High above the bustling districts of Fish-Man Island, the procession came to an abrupt halt.
Jinbe stopped swimming and looked at King Neptune with a deep, concerned frown. The King's question hung in the water between them, heavy and uncomfortable.
Neptune sighed, the bubbles escaping his mouth drifting upward toward the distant roots of the Sunlight Tree Eve. He knew his previous question—asking if Whitebeard's flag still held power—was offensive to a man as loyal as Jinbe.
"I am sorry, Jinbe," Neptune said, his voice thick with apology. "I know my words lack principle. I know it is disrespectful to ask this so soon after Newgate's passing. But... you have seen the situation. The kidnappings, the bold attacks... If we do not find a solution soon, Fish-Man Island will revert to the chaos of thirty years ago. If that happens, everything Otohime worked for, everything she died for, will have been in vain."
Jinbe's frown deepened, etching lines into his blue face. He respected Neptune, but he could not lie to him.
"I am afraid, King Neptune, that the Whitebeard Pirates no longer have the power to protect this island," Jinbe admitted, his tone grave. "With Pops gone, the fear that kept the predators at bay has vanished. And I... I have lost my Warlord title. I am now a fugitive."
The three princes—Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi—floated silently behind their father, their expressions filled with dread.
Neptune closed his eyes for a moment, absorbing the harsh reality. He opened them slowly and asked, "Then, what is the situation with the remnants of the crew? Who is the new Captain?"
"It is Ace," Jinbe replied firmly.
"Ace..." Neptune murmured, a nostalgic look crossing his face. "Fire Fist Ace... Roger's son?"
"That is correct."
"Can Fire Fist Ace not protect us? He has Roger's blood."
Jinbe shook his head, not hiding the truth. "Ace has potential, but he is too young. At least for now, he does not possess the overwhelming strength required to lead the Whitebeard Pirates in the New World. He is currently in hiding, training in secret. Only after his training is complete will he reappear on this sea."
"Is that so?" Neptune stroked his beard, his face lined with worry. "Do you have any suggestions, Jinbe?"
Jinbe knew exactly what Neptune was asking. The King wasn't looking for military strategy; he was looking for a new patron.
"Although it is a bitter pill to swallow," Jinbe said slowly, choosing his words with care, "finding another Emperor and bringing Fish-Man Island into their sphere of influence is the only viable way to ensure our safety."
"And who should we choose?"
"We do not have many choices," Jinbe explained. "With Pops gone, there are only three Emperors left: Red-Haired Shanks, Kaido of the Beasts, and Big Mom. In truth, it matters little who we choose. The key is whether we can offer them enough benefits to make our protection worth their while. Protection in the New World is a transaction, not a charity."
Neptune's eyes lit up with a sudden thought.
"Jinbe," he began tentatively, "I saw intelligence reports from the surface. It seems you have a connection with Kaido's daughter, Yamato. Do you think... is there a possibility we could gain the protection of the Beasts Pirates through her?"
Jinbe blinked. He finally understood Neptune's true purpose in seeking him out today. The King was desperate, grasping at any straw that might save his people.
To be honest, Jinbe wasn't against the idea of the Beasts Pirates. Kaido was ruthless, but his territory was stable. However...
"Neptune, I am afraid you will be disappointed," Jinbe said, crushing the King's hope gently. "Yamato's relationship with her father is... complicated. It is not good. She would be very reluctant to ask Kaido for any favors. Moreover, Yamato has now become a Warlord of the Sea herself. I have no way to contact her directly."
"Is that so?" Neptune's shoulders slumped. "I am sorry to have troubled you with this, Jinbe."
"No," Jinbe shook his head. "I should be the one apologizing. I am the one who failed to help you solve this crisis."
"No..." Neptune waved his hand dismissively. Since that avenue was closed, he decided to stop dwelling on it. He shifted the conversation to internal matters.
"You have worked hard today," Neptune said. "I heard that this kidnapping incident... it is related to Hody Jones and his group in the Fish-Man District?"
At the mention of Hody, Jinbe's expression hardened. "Ever since Arlong left, Hody and his gang have become increasingly extreme. They fan the flames of hatred. To incite conflict between Fishmen and humans, they are even willing to harm their own kind. It is unforgivable."
"I have an idea, Jinbe," Neptune said, looking at his old friend with hope. "Since you are back, I want to hand over jurisdiction of the Fish-Man District to you again. I hope you can do what Fisher Tiger did back then. Manage the district. Guide the lost youth back to the right path. What do you think?"
Jinbe was startled. He looked at Neptune, conflict warring in his eyes. For the first time in his life, the Knight of the Sea hesitated to serve his King.
"I am sorry, Neptune," Jinbe said softly, his voice filled with regret. "I cannot agree to this. From the moment I chose to become a Warlord—from the moment I agreed to work for the World Government—I lost the right to step foot in the Fish-Man District. To them, I am a traitor who became a dog of the humans. They will not listen to me."
"Ah..." Neptune let out a long, weary sigh. He felt a profound sense of powerlessness.
Was there really no way out? Was the situation destined to spiral into violence?
Fish-Man Island was besieged on all sides. Externally, human slavers were circling like vultures. Internally, extremists like Hody Jones were plotting to tear the kingdom apart.
"Otohime..." Neptune whispered, looking up at the distant light of the Eve Tree. "What would you do if you were here?"
"Will there really be a day when Fishmen can live under the true sun?"
The despair in Neptune's voice was almost too much for Jinbe to bear. He clenched his fists. He made a decision. Since his resignation had caused this chaos, he would be the one to fix it. He would go out into the New World and find an Emperor himself. He would beg, bargain, or fight to secure protection for his home.
But just as he opened his mouth to speak, a terrified scream from behind them shattered the moment.
"Fa... Father! Look! Look up there!"
"Wha... what is that?!"
"Are those Sea Kings?"
"No... look at the flag!"
Neptune and Jinbe were jolted out of their grim thoughts. They spun around, looking in the direction the three princes were pointing.
When they saw what was looming over the island, their pupils constricted to pinpoints.
"Th... this is..." Jinbe stammered, his blood running cold.
It wasn't just the royal family. All across the island, merfolk, Fishmen, and visiting human pirates looked up in horror. The light of the Sunlight Tree Eve was suddenly blocked out by massive, dark shapes.
Five enormous warships were descending slowly toward the bubble that encased Fish-Man Island. They were not ordinary ships; they were floating fortresses, bristling with cannons and armor. They hovered majestically, casting long, ominous shadows over the coral towers below.
And on the main mast of each ship flew a flag that every soul on the Grand Line recognized instantly.
A skull with two horns.
"The... The Beasts Pirates!" a human pirate on the ground screamed, his voice cracking with terror.
Panic spread through the island like a plague.
"Why are the Beasts Pirates here?!"
"Has Kaido of the Beasts set his sights on us?!"
"We're doomed! The King of the Beasts has come!"
Fear gripped everyone's heart. The mere presence of that flag, representing one of the Four Emperors of the New World, was enough to bring a chill to the warmest waters.
High above, Neptune and Jinbe watched the fleet descend, their hearts pounding in their chests. This was not the salvation they had discussed; this looked like an invasion.
Suddenly, an amplified, cold voice boomed from the lead ship, echoing through the water and penetrating the bubble.
"What? Does Fish-Man Island want me to blast my way in with cannons? Or are you going to open the gates?"
As the words faded, a figure stepped onto the prow of the lead ship. He was massive, a hulking brute with tusk-like metal jaw guards and fierce eyes.
It was Jack the Drought, one of the three All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates. Beside him stood another imposing figure, the armored Triceratops Fishman, Sasaki.
The Calamity had arrived.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse