Daruma finished his announcement and left without a shred of courtesy.
He shoved the café doors open again and strode away briskly, repeating the same routine at the next shop.
But neither the customers nor the mermaid waitresses paid his rudeness any mind.
Instead, they erupted into chatter, curious about what Captain Hody had to say.
The whole café grew restless, as though it might burst into chaos at any moment.
Soon, the first patron left—his destination was obvious.
One after another followed.
They streamed into the streets, joining throngs of merfolk and fish-men, surging like a current toward Gyroncorde Plaza.
Before long, only Madam Shyarly and her mermaid attendants remained inside.
The waitresses busied themselves wiping down tables, sneaking hesitant glances at her, clearly wanting to speak but holding back.
Of course, Shyarly noticed. She sighed softly.
"Clean up the shop. We'll close early today."
The mermaids lit up with delight.
"Yes, Madam Shyarly—we love you most of all!"
"Enough, enough," she said with a faint smile. "Even if you love me most, tidy the cups and saucers first. No slacking."
"Yes, ma'am—hee hee hee…"
In less than fifteen minutes, their chores were finished. They left together in high spirits.
Shyarly hesitated for a while, then finally rose.
She switched off the lights, stepped outside, locked the door, and settled herself on a transparent bubble. Floating into the air, her long tail flicked gracefully as she drifted forward.
She floated higher and higher until she reached a vantage point overlooking Gyroncorde Plaza.
Inside, the square was already a seething mass of bodies, buzzing like boiling oil struck by cold water.
The New Fish-Man Pirates—this crew claiming to inherit the will of the Sun Pirates and Arlong's gang—were out in force, stationed throughout the plaza.
At the center stood Captain Hody Jones, the clear focus of the crowd. His speech was already halfway through.
"… Fisher Tiger, so that no fish-man or mermaid who had once been enslaved by the Celestial Dragons would feel shame, and to prove his resolve to resist the Dragons to the end, burned over their brands of the 'Claw of the Celestial Dragons' with the mark of the Sun Pirates."
"He believed that while there were vile humans, there were also kind ones. That was why he freed all the slaves of Mary Geoise, without distinction. But how did it end? He was betrayed by humans."
"Our Queen Otohime dreamed of leading us to live above the surface, relying on promises from the World Government. And what became of her? She too was betrayed by humans."
"And Jinbe—he was thrown into the depths of Impel Down. You all know this. He was more fortunate than Queen Otohime or Fisher Tiger—he survived, not yet slain by human persecution and treachery."
"Humans have never been trustworthy! And those merfolk and fish-men traitors who bow completely to humans, even sacrificing Fish-Man Island's interests—they are just as despicable!"
"They are not like Queen Otohime or Fisher Tiger, who defended the dignity of Fish-Man Island to the last. No—traitors have no bottom line."
"They've been accomplices to humans! Look at what they've done these years—abducting our daughters and wives, selling them to the Celestial Dragons, to humans—slaughtering our warriors like butchers."
"And now, they dare to reach directly into Fish-Man Island itself, assassinating two of our princes!"
"What does this pirate crew want? Isn't it obvious? With Jinbe gone, they seek to seize Fish-Man Island as their territory—then use it as a stepping stone to wag their tails before the World Government, to become the next Warlords of the Sea!"
"Do you know? Davy Jones's ship already has a Warlord among them."
"You know who it is, don't you?"
"Yes—that very man who tried to overthrow the Arabasta Kingdom: Crocodile! Davy Jones consorts with this human villain. His treachery is plain to see!"
"There is no doubt—the assassination of the princes was none other than Crocodile's scheme!"
"And Davy Jones, along with Hachi, are already traitors to our race! The truth is self-evident!"
The crowd roared in tumult, like waves crashing in a storm.
Yet Hody's voice alone thundered above them all, quelling every other sound.
"I know what you think of me and my New Fish-Man Pirates. In your eyes, we from Fish-Man District have always been nothing but brutish, greedy, unreasonable monsters."
"But at least we fight for Fish-Man Island! For our people! We have never once betrayed you. Whereas Davy Jones and Hachi committed this vile assassination, filling us with righteous fury!"
"We stand with Fish-Man Island. We will not stand idly by in the face of the Davy Jones Pirates' atrocities. Therefore, we declare: starting now, in the name of Fish-Man Island, we march to crush those villains!"
Hody raised his arm high. At once, the New Fish-Man Pirates mounted their sea beasts, riding creatures shaped like giraffes, lions, tigers—standing tall and proud as their battle cry shook the plaza.
"Down with Davy Jones! Crush the villains! Avenge the princes!"
At first, the people faltered, unsure.
But then, one voice joined in. Another followed. Soon, the entire square was shouting in unison—the sound magnificent, overwhelming.
Do not let hatred blind you. Use reason, use knowledge.
Shyarly urged herself inwardly, pulling her mind back from the storm of rage and fear sweeping the plaza.
They hated Davy Jones. They feared him.
The Whitebeard Pirates could no longer protect Fish-Man Island. Jinbe was imprisoned in Impel Down. Of the three princes, two lay slain.
The people now craved a powerful protector—and Hody, with his New Fish-Man Pirates, stepped into that role with force.
Watching the scene, Shyarly could not help but recall how Queen Otohime once stood here giving her speeches, until she was assassinated before all eyes.
At least then, the killer confessed he was ordered to strike.
Now, Hody stood in that same place. But the ones slain were Otohime's children.
And by "coincidence," when Queen Otohime was killed, Hody had been one of the palace guards.
Shyarly's unease deepened—but she could no longer stop the tide surging before her.
A tide that had first been stirred by her own prophecy.
To cheers and fervent cries, Hody and the New Fish-Man Pirates led their army out, mounted on their sea beasts, bathed in the adoration of the people.
Never before had they enjoyed such prestige.
Once, the applause and acclaim belonged to Ryugu Palace and Jinbe. Now, it poured entirely onto the New Fish-Man Pirates.
Shyarly, seated on her bubble above, gazed down, her pipe forgotten in her hands.
In Ryugu Palace, King Neptune stood like a statue beside the corpses of his sons.
The crown gleamed on his brow, his orange beard bristled, and in his hand was a trident more finely crafted than even Fukaboshi's own.
The left minister, a catfish merman wearing a monocle and leaning on his staff, stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, the physicians have confirmed it. It was poison—delivered into the princes' bodies through the blades that struck them."
Neptune's face darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes.
"Father! Let me go!" Fukaboshi's breathing was ragged, his restraint near breaking. "I'll lead our armies—I swear I'll bring back Davy Jones's head!"
The right minister, a seahorse merman, drew his sword at his side.
"Your Majesty, I'll march with the First Prince! I won't rest until the princes are avenged!"
Neptune looked at them both—their eyes bloodshot, burning with hatred.
His brows furrowed. He barked, "Fools!"
"Father?"
"Davy Jones's bounty exceeds 400 million. Even Jinbe would not dare face him lightly. What use would it be for you to go? You'd only be marching to your deaths!"
"But… but Father, I cannot let Ryūboshi and Manboshi die in vain! Mother too was slain by an assassin. Now they dare to strike my brothers the same way, I—"
"Silence!"
"Father—!"
"Silence!"
Fukaboshi flushed scarlet, but at last forced himself to hold back.
He clenched his fists and stormed out of the palace in anger.
"Left Minister."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Please go after Fukaboshi. Calm him down. I fear his rage will drive him straight to Davy Jones."
"Yes, sire. That is my duty." The catfish minister bowed and departed.
The palace fell into silence again.
Neptune stood once more before his sons' cold remains, gazing down at their faces.
The right minister shifted uneasily, stepping closer, his face heavy with guilt.
"Your Majesty… please punish me. I was too rash, and I only spurred the prince further."
"No. It's not your fault."
Hearing Neptune's cool, subdued tone only deepened the seahorse minister's sorrow.
He could only imagine how immense the king's grief must be, and yet Neptune remained composed.
At length, Neptune let out a sigh and turned away.
"See that they are cared for properly."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
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