Time passed quickly, and Neptune waited outside anxiously.
No one knew what was happening inside Shirahoshi's room. Despite Ryujiro's assurances, as a father, Neptune couldn't help but feel concerned.
Creeeak—
The door slowly opened, and Neptune peered inside anxiously. Seeing that Shirahoshi was unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Ryujiro-san, were your words earlier true?"
Ryujiro smiled lightly. "Of course. You will see soon enough."
"Shirahoshi, good luck. I hope you can master that power within you."
"Yes, I will try Ryujiro-san!"
Shirahoshi nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Neptune and Jinbe were baffled. What had Ryujiro said to Shirahoshi? They had never seen such a look in her eyes before.
Anticipation?
What is Shirahoshi looking forward to?
But the power Ryujiro referred to must be the Sea Kings' power.
Could Ryujiro have been helping Shirahoshi master the power of the Sea Kings?
Is that possible?
Neptune quickly dismissed his absurd thoughts.
If it was indeed as he had just thought, perhaps others couldn't manage it, but that doesn't mean Ryujiro couldn't.
The power of the Sea Kings is vastly more potent than the powers of Devil Fruits, and Shirahoshi, as a Sea King princess, could potentially overturn the entire sea.
"Shirahoshi, don't be afraid."
"You won't have to hide in your room anymore. That man is dead now."
Ryujiro glanced at Shirahoshi, who looked frightened and hesitant to leave the room.
He sighed, thinking about Vander Decken IX's grotesque nature. Even though he was physically mismatched, Shirahoshi could easily crush him with her size.
"Captain Ryujiro, is what you said true?" Neptune asked, visibly excited.
"Certainly. Vander Decken IX is dead."
Ryujiro replied calmly.
Great!
Neptune's eyes filled with tears of joy; his daughter would no longer need to cower in her room.
"Father, can I come out now?"
Shirahoshi, still in disbelief, felt nervous after years of not stepping out of her room.
"Yes, from now on, you don't have to stay in this room."
Neptune nodded seriously.
Shirahoshi's large body trembled as she covered her face and began to sob.
Just then, a wounded Ryugu Palace guard stumbled in and fell to the ground.
The sudden turn of events caused everyone's expressions to change.
The guard looked at Neptune, his voice trembling. "Your Majesty, Hody Jones and his companions have attacked Ryugu Palace. The princes have been captured."
"All the ministers are under Hody Jones's control. He said that if you don't hand over Shirahoshi, he will kill the princes!"
"What?!"
Neptune's face changed drastically, shock and horror evident.
How dare Hody Jones do this!
Jinbe frowned deeply, recalling the child he had seen before. His expression grew even graver.
It's that kid.
That kid had been influenced by Arlong, holding onto the supremacist ideology of Fish-men.
Jinbe glanced at Ryujiro. Was this because of the White Demon Pirates' arrival?
These lunatics don't even realize the terror of the White Demon Pirates.
"Hey, Hody, isn't attacking Ryugu Palace a bit excessive?"
Jinbe's subordinate, Dosun, spoke slowly.
Hody Jones's eyes gleamed coldly. "Neptune is old and useless. His rule over Fish-man Island only brings disaster. From now on, we are the rulers of Fish-man Island."
"Hody is right. Neptune, who grovels before humans, is unworthy of ruling Fish-man Island. We, the New Fish-man Pirates, are the future of Fish-man Island!"
"Hah!"
The Fish-men under Hody Jones roared in excitement.
Good, very good!
Hody Jones's eyes showed excitement.
Fish-men are the top race in the sea, and mere humans are insignificant. He would hang that man's head in the Fish-man Plaza.
Show everyone the true terror of Fish-men!
"Hody! What have you done!"
At that moment, a roar of anger came from not far away. Neptune, filled with fury, glared at Hody Jones.
"Are you trying to rebel?!"
Neptune reprimanded coldly.
Hody Jones sneered at Neptune. "Neptune, your dynasty should have been overthrown long ago. Under your rule, Fish-men have no future."
"We, the New Fish-man Pirates, are the future of Fish-man Island."
"You, who grovels before humans, have no right to be king of Fish-man Island!"
Neptune trembled with rage.
"Bastard!"
Jinbe, with a dark face, glared coldly at Hody. "Hody, stop this madness. Don't make things worse."
Heh.
Hody Jones looked at Jinbe with increasing disdain.
"Jinbe, you're now a human lackey and have no right to speak to me."
"You've betrayed Tiger-san!"
Jinbe was momentarily speechless. Hody had been indoctrinated with Arlong's supremacist beliefs since childhood.
This guy hated humans, believing they were the reason Fish-men had to live on Fish-man Island. Their comrades had nearly all died at human hands.
"If you hand over Shirahoshi, I will release the princes."
Hody's eyes, filled with malice, were fixed on the large figure of Shirahoshi.
Shirahoshi flinched under Hody Jones's gaze.
At this moment, a lazy voice drifted in.
"Yet another fool like Arlong."
Ryujiro yawned lazily.
"Human, don't be so arrogant. This is not the land! It's Fish-man Island!"
Hody Jones's cold eyes stared at Ryujiro.
Ryujiro looked at Hody Jones indifferently. "And so? Just those little fish behind you?"
"You're just a slightly larger fish."
"What?!"
The New Fish-man Pirates' officers were infuriated, calling them little fish.
Calling Hody a big fish!
Humans!
Too arrogant!
"Kun, Carmen, Lucci, take care of these people. Don't hurt the princes."
"Understood, Captain!"
The three's enthusiasm surged. Dealing with these small fries was no challenge for them.
"Don't underestimate us!"
The New Fish-man Pirates' officers and their subordinates roared in anger.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh
A strange, ethereal laugh echoed in everyone's ears, as a transparent ghost passed through the Fish-men's bodies.
"Hey!"
"What's wrong with you!"
Seeing the ghost, Ryujiro smiled.
The girl has finally returned.
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