A Surprising Turn on Fish-Man Island
"‖Don't do it! He is not a bad person!"
Several mermaids cried out desperately, their voices filled with urgency.
The group of Fish-Men, armed and ready for violence, halted in confusion. They exchanged glances before one of them snarled, "Why are you stopping us? This damned human—we should kill him!"
"Didn't he kidnap you? Why are you defending a human?!"
"Don't be fooled! Humans are evil! They're cunning and treacherous!"
Anger and distrust flared among the Fish-Men, their voices growing heated. But the mermaids quickly stepped between them and the human, their eyes pleading.
"You've got it all wrong! Listen to us!" one mermaid urged.
They hurriedly explained what had actually happened, recounting the events in detail. As the truth sank in, the hostility in the air gradually dissipated. The Fish-Men looked at Caesar in shock, their hands lowering. Even the ones who still harbored hatred toward humans hesitated, realizing that things were not as they seemed.
Awkward silence followed. The expressions of some Fish-Men softened, guilt replacing their fury.
One of them stepped forward. "We're sorry, human. We mistook you for one of those damn slave traders." He bowed his head. "We acted rashly and treated you unfairly."
Another followed, bowing as well. "You saved our people… Thank you."
Caesar observed them quietly. Despite their earlier aggression, he could tell their hatred wasn't absolute—it was born from pain, fear, and bitter memories of human cruelty.
For a brief moment, he was lost in thought.
Then, shaking off his distraction, he nodded, dismissing the tension with a wave of his hand. "Forget it."
Caesar turned to leave, but the Fish-Men called after him.
"Wait! Stay for a meal! Let us properly thank you!"
"No need," Caesar replied, shaking his head. "I only did what anyone should do. Just… be careful in the future."
With that, he took off into the air, ignoring the surprised gasps and calls for him to stay.
As he soared away, the crowd erupted into murmurs of astonishment.
"Did you see that?! He flew!"
"That has to be a Devil Fruit ability!"
"I've heard of flying Devil Fruit users, but they're rare outside Zoan types. What kind of power does he have?"
Their amazement grew when someone pointed toward a floating blade trailing alongside Caesar.
"Look at that! His sword is floating!"
A hushed shock spread among them. They had been too focused on the mermaids earlier to notice, but now it was undeniable.
Then, a voice broke through the murmur.
"Wait… A man who flies… with a sword floating beside him… Could it be…?"
Recognition dawned on several faces.
"That's right! The Caesar Pirates just arrived at Fish-Man Island!"
"Their captain is said to have a blade that floats by his side!"
Realization struck like a lightning bolt. The crowd erupted in excitement.
"Was that really him? The captain of the Caesar Pirates? The legendary pirate?!"
"The one even the Admirals can't take down?!"
The excitement was electric. After all, the Caesar Pirates weren't just another human crew. They were one of the most feared pirate groups in the world. And more importantly—
"They have a Fish-Man in their crew!"
This revelation hit even harder. The Fish-Man named Hades was known to be a key figure in the Caesar Pirates, a former slave who had been bought at auction—only for Caesar to free him and make him an equal crewmate.
"They don't discriminate against Fish-Men…" someone murmured in awe.
"And now they saved mermaids too!"
The realization spread like wildfire, changing perspectives. Most humans who visited Fish-Man Island were either nobles looking for slaves or pirates seeking trouble. But Caesar and his crew had done the opposite.
"Maybe they're different from other humans…"
"He didn't ask for anything in return. He just left."
Discussions about Caesar and his crew filled every street. The tale of the mermaids' rescue was retold in every corner of the island, and for the first time, many Fish-Men saw a pirate crew that wasn't their enemy.
Meanwhile, unaware of the storm of rumors he had left behind, Caesar continued his journey.
Fish-Man Island wasn't particularly large, but it wasn't small either. At his speed, it didn't take him long to reach his destination—
The Sea Forest.
Caesar hovered in the air, scanning the area below.
In the center of the open clearing, two massive stone tablets stood tall.
One was blue-gray. The other was deep red—blood-colored, eerie yet commanding.
His eyes narrowed.
Poneglyphs.
He descended, stepping onto the sand. As he approached, the ancient text became clearer. He ran his hand over the surface, feeling the weight of history beneath his fingertips.
Unlike Gol D. Roger, he had no ability to hear the "Voice of All Things."
Unlike Nico Robin, he wasn't trained in deciphering these markings.
But he didn't need to.
With his perfect memory, he recorded everything in his mind, just as he had done before with the Poneglyph on Skypiea.
After a few moments, he turned away, his mission complete.
As he left the Sea Forest, he noticed something strange.
Along the way, more and more mermaids and Fish-Men watched him pass. Their expressions were different now—curious, respectful, even grateful.
Some even approached him.
"Thank you for saving our people."
"We misjudged you before. You're not like other humans."
It was only then that Caesar realized—his actions had already spread across the island.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
He continued walking.
Subscribe to Patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters