The Blumarine Jackson glided slowly through the double-layered bubble mbrane surrounding Fish-Man Island.
Ritter stood at the bow, blood mist swirling around him, the massive Black Tide sword resting diagonally across his shoulder. His gaze swept across the undersea kingdom he rembered well.
"A lot's changed," he murmured.
Where once lay the decaying remnants of Fish-Man Street now stood a vibrant, rejuvenated district. Coral-built houses were scattered in tidy rows, and the streets bustled with both rfolk and fish-n walking side by side. Children played and laughed, and all signs of the forr oppression had vanished.
At the harbor, a squad of well-equipped fish-man soldiers stood on high alert. Yet their eyes held no fear or hostility only fervent admiration?
"Lord Ritter looked at aaahhh!"
"It's really him! Lord Ritter, our hero!"
"He saw ! I'm from the salmon clan we're naming our child Riven!"
"Lord Ritter! Can I get a signature? Look at my new outfit!" A fish-man guard who had just pushed through the crowd excitedly held out his shirt.
Ritter stared.
A white shirt, printed boldly with his wanted poster.
A pirate king fan shirt???
Ritter forced himself to finish the autograph while thinking, Please tell you only just now realized what you're wearing.
"My deepest apologies, Lord Ritter! King Neptune has been waiting for your arrival at the palace. I was just... I was so overwheld seeing you in person!" the guard stamred.
Ritter sweat-dropped. "Ahaha... understandable, understandable."
Perona floated to Ritter's side, whispering, "They really seem happy to see us."
Ritter struck a playful pose, ruffling his hair. Fish-Man Island's current prosperity he had played no small part in that.
Neptune the current King of Fish-Man Island ca in person to welco them at the gates of Ryugu Palace.
He was more burly than in his youth, now crowned and wielding a golden trident, though the fire in his eyes remained unchanged.
"Brother Ritter!" Neptune strode forward and swept Ritter into a tight hug.
Ritter blinked. Did this guy eat fertilizer or sothing?
"I've waited so long to see you again!"
Ritter flailed as Neptune crushed him against his massive chest. "Too tight let go can't breathe—"
Neptune finally released him, laughing heartily. "Thanks to your guidance! Before my father passed, he told Fish-Man Island only made it this far because soone once scolded him awake."
Perona looked bewildered. She glanced at the bearded Neptune, then at the youthful Ritter with flowing hair. "Wait... Lord Ritter is older than King Neptune???"
Her worldview visibly began to fracture.
Inside the banquet hall, crystal chandeliers sparkled above tables brimming with deep-sea delicacies. Neptune raised his glass high.
"To the Roger Pirates! And to the one who changed the fate of Fish-Man Island!"
As the crowd drank and cheered, Ritter noticed a stone monunt in the corner of the hall etched with the nas of fallen warriors who had resisted the slave trade.
"We haven't been idle these years," Neptune said, following his gaze. "Fisher Tiger ford a guard force to hunt down slave ships. The World Governnt sent CP9 and the Navy to suppress us, but—"
He bared his shark-like teeth in a grin. " we drove them back."
Ritter looked at Neptune, no longer the soft-hearted king from the original storyline. His eyes now glead with confidence.
Perona gasped, covering her mouth. "That's amazing!"
"Not entirely," Neptune admitted. "But we stood ready to go down with the island if needed."
He pointed upward at the bubble mbrane above them. "We told the Navy that if they dared attack, we'd destroy the structural bubbles and sink Fish-Man Island to the ocean floor."
Ritter raised an eyebrow. "Stirring up the waters to win ti. Clever."
"No," Neptune said, his eyes turning steely. "We were truly prepared. My father made that decision knowing it ant death."
After the banquet, Neptune led Ritter to the highest tower of Ryugu Palace. From there, the entire island glittered beneath the sea like a field of stars.
"Our problem now is that more pirates are targeting us," Neptune said with a wry smile. "Since the slave trade was outlawed, human traffickers have decreased but fa-seeking pirates have taken their place. They want to make a na for themselves by attacking Fish-Man Island."
Ritter scoffed. "Then sink the ones here for 'sightseeing.' Problem solved."
Neptune shook his head. "We don't want to return to isolation. So—" He handed Ritter a docunt. "We established the Deep Sea Guard a cooperative force of fish-n, rfolk, and humans who follow the rules."
On the paper, prominent collaborators were listed: the Whitebeard Pirates, and even a few revolutionary army contacts.
Neptune gave a slight bow. "We'd like to invite your crew to join. We'll offer an annual compensation."
Ritter eyed him suspiciously.
Neptune seed to anticipate the question. "This isn't submission, Lord Ritter. It's partnership. We want to leverage your reputation to build safer, more prosperous trade. In return, we'll share a portion of the profits. Our growth still needs ti."
Ritter let out a low whistle. "Looks like you've learned the power of influence."
"Alright. The Crimson Dawn will support your initiative."
At that mont, a small rmaid peeked shyly from behind the wall.
Shirahoshi.
She was so small now. Ritter couldn't help wondering how she'd gotten so enormous by the ti Luffy visited.
"Shirahoshi, want to show around the island?" Ritter asked.
Shirahoshi hesitated, glancing at her mother.
Queen Otohi smiled gently. "Go on, just be back before dinner."
And so Ritter walked down Coral Avenue, carrying Shirahoshi and Perona, both practically weightless.
Moria and Enel had long vanished with Laboon, who knows where.
Fish-Man residents watched with a mix of awe and disbelief. Who would have thought the fearso captain of the Crimson Dawn would now let two little girls braid his hair in public?
Shirahoshi led the way, and Ritter bought snacks and trinkets along the road until night began to fall.
She leaned in close, whispering into his ear, "Ritter-nii, did you know Sister Shyarly can see the future?"
Shyarly should still be a little kid right now. Ritter feigned surprise. "Really? That amazing?"
Shirahoshi nodded solemnly. "But it's too late to visit her today."
Ritter smiled and ruffled her hair. "Then let's make a promise. Next ti I co to Fish-Man Island, you'll take to see her. Deal?"
Anyone who knows pirate stories knows what a 'promise' ans,
(Author's Note: Ritter, you rascal...)
Shirahoshi bead. "It's a promise, Ritter-nii! Let's go ho now."
Ritter adjusted the two girls for a more comfortable grip. "Alright let's head back."
He carried a sleeping Perona over his shoulder and a drowsy Shirahoshi in his arms as they returned to Ryugu Palace.
Queen Otohi was waiting and couldn't help but giggle behind her hand. "Looks like the children had a wonderful day."
Ritter casually tossed Perona aside she hovered mid-air instinctively, mumbling, "Ritter-sama... higher next ti..."
Shirahoshi rubbed her eyes and nestled into her mother's embrace, but suddenly grabbed Ritter's sleeve. "Are you leaving tomorrow?"
Ritter stroked her head with a smile. "I'm a ruthless pirate, you know. Pirates can't stay in one place for too long."
The real reason?
Any ti he took a stroll with the two girls, fans kept swarming them screaming things like "I'm Lord Ritter's—"
This place was a minefield of blackmail material. Ti to scram.
Queen Otohi gently began, "Ritter-sama, about—"
"Another ti," he cut her off.
As she watched him walk away, Otohi noticed sothing that made her smile.
The legendary madman Crimson Mist now had a crooked coral hairpin made by Shirahoshi clipped to his sleeve. And Perona's ghostly umbrella hung from the hilt of his massive blade.
"Lord Ritter really is... surprisingly kind."
The next day, Shirahoshi clung to Ritter, sniffling, unwilling to let go. But in the end, she released his hand.
He patted her head gently, whispering his goodbye.
"Don't forget our promise."
The Blumarine Jackson set sail once more.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————
Hooked already? Let know what grabbed you leave a review and fuel the journey forward! and if we hit every 250 Power Stones, a bonus chapter drops!
Things are just heating up. Read ahead in Unbound Evolution and stay ahead of the crowd.
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a.
Reviews
All reviews (0)