Riding his giant killifish through the waterways, Neptune swiftly made his way across Coral Hill, occasionally asking merchants and townsfolk for directions.
Before long, he located the tavern decorated with glowing pearls and seashell motifs.
Arriving at the entrance to the Pearl Shell, Neptune dismounted.
As a merfolk accustomed to living in water, he activated a Bubble Coral at his waist, creating a bubble ring around his lower body that allowed him to glide effortlessly through air as though swimming underwater.
Raising a hand, he pushed open the tavern's heavy shell doors.
The moment the doors swung open, the once-boisterous tavern fell silent.
Whether they were members of the Jellyfish Pirates in the middle of a drinking contest or Fish-Man Island residents enjoying their evening, every eye turned toward the unmistakable figure standing in the doorway.
"Y-Your Highness?!"
"It's Prince Neptune! What's he doing here...?"
The residents exchanged bewildered glances, whispering among themselves in surprise.
Although the prince was well known for being approachable, he rarely visited taverns like this without warning—especially not when they were filled with such a large group of human pirates.
Completely ignoring the murmurs around him, Neptune glided forward on his bubble ring as though swimming through water, heading straight for Sami's table.
Sami, who had just been raising a toast with his companions, noticed him as well. A hint of surprise flashed across his face before he set down his mug and stood to greet him.
Stopping before Sami, Neptune lowered his gaze.
"Captain Sami, forgive the intrusion. There is something important I wish to ask of you."
Understanding immediately dawned in Sami's eyes.
He set down his drink and gestured toward the officers seated with him.
"For Your Highness to come looking for me personally, it must be something important. Brothers, move to another table. Leave this one for the prince and me."
The others nodded, picking up their drinks and plates as they prepared to move.
"No need."
Neptune stopped them.
His eyes swept across the bustling tavern and the curious looks—both open and concealed—that were directed their way.
"There are some things I'd rather discuss privately. How about... we go somewhere else? I'll wait outside."
Sami smiled and stood up.
"Sure. No need to wait—I was just about done eating anyway. Let's go."
"My apologies for interrupting everyone's fun."
Neptune inclined his head slightly.
"No problem."
Sami casually placed a pouch of Berries on the table before addressing his crew.
"Here's the bill. If it's too much, keep the change. If it's not enough, settle the difference."
With that, he followed Prince Neptune out of the lively tavern.
Neptune led Sami to his giant killifish mount and motioned for him to climb aboard.
"Where are we headed, Your Highness?" Sami asked.
"Somewhere quieter."
Neptune answered briefly before steering the killifish away from Coral Hill and toward a secluded bay on the outskirts of town.
Hardly anyone came here.
Only strangely shaped coral formations stood silently among gently swaying fields of seagrass.
For the people of Fish-Man Island—especially its younger generation—the outside world was both dangerously unknown and irresistibly fascinating.
Neptune had deliberately chosen this location to avoid causing unnecessary alarm.
The two found a flat coral reef and sat down.
"You may ask now, Your Highness."
Sami looked toward Neptune.
"What is it you wanted to know?"
Neptune drew in a deep breath.
His orange-red brows were tightly knit with lingering confusion and stubborn frustration.
"Captain Sami, before your crew arrived today, I captured a group of slave traders at Mermaid Cove."
His voice gradually grew heavier.
"They crossed ten thousand meters of ocean just to capture my people and present them to those so-called World Nobles—the Celestial Dragons. I arrested every one of them and threw them into the prison tower."
"But my father believes... that I was too heavy-handed during the confrontation. That my methods were too direct."
Turning toward Sami, Neptune fixed him with an intense gaze and finally voiced the question that had been troubling him ever since.
"I don't understand!"
"What was wrong with punishing criminals and protecting my people?"
"What exactly is my father afraid of?"
"Just because those scum acted under the banner of the Celestial Dragons, are we supposed to become timid and hesitate?"
"You've lived in the human world for many years. Your experience surely far surpasses mine. I believe... you can give me the answer."
Sami listened quietly.
At that moment, he completely understood why the young prince had brought him here.
This wasn't merely a question.
It was the first attempt by a proud soul, confined within the limits of his own experience, to understand how the outside world truly worked.
To Sami, there was hardly anything here that needed to be hidden.
He scratched his head, organized his thoughts, and slowly began.
"Your Highness, I don't think your father fears the Celestial Dragons themselves."
"What he fears... is what they represent."
"The Celestial Dragons don't rely on their own personal strength. What they possess is authority—authority powerful enough to influence the balance of the entire world."
"They command both the Marines and the World Government. Most of the time, those two enormous organizations will answer their summons."
"And within those two organizations..."
"There are simply too many powerful people."
"Powerful?"
Neptune frowned even more deeply.
Subconsciously, he clenched his fist, feeling the tremendous strength surging through his body.
"How powerful could they possibly be?"
"Can they really surpass the natural strength of the fish-men?"
Meeting his gaze, Sami slowly nodded.
"Yes."
"And by a considerable margin."
"So much stronger that it's beyond your imagination."
"The fish-men's tenfold physical strength is indeed an enviable racial gift."
"But among fish-men themselves, those capable of refining that talent to its absolute limit are exceedingly rare."
"As for humans..."
"There are simply too many of them."
"The seas are vast beyond measure. Humanity numbers in the billions."
"Even if only one in ten thousand—or one in a hundred thousand—becomes truly exceptional, the sheer size of their population means the total number of powerful individuals is still terrifying."
"And then there are the monsters standing at the very top."
"Their strength has already surpassed the limitations of race itself."
"They exist on an entirely different level."
Watching the shock growing in Neptune's eyes, Sami spoke the conclusion plainly.
"As far as I know, throughout Fish-Man Island's history, the number of truly top-tier warriors can be counted on one hand."
"But within the Marines, the pirates, and the World Government..."
"Humanity has never lacked people of that caliber."
"What your father fears... is that overwhelming force."
"If it were ever unleashed upon Fish-Man Island, it could bring complete ruin."
Neptune's heart trembled.
Could the gap between the strongest fighters on each side truly be this vast?
Seeing the disbelief on his face, Sami asked,
"Your Highness... have you ever personally witnessed one of humanity's true powerhouses in battle?"
Neptune shook his head.
Most of the ships arriving from the Sabaody Archipelago were pirate vessels or slave ships, and the people aboard them generally weren't particularly powerful.
Even on the rare occasions when pirates with bounties exceeding one billion Berries passed through Fish-Man Island, they almost never caused trouble there.
You can read extra chapters ahead on Patreon if you're interested:
patreon.com/Luna023