—Broadcast - Continued Flashback—
Fisher Tiger resembled countless tragic heroes throughout history. Although he sacrificed his life for his entire species' welfare, no kinsman successfully followed the path he'd attempted to forge. From this perspective, Fish-Man Island had genuinely failed one of its greatest champions—a betrayal through neglect rather than malice, but betrayal nonetheless.
"That tragic hero's philosophy was fundamentally correct," Artoria acknowledged, her voice carrying both respect and melancholy. "But we must also consider harsh reality. The human race possesses natural advantages over other species across this ocean. This dominance stems from strength and population density combined."
How did humans emerge from primitive wilderness to dominate civilization? Beyond their spirit of relentless struggle and competitive drive, simple reproductive capacity proved tremendously effective. Continuously producing children to populate the world created numerical superiority. Higher population ratios inevitably generated more powerful individuals through pure statistical probability, ultimately leading to human rule across these seas.
The Mink, the Fish-Men Tribe, the Giant Tribe, and others had been forced into hiding on dangerous isolated islands—territories humans found insufficiently valuable to contest. Regions with genuinely favorable natural conditions had been claimed by humanity long ago. If indigenous populations occupied those lands, humans didn't hesitate ordering complete genocides. Even fellow humans would turn blades against their own kind when resources grew scarce enough.
Both material resources and social class naturally flowed upward through hierarchical systems, eventually concentrating in a small minority's hands. Expecting true fairness represented pure fantasy—even considering racial equality proved extraordinarily difficult against such fundamental forces.
"If you're genuinely sincere about honoring his legacy," Kisame proposed carefully, "publish Boss Fisher Tiger's authentic story in newspapers. Allow people across the seas to remember him accurately rather than through distorted propaganda."
Hoshigaki Kisame refused allowing a genuine hero to fade into forgotten obscurity. Those slaves who'd received mercy from Fisher Tiger would have matured into adults by now if they'd survived to the present day. They might generate sympathetic voices, indirectly gaining some measure of status and consideration for fish-men through public advocacy.
"Newspapers merely represent information dissemination mediums," Artoria replied with resigned pragmatism. "They might manipulate public opinion temporarily, but Fisher Tiger cannot overcome mainstream narratives controlled by power. The Celestial Dragons are petty creatures who never forgive perceived slights against their divine status."
Although Fisher Tiger's erasure from broader historical consciousness represented genuine tragedy, for Fish-Man Island specifically, maintaining disconnection and avoiding additional attention allowed King Neptune's isolationist national policies to continue functioning. Sometimes obscurity provided better protection than fame.
After extensive discussion, the acting Fleet Admiral finally redirected conversation toward Hoshigaki Kisame directly. Artoria wanted him joining the Marine institutional framework. Historical records contained absolutely no precedent for fish-men holding high positions within the organization—but hadn't the knight-girl broken numerous traditions already through sheer determination?
If fish-men genuinely wanted fighting for racial equality, they must pay considerably higher prices than humans. Merely talking about ideals and cheering from safe distances accomplished nothing. In this ocean world governed by survival of the fittest, if fish-men didn't demonstrate tangible value to the human majority, they would forever remain marginalized—pitiful scraps discarded at society's edges.
Joining the Marine to fight for fish-men's future represented the only viable path forward currently. Once embarking on this transformative journey, Hoshigaki Kisame might die along the road. Many fellow tribesmen would also perish during the struggle.
These pioneer ancestors must use their own flesh and blood to pave smooth roads for descendants who'd follow. If Hoshigaki Kisame's generation didn't choose shedding blood now, then their children and grandchildren would shed endless blood later under far worse conditions.
If fish-men wanted gaining genuine respect and equality from humans, they'd need paying a catastrophic price spanning at least one complete generation. Until all fish-men currently harboring hatred toward humans died—whether through age or violence—the next generation would continue carrying their predecessors' psychological shackles, still living within environments saturated by racial discrimination.
The hatred had to die with the current generation. Only then could the next generation build something new.
Hoshigaki Kisame felt genuinely shocked by the Fleet Admiral's ruthlessly pragmatic worldview, ideas challenging everything he'd previously accepted as unchangeable reality. This human woman was instilling reform ideology into his mind with surgical precision.
"I can sacrifice myself for fish-men's future," Kisame stated slowly, wrestling with the implications. "But can our next generation genuinely enjoy victory's fruits when that future arrives? Or will they merely inherit new forms of oppression?"
