The coated Marine warship steadily descended through the ocean depths, its protective bubble shimmering against the pressure of the deep sea.
Carl repositioned his deck chair at the very front of the ship, his posture relaxed but alert. If another Sea King attacked, he would be ready to react immediately.
The atmosphere on the ship was still tense—everyone remained in a state of shock.
The enormous Sea King they had encountered earlier had left an unforgettable impression. Its titanic form and aura of sheer dominance had shaken even the battle-hardened Marines to their core.
Emily leaned over the railing, her eyes wide with excitement. "Wow~ Is that Fish-Man Island?"
Her voice trembled with awe. The sight before her was breathtaking—an island encased in a double-layered bubble membrane, floating like a dream within the ocean depths.
The outermost layer of the shield reflected glimmers of light, creating a surreal, almost mystical effect. Between the two layers of protective film was an air pocket, allowing movement within. Schools of fish and bioluminescent marine life swam gracefully outside, illuminating the surroundings in an ethereal glow.
Suddenly, Bright's voice rang out in alarm. "Look! What are those?!"
The crew turned to see massive sea beasts closing in around the warship.
Though not as large as the previous Sea King, these creatures were still enormous—each spanning at least fifty meters in length.
What made them unsettling, however, was their bizarre appearances: a lion-headed fish, a bear-headed fish, an orangutan-faced leviathan, a giraffe-necked sea beast, and even one with an elephant-like trunk.
Yet, despite their distinct features, all of them possessed the bodies of fish.
Carl, completely unfazed, took out a cigar, lit it, and exhaled a stream of smoke. "Relax. Those are just sea beasts, not Sea Kings."
He elaborated, "Sea beasts are a unique species found throughout the Grand Line. Unlike Sea Kings, which are mostly reptilian, amphibious, or fish-like, sea beasts are all mammals. They might be enormous by human standards, but compared to true Sea Kings, they're insignificant."
One of the Marines scratched his head. "Wait… aren't they all Sea Kings?"
Carl shook his head, smirking slightly. "That's a common misunderstanding. Sea Kings are distinct from sea beasts. While Sea Kings include species like giant serpents, monstrous frogs, and enormous turtles, sea beasts always resemble mammalian creatures."
His knowledge of the ocean's apex predators was unparalleled.
A chuckle suddenly echoed through the water. "Heh, not bad, human. You actually know your stuff."
Everyone turned toward the voice.
A group of mermen was sitting atop one of the massive sea beasts, observing them with wary expressions.
Bright narrowed his eyes. "Are they… Fish-Men?"
Carl took another drag from his cigar before speaking. "What's the meaning of this? Are you here to stop us?"
One of the Fish-Men, distinguished by the hat he wore, grinned. "So, you guys are Marines, huh? What business do human Marines have on Fish-Man Island?"
Although the Marines had previously returned a kidnapped mermaid, which had earned them goodwill from many inhabitants of Fish-Man Island, not everyone shared that sentiment.
Among them was Hody Jones, the leader of the New Fish-Man Pirates. He and his followers harbored deep resentment toward humans, viewing their past actions as mere attempts at winning favor rather than genuine goodwill.
To counter potential threats from humans, Hody had ordered patrols of Fish-Men and their trained sea beasts to monitor the waters.
Bright stepped forward and declared, "We are here at the invitation of King Neptune!"
The hat-wearing Fish-Man scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. "King Neptune? That means nothing to us. Listen well, Marine. Fish-Man Island does not welcome humans. Because of your previous 'good deed,' we won't harm you… but you'd be wise to turn back now."
Carl, ignoring the warning entirely, turned to Bright. "Keep sailing."
Bright hesitated. "Uh… Yes!" He clenched his teeth, nodded, and continued guiding the warship forward.
The hat-wearing Fish-Man's expression darkened. "Hey! Marine! Didn't you hear me?! Don't blame me if things turn ugly!"
Carl's response was indifferent. "Oh?"
The Fish-Man gritted his teeth. "Heh… I tried being nice, but you leave me no choice! Sea Lion, sink them!"
With a thunderous roar, the lion-headed sea beast lunged toward the warship.
Despite its size, it wasn't as terrifying as a true Sea King—but it was still a formidable sight, causing many of the Marines to instinctively brace themselves.
Carl's expression remained calm, but his eyes glowed a deep, ominous red.
A suffocating wave of killing intent radiated from him.
The entire sea around the warship turned visibly darker, as if soaked in a blood-red hue.
The sea lion halted mid-attack, its massive body trembling. A pitiful whimper escaped its throat as it desperately swam backward, trying to escape Carl's presence.
"What the hell are you doing, Sea Lion?!" the hat-wearing Fish-Man yelled, his face contorted in confusion.
"It's just a human! What are you afraid of?!"
Because of the distance, the Fish-Man couldn't sense the overwhelming bloodlust Carl was emitting—but the beast could.
Carl sighed and tilted his head slightly, raising a single finger.
A faint breeze carried delicate pink cherry blossom petals into the water above the Fish-Men.
The hat-wearing Fish-Man frowned. "What's this…?"
Before he could react—
Shink! Shink! Shink!
The petals transformed into countless razor-sharp blades, slicing through the Fish-Men's bodies in an instant.
Blood dispersed into the water.
Carl didn't even spare them a glance. His eyes remained fixed on Fish-Man Island, which now loomed ahead.
Bright's voice rang out. "We're entering!"
The warship breached the massive bubble shield, seamlessly integrating into the island's unique atmosphere.
Awaiting them was a contingent of Neptune's royal guards, their tridents raised defensively.
"Alert! Movement detected!" a mermaid guard shouted.
Another guard's eyes widened. "A Marine warship?! Here?!"
