Chapter 224: Jinbe's Resolve!
Fish-Man Island · Outside the Hard-Shell Tower
Sunlight penetrated the undersea dome, spilling onto the pristine white coral slabs, plating them with a layer of holy light.
Shirahoshi slowly stepped out of the Hard-Shell Tower. She was still a bit unsteady, but this was the first time in years she had stepped out of that heavy door.
She stood outside the tower, looking up at the long-lost sky. The azure curtain of light was reflected in her teary eyes.
"So... this is what the outside world looks like..."
"So... warm..."
Tears slid down silently, reflecting the ocean light like stars.
King Neptune and her three princely brothers surrounded her, speechless for a long time. Their eyes held both relief and heartache.
"Shirahoshi... is finally free."
Roy stood not far away, watching this scene silently, his gaze softening for a moment.
Then, he turned his head slowly, his expression turning cold as his gaze fell on Jinbe, who was standing silently aside.
"Jinbe."
His voice wasn't loud, but it struck Jinbe's heart like a nail.
Jinbe shuddered abruptly, back straightening, cold sweat seeping from his forehead.
He lowered his head and stepped forward, speaking in a deep voice: "Vice Admiral Roy... what are your orders?"
Roy narrowed his eyes. His tone was emotionless, yet full of oppressive force: "Righteousness and benevolence—"
"Are no longer good things for you right now."
Jinbe paused, expression freezing. "What do you mean by that?"
Roy raised his hand, pointing casually at Vander Decken IX, who was still tied up and unconscious on the ground. "Don't tell me... trash like this is something you couldn't handle with your strength?"
Jinbe was silent for a moment, brow furrowed tight, whispering, "...Indeed, with my ability, I should have been able to deal with him long ago."
"But..."
Roy interrupted him, tone icy cold: "And that bunch of idiots in the Fish-Man District."
"I don't want to hear any more news about them 'inciting rebellion'."
"Fish-Man Island has now accepted Marine protection."
"If you still want to fulfill Queen Otohime's wish and let the Fish-Man race truly live under the sun, you must learn to deal with the human world."
"Instead of raising a bunch of maggots who fantasize about revenge and hate humans."
Jinbe's expression grew sterner, fists clenching, eyes becoming extremely complex.
But the next moment, Roy's voice dropped, and he uttered a sentence lightly—
"By the way, Queen Otohime's assassination was not an accident."
"The murderer was Hody Jones."
"WHAT?!!"
Jinbe's pupils trembled violently. As if struck by lightning, he stomped forward violently!
"What did you say?!! Wasn't that incident... a shooting by a passing human pirate?!"
Roy glanced at him sideways, sneering. "That lie... do you believe it yourself?"
"Marine intelligence shows that Hody Jones paid off a human pirate back then to set fire to the signature box, and personally sniped Otohime while she was collecting signatures, then shot the hired human pirate."
"His hatred is deeply rooted; he was long ago consumed by poison and paranoia."
"By keeping those people in the Fish-Man District, you've planted a ticking time bomb right next to Shirahoshi."
Jinbe gritted his teeth, face ashen, fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.
"Hody... he actually..."
"He betrayed Queen Otohime... betrayed the hope of all our compatriots!!!"
Roy looked straight into his eyes, tone chilling: "I don't care what method you use."
"I only want results."
"Starting today, there can be no more internal strife on Fish-Man Island."
"Don't disappoint me."
This sentence smashed into Jinbe's heart like a hammer blow.
After a few seconds of silence, he looked up. His eyes were unprecedentedly firm, his voice resounding like an oath: "I understand."
"I will handle Hody and his group personally."
Roy nodded slightly, his tone finally softening a bit. "Very good."
"That sounds more like a Knight of the Sea one can trust."
Neptune listened to their conversation from the side, his expression solemn.
And Shirahoshi was still gazing at the sky in the distance. On her face was the glisten of tears of freedom.
The Next Day, Fish-Man Island · Coral Hill
Seawater filtered down through the dome, light refracting between the colorful corals. The whole world seemed inlaid in a dream.
Princess Shirahoshi sat on a huge pink shell chair, hands cupping her cheeks, staring unblinkingly at the beautiful coral clusters and swimming fish before her, eyes full of novelty and joy.
"Mr. Roy! What's that sparkling thing over there?" She pointed at a light spot swimming in the water in the distance.
Roy turned to look, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "That's a Coral Lantern Fish, a rare creature found only on Fish-Man Island."
Shirahoshi blinked her big, bright eyes. "So beautiful... like a group of dancing little stars."
Law leaned against a reef behind them, arms crossed. Watching this scene, he couldn't help but reveal a rare smile.
Not far away, Neptune and the three princes watched from a distance, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.
"Shirahoshi... can finally smile like a normal girl," Fukaboshi said softly.
"This is the first time in years... she has actively stepped out of the Hard-Shell Tower," Ryuboshi said with tears in his eyes.
Manboshi nodded heavily, looking emotional. "All this... is thanks to Vice Admiral Roy."
Meanwhile, Inside the World Government
A confidential document submitted by Vice Admiral Roy was slowly unfolded on the conference table of the Five Elders.
[Proposal for Fish-Man Island Land Symbiosis Integration]
The contents included: designating Fish-Man Island as a "Special Symbiosis Zone," establishing a "Surface Sunlight Relocation Zone" in phases, and other key measures.
At the end of the proposal, Roy left only one sentence: "If world peace must come at the cost of sacrificing the weak, then I would rather shake the foundations of the world."
In the end, amidst silence, the Five Elders tacitly approved the proposal.
The World Government announced externally: The "Fish-Man Island Land Symbiosis Proposal" has been approved. A transitional surface resettlement plan will be launched within five years.
Since the "Justice" flag of the Marines was raised high on Fish-Man Island and Vice Admiral Roy publicly announced "Fish-Man Island is under my personal protection"—
All parties in the world were shaken.
Pirate looting incidents on Fish-Man Island dropped by 90%!
The Big Mom Pirates suspended pressure on Fish-Man Island!
The Underworld also ordered subordinates not to interfere in Fish-Man Island affairs!
Prosperity returned to the streets of Fish-Man Island.
Shops that had once closed reopened their doors. Fish-Men and Merfolk took to the streets, running and laughing with their children.
"Did you hear? As soon as that Vice Admiral Roy arrived, the entire ocean floor became peaceful!"
"Now even the bounty hunters from the outer seas don't dare approach these waters!"
"Great... finally, we can live in peace..."
"Heavens, so the Marines can be this reliable?"
Fish-Man residents, originally wary of the Marines, were now beginning to truly accept the word "Justice."
In stark contrast was a gray, dilapidated street in the distance.
Jinbe stood quietly at the entrance of the Fish-Man District, looking at the broken walls, messy graffiti, and the angry gazes surging in the shadows.
"Hody Jones... you idiots, ultimately failed to see the situation clearly."
He took a deep breath and strode in, footsteps firm and resonant, heading straight for the central plaza. Soon, he was surrounded by the New Fish-Man Pirates.
"Oi! Who dares trespass on our turf..."
The crowd parted, and Hody Jones walked out from the darkness. His eyes were bloodshot, face wearing a mocking smile.
"Yo~ Isn't this Boss Jinbe? What brings you here to inspect our 'filthy' place?"
Jinbe's expression was cold, voice heavy as a hammer. "Hody, stop this."
"Fish-Man Island has welcomed a new life. Princess Shirahoshi has walked out of the Hard-Shell Tower, and the people have regained their freedom."
"Vice Admiral Roy has even won us the chance to live under the sun!"
"Stop spreading hatred! Now is the chance to start over!"
Hody's face darkened, then he threw his head back and laughed wildly. "New life?! Relying on human charity?!!"
"Are you willing to be that human Roy's running dog now?"
"JINBE! YOU BETRAYED THE PRIDE OF THE FISH-MAN RACE!!!"
"It seems... you are beyond saving."
Jinbe said no more. His figure flashed, and he threw a punch violently!
"Fish-Man Karate: SHARK BRICK FIST!!!"
"BANG—!!!"
A heavy punch sent Hody flying dozens of meters, smashing through the coral wall behind him!
"Guh—!!!" Hody spat blood wildly, convulsing on the ground.
Seeing this, the four executives roared simultaneously: "GET HIM TOGETHER!!!"
"SWISH—!!!"
Four figures lunged at Jinbe!
Jinbe put his palms together and pressed down violently.
"Fish-Man Karate: WATER CURRENT DANCE!!!"
A powerful water pressure swept out like a torrent, washing the four away and slamming them into the walls, knocking them unconscious!
"CRASH—!!!"
Echoes rang through the entire Fish-Man District. Even the remnants hiding in dark alleys fled in panic.
Hody struggled to get up, face full of horror and malice. "You... you dare touch me... I am... the future of the Fish-Man race!"
"Future?"
"You are a disgrace, a cancer!"
"And I am the one clearing out the cancer."
Jinbe's tone was heavy as an iron hammer as he stomped down violently!
"THUD!!!"
Hody's eyes rolled back, passing out completely!
The Fish-Man District returned to silence.
Standing among the ruins, looking up at the sea light on the dome, Jinbe finally made up his mind—
"The future of Fish-Man Island will not be destroyed."
"Starting today, I will protect this peace in my own way."
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