"The Marines, what are you all waiting for?"
The kings around them were still shouting, "Make them keep their distance! Do you want the smell of fish to offend the noses of these noble kings?"
Smoker, known for his hot temper, had a vein bulging on his forehead.
Before he could act, a voice came from behind him.
"Unjustly insulting strangers upon first meeting, arrogantly disrespecting a king—I've never heard of such nobility."
Neptune paused, surprised. Was someone speaking up for them?
He couldn't help but turn around.
A man was approaching quickly under Marine escort.
"Tch!"
The kings gathered together changed their expressions noticeably when they saw the newcomer, their tone growing wary.
"Cobra!"
King Cobra of Alabasta stepped beside the couple, nodding warmly to them.
"If you don't mind, why don't you wait for the next bubble ship with me? I happen to be very curious about Fish-Man Island."
Neptune looked at Cobra.
Could it be true?
A human king with no prejudice against them, willing to engage with them as equals.
"Of course, that would be fine!"
Queen Otohime's smile blossomed brilliantly.
The group of kings huddled together sneered coldly.
"So fallen, Cobra, to be allied with a pair of fish!"
"Do you want to witness the power of these 'fish' you speak of?"
Neptune finally broke his silence. His massive tail suddenly slammed the ground, causing the earth to tremble violently. Cracks even split open on the surface beneath them.
The kings instantly turned pale. They dared not linger any longer, murmuring nervously as they boarded their bubble ships and quickly shut the hatch doors.
Cobra looked at Neptune with some surprise, then chuckled, "Did I meddle where I shouldn't have?"
"Not at all."
Neptune said sincerely, "I will never forget this kindness."
"That's hardly a kindness worth mentioning."
Cobra laughed heartily. "If you want to repay me, how about properly introducing me to Fish-Man Island?"
"Of course."
The couple replied in unison.
Kuzan let out a slight breath of relief, thinking they might have been on the verge of a fight when they first arrived.
Neptune and his wife soon waited for the next bubble ship.
The two of them, together with King Cobra from Alabasta, boarded and ascended.
After a brief conversation, Neptune confirmed that Cobra was indeed a gentle and broad-minded king. He held no prejudice against Fish-Man Island and was simply curious about it.
He enthusiastically explained various matters related to the World Summit, giving the rustic couple a sudden awakening.
Cobra even said he wanted to introduce them to other kings.
"Rest assured," Cobra said, "My friends are all open-minded kings like me. None of them would harbor prejudice against Fish-Man Island."
The couple exchanged a glance.
This journey seemed truly worthwhile.
Passing through the sea of clouds above, they finally saw the edge of the Red Line continent.
Mariejois, we have arrived.
"This is Mariejois?"
After exiting the skyport, everyone boarded the automatic road of Mariejois. They remained still, but the road beneath them carried them forward smoothly.
Otohime couldn't help but sigh, "It's really amazing."
"Right? You won't find anything like this anywhere else!"
Cobra laughed cheerfully, "The first time I came to Mariejois, I was startled too."
"What exactly is the principle behind this?"
Neptune, always curious for the truth, examined the automatic road carefully.
"It must be some huge machinery installed underneath," Cobra guessed.
Kuzan, who escorted them all the way to Mariejois, pursed his lips.
Of course, he knew exactly what was powering this automatic road beneath them.
After all, with the World Government's technology, developing a true automatic road was actually quite simple.
Following the automated road, they moved steadily forward. Before long, the massive white building came into view.
Pangaea Castle — the venue for this World Conference.
Not far from there was the gathering place of the Celestial Dragons.
"Kuzan, thank you for your hard work!"
As they approached, someone greeted Vice Admiral Kuzan.
"Teacher Zephyr!"
Kuzan, Smoker, and Tashigi all returned the greeting toward the approaching man.
"Hm."
The former Marine Admiral, Zephyr the Black Arm, nodded. "Go get some rest. Garp, Sengoku, and Borsalino have all arrived."
The World Conference, held once every four years, was the government's top priority event, so naturally the Marines had to deploy their main forces for security.
"But Fish-Man Island..."
Zephyr glanced toward Neptune and his wife, who were being guided by government officials alongside Cobra as they headed toward Pangaea Castle. His expression grew somewhat strange.
