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Chapter 115 Shirahoshi
The blood mist filled the air, and the new fishmen Pirates group that once caused chaos on The Fish Men Island turned into dust, and the flag of the Rectification Fleet flew high.
The square was dead silent. King Neptune and his entourage hurried over and stood on the high platform in the square, overlooking everything.
Neptune's eyes were complicated as he watched Rogge single-handedly quell the biggest rebellion on The Fish Men Island. The stubbornness and arrogance in his heart completely collapsed at this moment.
He murmured to himself, "Perhaps...this new era should really be dominated by justice."
Princess Shirahoshi stood aside, her beautiful eyes filled with mist, her hands on her chest, her heart beating involuntarily faster.
Looking at Rogge's tall, mountain-like figure, she murmured softly, "So... is this the power of Marine?"
There was a light in her eyes that she had never seen before. At that moment, she finally understood that what can truly bring peace is never compromise or concession, but absolute power that is enough to suppress all evil.
The fishmen and merpeople around the square seemed to be pulled back to reality at that moment. They looked at the human Admiral standing on the high platform, and awe they had never felt before welled up in their hearts.
King Neptune took a deep breath, walked towards Rogge, and knelt on one knee:
"Marine Admiral Rogge... The fishmen island requests to accept Marine's asylum."
Princess Shirahoshi's eyes filled with tears, and the fear in her heart was swept away.
At this moment, Rogge slowly turned around and looked down at this group of people who had long lived in fear and shadow.
With his palms slightly open, ripples seemed to appear in the air, and the sound transmission covered the entire The Fish Men Island through the coated Den Den Mushi.
"The residents of the fish men island."
That calm voice, with its irresistible majesty, resounded throughout the underwater world like destiny.
"From today on, the Fish Men Island is officially included in the direct protection of Marine G-5. All so-called 'Pirates' asylum' systems will be abolished, and a 'World Peace Special Zone' will be established."
As soon as Rogge's voice fell, the whole audience was shocked!
"A marine convoy will be stationed along the New World coastline, patrolling around the clock to ensure that the fish men island is no longer harassed by pirates."
"Fully open up equal exchanges and trade between the murlocs and humans, and severely punish all those who incite racial discrimination and violence."
"remember--"
Rogge slowly stretched out his hand and pointed at the remains of Hodie Jones, which had turned into a bloody mist not far away.
"Anyone who disrupts order—this is what happens to him."
The whole place was dead silent.
At this moment, all the residents of The Fish Men Island finally realized that true peace does not rely on the protection of Pirates, nor on lingering on, but on the absolute order brought about by such an Admiral who can make the final decision and quell the rebellion with force!
King Neptune shuddered.
As the king who had ruled The Fish Men Island for decades, he knew too well the weight of the eight words "Marine G-5 direct protection" in the world order.
That is an iron-blooded force that even the Four Emperors are wary of, and now this sword has been unsheathed for The Fish Men Island.
King Neptune's eyes trembled slightly, and he held the trident in front of him and said loudly:
"The Fishman Kingdom will always follow Marine justice!"
Princess Shirahoshi bit her lip, her eyes filled with tears, yet with an unprecedented determination.
Rogge looked at her, his eyes slightly fixed.
The Ancient Weapon "Poseidon"... is right before our eyes.
Rogge turned calmly, his voice echoing in the Dragon Palace Square for a long time:
"From today on, The Fish Men Island no longer needs to rely on any Pirates."
"A new era of absolute justice begins here."
He turned to look at King Neptune, his deep gaze not containing a trace of arrogance, but only a pure will for order:
"We never seek conquest."
"What we want is real peace."
The smoke from the port had not yet dissipated when the first batch of Marine supply ships arrived at the shore.
Medical teams carried stretchers among the wounded, and engineers began repairing the destroyed bubble elevator.
Princess Shirahoshi looked at the orderly port, and her pearl-like tears finally turned into a smile.
She saw a human doctor bandaging the wounds of a murloc child and a Marine soldier helping an old murloc lift the collapsed beams.
"Mother..."
She whispered softly, "The peace you longed for... has finally arrived."
In the sunlight ten thousand meters deep in the sea, Rogge's cloak fluttered.
Behind him is the reborn The Fish Men Island, a new era that no longer needs to rely on Pirates.
[Dragon King Palace·Post-War Meeting]
Inside the magnificent palace, the underwater sunlight shines through the huge coral ceiling, dyeing the entire palace into a dreamy glow.
However, this Dragon Palace, which should have been peaceful, has never been truly at peace due to the shadow of the past.
Rogge sat at the head of the table, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. His gaze was calm. "The Marines will dispatch engineering troops to assist in the reconstruction of the trade port. We must restore economic exchanges as quickly as possible."
King Neptune nodded solemnly. "I am deeply grateful. With Admiral Rogge at the helm, The Fishmen Island has finally found true peace."
"Also..." Rogge hadn't finished speaking when suddenly -
"Bang--!"
A loud bang broke the silence of the meeting, and a huge axe broke through the window, with the force of breaking the wind, and went straight to the center of Princess Shirahoshi's eyebrows!
"Shirahoshi!!" Shark Star and the other three princes were horrified.
Princess Shirahoshi turned pale, instinctively closed her eyes, and her body trembled slightly.
However--
The giant axe was only half a foot away from her forehead when it seemed to hit an invisible wall of air. It fell to the ground with a clang, splashing dust.
