Translator: PapaSmurf0700
In truth, the Spark Alliance forces stationed on Fish-Man Island had considered wiping out the New Fish-Man Pirates the moment they heard of their formation in the Fish-Man District. But the lawless district was not the same as the island proper. Launching a full-scale assault there was beyond the capabilities of their current garrison.
Furthermore, the Alliance soldiers were at a disadvantage fighting in the open sea, and King Neptune seemed unwilling to take decisive action against his own kind, however misguided. So, the matter was tabled. For a time, under the watchful eye of the Alliance, the New Fish-Man Pirates kept a low profile, and the issue was postponed again.
Because of this, neither the Alliance nor Ryugu Palace had any real idea of the power Hody Jones had been quietly amassing in the darkness.
Beyond Hody and his four main officers, he commanded a force of over one hundred thousand crewmembers. It was a number comparable to the entire Marine force at the Summit War. Of course, the quality was far inferior, but the sheer numbers were staggering. Among them were not only fish-men but also disenfranchised human pirates who had drifted into the depths.
This massive force was organized into five distinct units: a sniper division armed with rifles and cannons; a phalanx of shell-users who formed defensive walls with their durable turtle shells; an aerial unit that used bubble-coated flotation rings for airborne attacks; a legion of sea urchin fish-men who launched their venomous spines; and a poison squad composed of various toxic fish-men.
In addition to this army, Hody also commanded a menagerie of ferocious sea beasts—sea lions, sea gorillas, sea giraffes, and more. And at this very moment, this colossal force, hidden in the shadows, was poised to strike.
-----
"Bwahahaha! This place is magnificent!"
Vander Decken IX strode into the Fish-Man District with an arrogant swagger, extending a webbed hand toward the shark fish-man before him.
"So, you're the infamous Hody Jones," he declared.
"And you're the madman, Vander Decken," Hody replied, pulling on his gloves and shaking the offered hand. "Our reputations precede us."
As their hands met, a wave of excitement rippled through the officers of the New Fish-Man Pirates.
"With this alliance, we'll be unstoppable in the deep sea."
"A gathering of truly terrifying figures, haha."
"I've read your letter, Hody," Vander Decken said, his grin revealing a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. "I must say, your offer is very tempting. I can guess your ultimate goal, but frankly, it means nothing to me."
"Then this is a mutually beneficial arrangement," Hody sneered, his eyes burning with violent ambition.
"Bwah-ho-ho! Then let's begin at once! I can't wait another moment to marry my darling Princess Shirahoshi!" Vander Decken glanced around, then pointed a finger at several human pirates standing nearby. "You lot! Get over here, now!"
"Huh?" Before the humans could react, the fish-men beside them moved on Hody's silent signal. The terrified men were thrown at Vander Decken's feet.
"Boss Hody, what's going on?!" one of them screamed in horror. "We're your men!"
Splat!
A high-pressure jet of water shot from Hody's fingers, piercing the man's head.
"My men?" Hody began to laugh, a chilling, cruel sound. "Don't be so arrogant, you inferior creatures." He glared down at the remaining humans. "You are nothing but tools."
"You will be launched at Ryugu Palace. You will smash your way through the gates for us. If you fail… well, you can imagine what happens next. Being devoured by a sea beast is an exceptionally painful way to die. Hahahaha!"
Amidst Hody's maniacal laughter and the humans' desperate cries, Vander Decken grabbed one of the pirates, activating his Mark-Mark Fruit ability to turn the man into a living projectile. But in the next second, both he and Hody froze.
"That direction!" Vander Decken yelled. "It's not Ryugu Palace!"
As a man who professed his love to Shirahoshi multiple times a day via flying axes, he could pinpoint her location with his eyes closed. And now, the direction was wrong.
"My darling!" Vander Decken shouted in surprise and delight. "She's finally escaped that wretched tower!"
He kicked a giant piece of coral, activating his fruit's power on it the moment his foot made contact. The coral launched into the water with him on top of it, flying toward his target. His rampant laughter echoed back through the Fish-Man District. "Princess Shirahoshi, your destined man is coming for you!"
The atmosphere in the district turned awkward.
"Captain, what do we do now?" an officer asked.
"That idiot," Hody cursed. "Shirahoshi isn't in the palace? It seems things on the island have changed." He paused, his mind racing. "Forget him. If the princess isn't there, we have no use for that fool anyway. I originally planned to seize Ryugu Palace first, but it seems we must accelerate the plan."
Hody made a swift decision. He turned to face his assembled army, ignoring the terror in the eyes of his human "tools." He threw his arms wide and bellowed:
"That old relic Neptune has not only forgotten the hatred our kind has suffered at the hands of humans, he has allowed them to establish a base on our sacred island! He has even named a group of them his honored guests! This is a disgrace to all fish-men! Therefore, I have decided!"
His voice rose to a fanatical roar. "The era of Neptune's rule ends today! It will be the New Fish-Man Pirates who—"
"FINISH IT!"
"GO, MY WARRIORS! DESTROY THIS ISLAND, AND ON ITS RUINS, WE WILL BUILD A NATION OF OUR OWN!"
"AYE!"
-----
Meanwhile, in an office at the Spark Alliance military base, Ripper set down his pen and rubbed his tired eyes. He had been working all afternoon and the plan was still far from complete.
He couldn't rush this. What he was orchestrating was the monumental task of helping the residents of Fish-Man Island return to a life under the sun. It was the very first formal proposal made by King Neptune after joining the Spark Alliance, and three days ago, the parliamentary committee had passed it unanimously. Unlike the World Government, the Alliance's member nations were largely composed of former victims of slavery and tyranny. They understood the plight of the fish-men on a deeply personal level.
However, approving a proposal and implementing it were two different things. A comprehensive, meticulous plan was required.
"One hundred and thirty thousand residents currently wish to relocate," Brian murmured, reviewing his notes. "Among the Alliance member states, twenty-four islands are qualified and willing to accept them. Arranging this move… it's a colossal project."
He said he was tired, but the corners of his mouth turned up in an involuntary smile. Perhaps it was because he knew he was doing something truly just.
At that moment, a frantic knock sounded at his door.
"Major General Ripper! An emergency!" an aide burst in, out of breath. "A massive swarm of sea beasts has appeared outside the island! They're attacking the main bubble!"