"Is this conference truly a good thing for them, or—"
"Wow! Such a big mermaid!!"
A somewhat silly voice rang out.
Zephyr and Kuzan's expressions shifted simultaneously.
Neptune looked at the approaching group with surprise.
A muscular man was crawling on the ground, his face blank, his gaze vacant—seemingly nothing more than an empty shell.
On his back sat a man wearing a white robe and sporting a strange topknot hairstyle. His eyes gleamed intensely as he stared at the man beneath him, waving his hand repeatedly.
But this, of course, was not a greeting.
"Quick! Grab him! I want to shove him into my fish tank!!"
Before he even finished speaking, the group of guards protecting him rushed forward.
They raised their guns, aiming at Neptune and his wife, shouting for them to stay still.
Another group skillfully pulled out shackles and ropes, moving closer toward Neptune.
Neptune was taken aback.
What was going on?
The confusion in his heart didn't stop him from preparing to defend himself.
The strength of the Fish-Men was ten times that of humans, and among Fish-Men, Neptune was considered a strong fighter.
He immediately clenched his fists.
But—
"No! Neptune! You can't disobey him!!"
Cobra shouted sharply.
"He's a Celestial Dragon!"
Celestial Dragon!!
Neptune felt as if all the blood in his body had turned cold.
Even he knew that the Celestial Dragons were gods of this world, beings absolutely not to be offended.
If someone offended a Celestial Dragon, a Navy Admiral would be dispatched!
He could only watch helplessly as those men approached.
At that moment, Cobra took a deep breath and stepped forward to stand in front of Neptune.
The King of Alabasta was indeed a just man, and he loudly declared, "Honorable Celestial Dragon! King Neptune has been—"
But before he could finish, a fierce guard struck him down with the butt of a gun.
"..."
Kuzan's mouth tightened.
Zephyr's eyes twitched.
Hina's chest heaved violently; her breathing had already become labored.
Smoker clenched his jaw tightly and took a heavy step forward.
But it was already too late.
The CP0 agent dressed in white robes beside the Celestial Dragon had already noticed him.
He said calmly, "Remember your place, Marines."
Zephyr's trembling right hand suddenly grabbed Smoker's shoulder, his voice barely escaping through clenched teeth.
"Don't do anything, Smoker."
"But, Teacher Zephyr!"
Smoker's teeth clenched so hard they seemed ready to break.
Neptune looked around in confusion.
Cobra, who had been willing to help them, was now lying defeated on the ground.
The surrounding kings avoided them like a plague.
The Marines stood still, not making a move.
What should they do now?
If they dared to resist, the entire Fish-Man Island would be affected, wouldn't it?
Otohime held Neptune's hand tightly, her body trembling slightly.
Indeed, they never should have come here.
But then, at that moment—
"Get lost."
A cold voice suddenly came from behind the Celestial Dragon.
"Huh? Who the hell dares to speak like that to me?"
The Celestial Dragon turned around angrily and drew his pistol, ready to blow that arrogant bastard's head off the instant he saw him.
But then—
"Uh!!"
The moment he clearly saw the figure, the Celestial Dragon froze in shock. "Y-you are—"
"The Five Elders said, 'Go back.'"
The man said coldly.
"Damn it!"
With Neptune's stunned gaze on him, the supreme Celestial Dragon cursed fiercely, then immediately ordered the slave beneath him to run away in a flash.
Huh?
What just happened?
Neptune looked at the man in confusion.
The man only gave Neptune a deep, lingering glance, then turned away without a hint of hesitation.
All Neptune could see was the fluttering white hem of his clothes.
"No way…"
Kuzan looked incredulous. "That is—"
"The leader of CP0!"
Zephyr's face grew serious. "The Five Elders' personal guard!"
Bruuuuuuur.
Just then, the Den Den Mushi phone rang.
Neptune instinctively pulled it out.
"It's all done."
A calm voice came from the other side. "Now, enjoy this trip to Mary Geoise, Neptune. Make some friends."
"…"
Neptune was stunned. "Ian?"
**********
Support me on my patreon and read upto 20 early chapters.
patreon.com/PirateKing24