The fish-man's concerns traced to structural realities. The World Government existed above the Marine hierarchy. The Celestial Dragons controlled the World Government from behind curtains of privilege. If these slave-owning parasites wanted seizing whatever progress fish-men achieved through blood sacrifice, could the New Marine—currently barely recovered from institutional collapse—genuinely maintain its principled bottom line without compromising to former masters?
Never underestimate humanity's collective malice. The self-proclaimed gods embodied that malice in concentrated form. If Celestial Dragons continued dominating the world indefinitely, genuine racial equality would never exist across these oceans. Only two identities would remain: slave owners and slaves. Nothing between, nothing beyond.
"The word 'compromise' doesn't exist in my dictionary," Artoria replied with quiet steel, her emerald eyes blazing with conviction that transcended her youthful appearance.
In the subsequent conversation spanning hours, Hoshigaki Kisame became deeply impressed by Artoria Pendragon's personal charisma. The future the Knight King described for him—painted with words that carried weight of genuine belief—made this fish-man desperately want witnessing that world's arrival.
Even though he likely wouldn't survive to see it personally, Kisame found himself believing that world must eventually exist. Holding the same fundamental ideals as Boss Fisher Tiger despite approaching from different tactical angles, Hoshigaki Kisame chose walking an unprecedented path to create better futures for subsequent fish-men generations.
—Broadcast - Present Timeline—
Sea Knight Jinbe's mouth hung open in profound surprise. He'd listened to Hoshigaki Kisame's recounted memories throughout the entire journey, and memories of the Sun Pirates surfaced repeatedly in his mind. He'd been operating within various Yonko pirate organizations for years, attempting to secure protection and status for fish-men through pragmatic alliances.
Had his entire approach been fundamentally wrong from the beginning?
"Can the Fleet Admiral truly be trusted?" Jinbe asked, desperate uncertainty coloring his voice. "Humans are accomplished liars as a species. Is sacrificing our kinsmen's lives for the Marine's institutional agenda genuinely worthwhile?"
Due to his extensive experience as a pirate across years, Jinbe had encountered countless humans representing every moral spectrum. Most hadn't left particularly favorable impressions. He'd witnessed murder, arson, fraud, betrayal—humans demonstrated zero hesitation attacking their own kind when self-interest demanded it.
"How can we determine viability without attempting the path?" Kisame countered, his tone carrying absolute certainty born from years serving under Artoria. "In this turbulent era, fish-men must eventually choose allegiances. Those attempting fence-sitting neutrality will be dealt with first by all sides. Time remaining for Fish-Man Island grows increasingly limited."
As a Marine Admiral, Hoshigaki Kisame possessed access to tremendous quantities of classified intelligence. The great pirates designated as Yonko—particularly Blackbeard Teach and Kaido—no longer felt satisfied with current maritime equilibrium. They secretly accumulated strength for coming conflicts that would reshape the world.
After collating extensive intelligence and analyzing emerging patterns, the Fleet Admiral had prioritized resolving the Seven Warlords of the Sea situation first. These opportunistic fence-sitters would definitely betray both Marine and World Government at critical moments when circumstances favored piracy. Capricious pirates could never be trusted regardless of treaty arrangements.
By dismantling the Shichibukai system entirely, the New Marine—after its institutional rebirth—flexed organizational muscles externally for the first time. This demonstration allowed pirates who'd been secretly preparing aggressive moves to recognize clearly who genuinely mastered these seas now.
After Admiral Kisame captured Sea Knight Jinbe, he didn't linger in Totto Land's territorial waters excessively long. The Marine warships headed toward headquarters, but encountered unexpected complications during the journey.
Suddenly, giants exceeding one hundred meters in height emerged from Dressrosa's direction, propelled through ocean water by superheated steam. Their velocity approached torpedo speeds—impossibly fast for constructs that massive.
The vessel carrying Hoshigaki Kisame encountered considerable danger. He deployed water-style ninjutsu to envelope the hull completely, creating insulating barriers that saved the warship beneath his feet from melting under high-temperature steam exposure.
Something catastrophic was definitely occurring in Dressrosa. Admiral Aohebi's mission to capture Donquixote Doflamingo clearly wasn't proceeding smoothly—understatement bordering on denial given these apocalyptic signs.
Kisame's eyes narrowed as he studied the steam-propelled giants charging through the ocean like mechanical leviathans.
Whatever was happening in Dressrosa, it threatened to overshadow even the dramatic events on Cake Island.
The New Marine's simultaneous operations against multiple Shichibukai were encountering resistance far beyond initial tactical projections.
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