Seeing the infamous Monkey D Naru was another reason.
Ever since the incident at Mary Geoise, she had loomed over the residents of Mary Geoise like a mythical being. To many others, she was a demon, a calamity, a force of nature that had defied the heavens. Yet to those she protected, she was a guardian, a savior, a symbol of hope.
He had been there when part of Mary Geoise was attacked, though fate or perhaps divine irony, had spared him. He had been within the safety of his own mansion, far from the epicenter of the attack. While others had crowded in front of the screens to watch the war unfold live, he had chosen solitude, unaware of the chaos erupting outside. It was not until one of his servants frantically informed him that the Uzukage had appeared in Marineford, declaring war by sending a bombing strike straight to Mary Geoise from across the ocean, that he realized the scale of what had happened.
When he learnt of such thing, he had wondered what kind of audacity this Uzukage must have had to challenge the world like that.
Even before her true face and name were revealed, he had felt an inexplicable reverence toward her. She had shattered the chains of countless slaves, rescued the broken, and welcomed them as citizens into Uzu, granting them new identities and a second chance at life. It was said that these people hailed from every possible race and tribe. Humans, Fish-men, merfolk, giants, longarms, and many more. A sanctuary for the oppressed that the World Nobles had once hunted and discarded like animals.
The moment he learned that Fish-men and merfolk lived in Uzu, he had longed to visit. But the volatile enmity between the Uzukage and the World Nobles made that dream almost impossible. He knew his presence could only spark unrest. The World Nobles and Uzu stood on opposite ends of a bloody history.
Still, when he discovered the truth, the Uzukage's incredible background and her possible connection to the vanished Donquixote heiress from ten years ago, he had made a decision. A reckless, emotional decision. One he could not take back.
He had come here, regardless of the consequences.
He knew full well that after today, the whispers would start. His actions would reach the ears of "those people." The ones who clung to the old ways.
And yet… he did not care.
He had come for one reason only.
Eventually, the three reached the office at the top of the watchtower. The heavy door creaked open, allowing them to enter the spacious chamber. A large desk stood near the window, with maps, scrolls, and documents neatly arranged on its polished surface. The room carried a distinct aura, one created by the Uzukage's presence alone.
Moments later, Naru entered.
She found Lord Mjosgard standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, not seated. Behind her desk stood Yuzu and Nikolas. The former with one hand resting casually but firmly on the hilt of her blade, and the latter leaning against the wall, arms crossed and wearing a scowl that practically screamed "don't try me."
Naru did not announce her arrival quietly. She strode in with presence and confidence, making it very clear that this was her domain.
"Lord Uzukage! It is an honor to finally meet you in person!" Despite his trembling nerves, Lord Mjosgard forced himself to smile, trying desperately to appear harmless.
Naru did not acknowledge the greeting. She walked past him without hesitation, circled the desk, and took her seat. Her posture was relaxed yet imposing. She lifted her gaze and fixed him with eyes colder than frozen steel.
"So," she started, voice smooth but devoid of warmth. "What is it that you wish to discuss?"
The permission to speak made Mjosgard swallow hard. "I... I heard that Miss Doro-"
"Call me Yuzu," the former noble interrupted with a cutting smile, her tone sharp enough to draw blood.
Mjosgard flinched but gathered himself. "Y-Yes. I heard that Miss Yuzu was here. When I found out she was alive and well… I decided to come and greet her in person."
"How very kind of you," Yuzu replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But too bad for you, I couldn't care less about you old relics from that cesspool. Just cut to the chase. What do you really want? Are you here to grovel now that our leader's name is known to the world?"
"Tch. He was probably sent here," Nikolas snapped, his eyes narrowing with contempt. "What else could he want? Trying to dig up our secrets for your masters, huh? Naru, this guy's a snake. You can't trust a single word. We're not going to fall for your government's dirty games!"
The accusation hit Lord Mjosgard like a slap to the face. His blood drained. He looked as though the floor might open up and swallow him whole.
"N-No! You're mistaken!" he stammered. "I truly didn't come here with any hidden agenda! I only wanted to see Miss Yuzu!"
Naru remained silent. She did not need to speak. Her piercing gaze alone stripped away the noble's defenses, leaving him exposed and trembling. The silence stretched, thickening the tension until it felt like an invisible weight pressed upon everyone in the room.
"There is another reason you are here," Naru finally said, her tone soft but heavy with an authority that allowed no argument. She was certain with her instinct.
