"Is this the child you mentioned?" Even with Neptune's towering height, he still had to look up at Wadatsumi—who at the moment was only showing his head.
Wadatsumi peeked nervously from behind the ship, "hiding" as if no one could see him. The sight was like an adult trying to hide behind their cellphone.
His round head doing such a gesture made him look unexpectedly cute.
"That's him." Zhang Da Ye called out, "Wadatsumi, don't be shy. Come and say hello."
Obediently, Wadatsumi shuffled forward. "Hello everyone, my name is Wadatsumi. Captain Decken doesn't want me anymore… would you take me in?"
"You poor child, from now on this will be your home." Queen Otohime answered right away. Partly because she could sense his sadness and unease, and partly because she trusted Zhang Da Ye and his companions.
Since his wife had spoken, Neptune of course wouldn't refuse. "Would you be willing to join the Royal Guard of Ryugu Palace?"
Wadatsumi asked directly, "Will there be food?"
"Of course. I'll have someone prepare your meals and lodging right away." Neptune never let his soldiers go hungry. Feeding a few hundred more wasn't an issue for him.
"Then I'll join! I'll behave." Wadatsumi patted his chest in assurance.
The crowd around them gasped.
"What?! The bald sea monster—no, Wadatsumi—is joining the royal guard?"
"That big guy looks so reliable!"
"Want something to eat? I just caught fresh fish!"
In a place like Fishman Island, size often meant strength. And Wadatsumi's size was beyond massive. His presence in the army gave the residents an immense sense of security.
The panic they'd felt upon first seeing him had now turned into relief and joy. Everyone treated him warmly.
"See, everyone likes you, Man-chan!" Queen Otohime laughed, even giving him a nickname.
When he came ashore, she noticed the bandages on his arms and legs. "You're still injured. Why don't you eat something first, then rest?"
"Okay!" Wadatsumi obediently followed her arrangement, carrying the Left Minister away with him.
After he left, Neptune asked, "Where is that Vander Decken?"
"Here." Zhang Da Ye patted the large barrel beside him. Out of respect for Wadatsumi's feelings, he hadn't opened the lid earlier.
So Zhang Da Ye and his companions boarded the ship back to Ryugu Palace, carrying a barrel with a criminal inside.
When the lid was opened, Vander Decken was already awake, though so weak he could barely move.
Zhang Da Ye kindly lifted his head above water to make questioning easier. But the first words out of Vander Decken's mouth, upon seeing Neptune and Queen Otohime, were:
"Please marry Princess Shirahoshi to me, father-in-law, mother-in-law!"
Bang! A fist the size of a cooking pot—no, more like a field cauldron—smashed him straight back into the barrel, splashing water everywhere.
"Who the hell is your father-in-law and mother-in-law?! Shirahoshi is only six, you bastard! Explain clearly why you're targeting her!" Neptune roared in fury.
The barrel was sturdy and didn't break. Zhang Da Ye yanked Decken's head out again, shaking it hard. "Think carefully before you speak, damn it!"
But Vander Decken refused to admit the real reason—Shirahoshi's power to command Sea Kings. "It's love at first sight! I fell in love with her instantly. As for the age issue, don't worry! If she takes the medicine in my pocket, she'll instantly grow into an adult!"
"Medicine?" Zhang Da Ye fished a glass bottle from his pocket, filled with red-and-black capsules. "Wait… isn't this the 'Energy Steroid'?"
The drug that consumed a person's life force. And he wanted Shirahoshi to take it to grow up faster? What kind of insane logic was that?
"You bastard… are you working with Hody?" Veins bulged on Neptune's forehead. "So you not only stole from the treasury, plotted against the queen, but also want to drug Shirahoshi?!"
"Ah! It's just a bit of cooperation. Although, well, most of the brilliant ideas came from me. Hody's useless." Vander Decken actually looked proud, thinking Neptune was acknowledging him.
He even went on to explain his Devil Fruit powers, complaining that if not for Tom, Shirahoshi would have already received his love letters and gifts.
Neptune clenched his trident, teeth grinding. "So all of this was under your command?"
Vander Decken admitted immediately, eager to show off to his so-called 'father-in-law.'
Not everyone could follow his twisted logic. Neptune certainly couldn't. He slammed his trident into the ground and declared:
"Then as King of Ryugu Kingdom, I sentence Vander Decken to execution by beheading!"
"What?!" Vander Decken finally panicked. "Why kill me?!"
Neptune swung his trident, knocking him unconscious. Truthfully, if it weren't for Queen Otohime and the guests present, Neptune would've skipped the formal sentencing and killed him on the spot.
Otohime's heart was torn. She pitied every soul who strayed down the wrong path, believing punishment was necessary but always hoping for redemption.
She had even visited Hody Jones after his capture, but all she'd found in him was hatred and rage. He never admitted fault and could not be swayed.
Punishment was meant to make people realize their errors deeply enough to never repeat them. But this Vander Decken? He was beyond saving—both his heart and his mind.
Zhang Da Ye found the verdict acceptable. He figured even if Neptune hadn't sentenced him, he would've had to secretly chop off Vander Decken's "hands" anyway.
After all, the Mark-Mark Fruit required hands to activate. Cut those off, and problem solved.
It wasn't out of cruelty, but practicality. The power was too dangerous. What if one day he and Tom were eating hotpot and singing songs, and suddenly a whole Fishman Island came flying at them?
Tom might survive, but Zhang Da Ye definitely wouldn't. Best to kill the threat at the root.
Back at Ryugu Palace, Zhang Da Ye mentioned it was time for them to leave. They had unknowingly stayed for a whole week. The food and lodgings were excellent, but he missed his slightly shabby tavern.
"So soon? Did we fail to treat you well enough?" Queen Otohime asked.
"Not at all," Zhang Da Ye replied. "It's just that we've been away too long. And since we're not far, we'll come again to bother you soon enough."
"At least stay until tomorrow," Neptune urged. "We want to prepare a grand banquet to see you off." He hadn't even prepared his gifts yet.
Tom's ears perked up at the words "grand banquet." He tugged at Zhang Da Ye's pants, wagging his tongue and tail.
"…You're not even a dog," Zhang Da Ye muttered.
Artoria spoke seriously, "Da Ye, since King Neptune insists, it would be rude to refuse. Besides, Tom looks reluctant to leave."
"…If only you hadn't swallowed just now after saying that, I might believe you cared about reason instead of the food."
Neptune added, "I think Jinbe and your good friend Camie would also want to bid you farewell in person."
Hearing that, both Shark Chili and Rui Meng Meng agreed to stay another day.
"Alright then. One more day." Zhang Da Ye thought it over. They had no urgent matters anyway. It was fine to respect everyone's wishes.
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