki, are you referring to the Sea King?"
"The Sea King?" Jinbei looked confused.
Neptune frowned but chose not to intervene. The Dragon King clearly already knew the secret of the Sea King, and there was no point in trying to stop the conversation.
Aoki glanced at Queen Otohime in mild surprise. He hadn't expected her to be so forthright.
"Yes," Aoki confirmed. "The Sea King, one of the three ancient weapons, is said to have the power to destroy the world."
Queen Otohime asked, "Do you believe the Sea King's power can stand against humanity?"
"No," Aoki answered bluntly. "While the Sea King's power is immense, Queen, you must understand that it is not the only ancient weapon.
Moreover, you don't need to fight all of humanity. Humans are not a united front. Even the Celestial Dragons do not represent the entirety of the human race."
Queen Otohime nodded slightly, though her eyes remained clouded with concern.
Although the prophecy states that Shirahoshi is the Sea King, her powers have not yet awakened, leaving the truth uncertain.
If Shirahoshi truly is the Sea King, could her power be used to help fulfill their dreams? The Sea King's strength is immense, but it would undoubtedly attract countless greedy eyes. What would happen to Shirahoshi then?
To Queen Otohime, Shirahoshi was not a mere weapon but her beloved daughter.
Aoki could easily guess her concerns.
"Don't worry too much, Queen," he said calmly. "As the saying goes, 'Do good things and don't worry about the future.'
Focus on doing your best with what lies ahead. I believe that one day, the fishmen will have the opportunity to change their destiny."
The plight of the fishmen stemmed primarily from the Celestial Dragons.
If their reign were to be overthrown, the barriers preventing the fishmen from moving to land would be significantly reduced.
"Do good things and don't worry about the future," Queen Otohime repeated softly.
She raised her head, thinking for a few seconds, her composure slowly returning. With a solemn expression, she said, "Thank you, Mr. Aoki, for your advice."
Aoki shook his head with a faint smile. "It's not advice, really. I simply shared my own perspective."
By the time the three of them left the villa, night had fallen completely.
---
"Otohime?" Neptune began hesitantly. Their conversation with Aoki had far exceeded his expectations.
Jinbei also had many questions in his mind, but he refrained from voicing them casually.
Queen Otohime asked, "What do you think of Mr. Aoki's ideas?"
Neptune said nothing, lost in silent thought.
He didn't fully agree with Otohime's ideals, believing them to be little more than an unrealistic dream. Yet, the ideas proposed by the Dragon King seemed to suggest that such a dream might actually be achievable.
Jinbei spoke in a deep voice, "I feel his ideas make sense. During my time out there, I found that not all humans discriminate against or are hostile to fishmen. In fact, most humans are quite friendly. However, there are indeed those who persecute and enslave our people."
Queen Otohime smiled. "Mr. Aoki is, in fact, a very gentle and wise man. I plan to communicate with him more often in the future."
Neptune and Jinbei both looked stunned.
Wisdom? Perhaps.
Gentle?
The Dragon King—one of the Four Emperors, infamous for his madness and ferocity—gentle?
The blockade of Fishman Island and the killing of pirates seemed to prove otherwise.
Queen Otohime didn't explain further.
Her natural observation Haki allowed her to sense people's thoughts and emotions.
She could feel that, despite his cold exterior, Aoki was generally a gentle and approachable person, free of prejudice against mermaids and fishmen.
Moreover, his voice carried a sense of detachment, understanding, and tranquility, as though he were above worldly concerns. This was why she had insisted on seeking his advice.
---
At the same time, a pirate ship entered Fishman Island.
Onboard, a man named Luke stood proudly at the bow. "Hahaha, we've finally made it to Fishman Island!"
Vincent licked his lips, a sinister glint in his eyes. "I hear there are lots of beautiful mermaids here. I wonder if we'll get the chance to catch a few."
Luke frowned and scolded him. "Don't mess around. Fishman Island is the territory of the Whitebeard Pirates. Do you have a death wish by causing trouble here?"
A flash of fear crossed Vincent's eyes. The name Whitebeard was enough to make even the bravest pirate tremble. Yet, despite his fear, his pride wouldn't allow him to admit it.
"So what if it's Whitebeard's territory?" Vincent sneered. "If I capture a few mermaids and leave quickly, how would they even find me? Mermaids fetch sky-high prices on the market!"
Robert interrupted their conversation. "Stop talking nonsense. Look at yourselves! You lack ambition. Our target is the Pirate King!"
Luke and Vincent immediately fell silent, their earlier bravado evaporating.
Crash!
The pirate ship burst through the sea's surface, bright sunlight shining down.
"Is this Fishman Island? It really has a sky, sunshine, and white clouds, just like the legends!"
"Where are the mermaids? I heard there are plenty of beautiful ones here!"
"Huh? What is that? Why is there a fortress blocking the way?"
The members of the Robert Pirates were visibly excited, shouting with curiosity and eagerness.
