The Oro Jackson glowed with a rainbow-hued bubble coating as it slowly descended into the mysterious depths.
On deck, Shanks and Buggy dashed about excitedly—this was their first time visiting Fish-Man Island, and the Roger Pirates' first as well. For six years, the crew had been casually searching for Poneglyphs, letting fate guide their course.
Colossal Sea Kings moved like leviathans through the abyss, their massive bodies displacing water with effortless grace. The resulting currents made the entire ship sway gently, leaving both boys awestruck.
Yet not a single Sea King dared attack the Oro Jackson.
Buggy flailed his arms, pointing wildly. "Whoa! Glowing fish! Look, Shanks!"
Shanks was too stunned to speak, finally managing only: "It's... so beautiful. SUGEE—"
The Oro Jackson docked at Fish-Man Island's outer harbor, where the air hung thick with tension. Locals watched from a distance, their eyes sharp with wariness, disgust, and fear. Soldiers from the Ryugu Kingdom blocked the path with tridents, their expressions icy.
"Human pirates—leave at once!" the lead guard barked. "Fish-Man Island wants no part of you!"
Shanks and Buggy leaned over the railing, fascinated by these unfamiliar fish-like people. Buggy whispered, "Why're they so hostile?"
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses. "The fish-men have suffered under human enslavement for generations. Their resentment isn't unfounded."
Roger, however, just grinned and strode forward. "Gahahaha! Relax, we're just passing through! Need some fresh water and supplies!"
The guards exchanged skeptical glances. One sneered, "Human words mean nothing! How do we know you're not slavers?"
Rhett unleashed a wisp of Conqueror's Haki. Though the guards trembled head to toe, they didn't retreat—instead, they stepped forward. Behind them were their people. They had no ground to yield.
Spine. Good.
Meanwhile, deep within Ryugu Palace, the atmosphere was equally stifling.
The aging king (Neptune's father) slumped on his throne, exhaustion and worry etched into his face. His ministers argued fiercely around him.
"Your Majesty, more human pirates!" Minister A shouted, veins bulging. "Slavers have been rampant lately—we can't let them ashore! These humans are all scum!"
Minister B, calmer, countered, "It's the Roger Pirates. They haven't attacked. Perhaps we should observe first. And if they do turn hostile... we lack the strength to stop them."
The king fell silent, conflict swirling in his eyes. Finally, he sighed. "I'll greet them myself. At the first sign of treachery, I'll expel them. We can't risk Fish-Man Island... but this may also be an opportunity." His decision was cautious, yet pragmatic.
Elsewhere, in the shadows of Fish-Man District—
A 24-year-old Fisher Tiger stood with clenched fists, fury radiating off him. He seethed at his own helplessness, unable to protect his kin from abduction.
"Here to plunder us again, are they?" His voice was low, steel-edged. "I won't let these humans succeed."
Young Jinbe hovered behind him, jaw set. "Tiger, should we rally the others? We can't let them oppress us!" His eyes burned with fighting spirit.
Arlong, meanwhile, was already gnashing his teeth. "Damn humans! Let's crush them—NOW!" He lunged forward, only for Tiger to yank him back.
As the district's leader, Tiger had to weigh consequences. "That's the Roger Pirates—infamous even on the surface. Evacuate the children. No one follows me."
If the crew truly meant harm, sending more fighters would only get them killed. Better to preserve their strength for the next battle.
Back at the harbor, the Roger Pirates attempted to barter for supplies—only for merchants to slam doors in their faces. One even hurled rotten fish. Buggy stomped his feet. "Hey! We're not villains!"
Shanks tugged his sleeve. "Buggy, calm down—"
Then—screams.
"HELP! LET ME GO!"
A young mermaid writhed in the grip of masked assailants. Nearby fish-men rushed to intervene, but were swiftly overpowered.
Rhett's gaze turned glacial. "Slavers bold enough to operate here? Pathetic."
Roger's smile vanished.
"Oi, you lot—"
Before he finished, Gaban's axe was already mid-swing!
SWISH!
One slaver split clean in half.
"YOU DAMN BASTARDS!" A roar erupted from Fish-Man District.
The remaining slavers panicked, dropping the mermaid to flee—only for Rayleigh to materialize in their path.
"Running?" His blade flashed. Tendons severed, the slavers collapsed, howling. The Roger Pirates had zero tolerance for traffickers.
Yet instead of gratitude, the fish-men's fury intensified.
"Just as we thought—humans stick together!" A towering red fish-man—Fisher Tiger—charged forth alone, eyes blazing. "First you 'help,' then betray us?! I actually believed the Roger Pirates had honor. My mistake."
"Wait! We're not—" Shanks tried to explain, but the crowd was already brandishing weapons.
Roger sighed, scratching his head. "Guess we'll have to calm them down the hard way."
The moment before clash—
BOOM!!!
Roger's Conqueror's Haki detonated!
Air quaked. Ground shattered. The invisible pressure tsunami flattened every fish-man present—even Tiger was forced to one knee, and that was without Roger targeting him directly.
"W-what kind of power...?!" Tiger gasped, staring up in disbelief.
Roger withdrew his Haki and extended a hand. "We really are just passing through. No trouble intended."
Tiger's fists clenched, then unclenched.
The weight of his helplessness crushed him—that same guilt, arriving too late every time his people were taken, was driving him to madness.