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Is he a pervert?
Hikaru didn't think so. He believed in a higher purpose. But was there another warrior in this world who shared his ideals?
…
Concorde Plaza was already packed with merfolk and fishmen. Everyone was murmuring among themselves, trying to guess the reason behind this sudden gathering—a major event that could change the fate of Fish-Man Island.
The last time the plaza had been this crowded was when Princess Otohime was assassinated during her public speech. That tragedy was still etched into the collective memory of the people.
Today, the Sea King soldiers were present in large numbers, diligently maintaining order. King Neptune sat on the podium along with the Left and Right Ministers and other royal officials.
Among the three princes, only Fukaboshi had arrived. Calm and dependable, he was trusted not to cause a scene. The other two princes remained in the palace under close watch—just in case they lost control again.
All eyes turned skyward as Shyarly arrived on a flying carpet. Her presence immediately drew attention. Neptune and the ministers rose to greet her, while an invisible pressure spread through the plaza, silencing the crowd in an instant.
The flying carpet came to a graceful stop just behind Neptune.
With a calm, unreadable gaze, Hikaru swept his eyes over the crowd and said coldly, "Neptune, let's begin."
Hearing this, Neptune let out a soft sigh. Standing before the citizens of Fish-Man Island, he found himself momentarily frozen.
Power? Wealth? Family? People?
In his twenty-plus years as king, he had always prioritized his family. And now, perhaps he finally understood… he wasn't fit to rule.
It was time to step down.
With quiet resolve, Neptune stepped forward and, using a loudspeaker Den Den Mushi, addressed his people. His voice rang out clearly across the plaza:
"Citizens of Fish-Man Island, today, I, Neptune, am honored to announce that whether it's the sunlight our mermaids have longed to bask in, or the air our fishmen have yearned to breathe—today, those dreams will become reality!"
The moment he spoke those words, the crowd erupted in confusion and disbelief.
"Neptune! What do you mean by that?"
"Sunlight? Fresh air? Are we… moving to the surface?"
"That would mean war! The humans won't allow us to live peacefully on land!"
Voices rose from every direction—some questioning, some fearful, others hopeful or doubtful. A few mermaids even began to sing mournful laments.
"Silence! Let His Majesty finish!" the Right Minister commanded, slamming his trident-like sword against the ground with a loud clang. The plaza gradually quieted.
Neptune continued:
"All of this has been foretold by Madam Shyarly's prophecy. In response to that prophecy, I will now abdicate the throne. From this moment forward, Fish-Man Island will become a part of the Divine Kingdom, under the rule of its Lord God—Hikaru, the God of the Divine Kingdom!"
As he finished speaking, Neptune's expression became haggard, as though he had aged a decade in mere seconds.
"What? It's Madam Shyarly's prophecy?!"
The crowd buzzed again, but this time, there was no challenge, no denial. The moment her name was mentioned, all doubt vanished.
After the crowd had enough time to process everything, Hikaru gave a small nod. Madam Shyarly stepped forward, her voice ringing across the square:
"Don't panic! The future of Fish-Man Island is bright. As long as we follow the prophecy and trust in the will of God Hikaru, our people will flourish."
Her words calmed the restless hearts of the citizens. The biggest concern for most of them was simple—would they still have food to eat and a place to live? As long as those needs were met, peace would follow.
"Go now—before the sun climbs too high. Return to your homes and stay safe."
"This day... is the beginning of our new future!"
The moment she finished, a thunderous cheer erupted from the plaza. The sound was so overwhelming that even the double-layered bubble membrane around Fish-Man Island visibly trembled from the sheer force of it.
In an instant, Hikaru's following swelled—hundreds of thousands, even millions—though the total number still remained under five million.
While merfolk and fishmen were physically superior to most humans, many lacked discipline or motivation. Some were simply untalented in combat, and as a result, true warriors among them were rare.
Still, it was more than enough. For mining, transport, construction, and other state-level tasks, they were invaluable assets—strong, reliable, and loyal.
The crowds dispersed like receding waves, though here and there a few fishmen swam against the tide.
Jinbe separated from the Sun Pirates and approached Neptune. With a calm nod to those around him, he spoke in a low, respectful voice:
"Lord God Hikaru… may I have a word with you, in private?"
Hikaru had already sensed his intent—the hesitation in his eyes, the heaviness in his posture. It was the look of a man carrying guilt.
With a slight frown, Hikaru answered coolly, "Very well. Come with me."
He guided the flying carpet forward, and just when it hovered three steps above Jinbe's head—it shot into a different dimension.
Jinbe, Neptune, and the rest watched with wide eyes, jaws slack.
"What sort of ability was that…?"
"Boss Jinbe!"
Shyarly's voice called out from within the swirling emerald void. Jinbe hesitated only a moment before leaping in. The portal sealed behind him with a quiet hum.
Inside the otherworldly realm, he stumbled slightly before feeling solid ground beneath his feet. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he quickly regained his composure and walked over to Hikaru and Shyarly.
"What is this place…?" he asked, baffled.
"No need for idle questions. Speak your mind," Hikaru cut in coldly. He had no intention of explaining his divine abilities.
Jinbe stiffened, then got straight to the point. "I received a call last night from Marco—the Phoenix. He asked me who killed Namur."
Hikaru raised an eyebrow, amused. "And what did you say?"
"I told him I didn't know," Jinbe replied, his voice steady but grim. "But… Whitebeard once did a great favor for Fish-Man Island. Lying to him… it weighs on my soul."
As he spoke, Jinbe drew the heavy blade from his back and shouted, "Please allow me to sever one of my arms—my penance for lying to Whitebeard!"
A knight of the sea, Jinbe's sense of honor was ironclad. Betraying Whitebeard was unjust… but revealing the truth now would be nothing less than stabbing Hikaru in the back.
Torn between loyalty and gratitude, he saw no path but sacrifice.
However, with Fish-Man Island now under Hikaru's rule, Jinbe had become a subject. Damaging his own body without permission could be seen as an act of rebellion. And if he lost an arm, his strength would surely drop. In the worst case, he might provoke Hikaru's wrath.
Hikaru laughed. "Asking for permission to punish yourself? You think I'd want a broken version of Jinbe?"
His golden eyes narrowed with amusement.
"How about this—start with a few fingers. As for the arm… give it three years. If by then you still want to lose it—or your life—I won't stop you."