"Your Highness, the First Prince."
A merman soldier of the Ryugu Kingdom knelt on one knee, speaking with utmost respect.
"Word has spread all across Fish-Man Island—people say they encountered the Davy Jones Pirates in the deep sea, and were plundered by them!"
The shark merman with long flowing blue hair, holding a golden trident—the First Prince Shark Star—immediately asked,
"Were any citizens injured?"
"It's said some were killed," the merman guard answered, his head always lowered.
"Others claim the Davy Jones Pirates only took goods and sea beasts. But countless witnesses swear they were brutal, endlessly prowling the waters around Fish-Man Island in search of prey."
"They're treating Fish-Man Island like their own territory."
The second prince, Ryugu Otohime's son Ryuboshi—an oarfish merman—stretched his long, slender neck, his words lilting like a song.
"Big brother, they're far too arrogant."
"Exactly, exactly!"
The rotund third prince, Manboshi the sunfish merman, wriggled about restlessly as he spoke, his body swaying like he was dancing.
"Even the Whitebeard Pirates, or the Sun Pirates for that matter, never dared to so brazenly raid our people."
"We must teach them a lesson!" Ryūboshi urged.
"Yeah, yeah!" Manboshi chimed in.
Shark Star fell silent for a moment before turning to the guards behind him.
"Go inform King Neptune—tell him we'll scout out the Davy Jones Pirates' base and report back shortly."
"Yes, Your Highness." The guard saluted and left.
"Big brother, why not just lead a squad of soldiers and crush the Davy Jones Pirates outright?" Ryūboshi tilted his long neck, flopping to the side like a limp sausage.
"Yeah, yeah," echoed Manboshi, his wide belly still swinging back and forth.
"Don't underestimate them," Fukaboshi said gravely.
"From what I've heard, 'Desert Crocodile' Crocodile was defeated by Davy Jones himself, and ended up submitting to him. Jinbe and Crocodile are both Shichibukai—you know full well how powerful Jinbe is."
The second and third princes exchanged uneasy glances, falling silent.
Fukaboshi sighed.
"So Shyarly's prophecy really has come to pass… When she came to see the ministers just days ago, she looked utterly shaken. I still remember her expression clearly… And now, within mere days, the prophecy has come true."
"Big brother, so we'll just observe the Davy Jones Pirates' base from outside?"
"Yes. We'll see first, then decide."
But what could they possibly decide?
According to the bounties, this pirate crew already had at least two men of Shichibukai caliber.
For Fish-Man Island, without Whitebeard's protection or Jinbe's support, the situation couldn't be worse.
No matter how grim things became, as the three princes of Fish-Man Island, they could not simply stand by while their people were harmed.
Fukaboshi asked the kneeling soldier,
"You know where the incident took place?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Then take us there."
"At once!"
The merman soldier stood and took the lead.
The three princes set out with only a handful of guards—after all, this was only a reconnaissance mission.
But even so, the moment they stepped onto the streets of Fish-Man Island, they were immediately recognized.
Merfolk and fish-men bowed to them respectfully; the beloved princes were so admired that the crowd swelled until the streets were clogged.
Some thanked them for their fair rule, others asked after Princess Shirahoshi's well-being, while more spoke anxiously of the Davy Jones Pirates.
To calm the people's fears, the princes declared openly that they were heading beyond Fish-Man Island to locate the pirates' base.
The crowd was elated.
With princes so devoted and hands-on, the citizens felt reassured.
Seeing that dusk was fast approaching, Fukaboshi tried to disperse the throngs so they could depart before nightfall.
But suddenly, Manboshi cried out.
Hearing the distress in his voice, Fukaboshi spun around—only to see Manboshi clutching his swollen belly, collapsing to the ground.
The surrounding citizens instantly recoiled in panic. All eyes locked in horror on the bleeding wound in Manboshi's stomach.
Blood poured from him—yet there was no sign of a weapon, nor had anyone seen the assailant strike.
A muffled grunt followed. Ryūboshi fell next.
Like Manboshi, he too was bleeding—but from a wound in his back.
Fukaboshi froze in shock.
The crowd scattered in terror—yet no one had seen the attacker.
Who was it? Who could it be?
Fukaboshi tightened his grip on his trident, eyes sweeping the surroundings with icy vigilance.
Guards rushed in, forming a protective ring around the princes, driving back all civilians.
Their faces were deathly pale, trembling with fear.
If harm befell the princes, they would never escape responsibility.
But no one struck at Fukaboshi.
He realized the assassin had likely already fled—or vanished into the crowd.
Unable to catch the killer, Fukaboshi hurried to his brothers' sides, hoisting them up in his arms, trident still clutched in hand.
"Ryūboshi! Manboshi, you—!"
But the two princes sagged limply against him, mouths half-open, eyes staring lifelessly.
Fukaboshi stared in disbelief at their unmoving bodies.
Impossible! They'd only been stabbed once each—in the stomach and the back. Such wounds shouldn't have killed them instantly—
"Your Highness!" a voice rang out. Fukaboshi looked up—it was the same merman guard who had reported the incident earlier.
"Poison," the guard warned grimly. "A lethal poison."
Poison? Who could be so cruel?
Grief crushed Fukaboshi chest as he held his brothers' still-warm corpses close. He still couldn't accept they were gone—but before tears could fall, rage blazed from his eyes.
"Summon doctors immediately! And lock down this entire area—I will find the one who murdered my brothers!"
At Fukaboshi's bellowed command, the stunned citizens at last realized what had happened.
They gaped in shock at the fallen princes in his arms, frozen in disbelief.
Soon, more soldiers arrived, carrying out Fukaboshi's orders with grim resolve.
The bodies of the second and third princes were escorted back to Ryugu Palace under Fukaboshi's guard.
King Neptune and his ministers would personally oversee the investigation of this vile assassination.
But before the palace's inquiry could even begin, rumors swept across Fish-Man Island like wildfire.
Many swore it could only have been the work of the Davy Jones Pirates.
Who else near Fish-Man Island would commit such an atrocity?
Captain Vander Decken IX, perhaps?
No—impossible. Everyone recognized him and his crew on sight. He couldn't even walk the streets of Fish-Man Island unnoticed, let alone approach the princes.
By nightfall, the rumors had grown even more detailed.
Some even claimed to have clearly seen the assassin's build and face—matching perfectly the image on Davy Jones's wanted poster.
"Fools…"
Madam Shyarly sat in her Mermaid Café rocking chair, puffing on her pipe, listening to the heated chatter with unease.
"Even if Davy Jones truly wished to kill the princes, he would never soil his own hands."
Her fine brows furrowed beneath the shadow of her hood, her face half-hidden.
She could feel the tide on Fish-Man Island shifting ominously. And though her prophecy had indeed come true—the Davy Jones Pirates had arrived—
But in your vision, you did not see them pillage or massacre, a voice whispered within her. You cannot let your hatred cloud your eyes simply because Davy Jones slew Arlong.
You know what kind of man Arlong was. His arrogance was bound to earn him enemies. It was no surprise he met his end—not by Admiral Kizaru's hand, but by Davy Jones in the East Blue.
You cannot let vengeance blind you.
Shyarly exhaled a long sigh—when the café door swung open, the wind chime above the curtain tinkled.
The mermaid waitresses and guests all turned their heads—only to see a small-framed officer of the New Fish-Man Pirates, Daruma, stride in.
"Captain Hody Jones has an announcement!" Daruma shouted, his tiny body belying his booming voice.
"Everyone, gather at Gyroncorde Plaza—it concerns the very safety of Fish-Man Island!"
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