"Your worldview is too narrow. You cannot see the true state of the seas," Bege said with a profound, enigmatic smile.
"Then please, Your Excellency, enlighten me," Neptune requested humbly. This matter concerned the future of Fish-Man Island; he could not afford to take it lightly.
"Whitebeard is the other key to the Great Pirate Era. That's all I'll say. Saying more won't do you any good. You just need to remember that after the Whitebeard Pirates fall from their position as an Emperor crew, you can hang my flag to protect Fish-Man Island," Bege hinted, without going into detail.
Neptune's brow furrowed. Although his mind was racing with a thousand thoughts and doubts, he saw that Bege had no intention of saying more and didn't dare to press the issue. He could only suppress his questions.
But Bege had said he was willing to offer Fish-Man Island his protection. So, regardless of whether the Whitebeard Pirates fell or not, their island would still be under the protection of an Emperor-level crew. Knowing that was enough.
Neptune led Bege on a tour of the most prosperous streets of Fish-Man Island. The scenery was truly unique, and the various Fish-Men and Merfolk were a sight to behold.
Along the way, the residents of the island gathered to watch them, their discussions filled with excitement. They had likely recognized Bege, and many of the young Fish-Men and Merfolk looked at him with admiration.
"For the past few years, we have been managing Fish-Man Island according to your four-step development guideline. The island has become much more prosperous," Neptune said with a smile.
Bege nodded repeatedly, also smiling. "Very good. But the most important thing is the strength of Fish-Man Island itself. If you can't cultivate your own powerful fighters, you will always have to rely on others."
"That is the most crucial part of the four-step plan," Neptune said. "We have been training our own army, and we have also selected a very important candidate. He has already joined the Whitebeard Pirates and become one of Whitebeard's sons. He is training with them now. I believe that in the future, he will be able to shoulder the heavy responsibility of protecting Fish-Man Island."
Bege's eyebrow raised. "Is that person Jinbe?"
"Your Excellency knows of Jinbe?" Neptune asked, surprised, before continuing. "Yes, it is him. He has an incredible talent for Fish-Man Karate. He once served as the captain of the Ryugu Palace guard and was later chosen to be cultivated as our future protector. Oh, and he was born on the same street as Tiger. You could say they grew up together."
"Jinbe," Bege mused. "I've seen his bounty poster. He's doing well with the Whitebeard Pirates. He has the potential to carry the future of Fish-Man Island." He already knew before coming that Jinbe had joined Whitebeard's crew.
When he had told Tiger about the four-step development plan, it had changed Fish-Man Island, and also the historical trajectory of some individuals, including Jinbe.
The most critical part of the plan was to cultivate their own powerful fighters. At the time, Queen Otohime, Neptune, and Tiger had chosen Jinbe as their number one candidate and had him join the Whitebeard Pirates, hoping that Whitebeard would train him.
In one fell swoop, Jinbe had fulfilled two parts of the four-step plan: relying on a major power and cultivating a strong fighter for Fish-Man Island.
Because of this, Jinbe had never joined Tiger's Sun Pirates.
If Whitebeard were to personally train Jinbe, his future accomplishments might even surpass those in the original story.
Neptune was very happy to hear Bege's assessment of Jinbe. More than anyone, he hoped for a homegrown hero to emerge from Fish-Man Island.
"Oh, by the way, Jinbe returned half a month ago. He's on the island right now. I'll have someone notify him to come over immediately," Neptune said eagerly.
"Good. I'd like to meet this future hero of Fish-Man Island," Bege said with a smile, narrowing his eyes. He was, in fact, quite interested in meeting Jinbe.
Neptune quickly had one of his guards go and notify him.
They continued their tour. Suddenly, a commotion broke out ahead, and Neptune's face darkened.
"What's happening up there?" he demanded in a loud voice.
A soldier from the front quickly reported, "It's Hody Jones and Arlong fighting with a group of pirates. It seems those pirates drugged and kidnapped a mermaid."
