This horrific scene deeply shocked the remaining slave hunters on Fish-Man Island who were preparing to depart. They stood frozen, staring in disbelief at the wreckage drifting in the distant sea.
At first, they did not even feel fear—the sight was so overwhelming that their minds simply went blank. But as the reality of the situation sank in, dread gripped them.
It was clear that this was no accident.
The next moment, panic set in. Their survival instincts screamed at them to run, to fight back, to escape—but no one dared to act.
The shattered remains of the slave ships outside Fish-Man Island were proof enough: there was no escaping this fate.
"Wh-What do we do?! We can't run—whoever tries will die!"
One of the slave hunters clutched his head in horror, squatting down as his face turned deathly pale.
"We were lucky… If we had left earlier, we'd be dead already!"
Another whispered, shivering as cold sweat trickled down his back.
Terror spread like wildfire. The entire group, once arrogant and ruthless, had now fallen into chaos.
Realizing that escape was impossible, they hesitated—then made a collective decision. Instead of fleeing, they scattered and retreated into Coral Hill, attempting to blend into the local population.
With desperate hope, they believed that by hiding among the fish-men, they could avoid Caesar's wrath.
And yet, despite this false sense of security, an unbearable weight pressed down on them.
Even concealed in the shadows, they feared the moment Caesar might appear before them.
---
Meanwhile, in Coral Apartments, Caesar calmly sipped his coffee, savoring a special Fish-Man Island dessert.
His sharp eyes flickered for a moment, and an almost imperceptible smirk formed at the corner of his lips.
---
News of the destroyed ship spread quickly across Fish-Man Island.
To the uninformed, it was merely an unfortunate accident—perhaps the work of a sea beast or an undersea current.
But to the slave hunters, it was as if the sky itself had collapsed.
They understood all too well what had happened.
Since they could no longer flee, they could only hope—hope that luck would spare them from Caesar's wrath.
And yet, after this single night of terror, an unexpected change took place.
For the first time in years, the crime rate on Fish-Man Island plummeted.
The abduction of mermaids ceased completely.
Human criminals, once rampant, suddenly became model citizens.
Even the Fish-Man Island sheriffs, accustomed to constant troubles, found themselves marveling:
"It's never been this peaceful before…"
From that day on, any ship near Fish-Man Island could only leave—none dared to enter.
---
Caesar and his crew spent two more days enjoying Fish-Man Island.
On the third day, King Mars sent his eldest son, Neptune, to meet them once again.
This time, Neptune arrived with a grand entourage of royal soldiers.
As the crown prince and future ruler, he was expected to carry himself with dignity—especially in these turbulent times.
However, unlike before, none of the royal ministers accompanied him.
Neptune alone stood before Caesar and his crew, flanked by two rows of soldiers.
"The Caesar Pirates," Neptune announced, his tone measured yet courteous. "I am here today to formally invite you to Ryugu Palace as esteemed guests."
His gaze briefly scanned their expressions before continuing, "I hope you have enjoyed your time here. Has the food and scenery of Fish-Man Island been to your liking?"
This time, Caesar did not refuse.
He simply nodded and replied, "Not bad. Fish-Man Island's scenery and food are quite unique."
Hearing this, Neptune discreetly exhaled in relief.
Two days prior, a ship—suspected to belong to slave traders—had been annihilated near the island.
Knowing Caesar's abilities, the royal family had little doubt about who was responsible.
Yet, rather than fear, Neptune felt a shift in perspective.
A man who struck down the enemies of Fish-Man Island was not a threat—he was an ally.
With a slight smile, Neptune gestured toward the palace.
"This way, please."
---
Ryugu Palace had stood as the royal seat of Fish-Man Island for nearly 800 years.
Its vast halls, vibrant coral structures, and elegant design set it apart from any architecture Caesar had seen before.
Compared to the floating islands and sky palaces he had visited, Ryugu Palace possessed a unique grandeur.
As the crew wandered through its halls, even the normally haughty Veina found herself impressed.
"As expected of Ryugu Palace," she murmured. "It truly lives up to its name."
Gnali, surveying the surroundings, nodded in agreement.
Hades, who had grown up on Fish-Man Island, smirked at their reactions.
There was a particular pride in seeing one's homeland admired by outsiders.
As Caesar took in the scenery, he mentally compared it to the palaces of his past life.
In sheer spectacle, Ryugu Palace easily surpassed them all.
This world was simply too vast, too magical.
---
Under Neptune's guidance, the group arrived at the palace's grand banquet hall.
Upon entering, Caesar's eyes were immediately drawn to a short mermaid standing across the room.
She had long blonde hair, striking blue eyes, and an orange flower accessory.
A wave of familiarity washed over him.
Then, it clicked.
This was none other than Otohime, the future Queen of the Sea, and the mother of Shirahoshi.
A woman known for her rare Conqueror's Haki, capable of sensing the emotions of others.
Otohime met Caesar's gaze, studying him for a moment before offering a warm smile.
She did not speak, but her presence alone was enough to leave an impression.
Otohime had always been a firm advocate for peace between humans and fish-men. Unlike many of her kin, she held no inherent hatred toward human beings.
Caesar simply nodded in return, unaware of the fleeting look of surprise in Otohime's eyes.
---
The banquet hall was vast and magnificently decorated.
A large, ornate table sat at the center, lined with neatly arranged tableware.
Just from the careful placement of utensils, Caesar could tell that Ryugu Palace valued precision and formality.
It was a clear sign of sincerity.
At the head of the hall, King Mars awaited them.
As Caesar and his crew entered, Mars immediately rose from his throne and swam toward them, his expression warm and welcoming.
His demeanor was nothing like that of a traditional king—there was no arrogance, no superiority, only hospitality.
Yet as Mars approached, he abruptly stopped.
Noticing that Caesar and his crew were still within their air bubbles, he promptly ordered the palace attendants to release a massive bubble membrane.
This allowed the air to be fully expelled from the room, ensuring comfort for all present.
Caesar silently noted this act.
A king who paid attention to such details was rare.
Mars, once a battle-hardened warrior with a short temper, had mellowed with age.
Now, his priority was ensuring peace and stability for his people.
Finally, Mars grinned and gestured toward the seats.
"Come now, don't stand there stiffly!" he laughed. "Sit, sit! There's no need to be so formal!"
As everyone took their places, Mars' gaze lingered on Caesar before he spoke again.
"I've heard many tales of Captain Caesar's strength and brilliance. But seeing you in person… Hah! You are even more remarkable than the rumors claim!"
He then turned his attention to the rest of the crew.
"And it is not just Caesar—each member of his crew is exceptional as well!"
Caesar merely smirked. "You flatter us, King Mars."
Mars let out a hearty laugh, then leaned forward.
And, as if merely reminiscing, he brought up an old memory.
The day Hades was nearly sold into slavery.
He ended with a sincere expression.
"For saving Hades, for rescuing Belisa at Sabaody, and for protecting the mermaids here… I offer you my deepest gratitude."
A rare moment of solemnity passed between them.
Then Mars smiled again.
"Hades is a fine young man. I have no doubt he will grow into a true warrior one day!"
At this, Hades straightened in his seat, eyes burning with excitement.
For him, there was no greater honor.
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