Just as the standoff continued, the guards of the Ryugu Kingdom finally arrived.
"Everyone, stop!"
The elderly Fish-Man King (Neptune's father) appeared, surrounded by guards, his gaze complex as he looked at Roger.
"You... are the ones who repelled the slave traders?"
Roger nodded with a hearty laugh: "Kuhahaha! Just a casual effort!"
The old king remained silent for a moment before slightly bowing and extending an invitation: "Please, come to the Ryugu Palace for a discussion."
Fisher Tiger abruptly looked up: "Your Majesty! They are humans!"
The old king gave Roger a deep look: "Some humans... may be worth meeting."
Inside the banquet hall of the Ryugu Palace, crystal chandeliers illuminated the exquisite feast, yet the atmosphere was far from relaxed.
The Roger Pirates and the nobles of the Ryugu Kingdom sat at separate tables, with Shanks and Buggy placed at a children's table in the corner, secretly piling their plates with desserts.
Rhett sat beside Rayleigh, his fingers lightly tapping his wine glass as his calm eyes swept over the Fish-Man nobles at the banquet.
The old king raised his glass in a toast: "Thank you all for your assistance in driving away the slave traders."
Roger downed his drink boldly: "Kuhahaha! Just a small matter!"
At that moment—
"Your Majesty, I have a question."
Rhett's voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the entire banquet hall.
The old king set down his glass, his aged eyes turning to Rhett: "Please, speak."
Rhett met his gaze directly, his tone calm yet sharp:
"Why wasn't the first wave of resistance against the slave traders led by the Fish-Man Island's military?"
"Why must the orphans and the poor of Fish-Man District fight for themselves?"
"Why—" His eyes narrowed slightly, "when you clearly know that human nobles are behind the slave trade, do you hide in the Ryugu Palace, watching your people be taken away?"
Each sentence stabbed like a knife into the hearts of the Fish-Man nobles.
One minister slammed the table, standing up: "Outrageous! What right does a human have to question us?!"
A mist of blood enveloped Rhett, and the minister who had just spoken felt his skin burn with corrosive pain.
"Is it enough if I'm stronger than you?"
Rhett retracted the blood mist, his gaze cold. "Can't you see the situation? Didn't you notice your king had to bow when inviting us? Yet you jump out, lost in your own delusions, old fool. Tch."
The old king watched Rhett for a long time before finally letting out a deep sigh.
"You're right."
The entire hall erupted in murmurs.
The old king slowly rose, his aged voice heavy with emotion:
"We... have indeed failed in our duty."
He stood up fully, his eyes burning with suppressed anger, and walked to the window, gazing into the dark depths of the ocean.
"It's not that we don't want to act, but that we can't."
"Human nobles, Celestial Dragons, slave traders... they have the tacit approval of the entire World Government."
"If we send our military to intercept? A Marine Admiral will arrive with a Buster Call the next day."
"If we openly resist? Fish-Man Island will be completely blockaded, leading to more starvation."
He turned back, his aged face etched with exhaustion:
"Do you think I'm unaware of the suffering in Fish-Man District? Do you think I don't want things to change?"
"But the reality is—we can barely protect ourselves!"
After hearing this, Rhett suddenly laughed.
It was a laugh of pure malice, a near-frigid disappointment.
"So, you choose to compromise?"
"Let Fish-Man District fend for itself, let the slave traders run rampant, just so the Ryugu Palace can scrape by in peace?"
The old king clenched his fists but then released them weakly.
"Young man... you don't understand."
"Some wars can't be won with passion alone."
The old king's mindset was clearly weak. No wonder Neptune turned out the way he did.It's like a robber coming to your house and telling you that as long as you don't resist, they won't harm you, and then returning every day. What's the difference?
A race already weakened, if it can't even muster the will to fight, is destined to be enslaved. Rhett hadn't witnessed that tragic history, but the pain of it was deeply buried in his heart. Seeing this familiar scene inevitably stirred some anger.
The old king knew that if they rose up in rebellion, many would die. He couldn't bear to see his fellow Fish-Mans perish, but not resisting only delayed the inevitable—like a dull knife slowly cutting through flesh. He was a decent minister but an unqualified king.
Suddenly, Roger stood up, patted Rhett on the shoulder, and then turned to the old king:
"Kuhahaha! Your Majesty, he may have been a bit harsh, but he's not wrong."
"Compromise doesn't earn respect; it only emboldens the enemy."
Rhett, picking his nose, added:
"What you need isn't a stronger military, but the courage to fight. You can't expect others to fight for your race."
The old king bowed his head. Initially, he had indeed hoped to seek the protection of the Roger Pirates. Fish-Man Island desperately needed a chance to breathe.
The Roger Pirates didn't offer protection to Fish-Man Island either. Ultimately, Fish-Man Island was their own home.
Instead, they grew complacent, living in a false sense of security. It's not about the Fish-Mans being weak—there's no racial distinction here. Arlong the Fish-Man had ruled over Cocoyasi Village for years. It's a difference in mindset.
After the banquet, Rhett stood on the terrace of the Ryugu Palace, gazing at Fish-Man District in the distance.
Shanks approached and asked softly, "Rhett, were you too harsh earlier?"
Rhett replied indifferently, "Someone had to say it."
Buggy scratched his head, "But they really can't defeat humans..."
Rhett scoffed, "Just because they can't win doesn't mean they should accept their fate. Fish-Mans are born stronger than ordinary humans. Look at the Fish-Man soldiers who stopped us at the port—they have courage in their bones. The recent kings of Fish-Man Island haven't been very competent."
Seeing Fish-Man Island made Rhett's teeth itch. Devil Fruit users are inherently weak against the sea, and to reach Fish-Man Island, one needs a coating. The island's geographical position is crucial. How could they let themselves be reduced to such a state?
If you won't let me live well, then no one will.
Roger walked over and handed him a bottle of wine: "Kuhahaha! You really gave the king an earful today!"
Rhett took the bottle and chuckled, "I just told the truth."
Rayleigh leaned against the ship's railing, thoughtful: "Do you think they'll change?"
Rhett took a sip of wine:
"Fisher Tiger will."
"That red-skinned Fish-Man... there's fire in his eyes."
Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night, though who exactly will be losing sleep remains to be seen.