Next Bonus, 100!!
Hody Jones and his crew were finished.
A god had sent down a thunderbolt—a divine punishment for those who had allowed hatred to drag them into darkness.
The island's sins had been washed clean.
News of the event spread through Fish-Man Island like wildfire.
King Neptune, in his wisdom, had erased Jin from the official story. A gag order had been issued to all who knew the truth.
The official narrative was simple: it was the work of a god.
It was a shrewd political move. Attributing the event to a god added a veneer of mystique to the royal family, strengthening their rule.
Telling the truth, after all, would have invited criticism—accusations that the royal family had colluded with a human to slaughter their own people.
"I heard that over eighty percent of the dead were thugs from the Fish-Man District anyway."
"Fish-men born in that place... they grow up without parents, without an education. It's no wonder they're so easily led astray."
"I'm just glad Prince Fukaboshi got out of there when he did."
"Yeah, I left the moment I found out Hody was the one who killed Queen Otohime. That guy was rotten to the core."
The sheer power of the lightning that had enveloped the island, a force that seemed capable of ending the world, had shaken the millions of inhabitants to their core.
Everyone was talking about it, but in hushed tones, their hearts still pounding with a lingering fear.
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"Led by Prince Fukaboshi, the Neptune Army has entered the Fish-Man District to purge the last remnants of Hody's crew!"
"Prince Fukaboshi has uncovered evidence in the Fish-Man District proving Hody's dealings with humans—and his role in selling out his fellow merfolk!"
"The Prince has arrested the Macro Pirates, the villains who have been tricking and capturing mermaids to sell to humans! They are to be executed immediately!"
"Those bastards... they're fish-men, but they prey on their own kind. They deserve to die."
"Prince Fukaboshi has announced a major investment to rebuild and improve the living conditions in the Fish-Man District!"
"He's also partnering with the Sun Pirates to strengthen border security and crack down on smuggling!"
News of Prince Fukaboshi's decisive actions spread rapidly, gradually eclipsing the dark memory of Hody Jones.
The public's memory is short, and their attention is fleeting.
The fish-men were no exception.
Life had to go on.
They were just glad they hadn't been dragged into a war they didn't want.
"Prince Fukaboshi is keeping his promises!"
"I know! And I heard King Neptune is restructuring the government, too. He's pushing for a lot of reforms."
"Something about new population control policies? They're going to limit how many children people can have?"
"It makes sense. So many people have more kids than they can afford. That's what drives so many of them to a life of crime."
"Yeah, this island is tiny, and we've got a population of five million. A lot of families end up in the Fish-Man District."
"King Neptune used to be such a diligent ruler. He just... gave up after the Queen died."
"Maybe the god's lightning was a warning for him, too."
"Whatever the case, things are finally starting to look up..."
After the "disaster," the royal family's decisive actions sent a clear signal of change, restoring a great deal of faith among the populace.
Even if it was all just for show, it was a comforting performance.
The alternative—a royal family that did nothing, that left its people without a future, without hope—was far worse.
While these were the internal benefits, the royal family also made a public announcement to the world.
"King Jin of the Winter Blossom Kingdom will be making an official state visit to further promote cultural and musical exchange with the Ryugu Kingdom."
The announcement was accompanied by broadcasts of the New Year's Eve Gala, featuring the songs of Uta, Carina, and Gordon.
Music was the one thing that transcended borders and races.
Uta, Carina, Gordon, and even Brook already had a massive following on Fish-Man Island.
Everyone was asking if they would be coming. Even Shirahoshi was pestering her father about it.
King Neptune was at his wit's end. Jin had been here for days. This public announcement was just a formality to facilitate their future cooperation.
Jin thought it was a good idea. He asked Neptune when the next major festival on Fish-Man Island would be.
"We have the Sea God Festival in mid-November," Neptune replied.
Jin nodded. It was settled. Uta and the others would come in November for a bit of musical diplomacy. Uta had been clamoring to go out to sea anyway. It would be a good chance for her to see the New World.
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The night before the official "visit," Jin and Robin, escorted by Aladdin, left the palace.
Jinbe had already "swum" back and was waiting for them with a ship.
Seeing that Jinbe was truly unharmed, Aladdin and the other members of the Sun Pirates were both relieved and amazed.
"A god?" Jinbe said, after Aladdin had explained the official story of Hody's failed coup. He was silent for a moment, then said no more.
It was over. The people had accepted this version of events. Was he really going to try and change it, to pursue the matter further? He'd never get past the royal family, let alone Jin.
'As long as Fish-Man Island is protected...' he thought. 'As long as this brings peace to my people... I would gladly give my own life.'
After Whitebeard's death, Fish-Man Island had flown Big Mom's flag. Jinbe, who had respected his old captain so deeply, had still thrown in his lot with her, hadn't he? And then he had seen the potential in the young Luffy and had jumped ship again.
Jinbe had now witnessed Jin's power, his intellect, his philosophy, and his strange and unfathomable abilities.
He believed that Jin was more important to the future of Fish-Man Island than the fifty or sixty thousand extremist fish-men...
As they waited for dawn, a deep rumbling sound echoed from the dark depths of the sea.
Robin, who had been engrossed in a rare book from the Ryugu Kingdom, looked up. "Did you hear that?"
Jin looked out into the darkness. "It sounds like..."
"Something massive is approaching," Jinbe said, getting to his feet.
The sound grew clearer.
"Hey, look! Over there!"
A colossal figure slowly emerged from the darkness. Its sheer size was overwhelming.
"Is that Wadatsumi?" Aladdin asked.
Wadatsumi spotted them and began to stride forward. "Give me back Captain Vander Decken!" he roared, his voice filled with fury.
The sea churned with his every step. His eighty-meter-tall frame was clumsy in the water.
"Well, well," Jin said. "I'd forgotten about him."
"Is he a fish-man, too?" Robin asked.
"Yes," Jinbe replied. "Wadatsumi is from Fish-Man Island, but he was abandoned because of his size. He was taken in by Vander Decken IX and is fiercely loyal to him."
"You're telling me you just threw away a gatekeeper this powerful?" Jin said, incredulous. "With a little training, he could be a guardian deity. Vander Decken had a better eye for talent than you do."
Jinbe was speechless.
Wadatsumi closed the distance and swung his massive fist. "Where is my captain?"
"Water Shot: Swarm!" Jinbe leaped forward, his palms open. The seawater gathered around him and shot out in a hundred streams, each as thick as a barrel.
Wadatsumi was thrown backward.
"Ow! That hurts!" He crashed into a small undersea mountain, crushing it and churning the water into a murky cloud. He sat up and began to cry. "Wuh... Captain, where are you? Don't leave me!"
It was a heartbreaking sight.
Even Jinbe felt a little bad. He looked at Jin. What now?
"Wadatsumi," Jin said, "your captain has gone to see the gods. From now on, you're with me."
Wadatsumi wiped his tears and looked around, finally spotting the tiny figure of Jin. "The gods? The Sea God?"
"That's right. The Sea God said he missed him."
"And who are you?"
"I'm your new captain. You'll listen to me now."
Jinbe and Aladdin were speechless. He was talking to him like a child. Who would possibly fall for that?
Wadatsumi scratched his head. "Okay."
'Are you serious?' Aladdin's jaw dropped.
Robin put a hand to her forehead. How could a fish-man this large be as simple-minded as a six-year-old?
"Wadatsumi," Jin asked, "why weren't you with Vander Decken on Fish-Man Island?"
"The captain told me to pull the ship with the Kraken," Wadatsumi said, scratching his head. "We waited and waited, but he never came back. The Kraken got angry and ran away. I had a fight with it, but it still ran away. I was scared, so I came to find the captain."
"The Kraken is a giant sea monster," Aladdin explained. "It's known for its indiscriminate attacks on ships. They call it the 'Devil of the Deep.' The ship he's talking about must be the Noah, the 'Ark of Promise.' It's half the size of Fish-Man Island."
Jin's interest was piqued. A ship that large could be very useful. "Let's go take a look."
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