Neptune's head pounded.
Fish-Man Island had long been under Whitebeard's protection, and now Big Mom had suddenly arrived—awkward enough to explain. But with Admiral Aokiji stepping onto the island on top of that?
The World Economy News had recently reported Big Mom destroying two Marine bases in the New World. Aokiji was heading straight for the quarters where Big Mom was staying; his intent needed no explanation.
Worst of all, Shiki—the most notorious escapee in history—was also on Fish-Man Island. If those forces collided…
It would be a disaster.
"Call the guard captain and the palace stewards. Do everything you can to intercept Admiral Aokiji—say King Neptune requests his presence."
He issued orders in haste, hoping his name might buy a moment—even if the odds were slim.
"Report! Prince Fukaboshi has been gravely injured trying to block Admiral Aokiji!"
Neptune cursed under his breath. "Damn it—Aokiji is definitely here for Big Mom! You, assemble the Palace Guard. With me—move!"
He couldn't sit still any longer. If he didn't get between Aokiji and Charlotte Linlin now, there might be no stopping what came next.
…
At the edge of a broad plaza on Fish-Man Island—
"Lord Creed, this is where Lady Otohime often gave her speeches back then."
A great white shark fish-man with curled hair, a flat cap bearing a trident "177" emblem, and a wolf-fur scarf enthusiastically guided Creed and Redfield.
Hody, captain of the New Fish-Man Pirates, had fallen into Creed's hands because his underling Hammond had provoked the wrong person—and now he served as their guide. Every time he remembered that Creed literally held his heart, he silently swore at Hammond's ancestors eighteen generations back.
"And that, up there?" Creed pointed at the highest ridge where a magnificent palace gleamed.
"That's Ryugu Palace—home of that old fool Neptune and the royal family."
Hody's jaw clenched at the sight of it. In his mind, much of the blame for Lady Otohime's death lay with that timid, useless king. He dreamed of toppling Neptune and ruling Fish-Man Island himself.
"So that's the legendary Ryugu Palace, huh? Let's take a look—broaden our horizons," Creed said with interest.
Hody jumped in front of him, panicked. "Lord Creed, Ryugu is heavily guarded. Without an invitation from King Neptune, no one enters. Trespassers face prison—or worse."
"How about the Mermaid Café instead? Plenty of beautiful mermaids—warmest, sweetest place in the world! Or we could stroll through the First-Class Mermaid Manor—best food, clothing, and lodging anywhere…"
He tried to steer Creed elsewhere. Truthfully, it wasn't Neptune or the Royal Guard he feared—it was Big Mom, the Emperor who had come from the New World.
He hadn't seen her personally, but when Katakuri repelled marauding deep-sea beasts, the shockwave of his Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki) had rolled over Hody like an ocean. Even recalling it now made his heart shudder.
If they blundered into people like that, there'd be nothing left of them but scraps.
"You wait here. We'll be right back," Creed said.
Hody finally exhaled.
"Ying—!"
On Creed's shoulder, Falkor urged him onward. Ain's aura was getting stronger and clearer.
Ain was close.
Creed and Redfield left Hody behind and moved toward the source.
"State your business! This is Ryugu Palace. No one enters without the king's invitation. Trespassers will be punished!"
At the outer gate, a number of soldiers stood watch and shouted as the two approached.
Creed weighed whether to use Tsukuyomi or simply sweep them with Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki), when a frantic order threw the sentries into confusion:
"By royal command: intercept Admiral Aokiji—do not let him enter the palace!"
"How are we supposed to stop an admiral?!"
"Exactly! He could wave once and turn us to dust!"
A piercing sound split the air. A silver-blue streak flashed overhead, moving at astonishing speed.
Merfolk soldiers surged up on bubble riders to intercept, but they froze solid before they even got near—crashing down like hailstones of ice.
"It's Aokiji," Creed murmured, recognizing the aura at once. "He's going in alone… for Big Mom?"
If so, Creed would at least reassess the man. When he'd abandoned his own to evacuate the Celestial Dragons, Creed had written him off with contempt. But marching alone to demand justice from Big Mom—well, that took guts.
"Admiral Aokiji, halt! Please respect the laws of the Ryugu Kingdom!"
A burly, brown-haired merman brandishing a long blade rushed up—Prince Fukaboshi.
He launched into Gyojin Jujutsu (Fish-Man Jujutsu), his blade whirling into a flurry like rolling snow—swift and fierce.
Aokiji didn't slow. A casual shock of force shattered the blade-light and hurled Fukaboshi back, blood spraying.
The prince crashed to the ground, gravely wounded. Panic rippled through the troops.
Creed didn't linger. He slipped through the chaos, diving into the palace and racing toward Ain's location.
"An oceanic masterpiece," Redfield said as they passed within. The coral megastructures and giant shells that formed the palace walls were unlike anything on land—beautiful and strange.
But today, the splendid complex shook. From the southwest came thunderous roars and rolling tremors—more than one.
Aokiji had clashed with Big Mom.
No talking—straight to fighting.
Creed picked up speed and dropped into a small courtyard. On one side, in an open-air kitchen, a beautiful girl was at work—shaping what looked like pastries.
"Creed!"
Sensing the sudden presence, the girl looked up—and seeing the face she had longed for day and night, she cried out.
(End of Chapter)
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