Under the steady guidance of the helmsman Jinbe, the voyage of the "Conqueror" entered a period of smooth and peaceful sailing. Traveling deep beneath the ocean surface was quite different from the turbulent waves above. Down here, everything felt quiet, though the ship was constantly enveloped by the immense pressure of the deep sea.
The massive vessel passed through layer after layer of faintly glowing seawater. It felt as if they were traversing a shimmering curtain at the very edge of a dream. Finally, the ship slowly penetrated a vast and resilient bubble membrane. At that moment, it felt like they had entered a fantasy realm that didn't belong to the human world at all.
A breathtakingly enormous island slowly revealed itself before everyone's eyes. Countless corals, layered in every color of the rainbow, formed the skeletons of magnificent buildings. Glowing seaweeds, looking like fallen stars, intertwined between the streets and houses. The entire island looked like a fairy tale wonderland steeped in starlight.
As the light refracted through the rippling water, it created a spectrum of beautiful colors. Schools of fish and floating jellyfish moved like flowing fireworks. They lived in harmony with the Fishmen and Mermaids who were passing through the busy streets.
"Mr. Takuro, we have arrived," Jinbe said. His voice was steady, but it carried a hint of pride that he couldn't quite hide.
Fisher Tiger was already impatient to be home. He strode onto the wet and warm land of Fish-Man Island and turned back to Takuro. He spread his arms wide, his voice loud and full of enthusiasm.
"Welcome to Fish-Man Island!" Tiger shouted.
Takuro raised an eyebrow slightly, looking around with genuine interest. The air here was humid and fresh, smelling of seaweed and coral. Giant shells formed beautiful archways, and glowing pearls were embedded along the roads to act as guides. He even noticed a few small, glowing octopuses snuggling beside a young Mermaid like common house pets.
"Indeed... this is quite interesting," Takuro murmured to himself. He turned to look at the two women standing beside him—Nico Robin and Gion.
However, the normally intellectual and composed Robin, along with the valiant and decisive Gion, both appeared a bit disheveled. Robin was practically slumped against the ship's rail. Her cheeks were flushed and her breathing was uneven, as if all her strength had been drained away. Gion was managing to stand straight, but her breathing was also shaky. She glared fiercely at Takuro when he looked over and quickly turned her face away with an expression that clearly said she didn't want to talk to him.
Seeing them like this didn't annoy Takuro. Instead, he let out a low, wicked chuckle.
"Alright, Tiger," Takuro said, turning his attention back to the Fishman hero. "This is your territory. You should arrange the rest of the journey."
Tiger nodded solemnly. He knew the heavy responsibility of this trip. First, he had to quickly stop Queen Otohime's naive and dangerous "National Signature Campaign." That campaign could push Fish-Man Island into the eye of a storm and invite a disaster they couldn't handle. Second, there was Takuro's wish. Takuro intended to "cooperate" with Fish-Man Island. More directly, he wanted to bring this powerful race of the deep sea under his control.
Neither of these tasks would be easy. Tiger knew he couldn't make the big decisions himself. All he could do was act as a bridge to facilitate a formal meeting between Takuro and the rulers, King Neptune and Queen Otohime.
"Your Excellency Takuro, I need to go to Ryugu Palace first," Tiger said respectfully. "I must report the situation to King Neptune and Queen Otohime and explain your intentions. During this time, please rest here with your companions. Once I have made the arrangements, I will send someone to pick you up."
"No problem, you go ahead," Takuro said with a relaxed wave of his hand.
Tiger said no more. He gathered Jinbe and the rest of his group and hurried off toward the magnificent Ryugu Palace at the top of the island. As they departed, Robin let out a soft breath. She barely lifted her head, her voice sounding weary and soft.
"Master, are we... really just going to wait here?" she asked.
"Just wait?" Takuro chuckled softly, reaching out to ruffle her hair playfully. "Only a fool would just wait."
He turned to look at the dreamlike deep-sea kingdom. His eyes were sparkling with the light of exploration.
"It's not every day we get to the legendary '10,000 meters beneath the sea,'" Takuro explained. "Of course we must experience the unique customs and culture of Fish-Man Island for ourselves."
"Oh?" Robin's eyes widened slightly. "Where do you plan to go then?"
Gion also turned her head to listen, her gaze filled with suspicion. She always felt that Takuro's journeys were never as simple as they seemed. This man always acted unexpectedly, and there was usually a deep meaning behind every step he took.
Under their watchful gazes, Takuro's lips slowly curved into an amused smile. He uttered an answer that made all the women present stunned. He called it a matter of "manly romance."
"Of course..." he said, pausing for a moment while his eyes gleamed with cunning. "...we are going to find Mermaids."
The "Conqueror" was quietly berthed in Fish-Man Island's unique coral reef harbor. Robin meticulously arranged for crew members to stay behind and look after the ship. Once everything was settled, Takuro led her and Gion toward the downtown area.
The further they went toward the center of the island, the more bustling it became. The streets were paved with giant, colorful shells, and houses built from massive corals lined both sides. Jellyfish-shaped lanterns floated in mid-air, casting a soft, comforting glow over the crowds.
However, amidst the constant flow of people, the three of them were clearly "outsiders." Most of the people passing by were Mermaids with fish tails or strong Fishmen with distinct aquatic features. The gazes the trio received were complex. Some were simple, curious glances, and some were cautious peeks. But more often than not, the locals looked at them with undisguised vigilance.
Takuro ignored all of this. He enthusiastically enjoyed the exotic scenery as if he were visiting a museum. Finally, he stopped a passing Fishman who looked tall, robust, and quite ill-tempered.
"Excuse me, buddy," Takuro asked. He had an innocent smile on his face and used a relaxed tone. "Are there any places nearby where Mermaids gather?"
As soon as he spoke, it was like a switch had been flipped. The Fishman's eyes instantly sharpened, and his muscles tensed up. He glared at Takuro with pure hostility.
"What do you want?!" the Fishman snapped.
"Don't be nervous," Takuro said, spreading his hands. His tone remained casual. "We just arrived. I'm merely curious about the legendary Mermaids. It's just a casual question."
However, this "casualness" was like a spark that ignited the Fishman's suppressed anger.
"Curious? Your human curiosity!" the Fishman's voice rose, filled with indignation. "Damned humans, you're all a bunch of bastards! Get out of Fish-Man Island! You are not welcome here!"
Takuro raised an eyebrow. Before he could speak, Gion stepped forward. She was already displeased, and hearing these insults made her furrow her brows.
"Speak properly," Gion said firmly. "Is making personal attacks the way you Fishmen treat guests?"
"Guests? Do you even deserve to be called 'guests'?" The Fishman warrior spat on the ground. "Am I wrong? What good things can you humans bring to our home? How many of our kin have been captured by you humans? They are branded with cursed marks and sold like livestock in your auction houses! Your hands are stained with the blood and tears of our people!"
His voice was loud, attracting a crowd of Fishmen and Mermaids. The gazes that were once just wary now turned to shared hatred. They began to close in silently, and a suffocating tension filled the air.
Takuro glanced at the crowd. Even with a Scouter, he knew their Power Levels wouldn't be much, perhaps only around $10$ or $20$ for the average citizen. But their collective malice was heavy. He could feel their Ki fluctuating with anger.
"It seems," Takuro said, his smile never fading, "that we aren't exactly the most popular visitors today."
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