Rogge sat still, not even raising his eyelids, and simply looked at King Neptune calmly: "What's going on?"
King Neptune's face turned pale and he sighed heavily, "It's Van Decken IX...that madman!"
The Right Minister gritted his teeth and said, "He has been obsessed with Princess Shirahoshi for years. After his proposals were rejected year after year, he 'declared his love' by throwing a giant axe every day, forcing the princess to not dare leave the Hard Shell Tower for a full ten years!"
Shirahoshi lowered his head with tears in his eyes, and his fingertips helplessly twisted the corners of his clothes: "...I don't want to go back to the Hard Shell Tower..." He lowered his head, twisted his fingers together nervously, and his eyes were full of grievance and fear.
Rogge raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at Enel beside him.
"Go and take care of it."
Enel's lips curled up in disdain, and he tapped the ground lightly with his golden scepter: "Thor, obey my command."
"Swish!"
With a flash of lightning, the entire Dragon Palace was instantly shaken by thunder, and Enel's figure turned into a flash of lightning and disappeared.
[Two Minutes Later: Thor Returns]
The gate of the Dragon Palace was suddenly kicked open, and Enel walked in leisurely, dragging a charred, smoking object to the front of the palace.
"Bang!"
Deacon IX's face was charred, his clothes were torn, and he smelled strongly of barbecue. He was burned by lightning and was twitching all over. He couldn't even scream, only hoarse groans.
"So fast?" The Left Minister was stunned.
Enel rolled his eyes and lazily scratched his ears. "Just a small fry, not even warmed up yet."
Rogge stood up, put his hands behind his back, and looked at Shirahoshi calmly.
"From today on, you don't have to hide in the Hard Shell Tower anymore."
Shirahoshi was stunned, tears falling between her lips and teeth. She asked in a dreamy voice, "Is it really possible?"
Her voice was trembling, but full of longing, it was the freedom she had longed for.
King Neptune and the three princes also looked delighted.
Shark Star knelt excitedly: "Sir Rogge, the Murloc Royal Family will never forget this kindness!"
Rogge said nothing more, but walked out of the hall calmly.
He turned his back to the crowd and said in a deep and powerful voice:
"Let's go, Shirahoshi."
"I'll show you the truly harmless fish men island."
Shirahoshi burst into laughter, her huge fish tail swaying gently, and for the first time she fearlessly stepped out of the Dragon Palace, heading towards her true freedom.
The afterglow of the setting sun shines through the bubble membrane of The Fish Men Island, sprinkles on the coral streets, and reflects a golden halo.
Princess Shirahoshi followed Rogge cautiously, her fish tail swaying gently, and every step was filled with novelty and nervousness.
"Rogge the adult..."
She spoke softly, her voice as gentle as deep-sea pearls. "Can I... can I really walk freely like this?"
Rogge didn't turn around, but just replied calmly: "Why not?"
Shirahoshi lowered his head and gently twisted his fingers together. "Because... before, whenever I left the Hard Shell Tower, it would be dangerous..."
Rogge stopped and looked at her sideways: "Danger?"
"Um..."
Shirahoshi nodded. "Dakken's axe, Hodi's schemes... They always want to hurt me or use me."
Rogge looked into the distance, where the deep sea water was shimmering in the setting sun.
"Shirahoshi."
He suddenly asked, "Why do you think they wanted to hurt you?"
Shirahoshi was stunned for a moment, then whispered, "Because... they hate me? Or... they want to control me?"
Rogge shook his head. "No, it's because they're afraid."
"fear?"
"Fear your power, fear your identity, fear what you represent."
Rogge's voice was calm and profound. "They are afraid of change, afraid of losing their position, so they use hatred and violence to cover up their cowardice."
Shirahoshi stared at him blankly, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"But... Mother said that hatred will only bring more hatred..."
Rogge nodded slightly. "Princess Otohime is right, but she only tells half the story."
"Then...what is the other half?"
Rogge looked at her, his eyes as unfathomable as the deep sea:
"Power itself is neither good nor evil; it depends on who wields it."
"Your tears can summon Sea Kings. This is your 'power'."
"Hodi wanted to use it to instill fear, while your mother used it to pray for peace."
"Well, what about you?"
Shirahoshi's breath hitched, his heart pounding.
"I…I…"
Rogge didn't rush her, but just kept walking forward.
Shirahoshi hurried to follow, his words echoing in his mind.
"Rogge the adult..."
She mustered up her courage and asked, "What do you think...what should I do?"
Rogge said calmly: "It's not 'should', it's 'want'."
"What kind of world do you want?"
"Will you continue to hide in your hard-shelled tower and cry, or will you stand up and use your power to shape it?"
Shirahoshi stopped and stared blankly at the deep sea in the distance.
The light of the setting sun shone on her face, reflecting a pair of eyes that gradually became determined.
"I... don't want to run away anymore."
She said softly, her voice soft but filled with a determination she had never felt before.
"I want to... make The Fish Men Island a better place, just like my mother did."
Rogge raised his lips slightly. "Then remember what I said today."
"Power is not a curse, it is a responsibility."
Shirahoshi nodded deeply, tears glistening in her eyes, but this time, her tears were not out of fear, but realization.
"Master Rogge...thank you."
Rogge didn't respond, but just kept walking forward.
Shirahoshi matched his pace, and this time, instead of flinching, she straightened her back.
The sun sets in the west, and the undercurrent of the deep sea is still surging, but at this moment, the princess of The Fish Men Island finally takes the first step towards the future.