[~1250 Words]
<<--⚡ ⚓ 💄 ⚓🍑⚓🍷⚓⚡ —>>
Neptune, who had always considered himself a competent king, had never before been told outright that his governance was lacking. His face flushed crimson with indignation.
"My governance is poor? And where exactly is it poor? Do not speak so carelessly!"
James waved a hand dismissively, his tone sharp and disdainful.
"I don't have the patience to nitpick minor failures. Let's speak of the greatest blight you've allowed to fester—the Fish-Man District. That place was once built to shelter orphans and offer hope. Now? It's a nest of crime and lawlessness. Do I need to remind you of its current state?"
He turned to Shyarly. "You lived there once. Tell him yourself."
Neptune's expression stiffened. He knew all too well that James spoke the truth.
Shyarly sighed, her voice calm but cutting. "After more than a decade of neglect, Fish-Man District has become a haven for criminal gangs."
"Not only that," James continued mercilessly, "Nearly every strong fighter on Fish-Man Island has gathered there, alongside more than a hundred thousand small-time thugs. They could overthrow your throne if they wished. You've allowed a power base to rise directly against your rule. And you call that competent governance?"
Neptune faltered, his pride crumbling. "I… I let them be, out of respect for Jinbe. That is why I did not purge them." His excuse sounded feeble, even to his own ears.
James laughed coldly. "A king of a nation who indulges enemies out of personal sentiment? This is exactly why I intend to strip power from your hands. You've doomed your own kingdom through your weakness."
Neptune lowered his head, unable to form a rebuttal.
"Enough," James said firmly. "If you truly care for the future of Fish-Man Island, then obey my arrangements. I will see to it that proper governance is instilled. I will train merfolk and fish-men to govern properly. You may even put forward your descendants for consideration—but only the most capable will serve under me."
His gaze hardened. "And as for Shirahoshi—she will be my God Consort, the Queen of Fish-Man Island, and I will teach her personally how to rule. She will govern in my stead."
"Shirahoshi…" The mention of his daughter's name made Neptune stiffen. "She's only—" He stopped, the words caught in his throat.
Shyarly's prophecy echoed in his mind, reminding him that no matter what he said, the future had already been revealed. Resistance was futile.
He sank heavily into his chair, his body trembling as he thought of his late wife, Queen Otohime.
After her death, he had vowed to honor her dream of peaceful coexistence with humans, to bring hope to the merfolk and fish-men, and to one day live in harmony on the surface. But fate had dragged him to this point. Perhaps even his resistance could not alter what had been decreed.
Slowly, Neptune's eyes steadied. His heart still ached, but there was resolve in his gaze now. If sacrifice was required for Fish-Man Island's future, then he would make it.
At the very least, if Shirahoshi could live safely and happily, his role as father would not have been in vain.
"If you can truly achieve the future Shyarly foretold… if you can raise Fish-Man Island into the light and protect my people… then I will agree to your request," Neptune said gravely. His eyes burned with paternal desperation. "But I have only one condition. You must swear to protect Shirahoshi, to cherish her, and never let her shed tears again."
James blinked, momentarily taken aback. Neptune might not be a capable king, but he was undeniably a devoted father.
"Rest easy," James replied. "Though I have not yet seen Shirahoshi with my own eyes, Shyarly has told me much of her pure and gentle nature. As my Queen, she will be given nothing but endless love and protection. That, I promise."
He leaned forward, his tone commanding yet reassuring. "And fear not for the future of your people. Humans of the surface may despise fish-men, but the citizens of my Sky Kingdom will not. My subjects will not only defend against outside threats but will also accept and grow curious about those who live peacefully among them."
Neptune's shoulders sagged with relief. "Then I am at ease." He paused, hesitating before deciding that James must know.
"There is something else… Shirahoshi is Poseidon, the mermaid princess who appears once every eight hundred years. She already holds the power, though she cannot yet wield it fully."
"I know," James said calmly. "The Poneglyphs in the archives of my kingdom recorded it long ago. I did not expect you to finally admit it—but I see now that you've accepted reality."
Neptune chuckled weakly. "So it seems."
James stood, his decision absolute. "Since matters are settled, the next step is execution. Tomorrow, gather every mermaid and fish-man at Gyoncorde Plaza. They will hear of the future of Fish-Man Island directly from me. As for now—I will visit Fish-Man District to stretch my muscles and remove the rot and secure this island's foundation."
He turned sharply before adding, "And one more thing. The Ryugu Kingdom's treasure chest—the Tamatebako—dispose of it quietly. Hody Jones swapped its contents long ago. It doesn't have any treasure, only a powerful bomb."
"What!?" Neptune's eyes widened in horror. His voice trembled. "I always suspected Hody… but never imagined his treachery went so far."
James brushed off the matter. "When they wake, explain it to your court yourself. Shyarly and I are leaving."
As he turned, Neptune called out suddenly, desperation in his tone. "Wait, Mr. James! My daughter Shirahoshi is being tormented by Vander Decken. He is a Target-Target Devil Fruit user. I beg you—kill him."
James narrowed his eyes. Vander Decken… He knew the name well. The thought that Ryugu Kingdom, with all its might, had failed to eliminate such a pitiful foe only further lowered his opinion of their rule.
Neptune, his sons, even Jinbe and the Sun Pirates had failed in this? Shameful.
"Do not worry," James said coolly. "When I go to see Shirahoshi, I will kill him. He will not trouble her again."
Relief washed over Neptune's face, his heart unburdened from a weight he had carried for years.
But before James could depart, Neptune swam swiftly to the side of the throne. From a hidden compartment behind it, he retrieved a small, ornate box. His expression was heavy as he placed it into James's hands.
"This was left by Queen Otohime for Shirahoshi. I had always intended to give it to her on her wedding day… but now, I entrust it to you. With this gift, she will accept you, no matter how sudden your arrival into her life may seem."
The box gleamed faintly, carrying not just Otohime's blessing but also the weight of an entire kingdom's hope.
<<--⚡ ⚓ 💄 ⚓🍑⚓🍷⚓⚡ —>>