[~1500 Words]
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James raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with feigned displeasure.
"What? You want to learn how to control Sea Kings as well? Surely you don't think that by inviting me to a single meal, I would hand over my greatest secret so casually?"
"You—!"
Smack!
Prince Manboshi, unable to contain his fury, shouted in protest, only to be silenced mid-word by a sharp, resounding smack on the head from Prince Fukaboshi.
The sound echoed through the hall, leaving an awkward tension hanging in the air.
"Iapologize! Mr. James" Prince Fukaboshi said hurriedly, bowing low. "My younger brother has been spoiled and spoke out of turn. He overindulged today… Sea King Army! Escort Prince Manboshi to his room at once!"
Prince Manboshi's face burned with indignation, but under Fukaboshi's stern order, the Sea King Army seized him and led him away.
His muffled protests faded down the corridor, leaving behind only a heavy silence.
James did not even glance at him. His gaze, calm yet razor-sharp, shifted directly to Neptune.
King Neptune forced an apologetic smile, though unease flickered behind his eyes. "Mr. James, my son has grown arrogant under my care. He does not yet grasp the immensity of heaven and earth. I beg you to forgive his insolence."
James remained utterly expressionless, offering neither rebuke nor acknowledgment. The weight of that silence pressed down on Neptune until he was compelled to continue.
"Of course," Neptune said carefully, "if Mr. James does not wish to share his secret, we have no intention of forcing you… However, tell me, Mr. James—have you ever heard of Poseidon?"
James narrowed his eyes slightly.
The way Neptune phrased his question was too cautious, too rehearsed.
His words sounded diplomatic, but James could see through the ploy.
If Neptune truly had the means, he would never let go of anyone capable of controlling Sea Kings. This ability was the very lifeline of Fish-Man Island.
"I've heard fragments," James replied coolly. "Poseidon… one of the three Ancient Weapons. A legend."
"To be frank," Neptune admitted, his voice lowering, "the legend speaks of Poseidon being born here, on Fish-Man Island. The King of Sea Kings… she alone possesses the ability to converse with them." He glanced at James meaningfully. "Your ability bears striking resemblance to hers. That is why I could not remain silent."
James could almost hear the thought behind his words: He's trying to protect Shirahoshi.
He gave a faint nod. The moment to advance his plan had arrived.
"My ability to command Sea Kings has nothing to do with legend," James said firmly. "A Sea King attacked me on my way here. I crushed it—and once subdued, it surrendered and willingly became my guide to Fish-man Island."
"What!?"
Neptune's composure cracked. His massive frame shifted in disbelief.
"You defeated… a Sea King? A beast stretching two thousand meters… defeated by your hands?"
His eyes widened further, realization dawning. "And you say… after defeating it, it chose to serve you? Could it be that you truly understand the language of Sea Kings?"
"That's right," James answered simply, his voice like steel.
The revelation struck Neptune like thunder.
Memories surged of his old friend Roger, who once demonstrated the ability to communicate with Sea Kings. But that was only conversation—Roger had never commanded them.
Yet James… God Emperor James could command Sea Kings.
Before Neptune could gather himself, James moved.
With a thought, a wave of overwhelming Conqueror's Haki erupted from him. The air trembled, the chandeliers above swayed violently, and one by one, courtiers and guards collapsed where they stood.
In the span of a breath, the vast hall fell into silence, its occupants sprawled unconscious upon the floor.
Only James, Shyarly, and Neptune remained conscious.
Neptune stiffened, his heart pounding as the sheer force of that Haki pressed against his very soul. His massive body tensed, ready to bolt if James struck.
"Mr. James! What is the meaning of this?"
James waved a hand dismissively. "Calm yourself. They're merely unconscious. What comes next is not meant for their ears."
He glanced at Shyarly. "Shyarly."
Understanding at once, Shyarly stepped forward, her tone calm but resolute. "Your Majesty Neptune, do you still remember the prophecy I gave you few months ago?"
Neptune blinked, startled. His gaze flickered from her to James, then back again.
"Yes… I remember. You spoke of the coming `Marineford War´—the greatest conflict since the rise of the Great Pirate Era. A war where Whitebeard himself would meet his end."
"That's right." Shyarly's expression darkened with gravity. "I cannot pinpoint the exact day, but it is near—mere months at most. And today, I had another prophecy, one I cannot ignore."
She drew in a steadying breath. "Fish-Man Island will, under Emperor James's rule, fulfill the millennium-long dream of our people. We will ascend to the Sky Country - Skypiea, where endless sunshine and pure air await us."
"What!?" Neptune's voice thundered with shock.
Yet even as disbelief surged, he knew Shyarly's prophecies had never once been wrong. He had trusted her blindly before, even risking political chaos, simply because her words were absolute.
"Then…" Neptune's throat tightened. "You mean… Mr. James will become ruler of Fish-Man Island? Our savior?"
"Yes," Shyarly affirmed. "Under his rule, the mermaids and fish-men will finally live without chains. Even PrincessShirahoshi will stand beside him as his God Consort."
Neptune's breath caught. "And… and me? Where do I stand in this future?"
Shyarly lowered her gaze. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. In my vision, you were not present. But I saw the faces of our people, smiling brightly, freed from oppression. Perhaps you had returned to them—serving quietly, not as a king, but as a guardian."
Neptune fell silent, a storm of emotion surging within him.
Neptune's breath caught. "And Fish-Man Island itself? Do we abandon our home?"
James's voice cut through the silence, calm and commanding. "Fish-Man Island will not remain beneath the sea. I will raise it. From ten thousand meters below, to ten thousand meters above—the very sky itself."
Neptune's jaw tightened. "That… that is impossible. Fish-Man Island, flying into the sky? Even Golden Lion Shiki, wielder of the Float-Float Fruit, could achieve such a thing only through his Devil Fruit power. But Shiki is—"
"Dead," James interrupted coldly. "Slain by my hand. His Devil Fruit power is mine now."
Neptune froze.
The hall fell utterly still.
James leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with divine authority. "This is not your concern. My purpose is clear: as Shyarly has foretold, I will take Fish-Man Island and bring it under my divine rule. Your people will live upon the surface world, bathed in endless sunlight. The dream of your ancestors will be fulfilled at last. But everything has a price."
Neptune's body trembled. "What… what price?"
"The price," James declared, "is that the Ryugu royal family must relinquish its power. You will surrender your rule and hand over complete authority to me, the God Emperor."
The words struck Neptune like a hammer. His lips parted, but no words came at first. Finally, in a hoarse whisper, he managed: "This…"
Power. It was not something easily given up, even in the name of salvation.
To abandon power held by generations of his family… it was unthinkable.
Yet how could he deny the promise of his people's long-awaited dream?
At last, Neptune tried to salvage something. His voice was measured, cautious. "Why? If you only wish for Ryugu Kingdom to become a vassal state of your Sky Country, we would not resist. Why strip us of our rule entirely? If you do, Fish-Man Island will descend into chaos!"
James's eyes hardened, his tone like thunder. "Hmph! Empty excuses. Your governance has been weak, your rule riddled with failure. I have no use for kings who cannot lead their people. Under my divine rule, Fish-Man Island will prosper. That is why your power must be taken from you."
The weight of his words lingered, unshakable and final, as Neptune sat frozen, torn between pride, fear, and the undeniable hope for his people's future.
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