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What future could be brighter than under Duke's leadership?
Though Duke exploits ordinary people in the pirate world, making them work hard to earn money for him, he at least offers a chance to earn a living through their labor. Under his rule, people can live peacefully, without the constant fear of being attacked or killed by pirates.
They no longer have to worry about being exploited by kings and nobles who take everything from them, or about those rulers who would burn entire villages just to protect their own reputation, turning the survivors into slaves at any moment.
Duke may not be a good person, but he has a flexible moral code. In comparison to the kings, nobles, and pirates of the world, Duke at least has some sense of morality. These other figures, however, have no morals at all. The pirate world is a chaotic and hopeless abyss.
"Are you the current boss of Fish-Man Street?" Jinbe asked.
"I want to express my deep gratitude to you for driving away the pirates who dared to attack Fish-Man Island and for protecting the entire island not long ago."
Jinbe looked at the young, beautiful Tide Summoner, Samehime, in front of him. He was momentarily stunned, then bowed deeply and expressed his sincere thanks.
Jinbe did not want Fish-Man Island to fall into civil strife, but he was genuinely grateful for Nami's actions.
As a fishman himself, Jinbe felt a deep sense of responsibility. Had he not left Fish-Man Island with the Fish-Man Pirates, he feared the island would have been looted by pirates. That thought would have haunted him forever.
Currently, the Fish-Man Pirates were the most powerful force on the island, second only to Nami and Fitz.
Ironically, despite the Ryugu Kingdom having a population of five million, the kingdom's strongest combat force was a pirate group. The Poseidon Army in Ryugu Kingdom was practically useless.
In terms of official power, Jinbe, as a former Warlord of the Sea, was the protector of the island. On the dark side, Ryugu Kingdom and the Poseidon Army were backed by Whitebeard's flag.
Jinbe had not experienced such brutal battles in a long time. Strength and skill are born from endless combat. The Navy Headquarters had a structured training system, but in this sea, most of the powerful middle- and high-level fighters were still pirates.
Who knows how many sea legends are locked away in Impel Down? Since the start of the Great Pirate Era, the Navy Headquarters has struggled to keep up, even as its strength grew. There are simply too many pirates on the sea!
From the Four Seas to the Grand Line and all the way to the New World, the journey is brutal and unforgiving. Pirates who don't grow stronger quickly are doomed to either die or be imprisoned, with no other options. They either become stronger or wait silently for their end—there's no question of what they must choose.
Jinbe expressed his sincere gratitude to Nami, while the quirky Fitz, with a mischievous look, stared at Jinbe as he bowed, making faces without concern.
Fitz, the tidal sea spirit, has a long life, but his mind never matured. If it weren't for his unreliable nature, Fitz, who can communicate with and summon Sea Kings like Poseidon Shirahoshi, would have been more suited to lead Fish-Man Island than Nami. But how could a mischievous child, always playing pranks, be a good king?
Could Fitz lead the fishmen of Fish-Man Island, playing hide-and-seek with pirates diving into the deep sea every day?
"I am also part of Fish-Man Island," Nami declared with conviction. "It is my duty to protect all fishmen and lead them to a bright future!"
Nami gazed at Jinbe, who had expressed his gratitude, and Kaido, indifferent as ever. As the queen of Fish-Man Island, wasn't it her responsibility to protect the citizens? Even though she hadn't been crowned yet, Nami already considered herself the ruler.
Jinbe fell into a heavy silence after Nami spoke, understanding the determination behind her words. But he knew that only one person could truly lead Fish-Man Island into the future. Only the king could bear that responsibility.
"Is there no other way?" Jinbe asked, his voice tinged with a sense of hopelessness. "Neptune was a generous and merciful king."
He tried to persuade Nami one last time, hoping there might be another way.
Nami, the Tide Summoner, responded coldly, "Does being kind and merciful make someone a good king?"
She continued, her voice firm, "Neptune has been king of the Ryugu Kingdom for decades. And yet, countless fishmen on Fish-Man Island still have to hide in the shadows. Only a few rich and powerful fishmen get to bask in the sun, while the majority of the citizens can only dream of enjoying its warmth on rare occasions."
"There's even Fish-Man Street, where not a single ray of sunlight touches the ground all year round!" Nami's voice was full of determination.
"Aren't the fishmen from Fish-Man Street also citizens of Neptune?" she asked, her eyes narrowing. "Are there over 100,000 fishmen who don't even exist in Neptune's eyes?"
The existence of Fish-Man Street was a dark stain on Neptune's rule that he could never erase.
When Jinbe thought about Fish-Man Street, his expression grew heavy. He, along with Arlong, Fisher Tiger, and others, had come from Fish-Man Street. He understood its cruelty better than anyone, even Nami.
"I can't lead the people of Fish-Man Island to live openly in the sunlight," Jinbe said quietly, though there was no blame in his voice. "After all, even the dozens of kings before Neptune couldn't bring the citizens to the sun. The Dragon Palace Kingdom has always been like this—it can only do so much."
Nami shook her head. "But just because it's always been like this doesn't mean it's right!" She stared deeply into Jinbe's eyes. "Don't the citizens of Fish-Man Island deserve to live in the sunlight?"
Jinbe was silent, but Nami continued, her voice growing even more determined. "If Neptune cannot bring hope and a bright future to all the citizens of Fish-Man Island, then I will lead them to the light."
Nami truly saw the mermaids as her own people. For her, the future of Fish-Man Island was something worth fighting for.
Jinbe paused for a moment before speaking again, his voice full of concern. "But Neptune has a strong bond with Whitebeard. If Neptune is no longer the king of the Dragon Palace Kingdom, Whitebeard will surely take back his flag."
Nami didn't respond immediately, but she understood the weight of his words. Jinbe wasn't like Hody Jones and others who would recklessly seek power at any cost, disregarding the lives of their people. After Nami appeared on Fish-Man Island, everything she did was to bring a better future for the island.
But Jinbe was torn. He could easily defeat anyone who sought to rebel, but facing Nami—someone strong enough to truly bring about change—he didn't know what choice to make.
And Nami was strong. Her ability to control the sea was a terrifying deterrent. Whitebeard claimed to have the power to destroy the world, but he didn't mean it literally. What he really meant was that the tsunami caused by his Shock Fruit could swallow up and submerge any island or kingdom—except the Red Line.
Nami wasn't just powerful; she was a force to be reckoned with.