Inside Ryugu Palace, the envoy of the World Government stiffened.
This was something he hadn't imagined before coming here. Indeed, it was something the entire World Government had never anticipated: that Fishman Island's stance would be this uncompromising.
The fixed impression Fishman Island gave people was one of weakness. The fiercest reaction the World Government could imagine from Fishman Island was simply saying no, then seeing off the World Government's representatives.
That the Mermaid Princess was Poseidon was something the World Government knew; they just didn't know the exact time of her awakening.
Yet even knowing that Fishman Island possessed an Ancient Weapon, the World Government had never adopted any conciliatory policies toward the Fish-Men.
On one hand, Fishman Island lacked top-tier combat power; on the other, there was the national image they had left behind.
No matter how powerful a weapon is, once there's a problem with its wielder, it loses its deterrent effect.
"Neptune, do you know what you're doing?!"
"I am perfectly aware."
With the sound of bubbles floating one after another, a large number of Neptune Army soldiers appeared. The place they were in now was filled with seawater. As long as the bubble membrane surrounding the envoy was pierced, the seawater alone would be enough to kill him.
Only then did he truly feel the danger of being deep in enemy territory, and the threats he had wanted to hurl at Neptune were forcibly swallowed back down.
[The World Government will not let you off.]
[Without the status of an affiliated nation, the entire world can legally capture slaves here.]
[Your New Fishman Island will no longer have the protection of the deep sea!]
If he continued speaking, no matter how the World Government might retaliate afterward, his life would completely end right here.
"I will report everything truthfully to the World Government."
Neptune waved his hand, and a squad of soldiers immediately stepped forward. Compared to the politeness shown when he arrived, what escorted him out of Fishman Island now were only spears and blades.
However, when he reached the exit of Fishman Island, he saw no ships at all.
"Where's the ship? How am I supposed to go back like this?"
"Why do you think you can still go back?"
Their target for this trip, Jinbe, appeared before him. The coldness in his words instantly wrapped the envoy in fear.
"I'm an envoy! The World Government's envoy!"
"It's precisely because of that identity that you have to disappear."
Whether an envoy lived or died was unimportant. When the Sea Kings destroyed their ships, everything had already been decided.
Killing the envoy as well could buy a great deal of time, and the responsibility for the destruction of the ships could be pushed onto the sea beasts.
Traveling to Fishman Island was a high-risk occupation to begin with; if you were unlucky and ran into a maritime disaster that destroyed the ship and killed everyone aboard, there was nothing to be done.
Still, these people sinking to the bottom of the sea would sooner or later attract the World Government's attention. When the dispatched ships sank one after another, they would eventually notice something was wrong.
But the time bought by this delay was enough for all the citizens outside to return. With the barrier of the deep sea, they could enter a relatively safe environment.
"Your king clearly told me to deliver a message—"
"Think carefully. When did King Neptune ever say that?"
The image of Neptune speaking with him flashed through the envoy's mind. Just as Jinbe said, from beginning to end, Neptune had never said anything like that.
What he had previously stated about Fishman Island's intentions had merely been Neptune venting his anger.
"Wait—"
Jinbe did not listen to him. Instead, he grabbed him by the collar and hurled him away. As he was flung out, the bubble membrane around his body shattered.
The icy seawater instantly engulfed him. If this were another world, the pressure of the deep sea alone would have been enough to crush his body completely.
However, the outcome was the same. Because of the nature of this world, the water pressure did not crush him outright, but before long, the oxygen in his body was completely depleted. As seawater flooded into his lungs, everything was already decided.
Only after confirming that this human had no chance of survival did Jinbe leave the area and return to Ryugu Palace.
"King Neptune, it's been taken care of."
"I understand. In that case, we should still have enough time."
Neptune knew exactly how long it took to travel to Mariejois by ship. Although Fishman Island lay directly beneath Mariejois, due to sea currents and the structure of the seabed, as well as the time required for coating, a round trip between the two locations would take several days.
The World Government was not the Fish-Men race. When pressed for time, they couldn't just dive straight into the sea.
By the time this matter was discovered, even if the World Government reacted immediately, it would still take some time. Moreover, Fishman Island's consistent behavior would very likely mislead them, buying even more time.
"Phew… we've finally come to this point. Jinbe, you used to serve in the Neptune Army as well, and there are still your former subordinates in the ranks. From now on, the Neptune Army will continue under your command. I'll be entrusting the future of Fishman Island to you."