"Hody Jones," Neptune's face grew even darker. The name alone filled him with an intense anger. His three sons also looked furious.
They didn't know that Hody Jones was the one who had killed Queen Otohime, but Hody had publicly blamed human pirates for her death, causing the Fish-Men and Merfolk to develop a deep hatred for humans. This had instantly shattered the peaceful development plan that Neptune and Otohime had worked so hard to build.
Neptune despised Hody Jones.
"Father, I'll go see," Fukaboshi said, grabbing his trident and charging forward with a grim expression.
"Get back here! It's not your place to intervene!" Neptune grabbed his son, pulled him back, and threw him behind him. He took a deep breath and said to Bege, "Your Excellency Demon Dragon, my apologies for this embarrassing display. I will go and resolve this matter immediately."
Bege's Observation Haki spread out, and he instantly perceived the situation ahead. He smiled. "No need. Someone is already there. Let's go and see together."
He strode forward with a smile, and Neptune quickly followed.
A large crowd of Fish-Men had gathered ahead. The soldiers quickly cleared a path.
On the ground lay more than a dozen human pirates. They were in a miserable state; some had been decapitated, and more than half were dead.
Blood stained the ground red.
An overturned crate lay nearby, and inside was a young mermaid, gagged and tightly bound.
It was clear that these pirates had taken a risk and engaged in the business of kidnapping mermaids on Fish-Man Island.
A dozen or so Fish-Men were in a standoff. One of them was particularly large, with a serious expression, wild, wind-swept eyebrows and sideburns, and a topknot hairstyle. He had a short, thick black beard, a lightning-bolt-shaped scar at the corner of his left eye, and two large teeth protruding from his lower jaw. He wore a patterned yukata and Japanese wooden clogs. The mark of the Whitebeard Pirates was tattooed on his chest.
This was the future "Knight of the Sea," Jinbe.
Opposite him was a sawshark Fish-Man with a long, sharp, serrated nose. The mark of the Sun Pirates was tattooed on his left chest. This was a member of the Sun Pirates, Arlong.
Half of the Fish-Men at the scene were former members of the Sun Pirates.
After Tiger's death and the disbandment of the crew, they had returned to Fish-Man Island.
Standing with Arlong was a young great white shark Fish-Man with curly black hair and a large tattoo on his left arm. This was Hody Jones.
He was the true culprit behind Queen Otohime's death and the future captain of the New Fish-Man Pirates, an absolute racial supremacist with an extreme hatred for humans.
After Arlong and his group returned, Hody Jones had quickly allied himself with them, becoming Arlong's right-hand man.
"It is not your place to kill these pirates. They are to be handed over to the king for judgment," Jinbe said sternly.
"Boss Jinbe, these pirates sell mermaids. They deserve to die. What does it matter who kills them?" Arlong said grimly.
"Fish-Man Island has its own laws. You are not an enforcer of the law. You cannot kill people on your own authority," Jinbe said in a low voice.
"Gyahahaha! Boss Jinbe, if you hand these guys over to the Ryugu Palace, do you really think that weak-willed King Neptune will kill them?" Hody Jones shouted. "These pirates have sold who knows how many mermaids and Fish-Men! Are you just going to stand by and watch as these great villains are merely locked up? Ask our brothers and sisters around us if they are willing to accept that!"
Jinbe's gaze swept over the surrounding Fish-Men and Merfolk. Every one of them had a strong killing intent in their eyes.
The human pirates and merchants in the crowd were also affected. Under the hateful gazes of the Fish-Men and Merfolk, they trembled, and some lowered their heads and quickly left, afraid that the incensed crowd would turn on them.
Hody Jones was clever. He was skilled at using the will of the people to pressure Jinbe. When he had secretly killed Queen Otohime and framed human pirates, he had done so by manipulating the will of the masses, casting himself as their spokesperson, representing their collective desires.