The bustle of cheering voices filled Gyoncorde Plaza.
After eight long years, the citizens of Fishman Island could once again see Princess Shirahoshi in person. Normally, they could only catch the rare glimpse of her or hear bits of news from the Hard-Shell Tower where she resided.
Surely the princess who had been hidden away all this time must have grown even more beautiful, right?
And indeed, when Princess Shirahoshi finally appeared, escorted onto the stage by King Neptune and Prince Fukaboshi, the crowd's excitement erupted into its peak.
She truly was the jewel of Fishman Island—the most beautiful woman in the world.
The crowd marveled in awe.
Among them were many humans from the surface. To have the rare fortune of beholding Princess Shirahoshi with their own eyes today left them thrilled beyond measure.
Prince Fukaboshi, however, did not share in their joy.
Though Hody and Vander Decken had been dealt with, he still carefully scanned the crowd, wary that some other ill-intentioned person might imitate those extremists and attempt to harm his sister.
When his sharp, narrow eyes caught sight of a few familiar figures in the throng, he froze for a moment.
Crewmembers of the Davy Jones Pirates were present as well. They stood scattered across the plaza, positioned as though they were strangers.
Were they potential threats? Prince Fukaboshi couldn't be sure.
Yet from his recent observations, they did not seem so.
They had done nothing more than stroll openly about Fishman Island, buying goods, frequenting the Mermaid Café, and then returning to their ominous black ship—only to repeat the routine the next day.
King Neptune had already decreed that no one was to provoke them. If they wished to purchase something, and the price was fair, then it should be sold to them. The island's shopkeepers had wisely abided.
Meanwhile, more and more humans had arrived on Fishman Island lately.
Some were merchants, others pirates, and still others bounty hunters. Most hailed from the Sabaody Archipelago ten thousand meters above.
The influx of outsiders had, for the time being, diluted the citizens' fear of the Davy Jones Pirates.
Especially as days passed without any invasion taking place, people began to reflect and realize the flaws in Hody's words back then.
Moreover, Ryugu Palace had never denounced the Davy Jones Pirates—not a word of censure. That silence was telling.
Prince Fukaboshi still could not guess the pirates' true intent.
King Neptune, however, remained calm, simply counseling him: "So long as they make no move, we shall not move. Let time drag things along."
As he thought this, Prince Fukaboshi turned toward his father.
King Neptune was now helping his timid, shy daughter deliver her first public address since leaving the Hard-Shell Tower—an echo of the way her late mother, Queen Otohime, once spoke before the people.
The aim was to reassure Fishman Island's citizens about Shirahoshi's well-being, and to reveal through her lips the horrifying crimes of Hody.
No messenger could carry such weight as the tearful, innocent Princess herself. Her words shocked the people and drew out their sympathy.
The islanders believed her almost unanimously. A soul so pure and kind could never tell a lie.
At the same time, they were aghast.
The true murderer of Queen Otohime and two princes had lived brazenly among them all these years—and only days ago even tried to play the victim!
The plaza rang with curses heaped upon Hody and the New Fishman Pirates, extending insults to their ancestors and their unborn descendants alike.
Hatred for Hody deepened. Yet the people's feelings toward the Davy Jones Pirates grew far more complicated—especially as some noticed their crewmembers among the crowd.
After mustering her courage to speak the truth, Princess Shirahoshi finished her testimony.
King Neptune kissed her cheek gently, whispering words of encouragement in her ear.
Then he took the microphone and solemnly announced the funeral arrangements for his two fallen sons.
As Prince Fukaboshi escorted Shirahoshi from the stage, a woman's voice suddenly broke the respectful silence of the audience:
"Looks like I'm still the more beautiful one."
Shirahoshi blinked her wide, curious eyes and looked toward the sound.
There stood a striking beauty with black hair. She removed her white hat, bowed gracefully, and smiled with confident red lips.
Shirahoshi nodded back in innocent courtesy.
The woman slipped slowly into the crowd and vanished.
