Fish-Man Island Royal Palace.
The crisis of the New Fish-Man Pirates was resolved, Taro's identity as the "New Generation Joy Boy" was confirmed, and the protection agreement was reached.
These factors should have put King Neptune in a good mood.
However, his expression was now solemn.
"Jinbe, have you really decided?"
Jinbe sat cross-legged on the ground and said in a deep voice, "Yes, Big Mom is not someone who gives up easily."
"Taro cannot stay on Fish-Man Island forever. If Big Mom is bent on revenge, the hard-won future of Fish-Man Island would be..."
Neptune crossed his arms and thought for a moment. "I think it's better to wait for Taro to wake up and ask for his opinion!"
Blue Fatty shook his head. "I am a pirate, and he is a Marine. Even if he has no ill will toward me, my identity remains a problem for him. He is the benefactor of Fish-Man Island, and I don't want to put him in a difficult position!"
"But the poneglyph..." Neptune hesitated for a moment.
Finally, he sighed. "Forget it, that's something you obtained. How you handle it is your freedom."
Jinbe bowed solemnly to Neptune. "In that case, I shall take my leave!"
He slowly stood up from the ground and turned to walk outside.
"I am willing to do whatever I can for him and for Fish-Man Island."
Neptune's beard twitched, but the words to ask him to stay never left his mouth. He sighed in his heart: 'I'm afraid your good intentions might cause trouble, Jinbe!'
Near dusk, Taro finally woke up after a nap. Although his body still hurt, his internal organs had returned to their proper places, and his limited Internal Energy began to nourish his Meridians.
He could move!
"Lord Taro, you're awake! Are your injuries healed?" Shirahoshi looked at Taro standing up from the ground with a face full of surprise.
How could it be that fast!
I'm not like a Fishman with such strong recovery abilities!
However, Taro rubbed his face and forced a smile. "Yes, I'm all better!"
In reality, he was currently weaker than a child, barely able to move.
But he didn't want Shirahoshi to keep worrying; it was a white lie.
Shirahoshi frowned as she looked at Taro, seemingly sensing that he wasn't speaking from the heart, and her face became a bit dejected.
Taro's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly waved his hand to change the subject.
"Was Vander Decken captured? Also, where was noah towed to?"
As expected, upon hearing this, Shirahoshi stopped dwelling on the doubt in her heart and nodded with a smile.
"Yes, the two princes have already arrested him and put him back in prison."
She paused and then continued, "noah is at the edge of the Sea Forest; it wasn't destroyed!"
Taro showed a relieved smile. "That's good!"
He looked around; countless Fishmen were actually still at the scene on the platform.
In the square, Ryugu guards were also on alert.
In a closer area, a squad of Marine Soldiers was on guard duty.
The Marine Soldiers were overjoyed to see Taro wake up.
Taro beckoned to the leading Sergeant Major and called him over.
"Has my order been sent back to Sabaody Archipelago? Also, where are Sherman and Grant?"
The Sergeant Major gave a respectful salute. "Reporting to the Vice Admiral, the Sabaody Garrison has replied and is strictly following your orders!"
"Sherman and Grant are leading men to clear out pirates in Fish-Man District!"
Taro frowned upon hearing this. "Order them to return!"
The Sergeant Major was stunned for a moment. "Vice Admiral, there are still many pirates from the New Fish-Man Pirates who..."
Taro glared at him.
"Those civilians aren't worth a damn as pirates. Guys who have never even left Fish-Man Island don't deserve to be called pirates!"
"Tell those two to hand over the captured people to the Sea King Army!"
Seeing the Sergeant Major still in a daze, Taro shouted angrily, "Can I no longer command you?"
The Sergeant Major was startled by Taro's "harsh words" and quickly saluted properly. "Understood!"
After the Sergeant Major left, Shirahoshi looked at Taro with a face full of emotion. "Lord Taro, I... you... they..."
Although Shirahoshi was stammering incoherently, Taro understood what she meant.
"I know many Fishmen were just misled. They are residents of Fish-Man Island, so naturally, Fish-Man Island will handle them!"
Shirahoshi wiped away the tears welling in her eyes and said gratefully:
"Lord Taro, thank you!"
Then she continued, "Father instructed that once you wake up, please go to the palace. He has something he wants to discuss with you!"
Taro also had some follow-up matters to discuss with Neptune, so he nodded in agreement.
Immediately after, Neptune's mount, the whale Wadatsumi, and Shirahoshi's mount, the shark Mekaro, swam over.
The whale circled Taro affectionately, lowering its head toward him from time to time.
Taro understood its meaning but stood frozen in place without moving.
Seeing this, Shirahoshi said, "Lord Taro, it's alright. Although this is Father's mount, no one will think it's improper if you ride him!"
Taro wasn't dazed because he was considering such things; he never cared about status. He was dazed because the whale was too big—even with its head lowered, it was over ten meters high.
With Taro's current physical condition, he... couldn't jump up!
Seeing that Taro still hadn't moved, Shirahoshi assumed he still had reservations, so she gently picked up Taro and placed him on the whale's back.
"Lord Taro, please feel at ease sitting up there!"
"Moo moo!"
The whale made a joyful sound.
Taro sat on its back and lightly stroked its forehead. "Wadatsumi, you were great earlier too!"
"Moo moo!"
The whale seemed very happy to hear Taro's praise and slapped its tail twice.
Ryugu Palace.
"Your Majesty the King, this is bad!" the Grand Right Minister rushed into the hall in a panic.
Neptune stood up from his throne in shock. "Has Taro's condition worsened?"
The Grand Right Minister shook his head. "No, no, he's already awake and seems to be recovering well!"
Neptune glared at the Grand Right Minister. "Then what are you panicking for? Is it because the Marines are searching for pirates in Fish-Man District?"
The Grand Right Minister shook his head again. "No, Taro has already ordered the Marines to hand over the captured pirates to the Sea King Army!"
Neptune was so angry he almost spat blood. "Then just say it! What on earth is all this shouting for?"
The... the treasure vault has been robbed! All the treasures of Ryugu have been stolen!" The Grand Right Minister looked terrified.
Neptune was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "I know about this. It's just some treasure; if it's gone, it's gone. As long as Fish-Man Island is safe!"
Saying this, he snorted disdainfully.
"Vander Decken did it. He gave all the stolen treasures to those people from the Big Mom Pirates!"
"Ah?" The Grand Right Minister's face instantly turned pale.
Neptune frowned. "Why do you have that expression?"
"Your Majesty, eight years ago, after the energy steroids were stolen, I placed some powerful bombs inside the tamatebako box where the energy steroids were kept! That tamatebako box was also among those treasures."
The Grand Right Minister's tone was urgent and somewhat hesitant. "If... if they give those treasures to Big Mom..."
Neptune's eyes instantly widened, and a scene flashed through his mind. He said weakly, "Big Mom wouldn't open it personally, right?"
"What... what if?" the Grand Right Minister said hesitantly.
Jinbe, in danger!
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