Above them, Esdeath stood on a floating platform of ice, hovering in the air as she looked down at the pirate ship. She raised her hand, and a wave of cold air filled the surroundings.
Snap!
The sea froze instantly, transforming into a massive sheet of solid ice, trapping the pirate ship in place.
Soldiers in special uniforms began marching out from the fortress toward the immobilized ship.
"Deal with them," Esdeath commanded.
At her order, the soldiers charged at the pirates.
"Who are you people?!"
"Hey, wait! Do you even know who you're messing with?!"
"Forget it! Fight them!"
As expected from a pirate crew that had managed to navigate through the Sabaody Archipelago, the Robert Pirates reacted swiftly and launched a counterattack.
---
A few minutes later.
Robert lay sprawled on the ground, his face swollen and bruised. Next to him were Luke and Vincent, both in equally pitiful states.
Esdeath descended gracefully, her gaze cold. "Take them all into custody."
Two soldiers stepped forward, chained the defeated pirates, and dragged them into the fortress.
---
Robert was thrown into a cell but was soon taken to a special interrogation room where several people sat waiting.
"Who are you? Why are you making things difficult for us?!" Robert demanded, his voice shaky with frustration.
No one responded to his question. Instead, a sharp voice rang out, "Stop wasting time! State your name, age, and position in the crew!"
Robert hesitated, confused and uncertain, but eventually complied. "My name is Robert. I'm the captain of the Robert Pirates…"
"Death penalty," Akame said coldly, writing the verdict on a form. Without looking at him, she instructed the soldiers, "Take him away."
As Robert was dragged out, he caught a glimpse of the form's contents. His eyes widened in panic.
"Death penalty? What's going on? Who are you people?!"
Akame ignored his outburst, turning her attention to the next form.
Meanwhile, the soldier restraining Robert activated his Burning Heaven Suit, delivering a devastating punch.
Bang!
Robert's eyes rolled back, and he slumped unconscious. The soldiers dragged him away with practiced efficiency.
---
Another prisoner was brought in.
"Name, gender, position, and experience," Akame demanded without looking up.
"Luke…"
Akame glanced at the papers in front of her. "Your record seems to differ from the others in your crew."
Luke frowned. "Really? I mean, we do act separately sometimes, but it shouldn't be that different."
Akame turned to the next page. "You're free to go."
"Free? Where am I supposed to go?"
"Anywhere you want," Akame replied flatly.
Luke hesitated. "What about my captain and the rest of the crew?"
Akame's expression didn't change. "They've all been sentenced to death."
Luke froze. "Death penalty? What? Why?!"
Akame didn't bother explaining. With a wave of her hand, two soldiers stepped forward and escorted Luke out of the room.
---
In the world of pirates, the term "pirate" encompassed many meanings.
There were genuine pirates who committed heinous crimes and killed without hesitation, false pirates who adopted the title for the sake of adventure, and warlord-like crews such as the BIG MOM Pirates, who were pirates in name but functioned as organized rulers.
Aoki didn't concern himself with these distinctions.
His approach was simple. No matter whether the pirates were real or not, they would face the same treatment—beaten into submission first, and judged later.
After beating the pirates, they were arrested and interrogated.
Those who deserved to die were executed, while those who did not were set free.
Of course, Aoki had no concrete evidence and no time to collect it. The interrogations relied entirely on the pirates' self-awareness and mutual confessions.
If a pirate deliberately concealed their crimes, they might manage to escape punishment, and Aoki didn't plan to pursue the matter further.
His time, energy, and resources were limited, so he adopted the strategy of letting the wrong person go rather than risking killing someone unjustly.
Interestingly, most pirates didn't even bother hiding their crimes.
When asked how many people they had killed or how many towns they had plundered, they often spilled everything as if confessing to a priest.
And if they didn't confess themselves, their companions were usually more than willing to reveal the truth for them.
---
Knock, knock, knock.
There was a knock at the door.
Aoki walked over and opened it, revealing a tall mermaid with long, wavy golden hair.
"My Lady, you're here!"
There was no trace of surprise on his face.
During this period, Queen Otohime had visited almost every day. The frequency and duration of her visits made him wonder if Neptune might be getting jealous.
"Excuse me,Mr Aoki," Queen Otohime said with a warm smile.
Aoki glanced behind her, startled.
This time, she hadn't come alone. Four figures followed behind her, one of whom immediately caught his attention—a large, childlike girl with an innocent face.
"This is my daughter, Shirahoshi," Queen Otohime explained, gesturing to the timid child.
Shirahoshi hid behind her mother, peeking shyly at Aoki. However, Otohime's petite frame could only cover half of Shirahoshi's enormous face.
At just four years old, Shirahoshi was a big-headed baby. Her tender, flawless complexion hinted at the stunning beauty she would grow into—one that could rival even Hancock's.
"Poseidon, the King of the Sea," Aoki murmured, studying Shirahoshi.
Queen Otohime smiled softly. "Put that thought away for now," she said lightly.
---
Meanwhile, news of Aoki's actions on Fishman Island began to spread.
