Chapter 404: Jinbei
"Yes!"
All the members of the Whitebeard Pirates raised their arms and shouted in unison.
Whitebeard looked at his sons with a faint smile, though a hint of concern flickered in his eyes.
It was concern for them—his sons.
As time passed and they grew older, many of them began to show signs of rising ambition.
They kept chanting slogans like "Dominate the New World!"
But Whitebeard had no such desire. In his eyes, the path to domination was paved in blood.
And that blood would be spilled by his sons.
After fighting Shiki and the Marines in previous battles, Whitebeard truly didn't want his sons to fight anymore.
In every major battle, he'd always be the first to step forward—shielding those behind him.
For years, he avoided confrontations with major powers for this reason alone.
But as their fame grew, so did the blind confidence of his crew.
That confidence was especially apparent before their clash with the Roger Pirates.
Only after suffering the overwhelming difference in strength did Marco and a few others realize how far they still had to go.
But some still remained arrogantly blind.
Now, Whitebeard was chasing down the Roger Pirates—hoping they'd cool his sons' heads a little.
Though he told no one—not even Marco—his true intention.
As the Whitebeard Pirates pursued the Roger Pirates,
many sensed that the New World was entering the calm before a storm.
Countless people began selling assets and preparing to flee the New World.
Suddenly, tickets to leave the Grand Line became nearly impossible to get.
And at the heart of all this upheaval…
Charlotte Rockefeller was relaxing on Fishman Island, surrounded by beautiful mermaids.
"Hahahaha! The Marines must be losing their minds right now!"
Charlotte raised his wine glass and laughed as he looked around at his crew.
The celebration banquet was held on Fishman Island.
Dozens of stunning mermaids walked among the pirates, carrying trays of food and drink.
"Long live the Captain!"
The crew cheered around him.
"Drink!"
Charlotte drained his glass in one gulp.
And so began another Rockefeller-style banquet!
"King Neptune, I owe you one for this,"
Charlotte turned to the towering Fishman King beside him.
"It's nothing," Neptune waved it off. "Just some food and a venue.
It's us who should thank the Rockefeller Pirates for all you've done for Fishman Island!"
Indeed, the Rockefeller Pirates and Fishman Island had long enjoyed strong ties.
That was thanks to Charlotte's early efforts to crush slave traders and free Fishmen and mermaids.
Those rescued by Charlotte spoke endlessly of his heroics.
They painted him as a liberator of slaves and hero to Fishmankind.
Their admiration made the entire island feel positively toward the Rockefeller Pirates.
"Lord Rockefeller, may I please have your autograph?!"
A tall, blue Fishman—about five meters tall—ran over excitedly, holding out a sheet of paper.
Charlotte stared at the familiar face.
Wasn't this... Jinbei? The future Warlord of the Sea?
The boy's eyes sparkled with pure admiration.
Charlotte chuckled and quickly signed his name.
"Thank you, Lord Rockefeller!
If big bro Fisher Tiger were here, he'd be so happy!
But he went traveling again… who knows when he'll be back."
Jinbei said with some sadness.
Fisher Tiger—the hero who stormed into Mariejois and freed countless slaves,
and the original captain of the Sun Pirates.
Charlotte deeply respected Tiger's actions.
Charging into the Holy Land alone,
rescuing enslaved Fishmen and returning them safely—
that feat outshined even Charlotte's own decade of work against the slave trade.
While Charlotte pondered this, Jinbei had already run off, beaming with his signed paper in hand.
He proudly showed it off to the younger Fishmen gathered nearby.
Charlotte smiled softly.
He was still just a boy, after all.
Meanwhile, back in Fishman District—
"Jinbei! Is that really Lord Charlotte Rockefeller's autograph?!"
Dozens of young Fishmen stared with wide eyes, fascinated.
Jinbei's pride swelled.
"That's right! I got it myself!"
He unfurled the paper and announced it proudly.
"I heard Mr. Rockefeller saved tons of Fishmen from slave traders!
Lots of people here owe their lives to him!"
One Fishman exclaimed in awe.
"Exactly! He's our great hero!"
Jinbei raised his chin proudly.
"One day, I'll be like him too! I'll destroy all the slave traders and set all the slaves free!"
His words lit a spark in the crowd.
"And I'll start my own pirate crew!
When Big Bro Tiger comes back, I'll ask him to lead us.
I'll be his crewmate!"
"Yeah! Me too!"
"Let's follow Tiger!"
The idea spread like wildfire through the young Fishmen.
A roar of excitement erupted through the streets.
Back at the palace banquet—
Charlotte noticed a royal figure approaching: Queen Otohime.
"Your Majesty," Charlotte said solemnly.
"Humans' prejudice toward Fishmen won't vanish with a signature.
And the slave traders who threaten Fishman Island won't stop just because my name is on a paper—
even if that paper bore the name of a Celestial Dragon, it wouldn't change anything."
Queen Otohime had wanted Charlotte to sign her petition book, hoping to use his fame to lessen human prejudice.
But Charlotte knew better.
"Besides, Your Majesty… my identity makes me more likely to harm your cause than help it."
He looked her in the eyes.
Queen Otohime clutched the book, her eyes filled with tears.
And in that moment—
Charlotte felt waves of overwhelming sorrow flood into him from every direction.
It had been so long… ten years? Longer?
Since the last time he'd felt sadness like this.
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