"The World Government would never make something like this public. But after Mr. Rowan saved us at Mary Geoise, I came to a conclusion. Sooner or later, he'll inevitably make a move against the Celestial Dragons."
Tiger paused before continuing,
"After being rescued, and after talking with him and learning more about the Revolutionary Army, I realized something. For Fish-Man Island, perhaps the Revolutionary Army represents hope for the future, hope of one day living safely on the surface."
Queen Otohime looked at Tiger.
"Does the Revolutionary Army want Fish-Man Island to join them? But if we did..."
Tiger replied,
"Your Majesty, King Neptune. This experience made me understand one thing."
"As long as the Celestial Dragons continue to covet mermaids, Fish-Man Island will never be able to relocate to the surface."
"You may not know this, but on the Sabaody Archipelago, a female mermaid starts at 70 million Berries at auction if no Celestial Dragons are involved."
"But if a Celestial Dragon joins the bidding, the price easily climbs into the hundreds of millions."
"Faced with that kind of fortune, no human will see our people as equals. After all, even a Zoan Devil Fruit is only worth around 100 million Berries on the open market."
Silence filled the spacious audience hall. After a long while, Queen Otohime finally spoke.
"I still believe that if we persevere, we can convince the Celestial Dragons to allow us to move to the surface."
Unlike the queen's optimism, Neptune turned to Fisher Tiger.
"You understand better than anyone. The World Government rules every nation on the surface."
"Because of Roger, I know a little about what the future may hold. But as things stand, I still don't see enough in the Revolutionary Army to justify wagering everything on them."
Tiger nodded in understanding.
"That's why, after returning this time, I intend to join the Revolutionary Army myself. I want to see it with my own eyes."
"Fish-Man Island's future is too important to decide carelessly. I'll bring back everything I learn about them."
Neptune nodded.
"That would be for the best. Only by seeing it personally can we truly understand."
"And only then can Fish-Man Island make its choice with caution. The sea ten thousand meters below the surface gives Fish-Man Island a natural barrier."
"As for the future, we can—"
Before he could finish speaking, another voice echoed through the hall.
"The Poneglyph in the Sea Forest already records the choice Fish-Man Island made eight hundred years ago, doesn't it?"
"And eleven years ago, in 837, when Roger came here, the prophecy made by the girl with the gift of foresight, Shyarly, has already begun coming true."
"Isn't that right, King Neptune?"
A masked figure silently appeared behind Tiger. He gave a slight bow toward King Neptune and Queen Otohime.
"My apologies for appearing so abruptly. I was delayed by a few matters these past few days."
"I also didn't expect to arrive directly inside Ryugu Palace."
The ability to teleport immediately reminded Neptune of the intelligence written on the Revolutionary's bounty poster.
But what shocked him even more was the mention of the Poneglyph. In just a few sentences, the man had revealed not only what Roger had learned from the stone, but also Fish-Man Island's greatest secret.
The Ancient Weapon. Poseidon.
"You needn't apologize, sir."
Queen Otohime returned the bow.
"I can sense that you mean no disrespect. And Fish-Man Island also owes you its gratitude for rescuing our people at Mary Geoise."
Rowan looked at the queen, whose Observation Haki had been exceptional since birth.
"I truly mean no offense. But, Your Majesty, you underestimate just how much greed one billion Berries can inspire."
"The Celestial Dragons of Mary Geoise may no longer dare visit Sabaody personally after three of them were killed there, but the human trafficking organizations, and those who have abandoned their humanity for money, will never hesitate."
He didn't give Otohime another opportunity to speak about perseverance. Instead, he turned directly toward Neptune.
"Fish-Man Island's position was decided eight hundred years ago. Wasn't it?"
"Its location alone, ten thousand meters beneath the Red Line, directly below Mary Geoise, already explains everything."
Neptune fell silent. He didn't fully understand the significance of Fish-Man Island's geographical location. But he did know one thing.
Fish-Man Island's stance had indeed been determined eight hundred years ago.
The apology left behind by Joy Boy, his failure to fulfill the promise he made to the previous Mermaid Princess, that alone was enough to prove where Fish-Man Island truly stood.
However, none of that was a sufficient reason for Fish-Man Island to immediately place itself in opposition to the World Government.
Moreover, everything Neptune currently knew about the Revolutionary Army came from newspapers alone. Under such circumstances, no competent king would make such an important decision.
Rowan understood that as well. His purpose in coming to Fish-Man Island was because Poseidon had already been born.
He needed to make his position clear, and he also needed to have this conversation with the rulers of Fish-Man Island.
"Of course, I'm not asking Fish-Man Island to make any promises right now."
"To a certain extent, in the future war that lies ahead, Fish-Man Island's greatest contribution won't come from its military strength, but from a single person."
Without the slightest hesitation, Rowan met Neptune's gaze.
"My visit today is primarily to explain the Revolutionary Army's vision for changing this world."
"'All life is equal.' Those words aren't only about equality between races. They also mean that, in the future, this world will no longer have hereditary monarchies."
Neptune's eyes narrowed.
"Are you saying that I should abdicate?"
Rowan shook his head slightly.
"Not now. But when the Revolutionary Army eventually carries out its reforms across the world, I hope Your Majesty will be willing to support and cooperate with those changes."
As he spoke, Rowan sighed and glanced at the dumbfounded Fisher Tiger standing beside him.
"The Revolutionary Army doesn't need Fish-Man Island to choose a side today. Nor do we need Your Majesty to agree with anything I've said. This visit is simply an exchange of ideas. Nothing more."
"To a certain extent, overthrowing hereditary rule is easy in countries where the people are oppressed. In those places, all that's required is force."
"But kingdoms like Fish-Man Island, or several nations on the surface, have kings who have never oppressed their people. They live modestly. They are deeply loved by their citizens."
"Changing a country like that is much more difficult. It requires time, time to change people's way of thinking. And it also requires the support of those currently in power."
Rowan turned toward Queen Otohime.
"Your innate Observation Haki allows you to perceive the emotions of others. You can empathize with them."
"To a certain degree, you can even project your own emotions onto others, allowing them to understand your feelings and overturn their previous beliefs."
"So, Queen Otohime, can you sense even the slightest falsehood in what I've said?"
She gently shook her head.
"Your resolve is the strongest I have ever felt."
Rowan nodded before looking back at Neptune.
"One of the purposes of my visit has already been fulfilled. As for everything I've said, Fish-Man Island has plenty of time to consider it. There is no need to rush."
Neptune nodded slowly. After a moment, he asked,
"You seem absolutely convinced that the Revolutionary Army can change this world."
"Forgive my bluntness, but considering the World Government's power, I simply cannot see any possibility of your success."
Rowan replied calmly,
"Perhaps Fish-Man Island still preserves records of the great war that swept across the world eight hundred years ago. That so-called Great Kingdom will become one of the forces I can make use of."
"But it will never be something I rely upon. My understanding of this world's secrets is neither complete nor lacking."
"My confidence comes from unwavering conviction. And from my own strength."
After saying that, Rowan gave another slight bow.
"I wonder, would I have the honor of meeting this generation's Mermaid Princess, Poseidon?"
The moment those words fell, Neptune's body stiffened. He really knows.
When Roger had come here eleven years earlier, he had only learned that the King of the Sea Kings would be born ten years later. But Rowan's words had clearly pointed to the one-year-old Shirahoshi.
Neptune slowly let out a long breath.
"Very well."
Since Rowan already knew Shirahoshi existed, there was no point trying to hide her. Someone capable of teleporting directly from the surface to Ryugu Palace could never be stopped by simple secrecy.
Tiger, was bringing this human to Fish-Man Island truly a blessing, or a disaster?
Neptune and Queen Otohime led the way. The queen gave a slight bow and said, "Please follow us, sir."
"Of course."
Rowan replied from behind his mask before giving the still-kneeling Tiger a light smack.
