Next Bonus, 100!!
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Jin's sharp, objective analysis cut through the fog of Jinbe's confusion. It was a moment of painful clarity—like a switch had been flipped in his mind.
He had never truly believed Queen Otohime's methods would change anything, but he had been so moved by her spirit that he'd supported her regardless.
For six years, he had wondered—if she had lived, would things have been different?
People always imagine the path not taken is lined with flowers.
But Jin had just shattered that illusion.
Jinbe took a deep, shuddering breath. "Then, King Jin," he asked, his voice heavy with the weight of his new understanding, "how would you save Fish-Man Island?"
Jin had, in fact, considered this. His education, his political studies, and his practical experience in the Winter Blossom Kingdom had given him some ideas.
"If it were me..." he began.
"The internal rot on Fish-Man Island stems from the inaction of the Ryugu royal family and its government. It is a failure of leadership. The Fish-Man District is a direct result of that failure. The solution is to improve the living conditions in the district, to address the massive gap between the rich and the poor. At the very least, you have to show that you're trying—to give the fish-men at the bottom some hope."
Honestly, King Neptune, the so-called "Great Knight of the Sea," was wholly unfit to be king. If it weren't for his pure bloodline, he never would have held the throne. He wasn't evil, just... useless. Even Queen Otohime had been a more effective ruler.
But that was the way of the world in One Piece.
Bloodline was everything.
Jin had more faith in Prince Fukaboshi.
"As for the external threats," he continued, "the biggest problem is the slave traders, followed by pirates. The royal family needs to take decisive action, to make an example of these predators. But the Ryugu Kingdom doesn't have the strength to defend itself. And you, Jinbe—you are one of the Seven Warlords. Can you not do it? What is the point of you and the Sun Pirates? You have the power to protect Fish-Man Island... yet you do nothing. You call yourself the 'Knight of the Sea' and go off playing hero on the Grand Line? Do you really think you can change humanity's perception of fish-men? To them, you're still just pirates. You all talk about fighting for Fish-Man Island, but you don't even care about your own people in the Fish-Man District. How long has that place been a problem? You all came from there. You know better than anyone how toxic it is. You have access to the royal palace. Can you not speak to Neptune? Or do you see the problem and choose to ignore it, to pretend it doesn't exist so you don't have to feel guilty?"
"There's a saying," Jin said, his voice cutting deep. "With great power comes great responsibility."
He looked Jinbe up and down.
"Look at you. Fat, rich, chasing your own freedom. But your so-called compassion... is it just an excuse to protect and understand criminals?"
Jinbe was silent. He was deeply, profoundly ashamed.
After Jin had systematically taken apart his entire worldview, he said, "Looks like I struck a nerve."
Jinbe let out a long breath. "You are truly a king. You have articulated all of my doubts and brought me to a true awakening."
"Good," Jin said. "Now, I'm heading back to Fish-Man Island. It seems there's some trouble."
"Trouble?" Jinbe said. "I'll go with you."
"You can't," Jin replied. "The gate back to the ship is one-way. You'll have to swim."
"Huh?"
Jin led him to the deck.
Sunlight? A sandy beach? But... no wind?
He looked around.
The characters for "Amazon Lily" were carved into a nearby archway.
Jinbe's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Amazon... Amazon Lily??"
How, in the blink of an eye, had he gone from Fish-Man Island to the Isle of Women?
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Jin "teleported" back to Robin's side. The moment he landed, he could hear the sounds of battle raging outside.
"What's happening?"
Robin, who was using her Flower-Flower Fruit to watch and listen, gave him the report. "Hody Jones has led a rebellion."
She relayed the intelligence she had gathered.
Hody had first driven out the human pirates, then set off a series of explosions in Coral Hill and the other districts. He had indiscriminately attacked merfolk and fish-men, drawing the palace guard away from the capital. Then, he had positioned himself as a "savior," crushing the "human pirates" and denouncing the palace guard as incompetent.
He had incited the fish-men to rise up, to create a world without humans.
And a significant number of the palace guard had defected to his side, allowing him to easily invade the main island.
Now, he and his New Fish-Man Pirates, along with Vander Decken IX, were attacking the Ryugu Palace.
Aladine of the Sun Pirates and King Neptune were leading their forces in a desperate battle outside the palace.
Hody's goal was to seize control of the government.
The situation was chaotic.
Jin wasn't surprised.
The Hody Jones rebellion was the inevitable result of a multitude of factors. It was a historical necessity.
It had just happened a little ahead of schedule.
He unleashed his Observation Haki, his senses expanding to encompass the entire island.
"What do we do now?" Robin asked. "Should we help?"
"No," Jin said calmly. "The people Hody has stirred up are running on pure emotion right now. They're not going to listen to reason, especially not from humans. We wait. Let them come to their senses. Let Hody show his true colors. You can only solve a problem when the conflict reaches its peak. It will be good for the royal family to get a taste of the terrifying fury of the common people. Only a baptism of blood and death can bring about true awakening and change. Otherwise, they'll just go back to their apathy."
Jin made no secret of his contempt for the Ryugu monarchy. The luxury and light of the palace was a stark contrast to the poverty and darkness of the Fish-Man District.
If Hody hadn't made his move, would King Neptune ever have considered solving the problems of the district?
The Ryugu royal family, in essence, was no different from the human kings, nobles, and Celestial Dragons.
They were just a little nicer about it.
"First," Jin said, "we have another matter to attend to."
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