The atmosphere in the bustling streets of the undersea district had grown heavy, thick with a hatred that felt almost tangible. Facing the impassioned accusations of the Fishmen, Gion bit her lower lip until it paled. Her heart was locked in a fierce, internal struggle. The words of the Fishmen were like a blunt, rusted knife, slowly cutting into her spirit. She desperately wanted to shout back at them, to defend her life's work. She wanted to tell them that not all humans were monsters and that there were many in the Marines who truly upheld justice and were dedicated to maintaining peace for everyone.
However, the word "slave" hit her with the weight of an immeasurably heavy mountain. When that word was connected to the Celestial Dragons, all her defenses felt weak and powerless. As a Marine Vice Admiral, she was a high-ranking officer who should have been able to eradicate injustice and evil. Yet, when faced with the deeply entrenched privileges and the cruel slave system of the World Nobles, she and the Marines often seemed helpless. Sometimes, they were even forced to compromise with that darkness.
This profound sense of powerlessness transformed into a burning shame. It scorched her beliefs and made her hesitate. In this tense situation, she found she couldn't stand on the moral high ground with righteous indignation. Just as her emotions surged and the furious mood of the crowd was about to burst like a flood through a broken dam, a new voice cut through the air.
"What's all the fuss about?"
The voice was impatient and not particularly loud, but it acted like an invisible, sharp blade. It strangely sliced through the noisy clamor of the angry mob. Takuro stood there, casually picking his ears. His face clearly showed that he found the entire situation noisy and troublesome. He surveyed the faces around him, which were twisted with rage. A mocking and provocative curve appeared at the corner of his mouth as he uttered something truly shocking.
"If you ask me, the fact that you guys get caught as slaves is entirely what you deserve."
That single sentence was like a thunderclap exploding in the ears of every Fishman present. All the anger and the accusations solidified for a split second before transforming into a towering, unbelievable rage. The crowd erupted into a chaotic mess of screams and threats.
"You bastard! Do you have any idea what you just said? Say that again!" one screamed. Another roared, "Damn it! I'll rip your mouth right off your face!" A third voice joined the chorus, shouting, "Kill him! We need to kill this human who speaks so wildly!"
Gion and Nico Robin looked at Takuro in absolute astonishment. Robin's eyes were full of confusion as she tried to figure out his angle. Gion, on the other hand, felt certain that this man was simply insane. He was deliberately lighting a match inside an already explosive powder keg. Takuro completely ignored the hateful gazes that looked ready to tear him apart. He continued to add fuel to the fire, his voice filled with undisguised contempt.
"I said your weakness is the original sin! The law of the jungle is the only eternal rule of this great sea. If you're not strong enough, if your bones aren't hard enough, and if you don't dare to pick up weapons and resist, then you're just victims. If you choose to hide like timid turtles ten thousand meters deep in this ocean, what else can you do? You just huddle together, cry, complain, and vent your hatred on every human who passes by. Does that sound about right?"
He took a heavy step forward. His invisible aura—a pressure that felt like a rising Power Level—actually forced the Fishmen in the front row to involuntarily retreat.
"If hatred was actually useful, Mary Geoise would have been torn down by your kind long ago! But what is the actual result? What else can you do besides barking at the few of us here? If you can't protect yourselves, then being oppressed is exactly what you deserve!"
His words were like the coldest, sharpest knives. They mercilessly cut open the deepest, most bloody scars in the hearts of the Fish-Man Race. Then, he brutally rubbed salt into those wounds. It wasn't just a simple provocation; it was a cruel revelation of the long-standing, fruitless struggle of their entire race.
"Ahhh! I can't take any more of this! Attack!"
"Let him taste the true power of Fish-Man Karate!"
"For the glory of Fish-Man Island! Kill them!"
The crowd's madness was fully ignited. The eyes of the surrounding Fishman residents turned bloodshot. They all raised their weapons or bared their sharp nails and teeth. A violent aura swept through the entire street. They looked like a pack of predators about to rush forward and tear the three humans to shreds. Robin frowned slightly and crossed her arms over her chest, preparing to sprout limbs with her Devil Fruit powers. Gion took a deep breath, forcing her chaotic emotions down. Her eyes became sharp as she prepared to face the chaos caused by Takuro's madness.
Takuro, however, merely sneered. He twisted his neck, making a crisp cracking sound that echoed in the sudden tension. He looked at the women behind him and spoke.
"See? Reason is useless here. For these guys whose heads are only filled with muscles and rage, the only language they understand is fists! We should get straight to it and skip the nonsense."
He clenched his fist, and a hint of excited fighting spirit flashed in his eyes. He looked like a Saiyan ready for a brawl. Just at that critical moment, right as the melee was about to erupt, a new voice stopped everyone in their tracks.
"Everyone, stop!"
It was a clear, ethereal voice, yet it was imbued with an undeniable sense of authority. It pierced through the violent clamor and reached the ears of every creature in the street. As if the voice carried some strange magic, the agitated crowd fell silent. Their movements paused instantly. The crowd parted automatically, like water being pushed aside, to form a clear path.
A beautiful Mermaid girl slowly swam through the opening. She had thick, short black hair and a delicate face that looked like a porcelain doll. However, the most striking things about her were her eyes. They were a deep blue, like the most serene parts of the deep sea. There was no anger or fear in them. Instead, they held a composure and calmness that transcended her young age. She held a translucent crystal ball in her hands, which exuded a mysterious and ethereal aura.
"It's Shyarly..." a Fishman whispered in surprise. His tone was filled with deep reverence.
Shyarly was still very young at this time, but she was already famous. As a diviner who had possessed accurate prophetic abilities since she was a small child, she occupied a special place in the hearts of the residents of Fish-Man Island. Her gaze calmly swept over the excited crowd before finally landing on Takuro. He stood in the center of the mob, fearless and looking quite amused. Her eyes lingered on his face for a long moment. In those deep eyes, a hint of understanding and an extremely solemn light seemed to flash.
She spoke softly, and her voice spread clearly through the now-silent street.
"Put away your weapons and retreat. Taking action against this gentleman is meaningless. I have already glimpsed that scene in my crystal ball. It will only bring needless bloodshed and pointless sacrifice."
She then looked directly at Takuro. Her tone was calm, but it carried the weight of a declaration from fate itself.
"This Lord... my crystal ball has just shown me brief fragments of the future. Your arrival here is not for the purpose of wanton slaughter. However, your will shall be like an unparalleled tsunami sweeping through the deep sea. You will shake the ancient foundations of Fish-Man Island and completely rewrite our predetermined destiny."
Madam Shyarly's sudden appearance and her mysterious, prophetic words acted like a powerful tranquilizer. The atmosphere changed in an instant. The extreme anger of the mob was replaced by uneasy surprise. All eyes moved back and forth between Takuro and Madam Shyarly, waiting to see what would happen next.
Takuro raised an eyebrow. The wildness and fighting spirit on his face receded slightly. It was replaced by a very strong interest, as if he had just discovered a new kind of prey. He carefully observed the unique Mermaid girl before him, finding her far more interesting than a simple street fight.
He let out a short whistle. "Whew. I finally get to see a Mermaid, and she's actually beautiful. But you said you saw the future?"
He grinned, his smile becoming playful and profound. "Heh, now that is really interesting. Let's see what else that ball can show you."
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion