"Hm? A fellow compatriot? Do you want to travel back to Fishman Island with us?"
Before long, at the newly established Ryugu Kingdom office on Sabaody Archipelago, the traces of the earlier battle had not even been completely cleaned up yet.
Seeing that the visitor was a Fish-Man, the personnel staying there didn't pay much attention.
Although Fish-Men and Merfolk could return to Fishman Island simply by swimming, the ten-thousand-meter distance was far from safe.
Natural disasters on the seabed, as well as potential attacks from Sea Beasts or Sea Kings, were just as dangerous for ordinary people.
Therefore, most residents of Fishman Island usually traveled in groups so they could look out for one another.
"Not only that. Since this is the Ryugu Kingdom's office… you should be able to contact His Majesty Nereus, right?"
"Of course. Do you have business with the Boss?"
"Yes. Please inform His Majesty Nereus that Tom from Water 7 wishes to meet him."
Tom was not one of Nereus's former subordinates, so the title "Boss" didn't apply to him. Following convention, he addressed him as "His Majesty."
"If there's something you need, you can just tell us."
"No, this matter is very important. I must say it to him in person."
The few of them exchanged glances. Seeing how insistent Tom was, they didn't make things difficult for him.
"We'll pass the message along, but whether the Boss will see you or not, we can't say."
With Nereus's personality, he wouldn't mind reports like this being passed up. Even if it turned out to be false, there wouldn't be any consequences.
But if it really were something important and they delayed it, that would be troublesome.
"Yes, Boss, understood. I'll issue the pass for him right away…"
Not long afterward, the person who reported the message received Nereus's reply. He took out a seal and began writing and stamping a sheet of paper.
"Here. Take this. With it, you can go directly into Ryugu Palace. We happen to have a squad heading back to Fishman Island to rotate shifts. Go back with them."
Tom dove into the sea together with several powerful Fish-Man warriors.
Aside from being startled by a Sea King along the way, nothing else happened, and they ultimately returned safely to Fishman Island.
"You still remember the way to Ryugu Palace, right? We have other things to do, so we won't go with you."
After parting with them, Tom didn't take the fast waterway within Fishman Island.
That route was built using bubble technology, like a pipeline, serving as a rapid passage specifically for Mermaids and Fish-Men.
Although it floated in midair, inside it was filled with rapidly flowing water, allowing swimmers to move several times faster.
But Tom chose to slowly walk toward Ryugu Palace. He was curious about what changes had occurred in this country during the many years since he left Fishman Island.
Even though he had exchanged letters with his younger brother, some things could only truly be felt when seen with one's own eyes.
In fact, from the entry checkpoint alone, Tom had already sensed that Fishman Island was different from before. The pirates entering the island were clearly far more well-behaved than they used to be.
Unlike the arrogant and domineering attitude of a few years ago, they now seemed to fear something.
Meanwhile, the residents of Fishman Island seemed to carry a new sense of ease in their daily lives.
"Isn't that Tom?"
Tom hadn't been born in Water 7; he still had quite a few acquaintances on Fishman Island. And since the island itself wasn't that large, sooner or later you were bound to run into familiar faces.
"I'm telling you, Fishman Island isn't like it used to be. Coming back to settle down would be a great choice. His Majesty was right, only a country where its citizens can live with peace of mind can truly be called a country."
Tom said nothing and simply listened as this former neighbor rambled on about the events of recent years. His account likely contained quite a bit of embellishment, but it still included many things Den had never mentioned.
Compared to the national affairs Den talked about, the everyday family stories in this man's words allowed Tom to feel the changes in Fishman Island even more clearly.
"So this time you came back… are you planning to settle here?"
"No. I still have things unfinished out there. This time I came back… it would be more accurate to say I came to present a gift."
"A gift? What could there possibly be that His Majesty Nereus can't obtain himself and needs you to bring?"
In his impression, Tom was merely a shipwright. Although his shipbuilding skills were exceptional, he was still just a shipwright.
"A secret. Perhaps in a few decades, you'll see it."
After bidding farewell to his old neighbor, Tom arrived at Ryugu Palace.
The checkpoint at the entrance of Fishman Island could be described as heavily guarded. Compared to that, Ryugu Palace was almost completely undefended, with only two guards on duty.
After seeing the pass in Tom's hand, one of them led him to Nereus.
"Tom, the world's greatest shipwright. I've heard much about you."
"You flatter me, Your Majesty Nereus. Compared to you, my skills are hardly worth mentioning."
"The office at Sabaody Archipelago sent word that you have something to discuss with me privately. There's no one else around here—just you and me. Whatever you want to say, you can say it now."
Tom did not hesitate. By the time he had come here, he had already made up his mind. With great solemnity, he took a set of blueprints out from his coat.
"Your Majesty Nereus, these are the blueprints for Pluton… Actually, I'm not entirely certain whether it truly is Pluton. It's just that the blueprint is labeled that way, so that's what it has always been called.
This is something that has been passed down through generations of shipwrights in Water 7.
But one thing is certain: even if it isn't Pluton, it is still a weapon capable of rivaling the Ancient Weapons. I'm older than you, and I left Fishman Island earlier than you did. Based on my understanding of the World Government, they are likely searching for similar things as well.
If they were to obtain a weapon like this, they would never allow Fishman Island to remain as it is now. If that day ever comes… I hope Fishman Island will possess a weapon capable of standing against them.
Therefore, I have decided to bring it out.
It may also bring about disaster. Please promise me that unless you are completely certain, you won't reveal it."
From Nereus's firm and forceful actions toward the outside world over the past year, Tom had seen hope for Fishman Island. That was why he made this decision, something akin to a gamble.
However, he also made the stakes clear. After all, possessing a powerful weapon and merely wanting to create one without having it are two entirely different concepts.
"You've done well, Tom. This is indeed something Fishman Island needs.
You don't need to worry about the concerns you mentioned. I won't act without certainty. I can tell you clearly, the Pluton battleship from the great war is currently beneath Wano Country."
The news about Pluton made Tom freeze for a moment. No matter how one looked at it, this was actually good news for him. At the very least, it showed that Nereus was not someone who acted recklessly without any plans.
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