Gurgle...
Deep beneath the surface of the world, directly under the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, the ocean was a crushing, silent void. The sunlight from above could not penetrate this far down, leaving the seabed shrouded in an eternal, inky darkness. It was a place where silence usually reigned supreme.
But today, that silence was broken.
A stream of bubbles erupted from the gloom, wobbling and rising frantically toward the surface. The sudden disturbance startled the deep-sea fish, sending them darting into the shadows in terror.
From the abyss below, a faint glimmer of light emerged. It grew brighter and larger until a ship came into view. It was a medium-sized vessel, coated in a shimmering resin bubble that protected it from the crushing water pressure. The ship was ascending rapidly, its engines pushing it to the limit.
It was unmistakably a slave ship.
On the damp wooden deck, six figures were bound tightly with rough ropes. They were the catch of the day: three beautiful young mermaids, two strong male Fishmen, and a small Fishman child who was sobbing quietly.
The Captain of the slave ship stood on the bow, a cutlass gripped tightly in his sweating hand. He kept glancing down at the dark water beneath them, his eyes wide with terror.
"Quick! Faster!" he screamed at his crew, his voice cracking. "As long as we escape to the surface, those beasts won't be able to touch us!"
The crew members scrambled frantically, throwing heavy driftwood and excess cargo overboard to lighten the load and increase their ascent speed. Their faces mirrored the Captain's fear, but as their eyes darted to the captives on the deck, that fear was overtaken by a grotesque greed.
If they could just make it to the surface, they would be set for life.
In the vast, lawless ocean above, mermaids and Fishmen were the most coveted merchandise in the human trafficking market. While a male Fishman might fetch a decent price for manual labor, young mermaids were a different story entirely. The starting bid for a single mermaid was never less than 50 million Berries.
That was merely the floor price. If they managed to get these captives to a high-end auction house in the Sabaody Archipelago, the bidding wars between corrupt nobles could easily drive the price up to 200 million Berries or more per mermaid.
With three mermaids on board, this single trip could earn them over 600 million Berries. It was a fortune beyond their wildest dreams.
Such a brazen kidnapping would have been unimaginable just a few months ago. Back then, Fish-Man Island was under the protection of the Whitebeard Pirates. Furthermore, the island was guarded by Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea, who held the title of Warlord of the Sea. Human slave traders dared not operate so openly in these waters.
But times had changed. The world had shifted.
Whitebeard was dead, fallen in the Summit War. Jinbe had resigned his position and been stripped of his Warlord title. The barriers that once protected the island had vanished.
To the scum of the sea, Fish-Man Island was no longer a kingdom; it was an unguarded vault waiting to be looted. These traders had become arrogant, no longer content with kidnapping stragglers. They were now bold enough to commit daylight robbery. As long as they survived the ascent, they would live like kings.
"Just a little further!" the Captain muttered, watching the depth gauge. "We're going to make it!"
However, luck was not on their side. Just as the slavers began to smile, fantasizing about their wealth, a deep, furious voice thundered from the abyss below.
"Fish-Man Karate... Spear Wave!"
BOOM!
A highly pressurized jet of water shot up from the darkness like a solid missile. It moved with terrifying speed, piercing through the ocean currents and striking the ship with pinpoint accuracy.
The protective resin bubble popped instantly.
Without the coating, the crushing pressure of the deep sea slammed into the vessel. The wooden hull shattered with a deafening crack, exploding into splinters. Violent turbulence and massive bubbles surged upward, creating a chaotic vortex.
The human crew didn't stand a chance. The sudden change in pressure and the impact caused them to vomit blood, knocking them unconscious instantly. Their bodies drifted limply into the dark water.
The bound Fishmen and mermaids were tossed into the churning water, screaming silently as the currents grabbed them.
Just as they were about to be swept away, several massive, muscular figures emerged from the gloom. They moved through the water with the grace of sharks, catching the captives and stabilizing them against the currents.
The captives opened their eyes, blinking through the stinging salt water. When they saw who had saved them, their terror turned to overwhelming relief.
"Lord Jinbe!"
"It's the Neptune Royal Army!"
Hovering in the water before them was the former Warlord, Jinbe. The massive Whale Shark Fishman wore a grave expression. Behind him floated an elite squad of the Royal Army, who quickly cut the ropes binding the captives.
Despite the successful rescue, there was no joy on Jinbe's face. He looked at the unconscious bodies of the human traders, now drifting down to be eaten by the sea kings. He knew that this violence solved nothing. The hatred between humans and Fishmen was a deep, festering wound, and today's events would only add more salt to it.
But he pushed those thoughts aside. Now was not the time for philosophy.
"Let's go," Jinbe commanded, his voice low and powerful.
——————
Under the protection of Jinbe and the Royal Army, the group navigated the treacherous currents of the deep sea.
After a short journey, a warm, golden glow appeared in the distance. It was the light of the Sunlight Tree Eve, the massive root system that transferred sunlight from the surface down to the ocean floor. Bathed in that light was their home: Fish-Man Island.
Upon seeing the familiar, iridescent bubble that surrounded their kingdom, the rescued Fishmen burst into tears.
"We made it... we're finally home!"
"I thought I was going to die! I thought I'd never see my family again!"
"Thank you! Thank you so much, Lord Jinbe!"
Jinbe watched their emotional reunion with their homeland, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He turned to the captain of the Royal Army guard.
"Escort them back to their families safely."
"Yes, Lord Jinbe!"
As the soldiers led the weeping civilians toward the island's entrance, Jinbe paused. He sensed a presence in the shadows of the reef nearby. His bushy eyebrows furrowed slightly as he glanced toward a cluster of dark rocks. However, he decided not to engage. He had more pressing matters to attend to. Ignoring the gaze, he swam toward the main port.
Hidden in the darkness of the reef, several pairs of eyes watched him leave.
"Were we discovered?" a rasping voice asked.
"It is to be expected of the Knight of the Sea," another voice replied, cold and sharp. "But, Captain Hody, is this really alright? He is back."
Hody Jones, a Great White Shark Fishman with cold, dead eyes, stepped partially out of the shadow. He stared at Jinbe's retreating back with a mixture of disdain and anticipation.
"Do not worry," Hody sneered, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. "He is no longer a Warlord. He is a fugitive. The era of Jinbe and Neptune is fading. This chaos... this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us, the New Fish-Man Pirates."
He clenched his fist, crushing a piece of coral.
"The fate of Fishmen being persecuted by humans will end. History will be rewritten by our hands, not by cowards who seek peace."
"That is truly something to look forward to!" his subordinate hissed.
"Jahahaha!"
——————
At the main port of Fish-Man Island, the atmosphere was tense.
Jinbe walked onto the dock, his expression solemn. He was lost in thought, contemplating the increasing frequency of these attacks, when a booming voice interrupted him.
"Jinbe!"
Jinbe looked up, surprised. Standing there waiting for him was a massive figure with a long, flowing orange beard and a golden crown.
"King Neptune!" Jinbe exclaimed.
It was indeed the ruler of the Ryugu Kingdom, accompanied by his three sons: the sharks Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi.
Jinbe immediately moved to kneel in respect, but Neptune waved a large hand to stop him.
"No need, Jinbe," the King said, his voice heavy with exhaustion but warm with friendship. "There is no need for such formalities between us, especially not in these dark times. Do you have a moment? We need to talk."
Jinbe looked into the King's eyes and understood immediately. The situation was critical.
"Of course," Jinbe nodded.
——————
The group left the port, floating upward toward Ryugu Palace, which sat suspended in the water high above the main island.
As they ascended, King Neptune looked down at his kingdom. To an outsider, Fish-Man Island looked as beautiful and vibrant as ever. The coral towers gleamed, and the Mermaid Cafe was bustling. But Neptune knew better. He could feel the undercurrents of fear. He knew that countless ill-intentioned pirates were circling his home like sharks, waiting for a weakness.
"I never thought a man like Whitebeard would die," Neptune said softly, breaking the silence. "I was shocked when the news finally reached us. We are so isolated down here... I only learned the full extent of the war today."
Jinbe swam beside him, his face stoic.
"Everyone dies, King Neptune. Even the strongest man in the world is not an exception," Jinbe replied. He paused, looking at his own webbed hands. "The fault lies with me. I have failed the expectations of Big Brother Fisher Tiger and Queen Otohime. I resigned my position to save Ace, and in doing so, I stripped this island of its government protection. I am unable to protect our home."
The three princes behind them exchanged worried glances. They had never heard the stoic Jinbe speak with such self-blame.
Neptune shook his head firmly.
"This is not your fault, Jinbe. You did what your honor demanded. You followed your heart. If Otohime and Tiger were still alive, they would have supported your decision."
They reached the entrance of the palace. Neptune turned to face Jinbe, his expression turning serious. He had not called Jinbe here just to comfort him. He needed the insight of the Knight of the Sea.
"However, the reality remains," Neptune said, his voice dropping an octave. "Jinbe, I must ask you a hard question. Now that the Old Man is gone... do you believe Whitebeard's flag still has the power to protect Fish-Man Island?"
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