Mjosgard flinched. He did not respond, but that was enough. She knew she was right. Seeing Yuzu had only been a convenient excuse. His sincerity wasn't in question… but it was incomplete.
He was holding something back.
And she hated secrets.
The noble sighed, shoulders slumping. "Lord Uzukage is right," he admitted, his voice small. "I came here for another reason. I… I wish to meet those who came from Fish-Man Island."
Naru's interest sparked, but her eyes hardened. "And why would you want that?" she asked sharply. "You do realize they are now my people. They live under my protection. I don't care if you came here with a smile and a bow... if I even sense danger to them, you won't be able to walk out of this room alive."
Her warning was clear and unmistakable, and even the air seemed to tremble for a brief moment.
Even if she did not sense malicious intent coming from this person, the psychological impact of his presence on her people could not be ignored. The mere sight of a World Noble could trigger trauma.
Their wounds ran deep, and wounds like theirs did not heal overnight.
It would take time. Patience. Protection.
One step at a time.
Then, something unexpected happened.
Suddenly, Lord Mjosgard straightened his back. His trembling paused. Then, with a jarring movement, he bent forward into a perfect, humble bow, folding himself nearly in half. It was a ninety degree bow that no World Noble had ever performed, not even in myth.
His voice shook, but not from fear. From urgency. From truth.
"I wish to apologize for my sins," he cried out. "Please... allow me to meet them!"
.
.
.
When the appointed leaders of the Fish-men and merfolk received a summons to meet with the Uzukage, not a single thought of hesitation crossed their minds. Whatever responsibilities they had been tending to were abandoned without a second glance. They moved immediately, driven by loyalty, and the unspoken understanding that Naru-sama never called them without reason.
Olipius, a broad-shouldered shark Fish-man whose presence alone could hush an angry tide, served as the guardian and leader of their Fish-men community. His authority came not only from his strength but from the quiet empathy he showed his people. At his side was Kinana, a mermaid with a beauty softened by age and sharpened by decades of hardship. Her poise was serene, yet there was a gravity in her eyes that only those who had lived through oppression could carry. Together, they embodied the voice and backbone of their kind.
Upon entering the Uzukage's office, both leaders froze as their eyes fell upon a figure neither expected to ever lay eyes on again. Sitting quietly yet uncomfortably was Lord Mjosgard
Their reactions were immediate. Both of them instantly recognized the face of the World Noble who had once come to Fish-Man Island, arrogantly demanding the return of the slaves who had escaped him years ago. The only thing preventing them from storming forward and slapping the smug expression off his face was the presence of Naru-sama in the room. Her authority was not to be challenged.
But to their bewilderment, Lord Mjosgard did not behave the way they expected him to.
He was not acting arrogant. He did not sneer at them. Instead, he greeted them with a humble, genuine smile.
This baffled both Olipius and Kinana. It was so out of character that they exchanged a suspicious glance, bracing themselves for whatever stunt he was planning to pull next. Before they could voice any of their doubts, Naru-sama broke the silence with a calm but firm command: gather all adult Fish-men and merfolk immediately. According to her, the human before them had something important to say.
Their brows furrowed. What sort of scheme was this?
Naru spoke again, this time with a comforting tone. "You both don't need to worry. He means no harm."
That single sentence was enough to halt their questions. Naru-sama possessed a gift known throughout Uzu, an ability to sense the emotions and intentions of those around her. If she claimed he bore no violence, then he bore none. Her words, simple as they were, carried absolute certainty.
If she trusted that he came here without malice, then that was the truth.
Conflict within Uzu was rare. They valued harmony like treasure. Every citizen knew how precious peace was after surviving lives marked by violence, persecution, and cruelty. So when the Uzukage herself declared there was nothing to fear, they believed it.
Even if they did not understand it.
...
Later,
When every adult Fish-man and merfolk was quietly summoned to gather at a secluded cove far from the places where their children played, a profound unease spread through the crowd. Questions buzzed through the crowd. Was something wrong? What was so serious that the younger ones were not allowed to hear?
But when Olipius and Kinana informed them that it was a direct order from Naru-sama, the questions turned into concerned murmurs. If she had summoned them, then it was not without good reason.
Then came the confirmation of their suspicions.
The Uzukage herself appeared before them, walking with composed steps. Behind her, like a shadow that didn't belong, was none other than Lord Mjosgard—the World Noble who had once haunted their memories.
The air turned thick with tension.
Some in the crowd immediately recognized him. Others had only heard stories, the tales of a cruel and entitled man who viewed their kind as nothing more than property. But recognition did not matter. The uniform contempt in their eyes said everything. A World Noble was a World Noble. Their kind didn't deserve mercy.
