When Taro saw Neptune, he found that the other party had a gloomy look on his face, which couldn't help but make him a bit puzzled.
"King Neptune, you are...?" Taro frowned, "Did something happen?"
Neptune was worrying about Jinbe's safety, his brow furrowed tightly. What should he do?
Jinbe wanted to appease the anger that might explode from Big Mom, using the poneglyph as a bargaining chip to ensure she wouldn't take her anger out on Fish-Man Island.
However, among the treasures that Brulee and the others took away, there was a bomb of startling power hidden inside. If an explosion occurred while Jinbe happened to be there as a lobbyist, the consequences would be unthinkable!
Jinbe, you're most likely done for!
Neptune's mind was in a daze until Taro spoke again, which finally startled him awake!
Although Jinbe going to contact Big Mom wasn't Neptune's original intention,
he was still worried that this matter would leave Taro with the impression that Fish-Man Island was playing both sides.
Neptune looked at Taro, for a moment not knowing how to face this hero of Fish-Man Island. His gloomy expression, born of worry for Jinbe's safety, became as conflicted as if he were constipated.
Seeing Neptune's expression of having something difficult to say, Taro grew even more puzzled. After thinking for a while, he said:
"King Neptune, are you worried about those pirates from Fish-Man District?"
He waved his hand casually, his tone indifferent.
"I have already ordered my subordinates to hand them over to the Sea King Army. You can just identify and handle them yourself. the Marine will not interfere, please rest assured!"
Seeing Taro bring up this topic, Neptune felt even more guilty. He swam down from the throne and bowed to Taro.
"Taro, I must thank you again!"
Taro shook his head, rubbing his stomach, and laughed.
"Haha, if you really want to thank me, please treat me to a meal. I haven't even had lunch, I'm starving to death!"
"Of course, it is already prepared. The banquet will begin immediately!" Neptune nodded.
Taro quickly waved his hand in refusal. "Forget about a banquet or anything like that. Just find a quiet place and have a casual bite. I still have some things I want to discuss with you!"
Neptune looked at Taro deeply for a while. "Very well."
On a high platform in a side hall of Ryugu, beautiful mermaid maids quickly left after delivering delicious food.
With only Neptune present, Taro didn't hold back either, stuffing his face without any regard for his image. He only slowed down after putting some food in his stomach.
Listening to the sounds of laughter coming from Ryugu and the Lower Realm, Taro showed a slight smile.
"King Neptune, regarding Fish-Man Island, I have some thoughts..."
Neptune's expression became solemn, putting on a look of listening intently. "Please, speak!"
"The gap between humans and the Fish-Man Race has existed for a long time. If we want to eliminate prejudice, the best way is nothing more than increasing mutual trust!"
Taro lowered his eyes in thought for a while before speaking slowly.
Neptune nodded. He had grasped this intention of Taro's from that "fairy tale" of his.
"I am now the commander of the garrison at Sabaody Archipelago. I want to turn Sabaody Archipelago into a window, a window for mutual trust between the two races..."
Taro's tone was slow and low as he explained his ideas in detail, finally saying:
"Of course, these things need to be done step by step, and in the Early Stage, the number of people won't be very many!"
Neptune looked excited. He left his seat and swam in front of Taro, propping his hands on the ground and bowing deeply to him.
"The Neptune royal family and the entire Fish-Man Island will remember your kindness, Taro!"
Taro was startled by Neptune's action and quickly moved aside. The sudden movement caused a tearing pain in his Meridians.
"Hiss~"
Taro took a sharp breath. "There's no need for this, get up first! The things I've promised, I will naturally do my best!"
Large tears welled up and fell to the ground. After a long time, Neptune finally straightened up.
"Fish-Man Island will definitely cooperate with you fully!"
Taro nodded. "That's good. You guys should discuss a plan as soon as possible and get this 'Three-day tour of Sabaody' project started."
He paused and added, "Try to keep the ratio of mermaids and fishmen as even as possible. Also, I hope we can start by screening from among the children first!"
Neptune instantly understood Taro's meaning. Children are always full of yearning for the outside world, and their perceptions haven't fully solidified yet, making them the most suitable subjects for the two races to understand each other.
However, Neptune was still a bit hesitant. "Is it a bit too rushed? I think, would it be more stable to start after that fairy tale story is broadcast?"
Taro was stunned and thought with furrowed brows for a moment.
"Hmm, it indeed should be more cautious. Then let's do this: we'll film that fairy tale as quickly as possible and first test everyone's reaction."
Neptune breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.
"Seven Fishman children, we can find them very quickly. As for the human princess and other humans, you'll have to put in more effort?"
Taro nodded. "Yes, I will as soon as possible..."
Then he realized something was wrong. "Huh? Human princess? Wasn't it the Mermaid Princess?"
Neptune was also stunned upon hearing this. "Ah?"
The two of them stared at each other for a good while before both reacting at the same time.
Neptune took out that agreement from his large beard and flipped to a page.
"the human princess and the seven little fishmen!"
That's right!
Taro pulled out the agreement, which was a bit wrinkled from being soaked in seawater, from his chest.
"the human princess and the seven little fishmen?"
Holy crap, what the hell?
He quickly read through the story that followed.
A human princess was brought to Fish-Man Island after being saved from a shipwreck by a kind Fishman family. This Fishman family was composed of a mermaid Mama and seven little fishmen.
The Fishman papa had been abducted by slave traders, but the kind mermaid Mama had educated the children from a young age not to hate all humans because of it, as not all humans are bad people.
the human princess and the seven little fishmen went through a series of stories, from being mutually hostile to understanding each other, and finally, with the help of the human princess, they rescued the Fishman papa.
Taro watched dumbfounded. Is this the damn story I told before?
Where are those melodramatic tropes?
Holy crap, did that old fellow Mike backstab me again?
However, it had to be said that this story was indeed much more exciting than that previous melodramatic one.
Taro really didn't want to admit this. After a long time, his mouth twitched as he murmured in a low voice.
"Are domestic drama tropes just as bad even in this world?"
"Huh? What did you say?" Neptune said in confusion, "Is there a problem with this story?"
With the domestic drama tropes being completely rejected by Mike, Taro thought about it and soon felt relieved.
He remembered that he had indeed instructed Mike to make revisions back then, and looking at it now, the result of the revisions seemed quite good.
"No, no problem!" Taro shook his head. "Leave the matter of the human actors to me."
Neptune, however, was quite troubled.
"This story has very high requirements for the role of the human princess. The understanding of royal life and the contrast created by living a commoner's life... that kind of feeling, at least a human noble would be needed to grasp it well."
As he spoke, he actually became dejected. "But as far as I know, human nobles probably..."
Taro burst out laughing. "Would you believe it, I just happen to know a genuine human princess!"
Neptune was first stunned upon hearing this, then ecstatic!
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