Upon hearing Grimm's demand, Fisher Tiger was naturally furious.
Hancock and her sisters, having witnessed what happened earlier, could sense that this little mermaid — barely three or four years old — truly possessed something extraordinary.
But they never imagined she would catch Lord Grimm's interest.
And it was only natural that he would be interested. After all, she was the Sea King.
Why else would he seek to bring Fish‑Man Island under his influence, if not to gain control over that very power?
At that moment, Princess Otohime stepped forward with a solemn expression.
"What Lord Grimm desires is likely not my daughter Shirahoshi… but the Sea King, Poseidon."
Hancock and her sisters blinked in confusion. But Old Granny's face went pale. She turned to look at Grimm, nodding inwardly.
So that's the reason… I wondered what was so special about that little girl, but it turns out it was this all along.
"Lord Grimm… what does she mean?" Hancock asked softly, moving closer to him.
"One of the Three Ancient Weapons," Old Granny replied gravely, her voice low. "The Pluton, the Sea King, and the Uranus. Each possesses enough power to overturn the entire world. The World Government has hunted them for decades. More than ten years ago, Ohara was destroyed by a Buster Call simply because its scholars were suspected of trying to revive these weapons."
"So then… that little mermaid is…" Hancock's eyes narrowed. Her sisters behind her looked on with newfound respect.
Old Granny nodded. "Yes. There is no doubt about it."
She turned back to Otohime. "That princess is Poseidon, the Sea King… isn't she?"
With that, she laid bare Grimm's true objective. He didn't want Shirahoshi the child — he wanted Poseidon the weapon.
"I, Fisher Tiger, have lived my life with honor and integrity!" Tiger shouted, pounding his chest, his emotions running high.
"I will never let a child lose her freedom for my sake! If you want my life… take it!"
Grimm glanced sideways at him, too lazy to waste words. He lifted his chin slightly and looked directly at King Neptune.
"Give me your answer, Your Majesty. And do remember… I also go by the nickname 'The Nurturer'."
"Uhh…"
Neptune gripped the armrests of his throne, sweat pouring down his face. The Nurturer? Are you joking?
Otohime stood up again. "May I ask… what will you do if we refuse?"
"Is that so?" Grimm pretended to think for a moment, then smiled coldly. "It is said that every member of the Sun Pirates calls himself a 'son' of Whitebeard. I have killed his 'sons' before. If I were to kill all of you here… I wonder if Whitebeard would have the courage to come and fight me? And I have been wanting to raise my own flag over Fish‑Man Island for a very long time."
"You intend to destroy this place?!" Tiger roared.
Every member of the Sun Pirates instantly took up battle stances. Jinbe even readied himself in the starting posture of Fish‑Man Karate.
Seeing their movements, Hancock and her sisters immediately assumed combat positions as well. Sandersonia and Marigold shifted instantly into their full Zoan serpent forms.
"How dare you show disrespect to Lord Grimm!" Hancock declared. She stepped onto the back of her large serpent, Salome, and looked down at Jinbe with supreme arrogance.
"Cowards," Grimm said dismissively. "You are only ever quick to raise your fists against those who bring great light and salvation. Why don't you try picking a fight with the Marines or the World Government instead?"
He chuckled darkly.
"Or is it that now that you have become 'sons' of Whitebeard, you think you are strong enough to stand against my Holy Light? Go on then — call Whitebeard to come and punish me. I will be right here… waiting for him."
The room fell into a deadlock. Tiger and Jinbe stood ready to fight, yet the sheer pressure radiating from Grimm froze them in place. The fear in their hearts already told them they had no chance of victory.
This was the weight of standing before one of the world's strongest beings.
Otohime felt the tension thickening in the air and grew frantic with worry. This situation is far beyond what Fish‑Man Island can endure.
No matter what Whitebeard chooses to do, we cannot afford to make an enemy of someone this terrifying. What should we do? What can we do?
"Ahem… ahem…"
Old Granny suddenly cleared her throat loudly.
"Forgive me… but might I offer a few words to both the royal family and… Her Majesty the Empress?"
Seeing no one object, she continued.
"Earlier, when we arrived, I heard that you, Princess Otohime, hope to relocate your people to live on land. Is that correct?"
"Yes," Otohime nodded, lowering her head. "I have been asking for signatures and support for nearly five years… but progress has been slow."
"Lord Grimm… you control many territories in the New World, do you not?" Old Granny asked — carefully adding the honorific "Lord" under Hancock's deadly glare.
"Territories where the former royal families no longer exist?"
"Is that so?" Grimm fell into thought.
She was referring to nations whose royal lines had been wiped out in his conquests.
Those lands were currently being rebuilt; with the nobles and capitalists gone, the common people had been gathered onto several prosperous islands, leaving others completely uninhabited.
"Old woman… are you suggesting…?" Otohime frowned, already guessing her intent.
"Indeed. Don't you think it is a fine idea?" Old Granny pressed on. "We ask for two of those empty islands in exchange. A place for your people to migrate to. And… under the protection of Lord Grimm. Surely that is far more reliable than relying on the World Government? And true protection from Lord Grimm is far more substantial than simply flying Whitebeard's flag, wouldn't you agree?"
She turned cautiously toward Grimm. "What say you, Lord Grimm?"
Grimm smiled. "Now that… is actually a very interesting proposal."
"P‑please… may we have a little time to consider this?" Neptune and Otohime asked, stalling for time.
Grimm and his party temporarily withdrew from the palace. They moved to the edge of Fish‑Man Island — the Sea Forest, the departure point for journeys to the New World — to wait.
Grimm took a chair from his system storage and sat on the deck of the Kuja ship.
With him were the three Boa sisters, Old Granny, and less than a fifth of the crew; the rest were either gathering supplies or exploring this underwater paradise.
Hancock watched Grimm's face as he rested with his eyes closed. One moment she looked utterly infatuated, the next she looked deeply serious, lost in her own thoughts.
Suddenly, she spoke out loud. "I have decided!"
"Eh?"
Everyone on board turned to look at her. Hancock hurried over to Grimm's chair, knelt beside it, and leaned close like a devoted little bird.
"Lord Grimm… earlier Old Granny mentioned that you possess many lands and have empty islands under your rule. Are there any among them with an environment similar to Amazon Lily?"
Grimm pondered. He honestly couldn't remember details like that — managing territories was left to Planck and Jaina.
"Among the kingdoms Lord Grimm once ruled, the Kingdom of Altdimir was the largest, with a population of five million… but it is now fully settled," Old Granny explained, stepping forward.
"However, among the vacant lands, there is the former resort paradise of Orunidia. Its climate and terrain are almost identical to Amazon Lily…"
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