Chapter 192

Chapter 192:

Carl, who had just beaten King Neptune in the Ryugu Palace, was now being escorted out—with gratitude—by Otohime and the others.

As he stepped outside the palace gates, he paused, his gaze drifting upward toward the massive silhouette beyond the bubble film above.

Noah. The Ship of Promise.

Following his line of sight, Otohime hesitated before asking, "Saint Carl, are you looking at Noah?"

Carl spared her a fleeting glance before replying, "That ship is an eyesore. It's in ruins."

Otohime's smile stiffened.

As a member of the royal family, she knew the history behind Noah—the ship left behind by Joy Boy 800 years ago. It was meant to help the people of Fish-Man Island reach the surface, but for reasons unknown, that promise had never been fulfilled.

Otohime herself had always admired Joy Boy, seeing his legacy as an inspiration for her dream of unity between humans and fish-men. However, standing before Carl—a descendant of one of the twenty kings who had opposed Joy Boy—she knew better than to voice her admiration.

A chill ran down her spine.

If Carl viewed Noah, a ship tied to Joy Boy's unfulfilled promise, as a relic of a bygone enemy, would he see Fish-Man Island itself as a remnant of that past?

Her anxious thoughts were interrupted when Carl turned away from Noah and addressed Tiger.

"Tiger, take me to Fishman Street. I hear it's quite an interesting place."

Tiger hesitated, but before he could speak, Otohime quickly interjected.

"Wait, Saint Carl! You might want to avoid that area."

Carl raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"The people there… they have a rough way of life."

"Perfect. I like places with some grit."

"But…" Otohime hesitated.

Carl's gaze darkened slightly. Otohime swallowed hard, then forced a weak smile.

"Then… please be careful, Saint Carl."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how ridiculous they sounded.

It wasn't Carl who needed to be careful—it was Fishman Street.

Carl nodded. "Very well. I will be careful."

With that, he lifted Shyarly onto his shoulder and strode away without another word.

Otohime quickly turned to Tiger, pushing him forward. "Tiger, what are you waiting for? Go with him! Take Jinbe, too. The people of Fishman Street respect you both. Make sure no one provokes him!"

Tiger nodded grimly, grabbing a still-stunned Jinbe before rushing to catch up.

Despite Carl's seemingly casual pace, his strides were surprisingly fast. Tiger and Jinbe had to hurry to avoid falling behind. Soon, they arrived at the edge of Fishman Street.

The atmosphere here was completely different.

Unlike the vibrant areas near the palace, this place was dimly lit, the structures worn and ragged. The air was thick with an unpleasant mixture of salt, sweat, and something more pungent.

The fish-men here were draped in loose, tattered clothes—some shirtless, others in loud-patterned floral shirts. Many lounged around, their movements lazy yet exuding a dangerous aura.

The moment Carl set foot on Fishman Street, all conversations stopped.

The fish-men turned to stare at him, their expressions a mix of suspicion, hatred, and hostility.

Carl ignored them. His gaze remained fixed on Noah in the distance.

Visiting Fishman Street had only been incidental—it was the nearest route to the ship. But now, seeing the filth and disorder, he had already lost interest.

However, someone here was very interested in him.

Despite Tiger and Jinbe's presence, a young fish-man suddenly jumped forward, blocking Carl's path.

"Human! You don't belong here!"

Tiger and Jinbe froze in horror.

Jinbe reacted first, his voice sharp. "Hody! Get back here!"

Tiger felt his heart sink.

Hody… was about to die.

But Hody Jones didn't seem to notice the deadly silence from the older fish-men.

Baring his sharp teeth, the young fish-man sneered at Carl.

Known for his violent tendencies, Hody had already made a name for himself. He was ruthless, feared even among his own kind.

But right now, he was nothing but a child standing before a monster.

Carl didn't even glance at him. He continued walking as if Hody didn't exist.

This absolute disregard only fueled Hody's rage.

His gills flared as he lunged forward, preparing to sink his fangs into Carl's leg.

The fish-men around them watched with amusement—some even cheering for Hody.

Then—

Poof!

Hody's body exploded.

Blood sprayed into the air, forming a mist of red. The liquid floated unnaturally, drawn toward Carl's outstretched hand.

The entire street fell into stunned silence.

Carl clenched his fist.

The gathered blood scattered in all directions, splattering across the watching fish-men.

Every single face was marked with red.

The already grimy street now resembled a vision of hell.

Carl let out a slow breath, unfazed by the death he had just delivered.

Then, with a single motion, he unfurled his wings.

Massive, bat-like appendages stretched from his back, their dark silhouette casting an ominous shadow over Fishman Street.

The fish-men could only stare, frozen in shock, unable to even wipe the blood from their faces.

Then—

With a single, powerful beat of his wings, Carl shot into the air, piercing through the bubble membrane above.

Now, he hovered before Noah.

Gazing at the ancient ship, he raised his hand.

Darkness pooled in his palm.