Fisher Tiger was in a trance. How long had it been since he'd heard humans speak of his people with such genuine, uncomplicated curiosity? In his experience, Fishmen were either slaves or a disgusting, inferior race. To meet humans like the two before him was something he never thought possible.
"Brother! Tell us more about Fish-Man Island!" Merchant A said excitedly. "We've only ever read about it in the newspapers! They say it's a dreamlike place, even more beautiful than the Ryugu Palace!"
Looking into their eyes, which were filled with pure wonder, the walls around Fisher Tiger's heart finally crumbled. The harsh lines on his face softened, and a rare, genuine smile touched his eyes, which were usually clouded with a lifetime of weariness. He began to tell them about his beloved homeland, the underwater paradise located ten thousand meters beneath the sea. The more they talked, the more lively the conversation became, and for a moment, Fisher Tiger felt as if he were in a dream. It was all so incredible. He had sailed many seas and visited countless islands, but this was the first time he had ever set foot in a place that held no prejudice against his race.
As his mood relaxed, he finally brought up another reason for his journey. He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping. "I heard... that the slave trade is completely forbidden in this sea. Is that... true?"
"Of course, it's true!" Merchant A replied instantly, his voice swelling with pride. "That's a supreme directive issued personally by Emperor Takero! Nowadays, if anyone dares to engage in slave trading in the North Blue, they can just wait for the Saiyan Guard to come knocking on their door!"
"That's right," Merchant B added. "I haven't heard a whisper about slave trading in years. Under the Golden Group's influence, the whole business has dried up. If anyone is discovered, the punishment is swift and absolute." He then added thoughtfully, "Besides, the best business now is the Omni-Capsule. The money from selling slaves is nothing compared to that, and the risk is way too high."
Hearing this, Fisher Tiger was once again left speechless. The heinous slave trade, an evil that even the Marines and the World Government couldn't eradicate, had been completely stamped out by a single man—a "criminal" the World Government considered a thorn in its side. His curiosity about this North Blue Emperor, a man he had never met, grew even stronger.
In the human world, Fisher Tiger was known only as a mysterious Fishman explorer. But on Fish-Man Island, his name was legend. For centuries, the relationship between humans and Fish-people had been strained, a chasm of misunderstanding widened by the World Government's deliberate propaganda. Humans were taught to fear and despise Fishmen, and this discrimination was pushed to its absolute extreme by the Celestial Dragons. These so-called "World Nobles" shamelessly purchased sentient beings, including Fishmen, as slaves, parading them around to flaunt their status.
Fisher Tiger was a victim of that very system. During an expedition, he was captured by human slavers, branded with the hoof of the soaring dragon, and sent to the most evil place in the world: the Holy Land of Mary Geoise. There, for three long years, he was treated as a plaything, suffering endless abuse and imprisonment. He witnessed the boundless cruelty of his captors and endured the hell of having his dignity stripped away, unable to even control his own life and death.
Relying on his immense willpower, Tiger finally escaped that hell and returned to Fish-Man Island. He told King Neptune and the kind Queen Otohime everything he had seen—the tragic, hopeless lives of slaves from every corner of the world. "I... can't stand by and do nothing," he had told them, his voice thick with rage and sorrow. He resolved to return to that unforgettable hell and tear it down with his own hands, freeing every last slave.
Queen Otohime, with her powerful Observation Haki, could hear the volcano of sorrow and anger raging in Tiger's heart. She knew she couldn't stop him, so she didn't try. She only looked at him with worried eyes and whispered, "Tiger, please... be careful."
Just as he was preparing to enact his plan, an incredible rumor from the North Blue reached him, forcing him to pause. It spoke of a sea where slavery was forbidden—a place called Ambri Island, the safest and most prosperous island in the North Blue. Most importantly, the rumor claimed it welcomed all races.
At first, he refused to believe it. How could any human, in this day and age, truly forbid slavery from the bottom of their heart? But then he thought of his dear friend, Queen Otohime, and her tireless, decade-long quest for peace between their races. If... if Ambri Island was truly as the rumors said... the Queen would be so happy. For her sake, and to satisfy the last flicker of curiosity he had about "humanity," Fisher Tiger decided to make the journey alone.
Now, having arrived and seen it all with his own eyes, he realized the rumors hadn't been exaggerated—they had been too conservative. On this island, he saw not only Fishmen, but also towering Giants, furry Minks, and other unique races he had never seen before. They all lived together in harmony, their faces beaming with relaxed, genuine smiles. This place... it was the "Sun" country Queen Otohime had always dreamed of.
How had the "criminal" Takero achieved a feat that the good Queen, despite dedicating her life to the cause, could not? He had to meet this man. Fisher Tiger returned to his original question, looking at the two friendly merchants with a new, solemn intensity. "That man named Takero... where does he live? I want to meet him."
His request, however, made both merchants grimace.
"Meet Emperor Takero?" Merchant A waved his hands dismissively. "Brother, I'm afraid that's impossible."
"Why?" Tiger's heart sank.
"Emperor Takero has countless matters to attend to every day," Merchant B explained, lowering his voice. "His status here is supreme! He's not someone just anyone can get an audience with."
"Is there... no way at all?" he asked, unwilling to give up.
Merchant A was about to shake his head, but Merchant B suddenly had a flash of inspiration. "Wait! There might be one way," he said. "It's just... it would be very difficult."
"What is it?!" Hope ignited in Fisher Tiger's eyes.
Merchant B pointed to a huge promotional poster on a wall at the end of the street. "You'd have to win the championship of the 'Third World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament'!" he announced. "As long as you become the champion, you'll earn the supreme honor of speaking directly with Emperor Takero!" He then sized up Tiger's massive frame and added a word of caution. "Of course, brother, it's not that simple. Top fighters from all over the world participate. Winning is no easy task."
His warning was met with a heavy thud.
BANG!
Fisher Tiger slammed his hand on the table. The solid wood tabletop instantly cracked under the force. In his deep eyes, a blazing fire named "determination" burned brighter than ever before.
"That competition..." he growled. "...How do I enter?!"
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