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King Neptune had always believed he was a capable ruler. This was the first time someone had publicly accused him of poor governance, and his face flushed red as he immediately snapped back:
"Poor governance? What are you talking about? Don't speak nonsense!"
Hikaru scoffed, clearly unimpressed. "I don't have time to go into every detail, so let's just talk about the biggest threat—Fishman District. Hahaha! It used to be a place to shelter orphans. And now? Do I really need to spell it out for you?"
He turned to the silent figure nearby. "Tsukuro. D Xia Li used to live there. If anyone knows what's really going on, it's her. Why don't you ask her?"
Neptune's expression stiffened. Fishman District... It was his responsibility. Its downfall weighed heavily on his conscience.
Xia Li sighed, her voice calm but cold. "After over a decade of neglect, Fishman District has turned into a haven for criminal groups."
"That's not all!" Hikaru continued, picking up the thread. "The strongest fighters on Fishman Island are now in that district. With over 100,000 followers behind them, they could overthrow your regime at any time."
"You've turned so many capable fish-men against the royal family. You call that good governance?"
Neptune's shoulders slumped. "I only spared them because of Captain Jinbe... I couldn't bring myself to wipe them out." His voice faltered, eyes filled with shame.
"Hah! So you let an entire nation fall apart just because of personal loyalty? That's exactly why you're unfit to rule."
Neptune had no rebuttal. His silence spoke volumes.
"Fine," Hikaru said. "If you truly care about Fishman Island's future, then follow my plan."
"I'll train mermaids and fish-men in governance. You can nominate yourself or your descendants, and the most capable among them will serve under me."
"And Shirahoshi… I will personally teach her how to rule Ryugu Kingdom. She will be my divine consort, the queen of Fishman Island, and rule it in my name."
"Shirahoshi..." Neptune stood up sharply at the mention of his daughter. "She's..."
But before he could finish, he remembered Xia Li's prophecy. No matter what he said or did, the future was already set.
He sank back into his throne, defeated, unsure of what to do next.
Hikaru didn't press him. He gave Neptune the time he needed.
After a long silence, Neptune's thoughts drifted to his late wife, Queen Otohime. Her assassination had forced him to think seriously about Fishman Island's future.
He had promised to fulfill her dream—peaceful coexistence with humans, and one day, migration to the surface.
But now, things had gone too far. His control was slipping. Refusing Hikaru's proposal would change nothing.
As he sat there, Neptune's eyes slowly filled with determination. If sacrificing everything could secure a better future for Fishman Island—especially for Shirahoshi—then he was willing to do it.
"If you truly mean what you say, and if you can lead Fishman Island to the future Xia Li foresaw… then I will accept your terms."
"But—" Neptune's voice trembled slightly. "You must swear to protect Shirahoshi. Love her. And never make her cry again…"
Hikaru paused, surprised by the request. Neptune was truly a doting father. Maybe not the best king, but without a doubt, a loving parent.
"Don't worry," Hikaru replied. "I haven't met Shirahoshi yet, but Xia Li told me everything—about her kindness, her innocence. Once she becomes my consort, I'll shower her with love and care."
"You don't need to fear for Fishman Island's future. Humans on the surface may look down on fish-men and mermaids. But the humans of the sky will not."
"In the Kingdom of God under my rule, those who invade are crushed. But those who live in peace… are welcomed with curiosity."
"I see…" Neptune let out a long breath. For the first time in a long while, he felt hope. Maybe, just maybe, this path would lead to a better future.
After some hesitation, he made a decision—one that only a father could make.
Since Hikaru would be Shirahoshi's future husband… he deserved to know everything about her true identity.
"Mr. Hikaru," Neptune said with a serious tone, "the Sea King, Poseidon, is a mermaid princess who is born only once every 800 years. Shirahoshi meets that condition. She's already used her powers before, but she hasn't fully awakened or learned to control them yet."
"I'm aware," Hikaru replied calmly. "It's written in the history records of the Kingdom of God. I just didn't expect you to admit it now. Seems like you've finally accepted reality."
"This…" Neptune gave an awkward laugh. He didn't think he'd done anything wrong.
"Now that we've reached an agreement, it's time to take action," Hikaru said firmly. "This afternoon, issue a royal order. Tomorrow, gather all mermaids and fish-men in Gyoncorde Plaza to hear about the future of Fishman Island."
"I'm heading to Fishman District to stretch my limbs and wipe out all unstable elements."
"Oh, and one more thing—about the Dragon Palace Kingdom's secret treasure, the Tamate Box. It was secretly swapped out. Hody Jones replaced it years ago. What's inside now is just a powerful bomb."
"What!?"
Neptune's eyes went wide. He knew Hikaru wouldn't lie about something like this. "I always had a bad feeling about Hody Jones… but I never expected him to go this far."
Hikaru gave it some thought. Once he felt there was nothing more to say, he stood up to leave.
"When the others wake up, you can explain everything to them. Xia Li and I will head out first."
Suddenly, Neptune remembered something and quickly called out, "Wait, Mr. Hikaru! My daughter Shirahoshi has been constantly harassed by Vander Decken. He's the user of the Paramecia-type Target-Target Fruit. I was wondering… could you kill him too?"
Vander Decken?
Of course Hikaru knew him. But really, with such a massive Ryugu Kingdom, they still hadn't managed to find or eliminate someone like Vander Decken, whose combat strength was so low?
He honestly didn't understand what Neptune, his sons, or even Jinbe and the Sun Pirates were doing.
Still, Hikaru didn't bother scolding Neptune. He replied calmly, "Don't worry. When I return to spend time with Shirahoshi, I'll take care of him."
Neptune let out a deep breath, visibly relieved. This matter had troubled him for far too long, and now, it could finally be resolved.
Just as Hikaru turned to leave, Neptune quickly stopped him again. "Wait!"
Neptune stood, swam behind the throne, and pulled something out from its hidden compartment. He swam over to Hikaru, holding the item gently, his expression complex.
"This was a gift from her mother, Queen Otohime. I originally planned to give it to Shirahoshi on her wedding day…"
"Take it. With this, she'll be able to accept your identity—no matter how sudden it may seem."