"Half. I will take half of the Sunlight Tree Eve's sap each year. How about that?"
Rakuya thought it over and offered a middle path. If he took it all, Fish-Man Island would collapse into chaos and he would end up suppressing a rebellion by slaughtering everyone here. He had the power to do it. He simply had no grudge against these people and would not cross that line. That was his rule.
"Agreed. As long as we can keep half each year, our people can live as normal," Neptune said without hesitation, and the hall eased back into warmth.
The Sunlight Tree's light and the sap it shed were both mysterious energies. Rakuya could convert that energy into points. He was already thinking beyond tribute, too. If the islanders could earn money outside, he could buy up every drop of sap without draining their lifeline. It would be like purchasing Devil Fruits by another name.
But on Fish-Man Island making money meant selling sweets at home. To grow, they would have to trade in the surface world, and the moment merfolk and fish-men left the depths they were hunted, hated, kidnapped. Outside their own territory they were targets.
"I need to fix that. They deserve fair treatment," Rakuya thought, and an idea began to form.
"Sir, we will keep our promise. But I have a plea," Neptune said at last, eyes clouded with worry.
"What is it."
"Please protect Fish-Man Island. We have suffered for so long. World Government nobles buy our kin as slaves. Mermaids are tortured to death for sport. Countless pirates make a business of abducting our people. To this day thousands of our countrymen have been sold across the world. Must my people be born only to be abused? I beg you. Save Fish-Man Island."
His voice broke. The great king had lived too long in darkness. At last he saw a savior and could not hold back. Even Momousagi, off to the side, already had tears in her eyes.
"Hey, perv, just say yes," she sniffed. "I had no idea life here was this cruel."
Rakuya did not answer her. He looked at Neptune instead. "You want me to stand as Fish-Man Island's protector. To deter other pirates."
"Yes. Please," Neptune said, and dropped to his knees. Even kneeling, the coelacanth merman's massive frame loomed over Rakuya.
"Please protect us. Please."
"Sir, we beg you."
"Handsome sir, please."
Old and young, mermaid and fish-man alike, they all knelt, eyes full of hope. A handful of young mermaids gazed up at him with trembling lashes. It was not an easy thing to refuse.
"Fine. I will protect Fish-Man Island, and I will not meddle in your internal affairs. In return, you will deliver the Sunlight Tree sap on schedule. If I open a way for you to make money, all of the sap goes to me."
Those drops were energy. Energy meant points. He was not letting that chance slip.
"Done," Neptune said without even pausing to think.
"We have a guardian deity now."
"Let them try to kidnap us again."
A tiny mermaid paddled up, cheeks pink, and planted a kiss on Rakuya's cheek. The pure, earnest look on her face almost melted him. A real little dumpling. He had no untoward thoughts.
"Thank you, big brother. If anyone tries to take me, I will come find you," she said, grinning.
"Count on it," Rakuya said, squeezing her gently.
With the deal struck, he did not waste words. Neptune snapped orders, soldiers swept Ryugu Palace from end to end, and craftsmen patched every broken arch and shattered wall. By late afternoon the palace gleamed again.
Then the feast began. Music filled the halls, and a sea of young mermaids danced with impossible grace. Rakuya's eyes nearly crossed keeping up. A few of them tossed him teasing winks. He kept a solemn face, but his heart pounded.
When the dancing ended, soldiers shouldered in a stack of heavy chests and set them on the marble.
"Sir, this is the treasure we have saved. It all comes from the royal vault. Please inspect it."
Rakuya gestured. One lid sprang open, spilling gold and gems with a soft clatter. He flicked his fingers again and a gentle pull of gravity swept the entire hoard into his keeping.
"What a miraculous power," the onlookers breathed.
"And the sap?" he asked. He did not want to wait. As soon as he absorbed it he would settle. This was what he had been craving.
Right on cue, another file of soldiers marched in carrying barrel after barrel, more than a hundred in all.
"Sir, these hold the Sunlight Tree Eve's sap. We have collected the year's share. Please, take it."
Beep. Unknown energy detected. Retrieve?
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