"I never imagined the underwater scenery could be this breathtaking."
"Is that really a Fish-Man? They look so different from what I imagined!"
The Marine warship drifted safely within its coating bubble as it passed above Fish-Man Island, granting everyone aboard an unobstructed view of the magnificent kingdom beneath the sea.
Fish-Man Island was far larger than most people imagined. Magnificent buildings stretched across the island, and despite lying ten thousand meters beneath the sea, the residents lived much the same as those on the surface.
The entire island was protected by a gigantic, double-layered bubble membrane that isolated it from the surrounding ocean, allowing both Fish-Men and Merfolk to live comfortably as though they were on land.
"Look! There really are mermaids!"
One sharp-eyed Marine pointed excitedly toward a graceful mermaid gliding through the streets. Her upper body resembled that of a beautiful human woman, while her shimmering fish tail propelled her effortlessly through the bubble-filled pathways, leaving the young Marines staring in amazement.
"So the legends were true…"
The existence of Merfolk had always sounded like a fairy tale to many of them, yet now they were witnessing the legendary race with their own eyes.
"But… why do they all seem to be avoiding us?"
"Idiot! It's because you're too ugly! Of course you'd scare the mermaids away!"
"What did you just say?!"
"Enough!"
Bruce's stern voice instantly silenced the playful argument.
"Sailing beneath the sea is far more dangerous than sailing on the surface. Remain alert at all times. No one lowers their guard."
"Yes, sir!"
The Marines immediately straightened their posture and saluted.
Although they were still young, they possessed the courage and discipline expected of Marines personally selected by Rear Admiral Saint Roselith Seraphina.
Bruce could only shake his head with a helpless smile.
Youth truly feared nothing.
"Rear Admiral, why don't we stop at Fish-Man Island for a while? Is this your first visit here?"
Bruce walked over and attempted once again to persuade Saint Roselith Seraphina to delay her journey, hoping she would spend several days on Fish-Man Island before continuing toward the New World.
"No. Besides, Bruce… isn't this your first time here as well?"
Saint Roselith Seraphina glanced at him suspiciously.
"Or did you secretly come here before without reporting it to me?"
Bruce immediately waved both hands.
"No, no! Absolutely not!"
"This is my first visit to Fish-Man Island as well. I only studied information about the island before we departed."
He answered honestly.
He truly had never set foot here before.
"Sightseeing can wait."
Saint Roselith Seraphina calmly looked toward the distant route leading into the New World.
"Right now, I only have one objective."
"I intend to drag Red-Haired Shanks down from the throne of the Four Emperors."
Her icy declaration left no room for argument.
Bruce sighed inwardly.
Even after reaching Fish-Man Island, she still had no intention of abandoning that idea.
"Rear Admiral… Shanks…"
Bruce hesitated before speaking.
He still remembered that battle vividly.
In truth, Red-Haired Shanks had shown mercy.
Had Shanks truly intended to kill Saint Roselith Seraphina that day, her chances of escaping alive would have been almost nonexistent.
Instead, Shanks had defeated her completely before allowing her to leave.
However…
Although he had spared her life, he had crushed the pride of a swordswoman without showing the slightest mercy.
That humiliation remained engraved in her heart.
Yet Bruce also understood something else.
Pirates and Marines stood on opposite sides of justice.
Expecting mercy between mortal enemies was nothing more than wishful thinking.
"The more Emperors rule the seas…"
Saint Roselith Seraphina spoke quietly.
"The more unstable this world becomes."
"Every Emperor of the Sea commands enormous territories, countless pirate crews, and influences the balance of power across the entire New World."
She slowly tightened her grip around the hilt of Winter Solstice.
"As Marines…"
"Shouldn't we respond when another pirate rises to become one of the Four Emperors?"
Her determination was never driven solely by revenge.
Her humiliation at Shanks' hands certainly remained.
But more importantly…
She believed that every shift in power among the Yonko inevitably brought suffering to innocent civilians.
Whenever one Emperor expanded, another resisted.
Pirate crews clashed.
Territories changed hands.
Entire islands became battlefields.
And those who paid the greatest price were always the ordinary people.
The common people suffered during times of upheaval.
They also suffered during times of uneasy peace.
If the Marines remained completely silent after the birth of a new Emperor of the Sea, then in the eyes of countless civilians, that silence could easily be interpreted as acceptance.
Saint Roselith Seraphina refused to allow that to happen.
She turned toward Bruce once more.
"And Bruce…"
"Don't think I haven't noticed what you're trying to do."
"Don't play tricks behind my back."
"I will return safely."
She glanced toward every Marine standing on the deck.
"And every one of them will return safely as well."
Bruce opened his mouth, wanting to continue persuading her.
