The royal family is destined to receive information faster than ordinary people, so the news about Mandfeish naturally reached them. Unlike Rushaka, who was completely unaware of the outside world, Neptune, as the king of the Dragon Palace Kingdom, was well-informed about the situation at sea.
He was friends with Whitebeard, and since many fish-men were under Whitebeard's command, Whitebeard lent his flag to Fishman Island.
However, Mandfeish's identity was that of an officer in the Hundred Beasts Pirates; he was not an ordinary pirate at all.
But this was not the reason for the royal family's visit from the Dragon Palace Kingdom. Even if Mandfeish hadn't done anything, and even if he had, Neptune couldn't have reacted.
If it did come to that, the conflict would have escalated to a tension between the Hundred Beasts and Whitebeard Pirates, and given the status of the Dragon Palace Kingdom, they could only wait for the outcome.
The person who came here was Otohime, and she wasn't here on official business but rather to see what the state of relations between this human and the mermaid was.
Because on Fishman Island, only a very few people agreed with her views. If a human and a mermaid came together, for her, it would mean seeing more hope.
Meanwhile, Mandfeish was discussing a matter with Rushaka.
"Rushaka, come with me."
"Go?"
"You saw what happened today, right? There are those hot-headed rookies from Paradise and some scum from Fishman Street. The island I am in charge of is very close to Fishman Island. Come live there, and I can protect you better there."
Even if Hundred Beasts plans to open a mining subsidiary on Fishman Island, Mandfeish is not at ease leaving Rushaka alone here; he wouldn't know what to do if something like today happened again when he was not around.
But it would be different on another island; although they might also encounter enemies occasionally, there would be no internal issues, making it undoubtedly safer than Fishman Island.
"... Let's talk about it next year."
"Next year? Why wait until next year?"
"Next year, I'll be thirty years old..."
Turning thirty is a special age for female mermaids, not because of approaching thirty or aging but because after thirty, female mermaids gain a new ability: the power to transform their tails into legs.
Mermaids of that age wouldn't need to rely on Bubble Coral to move in a waterless environment like they do now.
The example of Kokoro from Water Seven, while Luffy called her a monstrous grandma, she was quite a beauty when she was young.
Mandfeish was aware that mermaids' tails could become legs at the age of thirty.
Outside the door, Otohime originally wanted to see what the two of them were like, but stopped at the last moment.
"What's wrong, Princess? Didn't you want to take a look?"
"There's no need, it's better not to disturb them."
She naturally sensed their joyous aura with her Observation Haki and decided not to interfere at that moment.
"Besides, it seems we have new guests."
Not far away, Kojiro and Pierman appeared. The items Kojiro brought had already sold out, and his commercial instincts told him that Fishman Island was an excellent market.
The deep-sea environment resulted in limited interaction with the outside world. Neither fish-men nor mermaids, including the Dragon Palace Kingdom, had the capacity for large-scale purchases on land.
Most pirates wouldn't carry goods either. Occasionally, some merchants passed through, but facing the high risks, the goods from these merchants sold for exorbitant prices.
Kojiro, selling goods at mainland prices, had his products quickly bought up, showcasing the buying power of the place, so he intended to meet with the real owners of Fishman Island.
Originally, he came to discuss matters with Mandfeish, but happened to meet Otohime. Hoping to take a chance, he planned to stop her, and surprisingly, Otohime halted on her own.
"Wait! Do not come any closer!"
Watching Kojiro approach, the surrounding soldiers became nervous. They were aware of Otohime's frail body, and a human carrying a weapon was a significant danger to Otohime.
"It's okay, no need to worry. I don't sense any malice from him. So, my human friend, is there anything you wish to say?"
"It's not a big deal; I just want to open a department store on Fishman Island and discuss some major business ventures related to the entire Fishman Race. I wonder, Princess, would you be interested in such a venture?"
Otohime was naturally interested in this matter. While Whitebeard protected the place, he merely provided protection. His own income was reinvested into developing his hometown, leaving no extra money to develop the deep-sea Fishman Island.
The Whitebeard Pirates also lacked the channels and technology to facilitate such trade. A human desiring to establish trade with Fishman Island was precisely what Otohime desired, so upon her invitation, Kojiro accompanied them to the Dragon Palace Kingdom.
As Kojiro headed to the Dragon Palace Kingdom, a red fish-man appeared near Fishman Island—Fisher Tiger, the fish-man the previous group tried to capture.
Although known as a fish-man adventurer, he was captured and turned into a slave three years ago. Those World Government operatives acted quicker than Fisher Tiger himself.
Finally back home, Fisher Tiger's face broke into a smile, and he swam toward Fishman Street.
Meanwhile, within the World Government's intelligence analysis department, the chief was berating several subordinates angrily.
"Why didn't you find any information about this creature before!!"
Several reports were thrown at them, containing some biologists' analysis of Gyarados, revealing several similarities days later.
"Sir, according to regulations, to prevent information leaks, the intelligence departments' subdivisions cannot exchange information without department leaders' consent..."
"So?"
"So... we are responsible for pirates; marine creatures aren't within our research scope."
"Then why was this reported today?!"
"Because during information exchange, the leader of the marine creatures department discovered the common points in this issue and forwarded the analyzed information..."
Listening to his subordinates' explanation of the department regulations, the head of the pirate intelligence department was already fuming, veins popping on his forehead.
"Didn't you know that while investigating intelligence, you need to gather all relevant information! Rules are dead, people are alive. Couldn't you ask me! What kind of useless person are you for being in the intelligence department! You should..."
As he was angrily reprimanding them, a confidant suddenly pulled at him.
"Sir, this person is one of Spandine's appointments."
"Go take a good rest for a few days; I'll arrange some leisurely work for you."