A third guard's voice wavered. "How did the Marines infiltrate Fish-Man Island…?"
The guards quickly formed a defensive line, their eyes locked onto the Marines disembarking.
Carl stepped forward, his demeanor calm yet authoritative.
"I am Colonel Solomon Carl of the Marines. Take me to King Neptune."
The coated Marine warship glided through the enormous bubble membrane encasing Fish-Man Island. As it passed through, the special coating covering the ship was seamlessly absorbed by the shield, ensuring a smooth transition into the island's inner atmosphere.
On the shore, a unit of mermaid guards wielding halberds rushed toward the warship, their expressions tense.
"Quick! There's movement! Stay alert!"
"Wait… is that a Marine warship?!"
"How did the Marines get here?!"
A personal guard of King Neptune, standing at the front, eyed the approaching ship with unease.
Step.
Carl landed smoothly on the ground, his sharp gaze sweeping over the guards before he spoke in a calm but authoritative voice.
"I am Colonel Solomon Carl of the Marines, stationed in the Sabaody Archipelago. We are here at the invitation of King Neptune."
As soon as he finished speaking, a mechanical notification echoed in his mind.
[Special Check-In Location: Fish-Man Island.]
[Current Check-In Progress: 0/3.]
The guards exchanged glances.
"King Neptune?" one of them murmured.
Another guard suddenly widened his eyes in realization.
"Wait! I remember now! The Marines recently returned a kidnapped mermaid, and King Neptune personally welcomed them. Could it be the same group?"
At that moment, Bright and the other Marines disembarked from the warship.
A guard immediately recognized him.
"It's him! He was the one who returned Catherine and the others last time!"
Dragon Palace—Fish-Man Island's Royal Palace
On the topmost level of Fish-Man Island, the magnificent Ryugu Palace came into view. The palace, an architectural marvel, was constructed from massive coral reefs and intricate seashell structures, giving it a grand, almost mythical appearance.
Carl and his group rode atop a giant flounder, which carried them toward the bubble-covered entrance of the palace.
Inside, King Neptune, the massive yet gentle ruler known as the "Great Knight of the Sea," sat upon his throne.
Around him, various Fish-Men and merfolk nobles gathered, each with a unique appearance reflecting the diverse species of the sea.
As Carl entered, Neptune let out a hearty laugh.
"Hohohoho! So, you're the Marines who saved Catherine and the others. I've been wanting to personally thank you!"
His deep voice rumbled through the chamber, carrying a tone of genuine gratitude.
Bright stepped forward and introduced Carl.
"Your Majesty, this is our commanding officer, Colonel Solomon Carl."
Neptune nodded in understanding.
"I see… So you're this 'Colonel Carl' I've been hearing about."
Carl's brow twitched slightly.
"Just call me Carl."
"Hohoho, very well!" Neptune chuckled before his expression softened. "Regardless, I sincerely thank you. Your actions prove that humans and Fish-Men can indeed coexist peacefully."
Neptune had long been a proponent of Princess Otohime's vision—a dream of harmony between humans and Fish-Men. He had spent years advocating for peaceful relations, despite the deep-rooted animosity held by many of his people.
Suddenly, the doors burst open as a guard rushed inside, panting heavily.
"Your Majesty!"
Neptune frowned. "What is the meaning of this interruption? I am in the middle of meeting a guest!"
The guard struggled to catch his breath.
"It's… It's Princess Shirahoshi! There's trouble!"
Neptune's eyes widened in alarm.
"What?!" He abruptly rose from his throne, his trident clutched tightly in his hand. "What happened to Shirahoshi?!"
The guard's expression was grim.
"The weapons have returned!"
Neptune's grip tightened around his trident. "Damn it!" He immediately turned to rush toward the Hard Shell Tower, but suddenly hesitated.
Turning to Carl, he sighed. "I sincerely apologize, Colonel Carl. An emergency has arisen, and we won't be able to properly host you right now."
"If you'd like, you and your men are free to explore Fish-Man Island while I handle this matter."
Before Neptune could finish, Carl interrupted.
"No need. I'll come with you."
Neptune blinked in surprise. "Huh?"
Carl's eyes gleamed with curiosity.
Princess Shirahoshi… The Ancient Weapon, 'Poseidon.'
He had always been intrigued by her existence.
And, more importantly, he strongly suspected that the massive sea beast they encountered earlier had been summoned by her powers, albeit unintentionally.
"I might be able to help," Carl stated.
Neptune's momentary hesitation was quickly replaced by gratitude. "That would be… greatly appreciated! Please, follow me!"
Without wasting another moment, Neptune rushed outside, his trident at the ready.
Carl turned to Bright. "You and the others are free to explore Fish-Man Island. I'll handle this situation."
Bright saluted. "Understood, sir!"
Carl stepped forward, and in the next instant, his figure vanished.
The Hard Shell Tower—Princess Shirahoshi's Sanctuary
Moments later, Carl arrived at the Hard Shell Tower, the enormous structure that served as Shirahoshi's bedroom and refuge.
The tower, made of an incredibly durable material, was designed to keep her safe from threats—but even so, it bore heavy scars from previous attacks.
Right now, the exterior was riddled with embedded weapons.
Swords. Spears. Axes. Halberds.
The sheer number of weapons protruding from the walls was almost surreal.
Carl's gaze narrowed.
"That's excessive."
It was almost unbelievable—a royal princess forced to live inside a fortress, like a prisoner, for her own safety.
And simply leaving the tower was a dangerous endeavor.
Who the hell was responsible for this?
His instincts told him that this was more than just an assassination attempt.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, a massive warhammer hurtled through the air, heading straight for the tower's entrance!
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