"Boss Tiger."
"Boss Hakuza! You're back!"
Many of the Fish-Man in the Fish-Man Island Royal Army came from Fish-Man Street, and they immediately recognized Tiger and Hakuza, two very famous figures there.
In the future, Tiger's fame would reach its peak after rescuing many Fish-Man. Right now, although he was already famous, he still hadn't reached the level where he could command universal obedience.
With Hakuza and Tiger together, the two of them could still control most of Fish-Man Street through their reputation.
"Jinbe, I'm back. I've finally returned."
Every Fish-Man had tears streaming down their faces, their condition clearly abnormal. It wasn't like none of the Fish-Man present had gone out and returned before—there was no reason for such an emotional reaction.
An octopus Fish-Man: "Huh? Isn't that my cousin? He's been missing for two years."
"My heavens, that's Miss Hina from Fish-Man Street. She… wasn't she captured by slave traders?"
Many people soon realized that among the hundred-plus Fish-Man who had returned, some had clearly been captured by slave traders, while the others were people who had been missing for a long time.
"We were all rescued by Vane from slave traders and the Celestial Dragons."
"I thought I'd never be able to return home again, sob sob sob~~~"
Only then did the Fish-Man understand that they had escaped from the Celestial Dragons.
Jinbe was filled with disbelief and anger: "Even Boss Tiger, you were captured by those Celestial Dragons?!"
This was the Boss Tiger he respected the most. Such a great figure being humiliated as a slave by the Celestial Dragons naturally filled him with fury.
The current blue fat Jinbe was not yet the reassuring Knight of the Sea he would become later. He was still at a more hot-blooded and impulsive age.
"Otohime-sama and King Neptune have arrived!"
Among pirate couples with the greatest size differences, there were three famous pairs: Big Mom and her Tontatta husband, Gaban and his giant wife, and then Otohime and King Neptune.
King Neptune's size was on the level of a giant. His three sons were slightly smaller, while his daughter Shirahoshi was larger. Yet his wife, Otohime, was even smaller than an ordinary human.
"Tiger, Hakuza."
When Otohime was alive, it could be said that the Ryugu Kingdom on Fish-Man Island had its greatest credibility. This woman with a small body but a powerful heart was deeply respected by the Fish-Man.
"Everyone has returned."
Otohime had already realized that these people were rescued slaves.
"Yes, Otohime-sama. This is Mr. Vane. He charged into Mary Geoise and rescued more than 1,300 people, including us Fish-Man."
Charging into Mary Geoise to rescue slaves—this was an extraordinary feat.
If another kingdom learned that Vane had stormed Mary Geoise, even if they didn't immediately expel him, they would at least report it to the World Government.
Fish-Man Island was just that unique. Despite being an allied nation of the World Government, it didn't act like one at all. In terms of status, it was even inferior to some non-member nations.
"Vane, thank you very much to you and your companions for rescuing our Fish-Man."
Otohime bowed to Vane with complete sincerity.
As for Otohime, Vane felt she was persistent, yet foolish.
Her entire life had been devoted to allowing Fish-Man to walk freely on land. She collected petitions from the residents of Fish-Man Island and, after great difficulty, moved a Celestial Dragon enough to obtain a glimmer of possibility.
Unfortunately, it was all wishful thinking. The radical faction on Fish-Man Island assassinated Otohime, and the petitions were burned.
Even if Otohime had not been assassinated, Vane didn't believe she would have succeeded.
Later, Fish-Man Island was invited to the Red Line to attend a World Government conference. The result was that a Celestial Dragon took a liking to the beautiful Shirahoshi.
They didn't care whether you were a member nation. They directly brought people to seize her.
In the end, it was the Celestial Dragon whom Otohime had once saved who stepped forward and knocked the troublemaker unconscious.
But what happened afterward? The Celestial Dragon who saved Shirahoshi was hung on a cross and put on trial. The leader of the Figarland family, who later became one of the Five Elders, directly declared that this Celestial Dragon had protected trash and injured a fellow Celestial Dragon.
Clearly, regardless of whether you were a World Government member nation or not, anyone who was not a Celestial Dragon was trash in their eyes.
"No need to thank me. I was only rescuing slaves. No matter what race they are, I will save them."
Otohime nodded. "It is precisely because people like you that our Fish-Man race has hope of walking freely upon the sea surface."
Hearing this, Vane's expression immediately became serious. He said with utmost seriousness:
"Otohime-sama, your understanding is wrong. Whether the Fish-Man race can walk freely on the sea surface, the thoughts and actions of others are secondary. The most important thing is the strength of Fish-Man Island itself."
Otohime: "Fish-Man Island is a member nation of the World Government. As long as we return to the World Conference, Fish-Man and humans will have hope of living peacefully together."
She truly was like an innocent white flower. Her ideas were good, but they were nothing more than her own imagination.
"Have you ever been to the surface, Otohime-sama? Do you know how humans view Fish-Man? Even if the World Government accepts Fish-Man, do you think a single order can make all humans stop discriminating against Fish-Man?"
Otohime knew this was impossible. Otherwise, Fish-Man Street wouldn't be so chaotic.
"But there must be contact, mustn't there?"
That was true. Without contact, the relationship between Fish-Man and humans would only continue to deteriorate.
"Otohime-sama, your idea is good. Unfortunately, you've chosen the wrong target. The World Government is not something that will support your ideals."
"On the surface, a beautiful mermaid can sell for one hundred million Belly. Fish-Man are also high-quality slaves. Who do you think the main buyers are? The Celestial Dragons."
"The World Government protects the Celestial Dragons enslaving humans. How could they protect Fish-Man, whom they see as another race?"
"If you trust the World Government and let mermaids and Fish-Man go to the surface, then you're actively delivering your people into the hands of the Celestial Dragons to become slaves. I guarantee that even if your children—or even you—were captured, the World Government would not protect you."
Range is the domain of truth. Strength is the foundation of civilization.
Without range, where is truth? Without strength, what right do you have to call yourself civilized? Without strength, you deserve to have your scalp cut off and be turned into a slave.
Only when you have strength will others say, "Oh, dear friend, we are all civilized people. Civilized people should use civilized methods to solve problems. No need for violence."
The Giant Prince Loki was respected precisely because he was strong. A weak Fish-Man Island trying to curry favor with others was nothing more than a dish on the table.