Sakazuki took out the den den mushi and glanced at it.
It turned out to be Kuzan, stationed on Fish-Man Island.
"Looks like he's completed the task I assigned him," Sakazuki thought to himself.
Really!
"Sakazuki, I've fully infiltrated the Ryugu Kingdom and have now come into contact with Princess Shirahoshi, but, well... that's it…"
Kuzan seemed to be struggling to find the right words.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Sakazuki asked curiously.
The task had been successfully completed, so what could have gone wrong?
"How do I put this? Princess Shirahoshi is enormous—much larger than the average mermaid! She's quite extraordinary in appearance."
"But she seems timid and fragile."
"Sakazuki, is this really Poseidon—Poseidon?"
Kuzan suddenly lowered his voice, speaking with a skeptical tone.
No wonder he hesitated. It was clear that he doubted the accuracy of Sakazuki's information.
Princess Shirahoshi's delicate and timid demeanor made it hard for Kuzan to associate her with the legendary Poseidon.
In Kuzan's mind, Poseidon should be a massive, ferocious figure—domineering, fearsome, and as strong as a monster.
How could it possibly be this crybaby in front of him?
Sakazuki was about to respond when a soft voice came through the phone.
"Lord Kuzan, who are you talking to?"
"Why are you ignoring me?"
Suddenly, there was a commotion on the line. Muffled sounds and a faint "Uuu~ Lord Kuzan, you're so cruel to me…" could be heard in the background.
Kuzan quickly said, "Sakazuki, hold on a moment!"
The voice from the phone bug went silent for a few seconds before it resumed, mimicking Kuzan's slightly embarrassed expression.
"What? Poseidon is right next to you?" Sakazuki teased knowingly.
"Ah, yes. After I dealt with Vander Decken , Shirahoshi no longer has to hide in the Shell Tower."
Kuzan's reply sounded awkward.
Shirahoshi seemed particularly enthusiastic about the guest who had come to protect Fish-Man Island. However, her timid personality gave Kuzan a headache.
"Shirahoshi hasn't fully awakened yet. Once she does, she'll be able to summon countless massive Poseidon types and unleash the true power of Poseidon!"
In Sakazuki's mind, he could picture it clearly.
Once Poseidon awakens, Shirahoshi will be able to communicate with all Poseidon-class creatures, guiding and commanding them at will.
When Queen Otohime died, Shirahoshi accidentally summoned a colossal Poseidon creature over 10,000 meters long.
Sakazuki estimated that such a creature could obliterate Fish-Man Island entirely!
"In a world where over 90% is ocean, imagine the destruction these deep-sea overlords could unleash if united!"
Kuzan nodded in agreement after hearing this.
Poseidon-class creatures are unique to the pirate world and are the most powerful beings in the ocean.
However, "Poseidon class" is not just one species but a term for many species with similar traits.
They inhabit oceans worldwide and are called Poseidons because they reign like kings of the sea.
Their colossal size—some comparable to small islands—combined with their ferocity, intelligence equal to humans, and long lifespans, makes them the most feared creatures by sailors.
Most Poseidon-class creatures live in the Calm Belt along both sides of the Grand Line. They frequently attack passing ships, making them the main obstacle for crossing these regions.
While powerhouses like Kuzan and Sakazuki can easily handle Poseidon creatures hundreds of meters long—and even those thousands of meters long in the deep sea with a bit of effort—only a few in the world possess such strength.
Most so-called "strong individuals" prefer to avoid these gigantic creatures altogether. Their thick skin, ferocity, and massive endurance make them nearly impossible for ordinary people to defeat.
"Additionally, Jinbei has agreed to join forces with me to protect Fish-Man Island!"
"After the Whitebeard Pirates fell, the Big Mom Pirates tried to seize control, leaving Fish-Man Island desperate for a reliable protector."
It was true. Despite Jinbei's strength, he stood no chance against an Emperor's crew.
"Just yesterday, the Big Mom Pirates sent a few pirates to Fish-Man Island to deliver a message to King Neptune."
"They claimed they would 'help' the late Whitebeard in protecting Fish-Man Island. In return, Fish-Man Island would have to pay regular tributes of large amounts of desserts."
"But I killed those pirates on the spot!"
"So now, King Neptune has no other choice!"
While Kuzan spoke these words softly, he glanced at Princess Shirahoshi in the distance. She was wagging her tail, looking at him with wide, curious eyes.
Then, Kuzan continued:
"Maybe the Big Mom Pirates will send some of their cadres here later, and conflict between Fish-Man Island and the Big Mom Pirates is inevitable!"
Sakazuki nodded in approval of Kuzan's decisive actions, killing first and ensuring control later.
Although Kuzan was stationed on Fish-Man Island, it was highly unlikely that King Neptune would agree to the Big Mom Pirates' terms, unlike in the original events.
Still, Sakazuki believed any chance of that should be eradicated entirely.
Moreover, this approach would deepen the alliance between Kuzan and Fish-Man Island. After all, they were now metaphorically tied together.
The idea of Big Mom helping Whitebeard take care of Fish-Man Island was just a facade, a thinly veiled excuse.
Everyone knew Big Mom's true motive. Her love for sweets was infamous—bordering on obsession.
Big Mom's affection for sweets even surpassed her attachment to her crew or her empire.
At every meal, she consumed an enormous amount of desserts. If she couldn't get the specific sweets she craved, she would suffer from Hunger pangs, a condition akin to epilepsy.
Big Mom's Hunger pain episodes were terrifying. Once in that state, she became unstoppable, a destructive force of nature.
Fish-Man Island, known for its abundance of high-quality sweets, was the perfect target for Big Mom.
That was why she wanted to claim it as her territory.
As for Kuzan's prediction that Big Mom's cadres might come to Fish-Man Island, a sneer crept onto Sakazuki's lips.
He didn't take the Big Mom Pirates seriously.
"If any of her cadres dare to come to Fish-Man Island, I'll kill them all!"
It wasn't as if Sakazuki needed an excuse to eliminate prominent pirates.
With the World Government preoccupied and the World Conscription initiative approaching, Sakazuki saw this as an opportunity.
He didn't mind killing a member of the Four Emperors to send a clear message to the world and inspire the Marines!