"Tiger."
Rowan looked at him with a smile.
"Now do you understand why I said those things back in the plaza? Compared to having ideas forced upon you by others, beliefs that you come to understand for yourself are far more steadfast."
At that moment Arlong was the only one still standing. He cast a disdainful glance at Jinbe, whom he had never gotten along with.
"Even living ten thousand meters beneath the sea, I know how enormous the World Government is. The slave traders you mentioned can't possibly be the real oppressors you're talking about, can they?"
Rowan looked at him with an amused smile.
"So the hatred you claim to hold for your fellow fish-men is something you'll simply abandon because the enemy is too powerful? Even if more of your people continue to be captured in the future and continue to be sold into slavery?"
Arlong froze. He refused to admit he was weak. Yet he also knew perfectly well just how powerful those people truly were.
The boast that fish-men were naturally ten times stronger than humans was nothing more than a lie he told himself. Among the humans on the surface the truly powerful were disasters incarnate.
The Marine Admiral stationed at the Sabaody Archipelago could casually fire laser beams, each carrying the destructive power of a cannon.
Rowan no longer paid him any attention. Instead he looked toward Jinbe.
"Would you like to come with us? See the Revolutionary Army's ideals. See the true face of this world. As for what you choose afterward, that decision will always be yours."
Jinbe was completely stunned. The whale shark fish-man's eyes widened. He had never expected to receive an invitation himself.
Although he had resigned from the Royal Army so he could travel alongside Boss Tiger, he had never imagined that so many life-changing events would happen in a single day.
After everything Rowan had said earlier he already understood who this man was. A senior member of the Revolutionary Army with a bounty of 3.2 billion Berries.
A man whom neither the World Government nor the Marines could do anything about. And now someone like that was inviting him personally.
"Jinbe." Tiger smiled proudly at his younger brother. "It seems you really are different. Even I had to take the initiative and ask to join the Revolutionary Army."
After all it had been Tiger himself who personally taught Jinbe Fish-Man Karate.
"B-Big Brother, I, can I really?"
Jinbe fidgeted awkwardly. At this point in his life he was still far from becoming the fearless man who would one day dare to strike Big Mom.
Just then the private room's door at the Mermaid Cafe was pushed open. A huge muscular human stepped inside.
His appearance nearly frightened the mermaid waitresses. But soon another man with a broad smile sporting two elegant curled mustaches stepped out from behind him.
"Jozu, I told you already. You're going to scare these lovely ladies."
Jozu frowned. "Are you saying I look scary, Vista?!"
Vista laughed. "Of course not. It's just these mermaid ladies haven't had the chance to discover how gentle you really are."
Meanwhile Izo, whose appearance was far more refined by comparison, had already started chatting with the mermaid waitresses. The veteran waitresses at the Mermaid Cafe immediately recognized Vista.
Only then did they breathe a sigh of relief. Still there certainly were an awful lot of humans arriving on Fish-Man Island today. After all Tiger had only just brought one inside moments earlier.
"Excuse me." Izo asked politely. "May I ask, did a human come here earlier?"
They're not together? The mermaid waitress blinked in surprise. She subconsciously glanced toward one of the cafe's private rooms.
Izo nodded gratefully. "Thank you." He then gestured toward his two companions. They had found the person they were looking for.
This time Vista deliberately stepped ahead of Jozu. "When we go in, let's have the two of us enter first. Otherwise Jozu's expression might make that gentleman think we're here to start a fight."
Jozu looked dissatisfied. "I know what Dad told us. That man may have a 3.2 billion Berry bounty. We're not afraid of him, but there's no need to create unnecessary conflict."
Walking at the front Izo rubbed his forehead helplessly. "I'd better handle the negotiations. That man doesn't represent only himself.
Because of the Revolutionary Army and because this is territory protected by Dad, I think Dad simply wants to understand his purpose for coming here."
As they spoke the three of them arrived outside the private room. Just as Izo raised his hand to knock, the conversation inside caught his attention. His hand stopped in midair. Several seconds passed.
Behind him Jozu grinned. "That's quite a frightening way of thinking. I always knew the Revolutionary Army stood against the World Government, but hearing it stated so directly..."
Before he could finish a voice came from inside the room.
"The three of you, why don't you come in? If you simply leave like this, then for the sake of Fish-Man Island's safety I might have to keep you here."
The three commanders knew very well that someone worth 3.2 billion Berries would naturally possess exceptionally powerful Haki.
The reason they hadn't knocked immediately was because they had been drawn into the conversation.
Now besides feeling that the man inside was rather bold, they were also embarrassed after being caught eavesdropping.
