The st. freya docked steadily at the edge of Fish-Man Island, dropping its heavy anchor to secure the massive ship from the surface.
Although the entire Ryugu Kingdom was encased in a massive double-layered bubble, there were still many seawater areas inside, forming a unique semi-underwater environment.
Similar to their time in Dressrosa, Gloriosa led some members to stay behind and guard the ship on the first day. Charlotte Linlin, meanwhile, stepped onto the soil of Fish-Man Island with Gölz and Ripley.
This time, however, they were accompanied by several small figures.
Perhaps due to the gentleness and patience Gölz naturally possessed, after just a few days of sailing, Gölz—who wasn't actually that old herself—had already become close friends with Kuri.
At this moment, Kuri stood on Gölz's broad shoulder, looking around curiously. Standing there, she looked like a tiny toy just a few centimeters tall on a normal person; her range of movement was quite large, and she could not only stand but even jog a few steps on it.
The combination of their group was extremely eye-catching, immediately drawing many gazes in the harbor area.
"What is that?"
"Such huge people?"
"Are they from the Giant Race?"
"Don't worry about that, giants or not, our target is Mermaids! Besides, that woman... we can't afford to provoke her!"
"That woman... she's the 'queen of thunder' of the Rocks Pirates! Charlotte Linlin!"
"What is a big shot like her doing at Fish-Man Island?"
This so-called harbor was more like a natural landing point, with poorly planned buildings, just a stretch of beach and a few haphazardly docked ships.
Aside from various Fishmen of different appearances, there was no lack of pirates from the sea, whispering among themselves with gazes mixed with awe, curiosity, and greed.
"Linlin," Ripley frowned, pointing at a humanoid creature with a fish head nearby, asking with a look of shattered illusions,
"The Mermaids you mentioned... they couldn't be these guys with fish heads and human bodies, could they?"
Clearly, the appearance of these Fishmen was a far cry from the dreamlike and beautiful Mermaids she had imagined.
"These aren't Mermaids; these are Fishmen." Charlotte Linlin smiled and explained,
"Although Mermaids and Fishmen are classified as the same broad race biologically, Mermaids are far more 'popular' in certain markets than Fishmen. However, this kind of 'popularity' is surely something the Mermaids themselves never wanted."
"Why?" Gölz blinked her innocent large eyes, following up curiously.
"Because..." Charlotte Linlin looked up, her gaze seemingly piercing through the double-layered bubble dome of Fish-Man Island toward the distant surface of the sea,
"There is a group of people who call themselves the descendants of gods who have a pathological hobby of collecting Mermaid Slaves."
The others subconsciously followed her gaze upward.
"Is it the Celestial Dragons?" Gölz whispered, as if thinking of something.
Charlotte Linlin didn't answer directly, but simply withdrew her gaze and said calmly, "Let's go. We'll find a local first and ask which area of the island the Mermaids mainly live in."
...Fish-Man District.
Located at the lowest level of Fish-Man Island, this area was completely different from the upper levels that were bright and warm, illuminated by the light from the roots of Sunlight Tree Eve.
Not only was the environment chaotic and the buildings dilapidated, but because it was on the shaded side of the island, it was exceptionally dark and damp, with an air of decadence and danger lingering in the atmosphere.
Inside an unremarkable building, a Fishman with eight octopus legs for a lower body moved quickly, pushing open a door with some excitement and shouting to those inside:
"Boss Jondy! A group of human women has arrived outside! They're all very beautiful! A few of them are even prettier than many Mermaid girls!"
Inside the room, a tall man with typical shark Fishman features—Jondy—was leaning lazily against a beautiful Mermaid.
Hearing the report, his eyes lit up slightly, then as if some memory had been triggered, a perfectly timed look of sorrow appeared on his face as he spoke in an affectionate tone:
"So what if they're beautiful? No matter how beautiful a woman is, in my heart, she cannot compare to my Lucy... my one and only Lucy whom I miss so dearly."
"Boss Jondy is truly so devoted!" The other Mermaids serving him nearby immediately showed expressions of admiration and emotion, hearts appearing in their eyes.
Hmph, a bunch of fools blinded by appearances.
Hatchi, the eight-legged Fishman, snorted coldly in his heart, but his face remained impassive as he skillfully followed up, "Boss, the key is... among those humans, there is a woman whose demeanor and aura are very similar to Miss Lucy."
"What?! Very similar to Lucy?!" Jondy sat up straight abruptly, his face showing a perfectly executed look of surprise and excitement. He waved his hand and said to the Mermaids around him, "You all leave first."
"Yes, Boss Jondy." Several Mermaids obediently withdrew from the room.
Outside the door, the Mermaids who had just left exchanged glances, their tones filled with jealousy:
"Another one who looks like Lucy has actually come? And this time it's a damn human!"
"Don't worry, just like the ones 'like Lucy' before, they will all eventually disappear. Only we can stay by Boss Jondy's side forever!"
"That's right! We can find a way to have Hatchi trick this new 'Lucy' and get rid of her!"
"Yes! Leave it to Hatchi, let him find a way to drive her out of Fish-Man Island, or... sell her to a place she can never return from!"
Inside the room, as the Mermaids left, the mask of affection on Jondy's face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of shrewdness and calm.
He asked in a deep voice, "Hatchi, let's talk business. They're just a group of human women, what's worth you coming specifically to report?"
"Boss, human women are indeed not rare, but it depends on the situation." Hatchi leaned in a few steps and lowered his voice, a greedy smile appearing on his face,
"Among this group of women, there are two Female Giants! Do you know what that means? Their price on the slave market is no lower than that of a Mermaid! Moreover, there are several human women in the team with extremely outstanding looks; they could definitely be sold for a sky-high price!"
"But... they are pirates after all, the risk isn't small. Besides, there's Lucy..." Jondy feigned hesitation, squeezing out a bit more "nostalgia" on his face.
"Boss, stop acting in front of me, will you?" Hatchi chuckled and exposed him,
"We are Fishmen; our natural arm strength is ten times that of humans. What is there to fear? As for Lucy... wasn't she just the first Mermaid we partnered up to sell? Don't get too deep into your own character."
Hearing this, the last trace of fake sorrow on Jondy's face vanished, replaced by a ruthless and smug smile: "Hahaha! You're right! Precisely because Lucy was the start of our success, she is all the more worth 'remembering'!"
He paused and instructed, "This time, let those fools outside who are blinded by love take the lead again. With them as cover, it'll be easier for us to act. Hardly anyone suspects us now."
"Understood, Boss! I'll go arrange it right away!" A knowing, sinister smile appeared on Hatchi's face as he left the room.
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