After Jack finished speaking, Ryugu Palace fell into silence.
"You are a good soldier… but not a good leader."
King Neptune sighed.
"The weak must give up many things just to survive…"
"Coward."
Jack didn't even hesitate. He turned and walked away.
Crack.
Shyarly smashed the crystal ball in her hand.
"You abandon your people… yet protect only your loved ones."
Her voice turned cold.
"Is that what a king does? Pretend to be weak while hiding power?"
"Do you know what kind of disaster that power would bring?!" Neptune roared.
"Then hide it forever."
Shyarly turned away.
"I'm done helping you. Even the singers at my café have more backbone."
She walked straight after Jack.
One of the Neptune Army officers removed his insignia and threw it to the ground.
"You may abandon them… but I won't abandon my family."
"…Father…"
Hody Jones spoke with difficulty.
"At this point… maybe we should…"
Neptune's gaze turned sharp instantly.
"That is absolutely forbidden!"
"If that power is exposed, Fish-Man Island will never know peace again!"
Just then—
A guard rushed in, panicked.
"Your Majesty! A ship is approaching!"
"It's… a Celestial Dragon ship!"
Neptune froze.
"…Could it be Donquixote Mjosgard?"
For a moment, hope appeared on his face.
At the port of Fish-Man Island…
A ship bearing the Celestial Dragon hoof mark slowly descended.
Donquixote Doflamingo frowned.
The situation… was wrong.
Too many Fishmen gathered.
Too much noise.
And one name echoed everywhere—
"Jack…"
"…So it's him."
Behind him, Saint Charloss wrinkled his face in disgust.
"There are too many filthy creatures here. Go clean them up."
Doflamingo's expression darkened.
"…Are you ordering me?"
Charloss flinched—but pride quickly returned.
"Then let's go back! I don't even want that mermaid anymore!"
He turned—
But couldn't move.
Invisible strings bound him in place.
"You're not going anywhere."
Doflamingo's voice turned cold.
"Not until we get Shirahoshi."
A sharp pain shot through Charloss's body.
"AAAH—!!"
"Now listen carefully."
Doflamingo raised a finger.
"When we meet Neptune… act like the idiot you are."
"Beg… or threaten."
"…Just like usual."
Charloss trembled, tears and snot mixing.
"…O-okay…"
Satisfied, Doflamingo released him.
Charloss staggered forward—
"You filthy trash! Move aside! I'll kill you all!"
The Fishmen recoiled instinctively.
At the same time—
A wave of Conqueror's Haki spread outward.
The crowd parted instantly.
Outside Ryugu Palace—
Jack suddenly stopped walking.
"…That presence."
He frowned.
"…Doflamingo?"
The Fishmen around him exploded with excitement.
"Lord Jack!"
"You're our hero!"
"The strongest Fishman alive!"
Even a female Fishman shouted:
"Jack! Have a child with me!"
The frenzy spread even to the mermaids.
Jack's expression only grew worse.
"…What is wrong with these people?"
Shyarly smirked faintly.
"You're the most expensive Fishman in the world. Of course you're famous."
She continued:
"Neptune even promoted you and Jinbe to restore masculine pride."
"But things didn't go as expected."
"The mermaids didn't care…"
"…but the Fishmen worshipped you."
Her tone turned heavier.
"These people have nowhere to go."
"Fish-Man Island can't support them."
"Humans hunt them."
"They either die… or live like garbage."
She looked at Jack seriously.
"Take them with you."
"They're not afraid of death."
"…they're afraid of living without dignity."
Jack scratched his head.
"…I need to ask Boss Buggy."
"I don't understand this stuff."
Shyarly narrowed her eyes.
"That 'racial equality' he talked about…"
"Is it real?"
Jack answered simply:
"The boss said all races are equal."
"Those who disagreed… were killed."
"Those left… agreed."
"…!"
Shyarly paused.
"…Brutal. But effective."
At that moment—
Neptune and the others arrived at the palace entrance.
The moment he saw Charloss—
His face changed instantly.
"…Why is he here…?"
Doflamingo also stiffened slightly upon seeing Jack.
Why is Buggy involved here, too…?
Charloss, completely oblivious, shouted arrogantly:
"Neptune! Hand over that giant mermaid!"
"I can't stand this place any longer!"
Then—
His eyes landed on Jack.
A greedy light appeared.
"…Oh?"
"That one…"
He pointed directly at Jack.
"…would make a great mount."
"Give him to me, too."
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