Click. The door opened. Standing at the front Izo bowed respectfully.
"My sincerest apologies. I hesitated for a few seconds and ended up overhearing your conversation."
Rowan looked at the man before him dressed in unmistakably Wano-style clothing. Just as expected, just like Kikunojo.
No, Kikunojo is even more difficult to distinguish between man and woman than his older brother.
"So, a Whitebeard Pirates commander? If it's you, then there's no problem."
The remark was easily misunderstood. Vista frowned slightly.
"Don't you think you're being rather arrogant? The Whitebeard Pirates are 'no problem'? Are you saying you could keep all of us here?"
Rowan waved his hand dismissively.
"You've misunderstood. What I meant was, since Fish-Man Island is Whitebeard's territory, you wouldn't report what I just said to the World Government under the guise of acting on Fish-Man Island's behalf."
The tense atmosphere immediately eased. Vista scratched his head awkwardly. "My apologies. I misunderstood your meaning."
Jozu immediately shoved him aside. "And you said I'd be the one causing misunderstandings?"
After the three entered the private room suddenly felt rather cramped. Even so Tiger and Jinbe stood up to greet them.
Although neither had interacted much with the Whitebeard Pirates they both knew that it was Whitebeard's flag which protected Fish-Man Island.
Inside the crowded room Izo spoke first. "When you released your Haki earlier, we had just arrived on Fish-Man Island.
After sensing it, Dad heard from King Neptune that you were also visiting the island. So he hopes to arrange a meeting with you."
A meeting. Rowan pondered for a moment. Did Whitebeard simply want to talk? Or did he want to fight?
To be honest Rowan didn't have many thoughts regarding Whitebeard Newgate, the man currently acknowledged as the World's Strongest.
After all Roger had even told Whitebeard about Laugh Tale.
Yet to the great pirate who devoted himself to adopting sons, very few things in the world truly mattered. His family. His homeland. Nothing else.
Only at Marineford, in the moments before his death, when he shouted that Roger's One Piece was real, did he finally push the tide of the era forward one last time.
"I was actually planning to leave soon."
Rowan glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. "But I'm still waiting for this cafe's owner. If your captain has time, before I'm finished here, he's welcome to come here instead."
Izo nodded. Then he turned toward Vista.
"You head back and tell Dad. After King Neptune's banquet at Ryugu Palace, Dad probably won't like the atmosphere there anyway."
Vista blinked. He pointed at himself. "Why me?"
Inside Ryugu Palace Whitebeard had never particularly enjoyed the banquets Neptune arranged there.
As a pirate he much preferred holding feasts aboard his own ship, or on the shore of some island with bonfires blazing and music filling the air. Although the food on Fish-Man Island was excellent he simply didn't care for the atmosphere.
The only reason he came here this time was because Namur had wanted to return home for a visit. Otherwise he rarely visited Fish-Man Island at all.
"Neptune." Whitebeard emptied another enormous bowl of sake in one gulp. As he spoke his eyes remained fixed on his sons below.
"Did that Revolutionary come to Fish-Man Island to bring someone home as well?"
Neptune hesitated. But remembering everything Whitebeard had done for Fish-Man Island he decided to answer honestly.
"That gentleman seems to possess an extraordinary understanding of this world. He made a promise with Shirahoshi. He promised that one day he would bring Fish-Man Island to the surface."
Whitebeard was visibly surprised. Until this moment he had assumed the Revolutionary Army had come to Fish-Man Island to recruit its warriors.
Perhaps by repaying a favor, perhaps through coercion, or perhaps they had abandoned the idea because of Whitebeard's protection. After all the excuse of "bringing a fish-man home" didn't really make sense.
Humans needed coated ships to descend from the Sabaody Archipelago to Fish-Man Island ten thousand meters beneath the sea. Fish-men did not. And a man rumored to possess teleportation abilities certainly had no need for such an excuse.
Given the circumstances, combined with his limited knowledge of the Revolutionary Army, Whitebeard had assumed they were interested in Fish-Man Island's military strength.
But now it was obvious that man's understanding of the world far exceeded his expectations.
"That gentleman never asked Fish-Man Island to declare any allegiance. It seems he only came here to explain the ideals of the Revolutionary Army and reveal some of this world's hidden truths."
Neptune glanced toward Queen Otohime beside him.
"My queen has always dreamed of allowing our people to live beneath the sun. So he believed we deserved to know that relocating to the surface right now would expose our people to tremendous danger."
Whitebeard nodded slowly.
"That's true. In the past I considered that your own decision so I never said much. But knowing the nature of those Celestial Dragons in Mary Geoise, moving to the surface would never be a wise choice. Even if they agreed to Otohime's request."
Just then Vista arrived outside the banquet hall. After explaining what had happened at the Mermaid Cafe, Whitebeard finally ended the banquet. It hadn't been particularly enjoyable for him anyway.
Now his curiosity about Rowan had only grown stronger. Especially after hearing Neptune mention that Rowan had made a promise with Shirahoshi.
Neptune's daughter, Princess Shirahoshi of Fish-Man Island, possessed an identity that almost no one in the world knew.
Even Whitebeard had only learned of the existence of Poseidon from Roger years ago. Later when Shirahoshi was born and countless gigantic Sea Kings gathered around Fish-Man Island he finally connected all the pieces.
That was also one of the reasons he had chosen to lend his flag to Fish-Man Island.
Although the only things Whitebeard truly cared about were his family and his homeland, Roger had sacrificed his life to usher in a new era. If lending a helping hand could contribute to that future he didn't mind doing so.
"Neptune." Whitebeard rose to his feet.
"Fish-Man Island hides many secrets. I don't particularly care about the future Roger talked about. But I don't mind helping it along. So I'm going to meet that brat. I imagine he isn't very old."
Neptune stood as well, seeing Whitebeard off. "My queen's Observation Haki tells her that the gentleman bears no ill intent. So I sincerely hope your conversation with him will be a pleasant one."
By mentioning Queen Otohime's innate Observation Haki Neptune was quietly conveying his own position. That was all he could do.
Whitebeard naturally understood. He waved his hand, signaling for his sons to leave Ryugu Palace and enjoy Fish-Man Island freely.
They weren't going there to fight. There was no reason to surround someone with his entire crew. Only Marco and Vista, who would lead the way, accompanied him.
Even so before departing Marco once again reminded the younger crew members. "Fish-Man Island is territory protected by Dad.
Absolutely do not harm the residents. If you buy something, pay for it. Or trade fairly. Of course if someone attacks you first there's no need to hold back."
Meanwhile at the Mermaid Cafe on Coral Hill with Vista joining them the private room became even more crowded. And with Jozu's enormous build it felt positively cramped. Tiger and Jinbe naturally couldn't let Fish-Man Island's benefactors remain standing.
So Jinbe grabbed Arlong by the collar, pulled him to his feet, and parked him by the doorway. That freed up enough space for Izo and Jozu to sit down.
The two politely declined several times, but after Jinbe repeatedly insisted that they were Fish-Man Island's benefactors they had no choice but to accept.
Watching the whole scene Rowan smiled teasingly at Arlong again.
"If I remember correctly, Whitebeard is human too. And the vast majority of the Whitebeard Pirates are humans as well. If what you hate is the human race itself, then why are the Whitebeard Pirates the benefactors of Fish-Man Island?"
Arlong, who had already taken Rowan's earlier words to heart, fell silent. His fierce-looking face slowly turned red.
Seeing that everyone including the two Whitebeard commanders was looking at him, he finally scratched the back of his head irritably.
"I, I know now that I was wrong."
Even now he still couldn't lower his pride enough to apologize outright. Jinbe glanced sideways at him.
"A coward who doesn't even dare admit his own mistakes. We may have grown up poor in Fish-Man District, but if we can't even admit when we're wrong that's even more shameful."
Arlong shot Jinbe an angry glare, only to find Jinbe calmly staring back at him without backing down in the slightest.
"I'm deeply sorry. I shouldn't have placed my hatred for those damned slave traders onto all of humanity."
As soon as those words left his mouth Tiger and Jinbe smiled with relief. Meanwhile Izo and Jozu exchanged surprised looks.
After all the saw-nosed fish-man before them represented the thinking of the vast majority of fish-men. The Whitebeard Pirates protected Fish-Man Island, so the fish-men could separate them from the rest of humanity.
But they had never truly distinguished humanity itself from the people who oppressed them.
Jozu looked toward Rowan.
A handsome guy, he's even taken off his mask. So this is what the Cloaked Man really looks like? Regardless, this man's ability to persuade others was astonishing.
He had actually changed a fish-man's way of thinking.
After teasing Arlong, Rowan turned his attention toward Izo.
"Izo, isn't it? You haven't returned to Wano for a very long time, have you?"
Izo froze. It had been a very long time since he had heard anyone mention his homeland. But how did the man before him know?
"Why do you..."
Rowan answered calmly. "A few years ago the Beasts Pirates and Gecko Moria's crew fought a major battle in Ringo, Wano. I assume you've never heard about that."
Izo shot to his feet. "Kaido the Immortal?! Isn't he expanding his territory in the New World? I've never heard that he went to Wano."
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