After several days of "spring cleaning" the Lawless Area of Sabaody, I boarded the coated warship with Robin and my men, setting sail for Fish-Man Island.
The process known as "coating" allows a vessel to withstand various pressures. By pumping air into the hull and removing the flotation bags, the ship loses its buoyancy and begins its gradual descent into the ocean.
"Alright! Open the sails! Set sail!!"
I gave the order to unfurl the sails, encouraging the crew as the ship caught the underwater currents and plunged into the abyss.
"So this is a coated ship... truly magnificent," Robin murmured, watching the bright surface of the sea slowly recede.
"Yeah. The Yarukiman Mangroves of Sabaody are one thing, but the schools of fish down here are incredible..."
The crew, including myself and Robin, stood on the bubble-covered deck, completely overwhelmed by the breathtaking, ethereal scenery—until a voice shattered the moment.
"Large Sea Beast ahead!!"
The lookout's scream echoed across the deck. Without a second thought, I used Moonwalk to propel myself into the seawater.
"(Great Fist Cannon!!)"
I swung my right fist, punching the beast away. Whew, that was close... I got a bit too distracted by the view.
"This bubble is delicate! If the ship takes damage or too many holes are poked at once, we're finished! Don't forget, statistics show that 70% of ships headed for Fish-Man Island sink before they arrive! Everyone, stay focused on your duties!!"
I was being a bit hypocritical, given I was also staring at the scenery, but I made sure to drill the danger into them.
"SIR!!" The elite Vanguard unit responded in perfect unison. Satisfied, I watched as we passed through the "Sunlight Zone" and the "Twilight Zone." As we crossed the 1,000-meter depth mark, Robin gave a small shiver.
"Everyone, get your coats on! It's going to get much colder from here on out!!"
Since I didn't feel the cold at all, I draped my own coat over Robin's shoulders.
Then, a massive underwater waterfall came into view.
"That's the downwarp current..." Robin whispered, her face peeking out from the oversized black coat.
Below was a pitch-black void. I ordered the activation of the searchlights I'd insisted on installing for this very purpose. The ship descended slowly, and I estimated we were passing 7,000 meters.
Only 3,000 meters to go. Our destination, Fish-Man Island, sits 10,000 meters below the surface. Without these lights, it would have been absolute darkness. I was glad I'd pushed for them...
"Rear Admiral!! The searchlight battery is low! Please recharge it!!"
...Though I did have to deal with the power issues that came with my "insistence."
I moved to the back of the roaring searchlight unit. There, connected to the massive machine by cables, was a large bicycle... or something resembling one. I hopped onto the seat.
"Hnnn-RRAAAAAAHH!!"
I pedaled with everything I had. To put it simply, it was a generator. It was high-power, but the pedals were notoriously heavy—so heavy that it had been gathering dust in a warehouse. Was it really that heavy?
After a few minutes of pedaling, the charge was full, and the ship continued its descent. As we dived through the bottom of the dark hole, the world suddenly brightened.
"That... is Fish-Man Island."
10,000 meters deep: The Abyss.
Before us sat a massive island enclosed in a giant bubble, floating in the sea and illuminated by a brilliant, dazzling light. We had finally arrived.
After successfully entering the island and clearing immigration, I decided it was best to pay my respects to the King. I informed a soldier, who went to check.
"My apologies, but the King is currently occupied... If it's just a greeting, please use this Den Den Mushi. It's connected directly to His Majesty!"
He handed me the receiver.
If I recall, the King here is a pretty decent guy. Shirahoshi should be born by now, and Queen Otoheme's assassination is still in the future...
Recalling the details of the royal family, I took the receiver.
"This is Rear Admiral Krieg of Navy Headquarters. Am I speaking with King Neptune?"
"I am the King of this country, Neptune, jamon!! Forgive me for speaking over the phone, I'm a bit tied up at the moment, Jamon!"
"Not at all. We arrived unannounced, so please don't let it bother you. Thank you for granting our request."
"Any effort to crack down on pirates is more than welcome, jamon! This place is a crossroads for pirates, and while we are protected by the name of my friend 'Whitebeard,' there are still those who try to kidnap mermaids. I hear young mermaids fetch a high price on the surface, jamon!"
"We're here for an investigation anyway, so we're happy to help. While we are here, please leave the pirate management to us."
"Umu! I'm counting on you, Krieg-dono! Otohime says hello as well, Jamon!"
"Otohime...?"
"My wife, Jamon! I wanted her to greet you, but her body is frail. She's feeling unwell today, so she's resting, jamon!"
"Ah... please tell her to get well soon. By the way, King Neptune, do you know anything about an incredibly massive anglerfish with a glowing lure? Specifically, one large enough to swallow islands..."
I asked about "Bonbori-sama" on a whim, not expecting much.
"A super-massive anglerfish... Could it be that one? Umu, I believe we are talking about the same creature. Every few years, an unimaginably large anglerfish swims back and forth through this area, jamon. The last time it passed was... Umu! I'll have the soldiers look into it for you, Jamon!!"
Robin and I exchanged looks. I hadn't expected to get a solid lead so quickly.
For now, I'd wait for the report and spend my time cleaning up the illegal pirates in the city. After finishing the call, Neptune provided a soldier to act as our guide.
"If there's anywhere you wish to go, tell him, Jamon! Also, I'm busy now, but I have time tomorrow evening. I shall host a banquet for you, jamon!"
Whether he was a guide or a watchdog, I decided to take the gesture in stride. A banquet sounded fun.
Speaking of Fish-Man Island...
"I have a question. This is our first time here, but I've heard rumors of a forest that exists within the sea..."
The Country of Fish-Men
After finishing my greetings to King Neptune, I informed our guide that I intended to conduct a patrol. "Understood, sir. I'll notify the citizens," he replied before heading off to make the necessary arrangements.
I returned to the ship briefly, deciding that heavy weaponry wouldn't be necessary. I simply threw my Marine coat over my regular clothes and led a small squad toward the town. Robin mentioned she wanted to explore various sights and went off on her own.
Given her current skills, I was confident she could handle most situations. Just in case, I'd equipped her with a miniature Den Den Mushi and flare guns. Plus, the leather bag I'd given her a while back had a security buzzer installed, so I could rush to her side in an instant if anything went south.
"Heh heh heh! There really are mermaids here! Hey, come over here for a sec—BUFEH!!"
"Hihihi! If we take these girls back, we'll be set for life—GUHOH!!"
"M-Miss Mermaid, w-won't you have some fun with—BUH-HOH!!"
"Right, that's enough! Stay quiet, you lot! Drop your valuables and—GWAHH!!"
Good grief, one after another...
I dusted off my hands after punching a bearded pirate into the pavement.
"Greetings, citizens of Fish-Man Island! Sorry for the commotion! We Marines, will be stationed here for a while, so please contact us if you have any trouble!!"
I made sure to project a "friendly neighbor" image. When dealing with a race that has every reason to hate humans, bridge-building is vital.
Returning to the task at hand, I asked the guide where mermaids usually gather or where kidnappings were most frequent. He pointed me toward "Mermaid Cove" at the edge of the island.
"It's quite the view compared to the surface. You have a lot of rare things here," I remarked to the guide as we passed coral continents and floating waterways.
"Indeed! For example, those 'Water Roads' in the sky were created by our master bubble-smiths. They connect to the sea and are a popular way to get around the island."
As we walked, arriving at the edge of the island, I saw them: beautiful mermaids with the upper bodies of young women and the lower bodies of fish.
My subordinates' eyes turned into hearts, and they started a ruckus. "I know you're excited, but settle down!!" I barked, and they immediately snapped back into a disciplined line.
"Now then, ladies. My name is Krieg, and I'm with the Navy. I'd like to ask you a few things if you don't mind?"
The mermaids whispered among themselves before one stepped forward.
"Um... what did you want to ask?"
Her tone was stiff—likely a mix of caution and the fact that I'm well aware my face is a bit intimidating. I felt a twinge of internal sadness but pressed on.
"I wanted to know if any pirates have been bothering you, or if any 'humans' have been acting inappropriately."
"Well... sometimes people come here to talk to us. But... there are also those who try to take us away."
"We don't know for sure if they were kidnapped, but several mermaids and fish-men have gone missing lately," the guide added in a low voice.
I figured as much.
"Hey! Bring me a sign and some paint!"
I had a subordinate bring out a blank wooden board. I quickly painted: "PATROLLED BY NAVY INDEPENDENT VANGUARD UNIT - KRIEG" with a red Marine gull logo underneath. I hammered it into a prominent spot at the cove.
"I don't know how much of a deterrent this will be, but I've already rounded up the worst pirates in town. If anything happens, find a soldier or call an adult immediately, alright?"
I waved back at their chorus of "Thank you!" As I walked away, I recalled a bit of trivia from my previous life: mermaids are supposed to be incredible singers.
"Guide, is there a place on this island where one can actually hear mermaids singing?"
He mentioned a place called the "Mermaid Cafe." I made a mental note to take Robin there later.
The next morning, I headed to the Fish-Man District. I spent the day knocking around some of the rowdier fish-men who tried to pick fights, all while gathering intel on the "Sun Pirates" as Sengoku had requested.
The Navy only knew that Fisher Tiger led a crew of fish-men; they sent me here to fill in the blanks. Of course, I already knew Jinbe and Arlong were part of the crew, but I needed official verification.
During the rounds, I actually hit it off with a few locals—including an orca fish-man who claimed to be "Arlong's rival" after we traded blows—but others watched me with pure vitriol from the shadows. One of them was definitely Hordy Jones; his face was unmistakable even in his youth.
He didn't make a move, which was wise. I would have flattened him if he had. Instead, I simply caught his eye, gave a provocative snort, and smirked.
The divide here is stark. For every mermaid friendly to humans, there's a fish-man who sees us as insects. Queen Otohime's ideals are noble, but the chasm between our races is deep. I hope the Sabaody operation makes a dent in that...
Eventually, I returned to the main island and met up with Robin. We headed to the Mermaid Cafe. The mermaids there, floating gracefully in their waist-bubbles, froze when they saw me, then suddenly burst into an enthusiastic welcome.
Before they could swarm me, I held up a hand and explained we were just here for the music.
For some reason, Robin got a bit of a "harrumph" look on her face when she saw the mermaids surrounding me. The mermaids then noticed her, swarmed her, and dragged her to the back of the shop, saying something about "girl talk."
When she returned and sat beside me, her mood had completely reset. Must have been my imagination, I thought.
We talked over the background music, mostly about the Fish-Man District and the Royal Family. It's good to refresh my memory on things I might have forgotten. As the sun began to set, our guide arrived to fetch us.
As King Neptune had suggested, he wanted to host a banquet. I had asked if I could have a separate "private" session with the King and Queen to discuss "certain matters," while my subordinates enjoyed a larger feast in the grand hall. The King had graciously agreed.
We headed back to the ship to inform the crew who were staying behind to keep watch. "Don't be late for the rotation!" I warned them.
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