Under the current circumstances, withdrawing from affiliated nation status was not the best option. But Neptune had to take this step; otherwise, he would have had to sell off other citizens to maintain the so-called honor of the nation, which was no different from becoming a vassal.
If they didn't withdraw, there would still be a deterrent in terms of reputation. Most affiliated nations wouldn't dare openly lay hands on Fish-men and Merfolk, but after this, that was no longer guaranteed.
The strongest fighters on Fishman Island were Jinbe and Tiger, but Tiger had already become a pure theologian, so this responsibility could only be entrusted to Jinbe.
When they were still an affiliated nation, it wouldn't have been appropriate to hand a country's army over to a pirate like Jinbe. Now, however, there was a completely legitimate reason to do so.
"Please leave it to me, King Neptune. I will protect our people."
"Mm. Defense comes first. Unless absolutely necessary, do not take the initiative to attack. At least not for now."
Even Otohime did not oppose Neptune's decision. What had happened at the Levely and the World Government's attitude had made it clear to her that the peace and equality she yearned for could never be obtained through pleading.
"Jinbe, come with me. There are some things I should tell you as well."
After appointing Jinbe as the commander of the Ryugu Kingdom's army, Neptune led him to another place.
After making some preparations, Neptune rode a whale together with Jinbe toward the northeast of the Fish-Man District—the Sea Forest.
Because of the Sunlight Tree Eve, sunlight could be felt even in the deep sea. The Sea Forest was an especially bright area, filled with vibrant coral reefs that ultimately formed a colorful underwater jungle.
Large schools of fish settled here, further enriching the ecosystem of the Sea Forest.
Due to the terrain and deep-sea currents, most shipwrecks that suffered disasters on their way to Fishman Island were eventually washed here by the currents. Because so many sunken ships were carried here by the tides, it was also known as the "Ship Graveyard." Over the passage of time, these ships became the foundations for coral, gradually merging into nature itself.
When Neptune and Jinbe were on their way here, Shirahoshi was waving toward the deep sea. The Sea King from earlier had destroyed that ship in accordance with her command.
[Be careful on the way~]
The Sea King's figure gradually disappeared from Shirahoshi's sight. More than 90 percent of this planet was ocean, and just how many monsters lurked in the depths of the sea was something even races that lived in the ocean couldn't say for sure.
"It's already big. Rather than telling it to be careful, it'd be better to warn other fish to watch out for it."
From within Shirahoshi's hair, Manaphy complained about her remark; he had shaped her hair into a lounge chair. When there was such a huge difference in size, there were at least some benefits.
Growing up freely like Yamato versus growing up in the Hard-Shell Tower led to different outcomes. Shirahoshi wasn't that timid; it was just that her emotional threshold was much lower than that of ordinary people. Whether it was something good or bad, she cried easily.
"Is this really okay?"
"What do you mean? Attacking that ship?"
"Yes."
This was the first time Shirahoshi had ever actively ordered a Sea King to attack a ship, yet she felt no joy from wielding such tremendous power.
"Of course. You were protecting your country. Those people were unquestionably villains as far as Fishman Island is concerned."
Poseidon's power needed guidance. But neither Manaphy nor Neptune had any intention of steering that power toward reckless militarism; their purpose was solely to protect.
While Manaphy was offering her "psychological counseling," Neptune and Jinbe also arrived and finally stopped in front of the Poneglyph in the Sea Forest.
"Father, you're here?"
"It's Shirahoshi, and Manaphy too. Perfect timing, come along as well. This is something you should both hear."
Neptune then began recounting the story passed down orally through generations of the Fishman Island royal family.
"Shirahoshi, your power is one of the Ancient Weapons, Poseidon's power. You already know this, don't you?"
"Yes, Father. I know."
"You once asked me why the Fish-Men, despite possessing such power, have always been in such an awkward position. Today, I'll give you that answer. Jinbe, you're curious too, aren't you?
Then listen carefully, this is a very old story."
Seeing Jinbe staring wide-eyed at the mention of an Ancient Weapon, Neptune gestured for him to sit down and casually began speaking of the past.
"Shirahoshi is not the first Poseidon. Before her, there was once another Mermaid Princess who possessed this power.
Not every generation's Mermaid Princess can awaken it. The previous Poseidon we know of was the princess of Fishman Island during the Void Century."
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