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"Are you happy now?"
"Tiger, I've always respected the heroic deeds you once accomplished. But given your current identity, coming here today... I just can't bring myself to smile."
Neptune let out a long sigh before his expression turned solemn. "Tell me—why are you here, as a representative of the Marines?"
The Paramount War had ended, Whitebeard was captured, and a new Marine Fleet Admiral had taken office.
As king of Fish-Man Island, Neptune was naturally well-informed of these major events.
Recently, the island had been rife with unrest, enough to give him constant headaches. He had even dispatched several of his sons to patrol the island in response.
"Your Majesty Neptune, as you can see, I am now a Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters! I returned to my homeland not just out of sentiment, but out of concern for my fellow Fish-Men."
Fisher Tiger let out a deep sigh as he began to speak slowly. "For years, the people of Fish-Man Island have been treated as outcasts by humans."
"The nobles, in particular, have enslaved and trafficked Fish-Men in secret. The racial tension between humans and Fish-Men has always been a painful, unresolved issue."
"And this time—" He paused briefly, taking a deep breath. "I come here on behalf of Fleet Admiral Arashi to discuss a proposal with Your Majesty: a joint effort between the Marines and the Fish-Men to resolve the long-standing conflict between our two races!"
Those words made Neptune's pupils contract. "What did you say, Vice Admiral Tiger?" Shock and disbelief overwhelmed his heart in that moment.
Was this a joke? The Marines wanted to collaborate with Fish-Men to address the racial divide? And not just address it, but resolve it together?
That was unheard of! This was likely the first time in history such a thing had been proposed!
"As I said, My direct superior, Fleet Admiral Arashi, is not only the one who mentored and guided me to where I am today, but in his eyes, all races of this world are equal, entitled to the same right to life, the same right to dignity."
"Out in the world, he may be portrayed as a ruthless force, terrifying and powerful like a devil."
"Some pirates even refer to him as a demon of the underworld, a living Ashura bringing destruction and terror wherever he goes."
"But to me, he is one of the rare few in this world I truly admire and follow with faith."
"I firmly believe only he can truly bring peace and prosperity to this world." Fisher Tiger's voice was steady but filled with conviction and strength.
"You mean, in his eyes... Fish-Men and humans are equal?" Neptune spoke those words with a trembling voice.
Because he knew exactly what such a belief represented. The Ryugu Kingdom had no voice in the Reverie.
Even when they did speak, they were ignored by the rulers and nobles of the human world. Fish-Man Island had never truly had a voice.
But if they gained the recognition of the Marine Fleet Admiral, that would be far more meaningful than the so-called protection of any pirate crew.
"Yes! This belief is the very justice that Fleet Admiral Arashi has upheld since the moment he joined the Marines!"
"All of us under his command have followed in his footsteps with unwavering resolve."
Fisher Tiger nodded solemnly.
Neptune fell into silence. He wasn't suspicious, but rather struggling with how to respond. Why would the Marines do this? What exactly was Fleet Admiral Arashi's intention?
Rumors about him spread like wildfire across the world—too many legends, too many impossible feats.
And especially in the recent Paramount War, his presence had been dazzling, shaking the world and instilling both awe and fear.
His influence and authority were beyond imagination.
"What exactly does Fleet Admiral Arashi intend to do?" Neptune slowly raised his head and looked straight into Fisher Tiger's eyes.
As the king of Fish-Man Island, his duty was to prioritize the interests of his people.
"On the basis of equal cooperation between Fish-Men and humans! The Marines plan to build a military base here on Fish-Man Island!"
"From this day forward, the island's security will be jointly maintained by both the Marines and Fish-Men, as part of a new Marine unit!"
"At the same time, the Marines will work across the world to protect the rights and safety of Fish-Men, and will crack down on the black market trade and trafficking of our people!"
"If—Your Majesty agrees to it!" By now, tears had welled up in Fisher Tiger's eyes. Even his voice quivered with emotion.
"From this day on! Fish-Men will receive full security protection from the entire Marine system—just like humans!"
"Our legal rights will be guaranteed by the Marines! From this day forward, we Fish-Men can step out from this island and venture into the world!"
"From this day forward, we can walk under the sun, just like humans!"
"From this day forward, we Fish—"
The words stopped. Fisher Tiger was in tears, his body trembling uncontrollably as he sat there. Neptune sat motionless on his throne, frozen like a sculpture.
How many years had it been? No one could even remember.
How many Fish-Men had sacrificed their lives, generation after generation, just to fight for one word—equality and now, at long last, a ray of hope had appeared.
But even now, Neptune remained calm. He took a deep breath, eyes bloodshot, and looked at Fisher Tiger.
"What does Fish-Man Island need to offer in return? The Marines wouldn't go so far for free, would they? I know exactly what kind of price they'll pay for this."
Fisher Tiger went silent at first, then exhaled deeply. "Fleet Admiral Arashi said that Fish-Man Island will need to contribute some funding as part of the military budget."
"And possibly... some Fish-Men will need to serve in the Marines." Neptune blinked in disbelief. It felt like he'd misheard something, his thoughts in a haze.
"Funding? That's all? And... Fish-Men can serve in the Marines?!" Compared to the money, it was the second part that truly shocked him.
Gold meant little to the Ryugu Kingdom. In fact, if it meant ensuring their people's safety, they would willingly pay it.
But Fish-Men becoming Marines—that was another matter entirely.
It meant that Fish-Men could stand upon the stage of the Marines, to genuinely protect the interests of their own race.
