Takuro stepped back onto the deck of the Conqueror with an effortless grace. The ship's specialized coating slid off his skin like simple water droplets, leaving him perfectly dry. Robin had been waiting for his return, her elegant features softening with a touch of genuine concern as she approached him.
"Master, I noticed a bit of a commotion out there just now," she said, her voice smooth and melodic. "Nothing serious happened, I hope?"
Takuro waved his hand dismissively, as if he had just finished swatting a bothersome fly. "It was nothing worth mentioning, Robin. Just a Fishman with a serious attitude problem who thought it was a good idea to try and stab me. I slapped him away. I left Tiger to deal with the rest of the mess. It's a minor issue, really."
His tone was completely relaxed. He wasn't the least bit bothered by Hody Jones's pathetic attempt at an ambush or Jinbe's obvious hostility. To a man of his standing, such things were barely worth a thought.
Just then, a voice came from the side—cool and composed, though it seemed to be hiding a bit of hesitation. "Are... are you alright?"
Takuro turned toward the sound and saw Gion, the Marine Vice Admiral known as Momousagi. She was leaning against the ship's railing with her arms crossed tightly. Her gaze was fixed on the distant, glowing silhouette of Fish-Man Island, but it was obvious the corner of her eye was locked onto him. She was dressed in simple white casual clothes, and the deep-sea breeze ruffled her long, dark hair. In the faint, shimmering light refracted by the ocean depths, her profile looked exquisite, though her pursed lips betrayed her inner turmoil.
Takuro raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. He walked over to her, deliberately stepping into her personal space. Leaning in close, he whispered, "What's this? Is our esteemed Marine Vice Admiral actually worried about me?"
"Who—who's worried about you!" Gion snapped, reacting like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She whipped her head around to glare at him, but two faint blushes crept onto her fair cheeks. Her voice became hurried and defensive. "I'm just... I'm just worried you'll cause a diplomatic disaster! You're fighting the Fish-Man race in the middle of the deep sea. I'm afraid you don't know the gravity of the situation and you'll end up dragging everyone down with your recklessness!"
She tried to deny it, but deep down, she couldn't ignore the strange ache of worry in her chest. Regardless of their opposing sides, Takuro was the first man she had ever been intimate with. That connection had left a mark on her, both physically and spiritually, making it impossible to remain truly indifferent to his safety.
Her mind drifted to her previous conversation with Great Staff Officer Tsuru. Her mentor had been uncharacteristically subtle, even implying that Gion should stay by Takuro's side and "take care" of him. Those words acted like a catalyst, allowing an unusual emotion to grow in her heart like a creeping vine, winding itself around her logic until she couldn't tell duty from desire.
As Gion's thoughts spiraled—wondering if he had sustained some hidden injury or if he had just started a war with the Ryugu Kingdom—she felt the world shift.
"Ah!"
She let out a short gasp as her feet left the deck. Suddenly, she was pulled into Takuro's powerful arms. The familiar scent of him, a mix of sea salt and overwhelming dominance, enveloped her completely.
"Let go of me! You scoundrel!" Gion's face turned a deep crimson. She put up a symbolic struggle, her fists thumping against Takuro's solid chest like a light tickle. However, her body betrayed her. After the initial shock, she found herself relaxing into his warm, reassuring embrace, her instincts overriding her pride.
Robin stood nearby, watching the scene with a knowing, elegant smile. she didn't say a word to interrupt, content to be a quiet observer of the unfolding drama.
Takuro looked down at the stunning woman in his arms. Seeing her shy, angry, and flustered all at once only made his smirk widen. He leaned down, his face inches from her ear. His hot breath brushed against her sensitive earlobe as he spoke in a deep, magnetic rumble.
"What's the matter? Did you really think something would happen to me? Hmm?"
"I... I..." Gion's strength seemed to evaporate. Her brain felt like it had turned to mush. Usually, she was one of the sharpest tongues in the Marine Headquarters, but now she couldn't even form a coherent sentence. Her heart was pounding like a drum against her ribs.