However…
After meeting Saint Roselith Seraphina's unwavering gaze, every argument died in his throat.
He simply lowered his head and remained silent.
He knew better than anyone else.
Once the heir of the Saint Roselith Family had made a decision…
Not even the Fleet Admiral could easily change her mind.
The birth of every Emperor of the Sea brought suffering to innocent people.
The people suffered when a new era rose, and they suffered again when that era collapsed.
If the Marines remained silent about the rise of a new Emperor of the Sea, wouldn't that be the same as silently acknowledging his existence?
"Also, Bruce, don't think I don't know what you're planning. Don't try anything behind my back. I'll return safely, and so will every one of them."
Bruce fell silent.
...
The warship merely passed above Fish-Man Island without stopping.
As a result, the ministers of the Ryugu Kingdom were left completely bewildered.
They had been on the highest level of alert, expecting the Marines to dock on Fish-Man Island at any moment.
Instead, the Marine warship simply continued on its course without showing any intention of entering the island.
"Your Majesty, it seems they were only passing through."
"What?"
King Neptune frowned deeply.
This was truly strange.
Why would a Marine warship choose to pass through Fish-Man Island?
Under normal circumstances, Marine vessels entered the New World by crossing the Red Line through Mary Geoise with authorization from the World Government.
Choosing to travel through Fish-Man Island was highly unusual.
"Could this Marine force be carrying out some kind of confidential mission?"
"Or… to think even more boldly… could this be a rogue Marine warship that has deserted the Government?"
"Forget it."
"They've already left. There's no point overthinking it."
Neptune let out a helpless sigh.
There was no reason to burden himself with such troublesome speculation.
As long as Fish-Man Island remained safe, nothing else concerned him.
…
Marine G-5 Base.
"Yes, sir!"
"Understood!"
The commander of Marine G-5 Base had just received a Den Den Mushi call from Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
According to Sengoku's orders, a Marine warship would soon enter the waters under G-5's jurisdiction.
Their mission was to intercept that warship and prevent it from proceeding any farther.
"Rear Admiral Vergo, you heard the Fleet Admiral's orders."
"The responsibility now rests with you."
"Stop that warship."
"Use whatever methods are necessary, but do not resort to force."
"Above all else, ensure the safety of that vessel."
"There is someone extremely important aboard."
The G-5 commander turned toward his trusted deputy and issued the order with a solemn expression.
Vergo had never failed him before.
His reliability was precisely why the commander entrusted such an important assignment to him.
"Yes, sir!"
"I will complete the mission."
The tall, broad-shouldered Marine Rear Admiral saluted crisply.
This man was none other than Rear Admiral Vergo.
"Excellent."
"Go."
The commander nodded with satisfaction.
He was nearing retirement, and if everything continued smoothly, he intended to recommend Vergo as the next commander of G-5.
...
"Marine warship ahead!"
"Please stop immediately for a routine inspection!"
Vergo's fleet had already formed a blockade within the waters under G-5's jurisdiction.
Although he could not leave his assigned sector without authorization, he had positioned his ships perfectly to intercept Saint Roselith Seraphina's vessel.
"Ignore them."
"Sail around the blockade."
Saint Roselith Seraphina had already sensed the approaching fleet with her Observation Haki.
She immediately recognized the officer standing at its forefront.
A young Marine wearing a white checkered coat, sunglasses, short black hair, and distinctive lightning-shaped sideburns.
Rear Admiral Vergo.
Without the slightest hesitation, she calmly issued her orders.
Her warship had been fitted with the most advanced propulsion system available in the Marines.
In terms of pure sailing speed, very few Marine vessels could hope to catch it.
…
Aboard the G-5 warship.
"Rear Admiral Vergo!"
"They're ignoring us completely!"
"Should we fire warning shots to force them to stop?"
A Marine Lieutenant Commander stepped forward and proposed using artillery.
He had no knowledge of Sengoku's confidential orders.
His only concern was preventing the unidentified Marine warship from escaping.
"Damn it…"
"Prepare the loudspeaker!"
Vergo immediately rejected the idea of opening fire.
Had circumstances allowed it, artillery would have been the quickest solution.
Unfortunately, the commander's orders had been absolute.
The warship must not suffer even the slightest damage.
That left him with only one option.
He had to rely on negotiation.
"Yes, sir!"
Although the Lieutenant Commander did not fully understand Vergo's reasoning, he immediately obeyed.
After all, this was Rear Admiral Vergo…
The Marine officer feared throughout Headquarters as the "Bamboo Demon."
Picking up the loudspeaker, Vergo took a deep breath before shouting across the sea.
"Rear Admiral Saint Roselith Seraphina!"
"Stop your ship immediately!"
"This is an urgent order from Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
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