"Long time no see. It really has been a while."
Ten thousand meters beneath the sea, at Fish-Man Island, a figure had already arrived ahead of everyone else.
Standing before him was an incomparably huge and beautiful pink-haired mermaid.
"Lord Ozz Dotor, you looked after me a lot when I was little."
Shirahoshi smiled shyly and gently lifted Ozz Dotor in both hands. Because of his size, even sitting in her palms was a little cramped.
Looking at the soft, dazzling white curves before him, waves vast enough to drown a man, Ozz Dotor reached out and patted them in a soothing manner.
"Don't mind it. A well-behaved child will be loved anywhere."
Thanks to Ozz Dotor having strangled Vander Decken's threat in the cradle back when he was younger, Shirahoshi's childhood had not been nearly as miserable as it once would have been. Though her personality was still gentle and timid, she was much better off than before.
"You're too kind, Lord Ozz Dotor."
Not far away, King Neptune of the Ryugu Kingdom stood with his trident in hand, smiling broadly.
"No matter what, you are Fish-Man Island's benefactor. A hero who once protected its people."
"A hero?"
It was the first time Ozz Dotor had ever heard someone use that word to describe him.
He had never done anything out of any heroic impulse. He simply did what he felt like doing.
Neptune understood that, yet he still chose to call him one.
After all, Fish-Man Island had received his favor.
And more importantly, judging by how much Ozz Dotor seemed to like Shirahoshi, if the day ever came when her identity as Poseidon was exposed, they might have to ask him for help.
There was also the matter that Whitebeard was now dead.
As for the protection of the other half of Fish-Man Island...
If possible, Neptune naturally hoped Ozz Dotor would take it over smoothly and bring the entire island under his protection.
That way, Fish-Man Island could become a true paradise on the sea, just like Dotoramas.
At that thought, Neptune's expression darkened.
Ever since the end of the Summit War two years ago, after Whitebeard had been brought down by Ozz Dotor and died at Marineford, the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates had retreated to the New World. They no longer had the strength to hold onto the empire Whitebeard had built. Under the assault of the Blackbeard Pirates, more than half of the remnants had been slaughtered.
Marco and the other commanders could not even hold onto Whitebeard's territory in the New World, much less spare the strength to watch over Fish-Man Island.
Once Whitebeard was gone, the half of Fish-Man Island that flew the Whitebeard flag was soon overrun by slave hunters and pirate crews. Large numbers of merfolk and fish-men fled in haste to the other half of the island, and the fish-man army was steadily pushed back by powerful human invaders.
At present, the only ones still living in that half were some thugs from Fish-Man District.
"Lord Ozz Dotor, I..."
Neptune wanted to make his plea, but in front of Ozz Dotor's far-reaching foresight, there was no need for him to finish.
"I won't interfere with the other half of Fish-Man Island. Someone else will come for it naturally."
"What...?"
Cold sweat appeared on Neptune's face. He had not expected Ozz Dotor to refuse so cleanly.
So what were they supposed to do now?
Someone else?
Not long ago, Big Mom had indeed sent word through her people. As long as Fish-Man Island offered tribute in sweets and delicacies, she was willing to provide her flag's protection for the other half.
But she was still an unfamiliar pirate, and the price she demanded was too high.
Ozz Dotor had no interest in that problem. He merely enjoyed the softness of Shirahoshi's chest like a trampoline and said to Neptune,
"I only came this time to watch a good show. The commotion probably won't be small.
Out of consideration for how obedient Fish-Man Island has been all these years, I'll give you a warning. Reduce casualties where you can."
"What?!"
Neptune was stunned. He hurriedly tried to ask more questions.
But Ozz Dotor's figure had already vanished from where he stood.
...
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat crew, through a series of strange coincidences and under the protection of the Kraken, had successfully arrived outside Fish-Man Island.
"What's going on...?"
"Why did such a huge current suddenly erupt?!"
At that moment, a bizarre-looking fish-man arrived with a group of sea beasts.
"So you're the famous Straw Hat crew, huh?"
"Who are you?"
"You're the so-called famous pirate crew among lowly humans, the Straw Hats, all of you with bounties over one hundred million.
If that were all, I could just kill you and be done with it.
But then I heard that two years ago, for the sake of fish-men and merfolk, you beat up a World Noble. Just like our revered and deceased hero of Fish-Man Island, Fisher Tiger."
"That really makes it difficult. I'm not sure how I ought to deal with you."
At that, Robin frowned slightly. That name sounded familiar.
"Fisher Tiger? The deceased hero?"
"That's right."
Hammond, one of the thugs from the New Fish-Man Pirates, showed a complicated look.
"He was the hero our fish-men admired most. He once led the Sun Pirates across the seas. Even Jinbe, who later became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, was only his subordinate.
He was the kind of man who could still retreat safely even after offending the protector of Fish-Man Island, the man known as Black Spear."
"But unfortunately, in the end he died at the hands of despicable humans like you."
"So then... make your choice. Will you submit to our New Fish-Man Pi..."
Before he could finish, a massive shadow suddenly fell over them.
He froze for a moment, then looked behind him.
A gigantic ship was charging straight at them.
"All right!!!"
"One push all the way into Fish-Man Island!!!"
A huge young man shouted excitedly, while the nameless pirates around him looked so pale they seemed ready to die.
"We're going to crash!!!"
Boom!!!
The ship smashed straight through the New Fish-Man Pirates and sent them flying.
Grinning wildly, Sadgeo charged toward Fish-Man Island, leaving the Straw Hats staring dumbfounded.
Luffy, on the other hand, was instantly furious.
"What the hell!!!"
"That guy's trying to beat us there! Hurry up, Franky!!!"
Both groups raced toward Fish-Man Island, while behind them followed the colossal Sea Kings in relentless pursuit.
"So that's the strange giant you were talking about?"
"Yeah. Luffy really hates him."
"Why?"
"No idea."
Very soon, both parties entered Fish-Man Island, while the colossal Sea Kings gathered outside its perimeter.
"What do we do? Should we force our way in?"
"No. Our king is still inside."
"Then what about Joy Boy?"
"He can't stay there forever. We'll wait here."
"Joy Boy, we want your explanation."
As for Sadgeo, after entering Fish-Man Island, he ended up somewhere different from the Straw Hats.
He landed near the palace.
The fish-men and merfolk all looked at this strange giant youth with terrified expressions.
Then he slowly removed his straw hat.
"Hahaha... so this is Fish-Man Island."
He grinned.
"Let's make this the first stop in my conquest of the world."
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The tides are shifting, and secrets linger in the dark... Step into the shadows early on P@treon, where the next chapter awaits before the world sees it.
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