In this vast world, only one's own kind could be truly trusted to defend their own. This second offer from the Marines was real, meaningful power.
Unlike Whitebeard's deterrence through reputation, Fisher Tiger's proposal as a Marine representative carried concrete benefits. For all of Fish-Man Island, it was a historical turning point.
"Yes."
"Under Fleet Admiral Arashi's plan, Fish-Men will be able to enter recruit training alongside humans and enjoy the same rights!"
"Whether it's in promotions or training, there will be no discrimination at all!" Fisher Tiger nodded firmly.
Neptune clenched his fists as his eyes sparkled wildly. To him, this was an offer too powerful to refuse. It shook his very soul.
The dream of Queen Otohime might finally come true through this cooperation and Fish-Man Island might finally step into a new era.
The right path seemed clear.
He knew well that true equality between humans and Fish-Men wouldn't come with just one piece of paper. It would take time, patience, and long-term integration.
Learning to live together, that was the real challenge.
How would the people of the deep-sea island face the world above? Even Neptune, king of Fish-Man Island, worried about that constantly.
"What an irresistible proposal...But Tiger!" Neptune suddenly lifted his head, his expression conflicted.
"I still can't believe this proposal truly came from Fleet Admiral Arashi himself."
"Because for us, this is simply too unbelievable. You understand what I mean, don't you, Tiger?" Neptune stood up from the royal throne and slowly walked down as he spoke.
"It's been so many years! Our Fishmen have always lived in an awkward position in the world. When our people are captured and sold as slaves, we can do nothing."
"So many Fishmen have tried to promote equality with humans, but they could never find a way."
"Even in the World Government, every conference is just a stage for those kingdoms and nobles—Ryugu Kingdom never has a voice!"
"Do you know? Years ago, at a Reverie, I saw Arashi with my own eyes. He was different from us. The moment he entered the room, all eyes were on him."
Neptune's tone was filled with emotion, a trace of memory flashing across his face.
"Many only know him as a powerful Marine, someone who commands fear across the entire pirate world, but few know he also holds another identity."
"And that is, besides being a Marine, he is also a Celestial Dragon!" Fisher Tiger's pupils shrank, but there was no change in his expression.
As someone who had long served under Arashi, he already knew this. Back when Arashi entered Mariejois, it was he who saved Tiger's life.
That was why Tiger had resolutely chosen to follow him, firmly believing that Arashi was the only light in this world.
"In this world, his voice carries weight we Fishmen could never dream of. So if this matter was carried out by him, then I am willing to believe in it."
With a light sigh, Neptune gave a warm smile, then turned to Fisher Tiger. "If possible, I would like to meet with Fleet Admiral Arashi personally!"
"Only then can I truly confirm the authenticity of this matter." Upon hearing this, Fisher Tiger took a deep breath and smiled as well.
"Fleet Admiral Arashi will be arriving at Fishman Island very soon. His arrival is meant to show you his unwavering resolve!"
"No matter what kind of resistance stands in his way, the Admiral will crush it entirely!" Neptune paused for a moment, then laughed again. "In that case, I can rest easy!"
The Warship arrived at Fishman Island six hours after Fisher Tiger. As Arashi disembarked from the ship, the gathered Fishmen at the port widened their eyes in shock.
Their bodies trembled. No one could possibly not recognize that face—after the Summit War, Arashi's image had spread across the entire world.
"Fleet Admiral Arashi! The strongest Marine in history… he's actually come to Fishman Island!"
"What in the world is going on? Why is he here?" In an instant, tension and fear swept across the entire port like a wave.
The presence of Arashi was too overwhelming—so much so that it was impossible to ignore, even evoking dread.
If it were pirates here, many of them might not even be able to remain standing and when several more figures followed Arashi down the ramp, the entire port fell into an eerie silence.
"Marine Headquarters Admiral Kizaru! and Vice-Admirals as well!"
"With a lineup like this, is the Marine planning to destroy Fishman Island? It's very possible! Don't forget, this is still Whitebeard's territory—and his flag still hangs in the center of the island!"
The panic spread quickly, darkening the faces of everyone present. The conflict between Marines and pirates was no secret to anyone.
The figures standing below the Sander made countless Fishmen uneasy. Some even believed that the end of Fishman Island was upon them.
Arashi silently scanned the faces of the people before him. He could clearly sense their fear, and his brow furrowed.
It was clear now that the rift between humans and Fishmen ran deeper than he had imagined—especially the mistrust toward the Marines.
"We've got a long road ahead of us," Arashi muttered. "Fishmen and humans have never had mutual trust."
"This place has always been a major headache for the Marines," Kizaru added in a low voice.
Trying to bring Fishman Island under formal protection was no easy task. The complications and resistance ahead were so severe, Kizaru could hardly believe it himself.
Still, he had to admit—this new Fleet Admiral was someone bold enough to take action.
"Are we just going to stand around here? Looks like Vice Admiral Tiger has forgotten about us," Arashi said with a smile.
"Big Brother Tiger is probably still in deep discussion with King Neptune, right?" Rosinante chuckled.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Just saying," Arashi laughed, then pointed toward the crowd. "Look, here they come!"
Just as he spoke, the crowd at the port quickly parted. "King Neptune is here! Big Brother Fisher Tiger! It's really him! He's alive! and the princes of Ryugu Palace!"
The crowd grew noisy, stunned by the scene before them. Then, they saw Neptune with a solemn expression striding up to Arashi. "On behalf of the Ryugu Kingdom, I welcome you, Fleet Admiral Arashi!"
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