The amusement in Takuro's eyes was clear. He lowered his voice to a husky growl. "It seems you're still not used to having me around. You're so unforthcoming... I think I'll have to find a way to make you a little more honest."
Before Gion could process what he meant, he shifted his weight. With a smooth, effortless motion, he lifted her into a standard princess carry.
"Ah! What are you doing?! Put me down this instant!" Suspended in the air, Gion cried out in surprise. Her hands instinctively wrapped around Takuro's neck to keep her balance, an action that made her even more embarrassed once she realized she was holding onto him.
Takuro laughed heartily, ignoring her protests. He turned toward the ship's cabin, carrying the Vice Admiral as if she weighed nothing at all. Without looking back, he glanced over his shoulder at Robin.
"Robin, you too," he said. "Come and help out."
Robin was caught off guard for a second, then a bright, shy smile bloomed on her face. "Yes, Master!" she responded quickly. Her heart swelled with a warm current of anticipation. She was thrilled that he had remembered her, and she followed him with light, hurried steps.
"You bastard! Shameless! Put me down! I don't need help!" Gion's cries echoed across the deck, growing more distant as they entered the cabin. Despite her words, the conviction was gone from her voice. Her protests were drowned out by Takuro's booming laughter and the soft sound of Robin's footsteps following behind them.
Back near the coral reefs, Fisher Tiger felt the weight lift from his shoulders as he watched the Conqueror settle. He immediately turned his attention to the task at hand, directing several Ryugu Palace guards to retrieve Hody Jones. The radical Fishman was wedged into a reef, unconscious, with one side of his face swollen to twice its normal size.
After a quick medical check, Tiger sighed in relief. Hody had some broken bones in his jaw and a severe concussion, but he was alive. Takuro had indeed "shown mercy," even if his version of mercy was a brutal lesson in power.
As the guards moved Hody, Jinbe swam over to Tiger. He looked at his mentor, noting the lingering awe in Tiger's eyes whenever he looked at Takuro's ship.
"Brother Tiger," Jinbe started, his voice low and serious. "Is there something important that brought you back to Fish-Man Island so suddenly? I find it hard to believe you'd return now, especially on a ship belonging to such a... terrifying human."
Tiger withdrew his gaze from the Conqueror, his expression hardening. He nodded solemnly. "Yes, Jinbe. There is something very important. This matter... it concerns the very future of Fish-Man Island."
He paused, looking at the surrounding guards. Even though they were following orders, he could see the wariness and hatred in their eyes as they looked at the human vessel. He shook his head. "This isn't the place for this conversation. The situation is too complex to explain in a few words. I need to speak directly with King Neptune and Queen Otohime."
When Tiger mentioned the Queen, Jinbe's eyes narrowed slightly. Queen Otohime had spent her life trying to bridge the gap between their people and the surface world, a goal that many Fishmen—especially extremists like Hody—hated. If Tiger wanted to see the Queen, it meant this had everything to do with the world above.
Jinbe felt like he was missing a piece of the puzzle, likely involving the unfathomable power of the man named Takuro, but he didn't press for answers. He had followed Tiger for years and knew the man didn't exaggerate.
"I understand, Brother Tiger," Jinbe said with a firm nod. "If the fate of the island is at stake, we shouldn't waste time. Let's head to Ryugu Palace immediately. The King and Queen will be relieved to see you've returned safely."
Jinbe turned to the elite guard squad and raised his voice so it carried through the water. "Attention! We are escorting Brother Tiger back to the palace at once! We have an audience with His Majesty!"
The guards responded with a unified shout. Despite their lingering fear of the "Conqueror" and its captain, their loyalty to the hero of the Fishman district was absolute. The squad fell into a majestic formation, with Jinbe leading the way. They began the journey toward the heart of the island, moving swiftly through the deep toward the glowing, double-layered bubble of Fish-Man Island.
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