The twenty-five-year-old Neptune's face was filled with defiance.
"Father, why must we fear those Celestial Dragons so much? This is ten thousand meters beneath the sea! What can they possibly do to us? Should we retreat from the evil happening right before our eyes simply because we're afraid of potential trouble? Those scum deserve punishment! If we don't teach them a harsh lesson, how can we deter those who come after them?!"
"They should indeed be punished. But how they are punished is something that requires careful consideration."
Though Nereus's voice remained calm, it carried a weight that Neptune could not yet fully comprehend.
"My son, it is true that fish-men possess ten times the physical strength of ordinary humans. But that only applies to ordinary humans. Do you know what kind of power the strongest humans possess? Those Marine Admirals, the World Government's greatest forces, and the pirates with bounties worth billions... each of them possesses enough power to overturn an entire nation with ease."
Watching his son's fists slowly clench, Nereus continued earnestly,
"To those true monsters, Fish-Man Island is far from an impregnable fortress. That is why we must learn to balance strength with restraint."
Neptune fell silent for a moment.
The tightly clenched fists gradually relaxed.
He was not unreasonable. It was simply that his youthful sense of justice made it difficult for him to fully accept his father's philosophy of caution—which, to him, even bordered on weakness.
"...Yes, Father. I understand."
Looking at the stubborn expression on his son's face, Nereus knew that this understanding stemmed more from respect for his father than genuine agreement.
For Neptune, who had spent his entire life on Fish-Man Island and lacked any firsthand understanding of the vast world above the sea—or the terrifying power that existed there—a few words could never overturn his beliefs.
And that, too, reflected the state of most of Fish-Man Island's inhabitants.
Nereus shook his head and decided not to continue the topic.
"I heard there was an emergency report from the entrance guards. A pirate crew attempted to force its way onto the island?"
At the mention of this, Neptune's expression eased somewhat.
"Father, that was all a misunderstanding. I don't believe they're evil people, so I allowed them onto Fish-Man Island."
"Oh?"
A trace of interest appeared on Nereus's face.
"What makes you say that?"
"They're the Jellyfish Pirates," Neptune explained. "By the time I arrived, every one of our guards had already been defeated, yet not a single one had been killed. During that entire time, they never took advantage of the situation to force their way inside. On top of that, every injured guard had been properly treated. I couldn't sense the disgusting greed and malice that slave traders always carry."
"The Jellyfish Pirates..."
Nereus repeated the name softly, a thoughtful look crossing his face.
"I've heard of them as well. Their captain, Ribeira Sami, carries a bounty of three hundred million Berries. Though he is a pirate, there have been almost no reports of indiscriminate slaughter or the plundering of civilians. Judging by what you've said, they clearly had the opportunity to invade, yet chose to remain where they were and wait. That level of restraint doesn't suggest they harbor any ill intent toward us."
"Fish-Man Island has never rejected guests who respect our laws. Since you personally met them and chose to admit them, then I'll leave them under your observation."
"Yes, Father."
"You may go."
Nereus waved a hand.
"And remember what we discussed today."
Watching his towering son bow and leave, Nereus slowly shifted his gaze toward the hazy light filtering into the throne room through the seawater and the island's enormous protective bubble.
His earlier words—"I'll leave them under your observation"—had sounded like a casual instruction.
In truth, they concealed the careful intentions of both a king and a father.
Nereus knew that words alone would never make his son, who had grown up deep beneath the sea and surrounded by admiration, truly understand the world above the surface.
Neptune needed a point of reference with enough weight behind it.
And the captain of the Jellyfish Pirates, who just happened to be on the island, might very well serve that purpose.
If Neptune can personally witness the strength of someone worth three hundred million... perhaps he'll begin to grasp just how terrifying those monsters with bounties in the billions truly are.
...
Returning to his residence, Neptune found his father's words echoing over and over in his mind.
The strongest among humans... Marine Admirals... the World Government... pirates with bounties worth billions...
He repeated the words under his breath, his orange-red brows knitted tightly together.
As the prince of the Ryugu Kingdom, he had naturally encountered countless pirates and merchants passing through Fish-Man Island.
But just as his father had pointed out, most of those who treated Fish-Man Island merely as a stopover along the Grand Line carried bounties hovering around one hundred million Berries.
They might have been fierce, but none had ever displayed the kind of overwhelming might capable of making all of Fish-Man Island tremble.
The soldiers of Ryugu Palace and the island's own warriors had always been enough to maintain order.
Over time, this had quietly shaped both his own understanding—and that of many of his fellow fish-men—of where the limits of strength lay.
Yet the names his father had spoken of—the Marine Admirals, the World Government, the legends worth billions...
To Neptune, those titles remained distant and abstract.
But now, Ribeira Sami had appeared.
His bounty stood at three hundred million Berries.
Far beyond that of the average traveler.
Perhaps... this is an opportunity.
A chance to move beyond rumors and imagination... and speak directly with a powerful figure from the surface world.
Perhaps through Sami, I can glimpse what the true human world is really like... and understand why those at its very pinnacle inspire such caution... perhaps even fear... in Father.
A determined light flashed across Neptune's eyes.
"Prepare my mount!"
he ordered in a deep voice.
Picking up his golden trident once more, he strode out of the palace.
His giant killifish mount was already waiting outside.
Neptune leapt onto its back and flicked the reins.
"To Coral Hill!"
At his command, the great fish swished its powerful body and carried its prince racing toward the bustling town.
From a distant balcony of the towering Ryugu Palace, King Nereus watched everything unfold.
Only after Neptune disappeared into the distance did he slowly withdraw his gaze and give the faintest nod.
Neptune's first stop was the harbor.
The Flamefang lay quietly moored within a berth surrounded by colorful coral.
On deck, Hans was leading a group of sailors as they busily organized ropes and cleaned the ship's interior.
"Greetings!"
Neptune called as he rode his killifish alongside the ship.
"Where is your captain? I have business with him."
Hearing the voice, Hans looked up and recognized the merfolk prince.
"Oh, Your Highness."
He set aside his work.
"Our captain took the brothers into town to celebrate our safe arrival. They went to one of the taverns."
"A tavern?"
Neptune asked.
"Do you know which one? Or when they'll be back?"
Hans shook his head.
"No idea. But judging from his usual habits... it'll probably be the biggest tavern on the island."
"Thank you."
Without wasting another moment, Neptune turned his mount around and headed straight toward Coral Hill's busiest district.
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