"He's killing pirates on Fishman Island? What exactly is Aoki planning to do?" Lucky Roux asked, visibly stunned.
"Who knows?" Shanks replied, shaking his head. "Isn't he always like this?"
Roux thought about it and realized it was true. Aoki's actions were often unpredictable and difficult to understand.
At that moment, an island appeared on the horizon.
Shanks stood up, his straw hat no longer on his head, and his lone arm hanging at his side.
"The Sabaody Archipelago!"
Roux pushed thoughts of Aoki aside and said, "We'll be staying in the New World from now on, right?"
Shanks nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It's time to begin our plan."
The Red Force slowly approached the island.
---
Back on Fishman Island, Aoki's thoughts lingered on Shirahoshi.
Although Shirahoshi was prophesied to be the Sea King, her powers had not yet awakened, and the truth remained uncertain.
Even if Shirahoshi truly were the Sea King, could her abilities be used to fulfill their dreams?
The power of the Sea King was immense, capable of commanding the Sea Kings, mysterious and highly intelligent creatures with their own language and society. However, this power would undoubtedly draw countless greedy and dangerous people toward her.
To Queen Otohime, Shirahoshi wasn't a weapon but her beloved daughter.
Aoki couldn't detect any unusual power in Shirahoshi yet, as her abilities had not awakened.
With a wave of his hand, Aoki conjured a wooden talisman and tossed it to Shirahoshi.
"When you're in danger or need help, crush this," he said simply.
As for the cost of blockading Fishman Island, Neptune and Princess Otohime had declined money or favors. Their focus remained on their people and their dream of lasting peace.
Instead, Aoki hoped that if Shirahoshi ever encountered danger in the future, he could lend a helping hand.
Queen Otohime explained this to him, and Aoki agreed without hesitation.
Shirahoshi stretched out her small hand, her expression filled with confusion, and took the token. She turned to her mother, seeking reassurance.
---
On an island…
Jinbei approached a towering man with a crescent-shaped white beard.
"Dad!"
Whitebeard let out a hearty laugh. "Gurara! It's Jinbei!"
Marco and several others gathered around, their interest piqued.
"Jinbei," Marco began, his tone serious, "is it true that the Dragon King and the Burning Heaven Pirates are on Fishman Island?"
The Dragon King had become a major topic of discussion lately, constantly making headlines with one big event after another.
This time, the news hit particularly close to home since it concerned their territory.
"That's right!" Jinbei confirmed with a slow nod. "I was on Fishman Island the day the Dragon King and his crew arrived."
Marco's expression darkened. "Did they cause any trouble?"
The Burning Heaven Pirates weren't just another minor crew. While the Whitebeard Pirates were confident in their strength, they also understood that going to war with the Burning Heaven Pirates would be no small task.
Jinbei shook his head. "The Dragon King didn't make things difficult for us."
He explained that the arrival of the Burning Heaven Pirates and the Dragon King had delayed his departure. After spending a few days observing them, Jinbei realized that apart from their domineering decision to blockade the entrance, there was little evidence of malicious intent.
In fact, their presence had greatly reduced pirate activity in the area.
Jozu asked, "Jinbei, is it true that the Dragon King is killing pirates?"
Jinbei replied firmly, "It's true!"
Everyone around exchanged curious glances.
"Why would the Dragon King do something like that?"
Jinbei thought for a moment before responding. "The Dragon King said there are too many pirates in the world, and he wants to clean them up."
The group was left in disbelief.
While they themselves protected islands under their care and dealt with unruly pirates, their approach was fundamentally different.
The Dragon King actively sought out pirates and made it his mission to eliminate them, almost as if he were pursuing justice.
A Pirate Emperor who was hostile to pirates and saw their elimination as his duty—no matter how they thought about it, the situation was baffling.
---
At Marineford…
Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru gathered in the conference room, their expressions serious.
Tsuru asked, "So the news is true? The Dragon King is killing pirates on Fishman Island?"
Sengoku nodded gravely. "It's true."
Garp burst into laughter. "Wahaha! What a funny guy!"
Sengoku let out a heavy sigh. The Dragon King's behavior was indeed puzzling.
"If he's truly acting for justice, why doesn't he just join the Navy?" Sengoku mused. With the Dragon King's strength, his presence would be an incredible asset to the Navy.
Garp sneered. "Isn't the reason obvious? He's just as ruthless as he was when he killed those scum."
Sengoku's face darkened.
There was no need to ask who Garp meant by "scum." Only Garp would dare to openly criticize the Celestial Dragons in such a manner.
Choosing not to dwell on Garp's remark, Sengoku changed the topic. "The reason I've called this meeting is to discuss increasing our defensive forces to guard against a potential attack by the Dragon King."
Fishman Island lay directly beneath Mary Geoise, and Marineford was situated right beside it.
The Dragon King had already wreaked havoc in Mary Geoise twice and was known for his lawlessness.
With the current proximity, Sengoku couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease.