This tip-off call was just a minor episode. Although Fishman Island was improving in many aspects, Nereus had not gone so far as to monitor all Den Den Mushi across the country.
Since it caused no consequences, no one ended up knowing about it.
While Alber was still thinking about how to find the person, Amphitrite had already followed Nereus and arrived.
Compared to Alber, who knew nothing about Fishman Island, for Nereus determining someone's location on Fishman Island was just a matter of giving an order.
After meeting, they did not speak. Instead, Alber used the long sword he carried to draw a pattern on the ground—one that looked rather strange to Nereus.
But Amphitrite responded by drawing another pattern.
"Come with me. Let's talk somewhere else."
What they drew was a kind of totem symbol used by the Lunarian race to confirm identity.
"Alber."
"Amphitrite."
The two exchanged names as a simple introduction.
"So you really are a Lunarian… Why would the World Government make that kind of announcement?"
At this moment Amphitrite was not hiding her appearance, appearing openly in public. Yet the totem she had drawn told Alber that she truly was a Lunarian.
"Probably because… I found someone I can rely on. He's strong—so strong that the World Government finds him troublesome, so they agreed to certain conditions."
"I see…"
Alber did not doubt Amphitrite's words. As one of the few remaining members of their race, she had no reason to deceive him.
"It couldn't have been easy for you to make it to Fishman Island on your own. What are your plans from now on?"
"To become stronger."
Alber gave a very simple answer. He had just turned eleven this year, and like Amphitrite in the past, he felt somewhat lost about the future.
Since overwhelming strength could force the World Government to compromise, he naturally wanted to grow stronger as well.
"Stay with me. I'm also recruiting powerful subordinates. The talent of the Lunarian race needs no explanation. I can help you become stronger, and then we can deal with our common enemies."
Nereus extended his invitation. With the name Alber and his appearance, he could confirm that this was King, Kaido's future vice-captain.
After being rescued from the laboratory by Kaido, Alber had chosen to follow him because of Kaido's strength and wanted to help him become the Pirate King.
Given Alber's personality, following a strong individual was not something difficult for him to accept.
"Won't I cause trouble for you?"
"The World Government won't change its attitude just because there's one more Lunarian child by my side. It won't make any difference."
Amphitrite's Phoenix fruit specialized in defense and recovery, and also possessed additional means against soul-type entities. Combined with the Lunarian race's natural talents, it made her another extremely troublesome opponent.
As for King's Pteranodon fruit in the original timeline…
Aside from a small amount of physical enhancement, that fruit had extremely poor compatibility with King, almost approaching zero.
During the final battle he even fought in his human form rather than the Human-Beast form, which is normally the strongest state for Zoan-type users. Even if he wasn't a pure swordsman, the inability to maintain two hands in Human-Beast form still had a major impact.
If he obtained a different fruit, his future potential ceiling could be even higher.
The only enhancement the Pteranodon gave Alber was perhaps teaching him the art of facial expression attacks.
There were clearly quite a few Prehistoric Islands in this world, where many animals long extinct elsewhere still lived.
No one knew where Alber had learned that ancient pterosaurs hunted using their faces.
As for Kaido losing a rare and relatively reliable officer, that would be Kaido's problem to worry about.
"From now on… I'll be in your care. The investment you're making now will bring you even greater returns in the future."
Since there were already members of his race living here, and with Nereus's own overwhelming strength, Alber did not refuse the recruitment. However, like Amphitrite, out of habit he still wrapped himself up tightly from head to toe.
It had taken Amphitrite quite a while to break that habit, and Alber probably wouldn't change any faster.
The physical training of the royal guards was also nearing its end. With the addition of someone who could fly, they conveniently gained another aerial instructor.
Afterward, Amphitrite also chatted casually with Alber about various things.
Although they belonged to the same race, they came from different tribes. For several hundred years, their people had been operating separately.
If one traced it back, according to traditional seniority, Amphitrite was three generations senior to Alber.
"So, going by this generational hierarchy, he'd have to call you great-grandmother?"
"Perhaps, if neither of us remembered wrong. But we don't intend to calculate things like that anymore. I don't even have children yet, I certainly don't want to suddenly gain a great-grandson for no reason."
After returning to Ryugu Palace, Amphitrite also talked with Nereus about Alber.
"Thank you for being willing to take him in."
"It benefits both of us. I don't mind sheltering a few more people. Once he grows stronger, he'll be able to help me as well. When the time comes, let him train together with the Flying Fish Army.
Is there anything particular that needs attention when it comes to the Lunarian race?"
"No. You can increase the intensity. Don't let his age fool you, our race has very strong endurance."
There were already some high-ranking officials residing within Ryugu Palace, and Alber was temporarily arranged to stay here as well, first to recuperate for a while before joining the training later.
This also allowed Alber to experience a peaceful life for the first time in a long while.
Some time later, while everything on Fishman Island continued developing steadily, Sebastian had already been ordered to bring a ship to the East Blue.
On an uninhabited island, he made contact with Dragon.
"I heard that back at God Valley, you had already met the Boss."
"Yes. That was the first time I met Mr. Nereus."
Dragon couldn't help feeling somewhat emotional about it. He had never expected that he, once a Marine, would now make such a choice.
"A mere ordinary soldier, yet in just a little over two years you managed to grow this much. No wonder the Boss is interested in you.
The order I received is to test whether your strength is enough to keep the people I brought under control.
If you're ready, I'm going to start."
Sebastian always carried out Nereus's orders strictly. He already had a rough idea of the strength of the people on the ship. Once he sparred with Dragon for a while, he would naturally be able to make a judgment.
"Of course, I've already—"
"Leader! This is bad! We discovered a warship approaching behind the island! The one leading it… is Marine Headquarters' newly appointed Admiral, Black Arm Zephyr!"
"Well now, kid, it seems the security measures around here still need improvement. To think an Admiral could find this place.
But I'm even more curious, what exactly did you do to provoke such outrage that a Marine Admiral would come all the way to this remote corner of the East Blue?"
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