"What are you spacing out for? Don't you want to see the second Mermaid Princess to be born in eight hundred years?"
"And besides, she'll grow up to become one of the most beautiful women on the seas in a little over a decade."
Tiger blinked, scratched his head, and stood up.
"Sir, could you not change topics so suddenly? Princess Shirahoshi is just a child."
Following Neptune and Otohime, the four soon arrived at the highest level of Ryugu Palace. Above them was a nursery enclosed within a giant transparent bubble.
On a specially made giant scallop-shell bed unique to Fish-Man Island, the one-year-old Shirahoshi was already surprisingly large for her age. She lay sleeping on her side, facing the transparent bubble.
Beyond it, enormous shadows occasionally drifted past.
"An infant's emotions can fluctuate greatly. When Shirahoshi was born, far too many Sea Kings gathered here."
"So until she's old enough to control her emotions, they need to be able to see her."
Queen Otohime explained softly. Shirahoshi was still asleep, occasionally smacking her lips in her dreams.
Even though Rowan had met merfolk several years earlier, seeing the Mermaid Princess as a baby still filled him with curiosity.
He reached out and gently poked Shirahoshi's soft cheek. She frowned slightly in her sleep, clearly displeased. Rowan, however, seemed to find it amusing. He couldn't resist giving her cheek another gentle pinch.
Queen Otohime smiled.
"It seems you like children very much, sir."
Rowan didn't deny it.
"A person's values, their kindness, in most cases, they're shaped by childhood experiences and the education they receive."
"So, in my opinion, bratty children are a headache. But who wouldn't love a well-behaved, adorable child?"
Like Ace and Luffy, those two were absolute little terrors. Nami. Robin. Hiyori. Yamato. They were all wonderful children. Oh, and Koala, and Hancock.
After all, eight-year-old Nico Robin could already cook, wash clothes, and still find time to study as a scholar.
Meanwhile, that little menace Ace actually carried his one-year-old little brother into the forest just to show him off to Sabo.
And lately I'd heard Roger was so angry every day he couldn't even eat. Though, considering his current state, he couldn't have eaten anyway.
Rowan spent a while teasing the sleeping Shirahoshi.
Watching from the side, Neptune and Queen Otohime could both see that although this mysterious man had spoken bluntly and without reservation only moments ago, he genuinely seemed fond of Shirahoshi.
Perhaps he wasn't as difficult to get along with as he'd first appeared.
After a while, Rowan stood up. His gaze shifted toward the massive silhouettes swimming beyond the bubble.
If Vegapunk could develop defensive technology capable of withstanding attacks from creatures like those, then what purpose would Poseidon ultimately serve?
As the Revolutionary Army continued to grow, uprisings would eventually erupt across the world at the critical moment. By then, perhaps the Sea Kings wouldn't play such an important role after all.
Pluton still lay buried beneath Wano. A battleship of that size would undoubtedly possess an equally extraordinary power source.
As for Uranus, I still know nothing. Nor am I certain whether the weapon Imu possesses is Uranus at all.
But now, perhaps none of that truly matters anymore.
With Vegapunk's technology allowing every island to defend itself, with the Marines persuaded to change sides, and with Revolutionary forces that had been lying dormant launching uprisings across the entire world, the decisive battlefield could be confined to Mary Geoise.
King against king. General against general.
Then reshape the world's way of thinking. Implement a new system. And, in time, use science to solve the problems of the Red Line and the Calm Belts, until every sea was connected as one.
If that's the future, then this trip to Fish-Man Island really had only been about delivering a message.
"Let's go."
Taking one last look at the sleeping little Shirahoshi, her tiny fists clenched and her brows slightly furrowed, Rowan turned and left the nursery.
Everything that needed to be said had already been said.
At this point, the importance of Poseidon no longer seemed as great as he had once believed.
Originally, he had planned to leave and take a stroll around Fish-Man Island, the kingdom lying ten thousand meters beneath the sea.
But Queen Otohime warmly invited him to stay for a banquet instead, explaining that there were many things she wished to ask him about.
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