"You still need me to lure you?" Rayleigh snorted once Jin was gone.
That guy radiated I'm not a good person from head to toe.
And he dared talk about him?
As if Rayleigh didn't know what Jin had been up to recently.
Shakky watched his expression and asked, "So when are you going? Now that it's basically confirmed the news is true, White-kun didn't lie."
Rayleigh let out a long breath.
"The moment he said Roger entrusted the child to Garp, I knew," he said quietly. "That alone was enough.
"Roger and Garp… calling them enemies is less accurate than calling them friends."
He paused, memories flashing in his eyes.
"I'll wait until Garp's back at HQ. That man's fists…"
He suddenly remembered Garp chasing the Roger Pirates all over the world.
Yeah.
Best to wait.
"I'm more curious what White-pretty-boy wants with that 'Sleep Ancient Town' he asked about," Shakky went on, taking a drag from her cigarette. "He's the type who doesn't get out of bed unless there's profit involved.
"I've heard he's on good terms with the Celestial Dragons, cooperates with pirates, and he's still a Marine. Tell me, Rayleigh—what exactly is he?"
Rayleigh shook his head.
"I can't see through him," he admitted. "If you say he's power-hungry—he doesn't even want promotions.
"If you say he's greedy for money—he's not that bad either."
"I did hear one thing," Shakky said, lips curving.
Rayleigh raised a brow. "Oh? What?"
"White-kun once said," Shakky quoted, "that in this man-eating world, he just wants to live freely."
Rayleigh gave a crooked smile.
"With that line alone, he could go find a place to retire and live peacefully now," he said. "With his current strength… he's about on my level."
"So strong?" Shakky was genuinely surprised.
"Yeah. I've never fought him, but he feels dangerous," Rayleigh took a sip of alcohol. "Rumor says he ate a Mythical Zoan. Three types of Haki, a Great Swordsman, top-tier Devil Fruit. Just thinking about that setup gives me a headache."
Shakky nodded slowly.
"Then why is White-kun still doing all this?" she mused. "Sleep Ancient Town must have something very attractive to him."
Outside, Jin walked down to the shoreline.
The sky was already dark.
He slipped the permanent Log Pose into his bracelet's space and dove into the sea with a single leap.
Once he'd sunk deep enough, his body began to change.
A golden dragon, around five hundred meters long, unfurled in the depths. Twin wings spread from his back, and with a single powerful stroke he shot forward toward Fishman Island.
The fish and Sea Kings along the way scattered in panic.
Some ancient terror pressed on their hearts, an instinctive urge to bow and submit.
On Fishman Island, Jango and Brook had already been there for over half a month.
Jango trained the fishmen every day, teaching them the most standard way to train their bodies, how to fight, and how to think in battle.
Before sending him off, White Boss had given clear orders:
"You can teach them as much as possible—but don't teach Rokushiki."
So Jango let loose, holding nothing back except the Six Styles.
As training progressed, he was shocked by what he discovered.
These fishmen had insane foundations.
Every single one of them had ridiculous physical stats.
Jinbe taught Fishman Karate.
Jango handled physical training.
Little by little, Fishman Island's situation turned around.
When slave traders showed up now, a group of trained fishmen would charge forward, roaring.
If they couldn't handle it, Jinbe would step in.
Those who slipped out and tried to run?
The fishmen would go after them into the sea.
And in the sea, fishmen ruled.
Queen Otohime's current policy was simple:
Enemies get cannon fire.
Friends get good wine.
She quickly noticed something.
The resentment of her people seemed to be fading.
One by one, they started to love her and Neptune even more.
She remembered White Ghost's question:
Do you really know what kind of lives your people live each day?
So she humbled herself and began walking into Fishman Street—the so-called nest of chaos on Fishman Island.
At first, she couldn't get anything done.
But as she kept trying and trying, Fishman Street slowly started accepting aid from Ryugu Palace.
Fishmen who had lost their families joined a new unit—the Kingdom Warriors.
Jango had come up with the name.
He said it "sounded badass."
As Fishman Island rose, merchants started to arrive in droves.
The island had resources the surface didn't.
Over time, humans seemed a bit less hostile to fishmen.
And fishmen… hated humans a little less too.
Otohime's daily routine changed.
Morning, she spent time with little Shirahoshi.
Afternoon, she went out among the people.
Evening, she returned to rest.
Neptune strongly objected at first, but it didn't do much.
Eventually, he just let her be.
Neptune was one of those who believed nobles are nobles, commoners are commoners, and the gap should remain.
He'd speak up for his people, yes—but to lower himself like Otohime did?
He simply couldn't.
Under Jinbe's protection, Otohime arrived at the training ground.
Before she even stepped inside, Jango's voice rang out:
"Oh, Bart, what the hell are you so stupid for? Haven't I gone over this a dozen times—where do you hit if you want it to hurt most?
"And you, Sock—damn it! Is that big club of yours just for show? Smash him with it!"
Roars and laughter echoed across the yard.
The fishmen all respected Coach Jango—he didn't look down on them, joked around with them, and taught them real skills.
"Go, Sock! Put that club in his face!"
"Bart, don't you dare lose! Make Sock eat sand!"
The fishmen ringed the sparring circle, cheering for both sides.
Jango had inherited White Ghost's training philosophy:
Pure drills were pointless. Real fights were what made you grow.
When Otohime stepped in, she saw two fishmen trading blows in the center of the crowd—one with a club, one bare-handed.
She didn't rush to interfere.
She'd learned well: she wouldn't meddle with things she didn't understand.
Let the professionals do their job.
She'd been told… that was White Ghost's way too.
Boom!
The fishman with the club landed the finishing blow and came out on top.
The crowd exploded in cheers, shouting for the victor.
"Your Majesty, you can't be here!"
Jango was the first to spot her. He rushed over and saluted, flustered.
"This place is for rough types. Please, you should go back."
The other fishmen turned, eyes widening when they saw her.
They hurriedly bowed.
They, too, felt that their queen shouldn't be in such a crude place.
"It's fine," Otohime said, raising a hand gently. "All of you, please stand.
"You are all citizens of Fishman Island, my own people. How could I not come see you?"
"Aoooo—"
The crowd of big, burly fishmen broke down on the spot.
A bunch of grown men, crying their eyes out.
Their lives… had genuinely gotten better.
The daily tragedies that used to dog Fishman Street weren't happening as often anymore.
With the queen's involvement, Fishman Street was like night and day compared to before.
They'd heard from Coach Jango himself—he was here because Queen Otohime had invited him to teach them.
Thinking about how their queen had done all this… for fishmen who lived like rats in the sewers…
Now?
These fishmen recognized only Queen Otohime.
Neptune who?
"Alright, everyone," Otohime said softly. "I just came to take a look. Seeing you like this, I feel relieved."
Her gentle smile washed over them like warm water.
More fishmen joined the crying chorus.
Queen Otohime was very, very good at winning hearts.
She had food and drinks brought in for the training field.
Once things settled, Jango followed her back to the hall to talk.
"Thank you for all your hard work, Mr. Jango," Otohime said, bowing deeply.
"Please don't!" Jango practically jumped out of his skin, sidestepping.
Hell no.
If Marine HQ heard the queen of Fishman Island was bowing to a Marine, he'd be dead.
Even if his boss could smooth things over, better not cause Jin trouble.
"Please don't, Your Majesty," Jango said quickly. "Boss said this is just a transaction.
"When he comes, all you need to do is take him to that place."
He didn't elaborate.
But Otohime understood.
White Ghost would come, and there was still more to be done.
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