"Brother," Shirahoshi asked softly, "who is she?"
"She's one of the Davy Jones Pirates—Alvida," Prince Fukaboshi answered, patting her hand in reassurance. "Don't be afraid. She likely means no harm. Later, I'll show you their wanted posters. You should recognize them—chances are, you'll meet them again."
"Tch."
Buggy crumpled his new wanted poster into a ball and tossed it into the trash. "One hundred and ninety-five million Berries?! They're trying to get me killed!"
He had only just laid eyes on his updated bounty. Realizing that it now surpassed even Crocodile's, and that he was ranked second highest in the Davy Jones Pirates, left him utterly distraught.
"What have I even done? I haven't done anything!" Buggy wailed, yanking at the sleeve of Hachi beside him. "Why is the Navy always targeting me?!"
Deep down, he knew the answer.
Hachi, far calmer—and perhaps too oblivious to the danger—was busy grinning at his own poster, which bore a bounty of ninety million.
"Just ten million more and I'll hit a hundred million! Even Jinbe's only at two hundred fifty million—halfway there!"
"What the hell are you celebrating, you idiot?!"
Buggy stormed ahead, regretting every moment of agreeing to accompany Hachi today. Talking to him was like speaking to a brick wall.
Hachi tucked several wanted posters away, planning to bring them back to Fang City for the others to see—even though many of them had already looked over their updates.
"There sure are a lot of humans on Fishman Island lately," Buggy muttered, watching the streets crowded with two-legged beings. "I hear something big happened in Sabaody. Loads of pirates rushed to get their ships coated and fled down here to hide."
"What happened?" Hachi asked, poking his long face close.
"Don't get in my face!" Buggy shoved him away. "Apparently, some idiots attacked a Celestial Dragon and brought down Admiral Kizaru himself. Heh… their fate must have been miserable…"
"Ahem. Buggy, among those 'idiots' you're talking about—one of them was me, hahaha."
Suddenly, a weathered man's voice spoke from nearby.
Both Buggy and Hachi jolted, whipping around.
From a side alley, an old man with a mane of white hair emerged. His lips curled in a smile, his eyes firm and calm, his presence steady. A round pair of spectacles perched on his face, and a scar ran over his right eye.
"Rayleigh?!"
Buggy instantly recognized him, shouting aloud. To his shock, Hachi cried out the same name beside him. Buggy stared in disbelief at Hachi.
"You know Rayleigh too?!"
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?!"
"Dark King" Silvers Rayleigh, former first mate of the Roger Pirates—of course Buggy knew him. But how could Hachi possibly know Rayleigh as well?
Rayleigh chuckled as the two gawked at each other. He laid his hands on their shoulders, saying, "This isn't the place for a chat. Let's move somewhere else."
Some time later, Hachi led Rayleigh and Buggy near Fishman District.
Ever since Hody and the New Fishman Pirates had been wiped out, King Neptune had ordered the district sealed off. Its original residents had been relocated elsewhere, leaving the place deserted and eerily quiet.
Rayleigh tilted his head back, gazing at Noah, the massive "Ark of Promise," looming in the distance. The corners of his lips curved, his mind drifting into memory.
"Alright then, tell me—what's going on here?" Buggy demanded impatiently, crossing his arms.
Rayleigh shook free of his reverie, turning back with a smile. "Buggy, you're as hotheaded as ever. I thought joining the Davy Jones Pirates might've mellowed you out."
"Eh… so you knew already?" Buggy scratched his red nose awkwardly. "Actually, Rayleigh, I've matured quite a lot. My bounty's up to one hundred and ninety-five million Berries now."
"Well, that's something at least." Rayleigh's tone was easy, unfazed by the fact that a former apprentice of the Roger Pirates had joined another crew.
He chuckled.
"I've read all about it in the papers. You Davy Jones Pirates have made quite the waves. I thought for sure you'd head to Sabaody for coating, but it seems you found a way to dive straight down to the deep sea."
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