The hatred ran deep. The trauma even deeper.
Standing before them, Naru-sama addressed the silent assembly. Her voice cut through the heaviness.
"I know you are all wondering why I asked only the adults to come. And why the younger ones are absent." She gestured subtly toward the man behind her. Her eyes, sharp yet calm, swept the crowd. "How many of you recognize this person?"
Hands slowly began to rise. About two-thirds of the crowd.
"I see." Naru nodded. Then, without further comment, she took two steps backward, passing the attention to Lord Mjosgard.
Her silence was permission. It was his turn to speak.
He bowed his head slightly to her, gratitude flickering across his face. Then he turned to face the crowd whose hatred he had earned through his past sins. He felt their emotions like a storm crashing against him. Yet he did not turn away.
With a trembling breath, he began.
"I know that words cannot undo the suffering I caused. Whatever I say today cannot erase the harm I inflicted. I insulted your dignity. I stripped you of freedom. I committed unforgivable acts." His voice cracked, but he forced himself to continue. "I almost killed Queen Otohime. I nearly ended the life of a woman who was more noble and compassionate than I ever deserved to meet."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"I'm sorry" he said, voice breaking past the trembling in his throat. "Queen Otohime changed me. She showed me kindness when I deserved none. She taught me to be a human being. She made me understand the meaning of compassion. I have spent years living with the guilt of how monstrous I once was. Her death shattered me. I never had the chance to repay the mercy she offered me."
His tears began to fall.
And then he dropped to his knees with a thud that echoed through the quiet cove.
Even Naru seemed caught off guard by the suddenness of the gesture.
But Mjosgard was not finished.
With no regard for his own skull or dignity as a World Nobles, he lowered his forehead to the ground and struck it brutally against the stone floor.
Thud.
"I am ashamed of myself. I am a disgrace. I am unworthy of even standing before you. Please forgive me" he choked out, repeating the motion again, his voice dissolving into desperate sobs.
"Please... please forgive me!"
The crowd watched in stunned silence.
A World Noble. A man once considered divine among humans. A prince of arrogance and entitlement.
Now knelt before them, trembling, sobbing, shattering.
The sight was unreal.
No one cheered. No one jeered. No one dared award themselves the satisfaction of watching him crumble. The only sound came from the waves brushing the sand and the dull thumps of his forehead hitting stone.
Then, unexpectedly…
Someone began to cry.
Then another. And another. Until voices broke and tears spilled freely across the cove. The sound rose like a tide, a collective painful release drawn out by the raw sincerity of the moment.
They were not crying for him.
They were crying for themselves.
For the years of shame, the suffocating weight of hatred, the humiliation they had swallowed in silence. The acknowledgment of their suffering, spoken so openly, so earnestly, was something none of them had ever received.
Among the crowd were individuals who had once been owned by this very man. Individuals who had been beaten, chased, displayed like animals. Individuals whose tears had dried out of necessity because crying had never changed their circumstances.
That kind of pain does not vanish.
But seeing him like this…
Not proud. Not arrogant. Not invincible.
Seeing him broken by remorse… returned something they thought lost long ago.
A sense of closure.
Olipius, overwhelmed and weeping openly, surged forward. He gripped Lord Mjosgard by the shoulders, trying to halt the self inflicted damage.
"That is enough" he growled, tears dripping down his face. But Mjosgard only tried to bow again, prompting Olipius to grip him harder. "I said that is enough. Look at them. Look around!"
Mjosgard lifted his head, dazed and tear soaked.
And he froze.
Everyone was crying.
Everyone.
"Why" he whispered, voice cracking. "Why are you crying? I deserve your hatred. Your rage. I deserve anything you throw at me. Why are you not shouting? Why are you not striking me? I am a monster. I…"
Olipius shook his head, jaw clenched tightly.
"We will never forget what you and your kind did to us. Never." His voice wavered painfully, yet his grip softened. "But thank you. Thank you for giving us the one thing we never had. The chance to let go."
Forgiveness was difficult.
Forgetting was nearly impossible.
But the hardest part of all was moving forward when the story of their suffering had been left unfinished.
Today, that story had finally been acknowledged.
And the ending was no longer left open.
Mjosgard began to sob even harder, shoulders shaking violently.
And for the first time in their lives, the Fish-men and merfolk felt something they had never expected to feel while standing in the presence of a World Noble.
Peace.
And peace frightened them just as much as it comforted them.
Yet even so…
They embraced it.