Chapter 193: Scandal in the Depths
Fish-Man Island, Ryugu Kingdom.
King Neptune had kept Queen Otohime's disappearance under wraps at first. But behind the scenes, he launched a frantic search while reaching out to old allies—the Whitebeard Pirates and the World Government.
The Great Age of Pirates had flooded the seas with cutthroats, and Fish-Man Island saw more than its share of trouble. To shield his people, Neptune struck a deal with his old friend Whitebeard: an annual tribute in exchange for the crew's flag flying over the island. Any pirate dumb enough to stir up chaos here would face the full wrath of the Whitebeard Pirates. As a member nation of the World Government, Ryugu Kingdom walked a fine line—tied to both the law and the lawless.
Still, kidnapping the queen right under their noses? That was an insult Neptune couldn't stomach.
Days of lockdowns and hunts turned up nothing. "King Neptune!" Marco's voice echoed through the palace halls. The first-division commander strode in, his face tight with unease, but he bowed respectfully all the same.
Neptune and Whitebeard went way back—back to when the old man was just starting out, saved by the king's timely aid. The whole crew held Neptune in high regard.
"Any sign of Otohime? Word from the search?"
Neptune looked worn down, his massive frame slouched. The queen vanishing in the lawless Fish-Man District had him on edge. He'd bottled up the news for now, but leaks were inevitable. Otohime was beloved, especially by the mermaids. Word of her gone in that rough neighborhood could spark riots between mermaids and fish-men.
The Whitebeard Pirates had jumped in fast, dispatching two commanders to help. That eased the sting a bit. The World Government chipped in too, sending a CP9 commander and agents—proof they cared, at least on paper. But Neptune didn't trust them an inch. Who knew if they'd "help" by rounding up mermaids for some high-and-mighty collector?
"We got something," Marco said, his gaze shifting awkwardly. "But it's ugly."
Neptune leaned in, his enormous eye dwarfing Marco's head. The commander didn't flinch, just met the king's stare with pity.
"Spit it out."
Marco sighed. "Word from Otohime herself. Sounds like a planned runaway. An elopement."
Neptune froze, eyes bulging like he'd been harpooned. "Elopement? Otohime adores me! She'd never—"
"It hit Fish-Man Island like a tidal wave," Marco cut in. "Started in the District—fish-men there hear everything from the surface. They claim some spotted her on a World Government ship, chatting up a storm with a Celestial Dragon."
Neptune's fins quivered. "A government ship? How's that eloping?"
Marco winced. "It was his ship. Witnesses saw them getting cozy—laughing, arms around each other. Like she was all in."
The king staggered, slamming a fist into the floor. Cracks spiderwebbed the stone. "Lies! Otohime wouldn't touch one of those bubble-headed scum!"
"I got no stake in bullshitting you," Marco said flatly. "It's buzzing through the District. Pirates picked it up from the locals and ran straight here. By now, half the island's whispering about it."
Neptune lunged, grabbing Marco's collar. "You're messing with me! A Celestial Dragon? She'd sooner drown!"
Marco shrugged off the grip with a flicker of blue flames, stepping back. The king's strength could crush a lesser man, but Marco wasn't fazed—just annoyed. "Believe what you want. Doesn't change the talk."
"Your Majesty!" A guard burst through the doors, panting. "Rumors everywhere... the queen and a Celestial Dragon... eloping!"
Neptune's face darkened to thundercloud gray. No dodging this now. Even if it was garbage, the damage was done. Ryugu Kingdom's name would be dragged through the mud.
"Otohime... why?" The king's voice cracked, a rare vulnerability in the mighty merman. Rumors like this didn't start from thin air.
"Marco! Bad news, man!" Vista's booming shout rattled the walls before he even appeared. The flower-bearded commander barreled in, Observation Haki probably tipping him off to Marco inside. No filter, no tact—just raw pirate energy. "Turns out the queen really is shacked up with that Celestial Dragon. I grilled those fish-men myself. Get this—they snapped pictures! Look at 'em, all smiles and cuddles. True love, maybe?"
The palace went dead silent. Guards gaped like stranded fish. Marco shot Vista a death glare—idiot, this was the king's home turf. Neptune trembled, steam practically rising from his scales, a volcano on the verge.
In his head, Marco cursed up a storm. Keep yapping, Vista, and we'll be dodging tridents next. Good thing the two of them could handle a scrap and bail if needed. But Neptune just slumped, the fight draining out of him like blood from a gutted marlin.
The whispers were spreading faster than a school of herring. What started as a missing queen had twisted into a royal scandal—one that could tear Fish-Man Island apart.
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