A luxurious palace built with coral, shells, and various construction materials appeared before his eyes.
"Your Majesty the King, you slipped out of the palace without guards again to inspect the 'lower seas.' This is too dangerous!"
As soon as they entered the main hall, the Grand Right Minister began to complain to Neptune.
Neptune didn't get angry; instead, he lowered his head and admitted his mistake. "Uh, it was my fault, but I specifically went to welcome Marine Vice Admiral Zhou Qi!"
Taro curled his lip. Specifically to welcome me? Like I'd believe that!
"King Neptune, my name is Taro. Please don't get my name wrong!"
Neptune turned around and scratched his head. "Is that so?"
Taro's cheek twitched violently. "I came this time because I wanted to..."
"Oh, Vice Admiral Zhou Qi, please take a seat first. We can talk while we eat!"
"My name is Taro!"
"Ah, alright! Please have a seat!"
Is he crazy? This old guy looks like he's not very bright!
After taking his seat, Taro casually ate some shellfish and algae-based food and drank some wine. Feeling that the atmosphere was just right, he spoke up again.
"Your Majesty the King, I wanted to say..."
"Vice Admiral Zhou Qi, no rush. Have some more to drink!"
"It's Taro!" Taro slammed his wine glass heavily onto the table and corrected him loudly.
"You're the one named Zhou Qi! Your whole family is named Zhou Qi!"
Taro's actions immediately made The Three Princes and the Palace Guards tense up, their hands already resting on their weapons.
Taro rubbed his forehead and said helplessly, "Fine, Zhou Qi it is. Call me whatever you want. I just want to know what it will take for you to release my subordinates!"
Hearing this, Neptune waved his hand to dismiss the guards, then looked at Taro and laughed.
"Hohohoho, Vice Admiral Taro was the first to lose his cool. Victory! Neptune!"
This guy was definitely doing it on purpose!
Seeing Taro's stiff expression, Neptune continued, "Was setting up a security post on Fish-Man Island an order from the Government, the Marines, or was it an unauthorized action by that Major Mike?"
Taro frowned after hearing this. "It was..."
Neptune waved his hand, interrupting Taro. "Think carefully before you speak. Fish-Man Island is a member of the World Government. Those Marines might face very severe punishment!"
Taro's heart sank. This operation indeed lacked authorization from the World Government and the Marines. If he said it was Mike's unauthorized action, Mike's life would probably be in danger!
"That's right, it was my order. Major Mike was just following orders!" Taro said after a moment of thought.
"Is that so? That's not what I gathered from the depositions!" Neptune's tone was somewhat mocking.
Taro frowned, his tone serious. "Depositions? Did you torture them?"
"Not at all, it was just a regular inquiry. Don't worry, they are fine!" Neptune replied.
Taro stood up and bowed to Neptune. "I didn't consider this matter thoroughly. Please do not make things difficult for my subordinates. If there was any loss or casualties on Fish-Man Island during the conflict, I am willing to take responsibility!"
Neptune also stood up and stepped down from the throne. "Conflict? No, there was no conflict."
Taro was stunned. They didn't fight?
"Your subordinates very cooperatively laid down their weapons. They said the existence of the Marines is to protect the territory and the people, and to win people over with virtue, claiming that this was your teaching!"
Neptune saw Taro's surprise and moved a bit closer.
Taro was much relieved and then said:
"It's good that no conflict broke out. His Majesty Neptune, in that case, please release them. In exchange, I will no longer set up a security post on Fish-Man Island. How about it?"
But Neptune shook his head. "If that were all, why would I bother meeting you?"
"Hmm? What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?" Taro was somewhat puzzled.
Neptune sat down in front of Taro. His massive body still required Taro to look up to see his expression.
"I agree to let you set up a security post on Fish-Man Island!"
Neptune's words were shocking, leaving Taro bewildered. What on earth is going on? Then why did you capture my people?
"Fish-Man Island has always been under the protection of the Whitebeard Pirates. Now that Whitebeard has died in battle, there are more and more pirates on the island. Before long, I'm afraid it will return to how it was before." Neptune's expression was somewhat distressed.
Taro nodded. He knew that many outlaws would kidnap Merfolk and Fishmen to sell as slaves. This situation was only banned over a decade ago when Whitebeard declared Fish-Man Island his territory.
It was for this very reason that Jinbe held Whitebeard in such high regard.
"I am a Marine. You should know that during the Marineford War, between me and Whitebeard..."
"It's precisely because I know how powerful you are that I agreed. Although I feel guilty toward Whitebeard's kindness, I care more about the safety of Fish-Man Island. Am I a real bastard?"
"Father, you..." Hearing Neptune's words, The Three Princes wanted to offer some words of comfort.
Neptune waved his hand to stop them and just looked down at Taro.
Taro shook his head. "No, in that position, some decisions aren't up to one's own preferences. I can understand!"
"Hohohoho, Neptune!" Neptune laughed loudly.
"Then, I agree to protect the safety of Fish-Man Island. Can you release my subordinates now?"
"Don't be in such a hurry. I have one more condition!"
"Please, go ahead!"
"I have a daughter, she..."
Taro was dumbfounded. Do you politicians all love playing the marriage alliance game?
Shirahoshi should only be 14 years old right now. That's too beastly, isn't it? Are you really her biological father?
"No, I refuse!" As a good youth of the Celestial Empire, how could Taro agree to such a thing? He interrupted Neptune immediately.
Neptune's face instantly turned very unsightly.
Then he heard Taro continue, "Princess Shirahoshi is only 14 years old; she's still too small. Uh, I mean her age is still too young!"
Shirahoshi was big, very big; Taro was well aware of this.
"Yeah, when I say big, I mean her size!"
Thinking of his daughter's plight, Neptune's tears began to fall pitter-patter.
"Since you know about Shirahoshi, why refuse? A 14-year-old girl who has been threatened by Vander Decken for eight years, locked up all day in..."
Taro dodged the falling massive teardrops, his expression freezing.
"The condition you mentioned... was about Vander Decken?"
Neptune's tears continued to fall incessantly. "What else would it be?"
This... Taro was a bit embarrassed. A fine youth like himself, born under the red flag and raised in a new society, had actually fallen to the point where his head was filled with filthy thoughts in less than two months.
"It's terrifying. The distortion of human nature in the pirate world is simply too terrifying!"
"No problem, I can help you deal with that guy. Where is he? I'll go hack him down right now!"
Neptune shook his head. "Regrettably, I don't know either."
Holy crap, if you don't even know where he is, how am I supposed to hack him?
After thinking for a while, Taro looked up at the king in front of him.
"In that case, please lend me Princess Shirahoshi for a bit!"
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