https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-599-Armstrong-Gyro-Acceleration-Jet-Armstrong-Cannon/13112900/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-601-The-Merfolk-Prince-and-Prutto/13112902/
Chapter 600: Please Join Us!
Chapter 600: Please Join Us!
Ten thousand meters below the sea, in the Dragon Palace Kingdom, within the Fishman Island Palace.
Neptune, with his full beard and tail, had just returned from Mary Joa.
As a rare opportunity to attend the World Meeting, their purpose was to fulfill Otohime's dying wish, hoping to grant the Fishman and Mermaid citizens of the Dragon Palace Kingdom the right to live on land.
However, his expectations were dashed, as Shirahoshi nearly got captured.
If not for the Tenryuubito who had visited Fishman Island over a decade ago, Shirahoshi might have become a slave.
But that was just one Tenryuubito; most others harbored ill intentions towards them, including the attending kings. Only the king of Alabasta showed some peace, but he too died during the World Meeting.
Humans and them seemed to have no chance of reconciliation.
Forgive me, Otohime.
Maintaining the current situation and preventing the Fishmen and Mermaids from hating humans was already the limit of what he could do.
The World Government turned a blind eye, and their protection was gone. Neptune was now at his wit's end.
After all, every year, he had to guard against pirates passing through Fishman Island. Vicious pirates, even if they abducted a single citizen, would cause panic among them.
Being constantly targeted was an unbearable feeling.
Previously, they had Whitebeard and Big Mom as their protectors, but now they had nothing. They had to take precautions themselves.
"Father."
At that moment, the eldest prince, Sharksir, approached, holding a Tele Worm in his hand.
"Sharksir, what's the matter?" Neptune asked in a deep voice.
Sharksir held up the Tele Worm, with a shell attached to it, bearing a number he had just written. "The Calamity Pirates want to speak with you."
"The Calamity Pirates?"
Neptune was taken aback. "Do we have any dealings with them?"
Even if they did, it wasn't a positive connection.
The Fur Tribe had come and taken away many treasures, items useless to the undersea world, all of which were found by the citizens in the deep sea. Their theft represented a hostile attitude.
The Fishmen initially thought the Calamity Pirates intended to conquer their land, but after some time, they realized that aside from that treasure-taking incident, there were no further actions. Moreover, the Calamity Pirates had never set foot on Fishman Island, and as time passed, the Fishmen stopped paying attention to this matter.
Not all pirates were interested in Fishman Island.
Perhaps the Calamity Pirates were like that.
But why were they suddenly calling now? Did they have new intentions?
Or were their tentacles reaching out to Fishman Island once again?
"Father!"
As Neptune pondered, Sharksir couldn't hold back any longer.
"Whitebeard, Big Mom, Calamity Pirates... who will be next?"
Sharksir looked up at the Dragon Palace Kingdom's king, whose massive physique somehow gave off a frail and diminutive impression at that moment.
"Sharksir..."
"Father, we can't go on like this! The Dragon Palace Kingdom doesn't have to rely on humans! We don't yearn for land or crave sunlight!"
Sharksir clenched his fist. "I'm tired of living under the protection of others! No one can be trusted! Mother's wish may be noble, but if it can't be fulfilled, it's meaningless!"
"Since nothing can be achieved, we won't achieve it! We'll stay in the sea! We can rely on our racial advantages and make sure those guys never dare look down on us again!"
Sharksir shouted, "Father, for the protection of the Dragon Palace Kingdom, I'm willing to do anything!"
Neptune stared at him in shock, then sighed. "You're right, no one can be trusted."
He took the Tele Worm, dialed the number on the shell, and said, "I'll make it clear to the Calamity Pirates. If they want war, then let's have it. In the sea, we fear nothing!"
Humans, who require oxygen and ships to navigate, are at a natural disadvantage in the ocean.
As long as the Fishmen don't seek harmony with humans, not even the Four Emperors or the World Government can completely invade their territory!
The Fishman Kingdom will never be enslaved!
Click.
The Tele Worm connected with a click, projecting an image of a wildly arrogant face.
"Calamity!"
Neptune began to speak, but before he could finish, the Tele Worm on the other end laughed and said,
"Yo, Neptune, nice to meet you. Do you want to live on land and feel the sunlight? I'll grant you that right."
Neptune blinked, swallowing the words that were about to leave his throat. But then he thought of what his eldest son had just said, and with a determined mind, he furrowed his brows and was about to speak.
Just then, a familiar voice rang in his ear, and he heard Sharksir stutter, "Re-really?"
...
"Hmm, hmm, hmm. If you submit to me, I'll give you whatever you desire. I can even let you be like the Big Mom Pirates and the Beast Pirates. How about this: if you're not convinced, send someone to Ohara, and we'll talk in detail."
"You can raise my flag right now, but you must meet my demands."
After saying this, Sage hung up the call and smiled at Lily. "It's settled."
"It sounds easy," Lily said.
"Neptune seems to desire it more than us."
"During the phone call, Sage didn't even mention the terms. He didn't need to resort to threats or enticements; he simply asked the fishman if he wanted to try living on land, and the other party immediately agreed.
Sage didn't even have to negotiate; he only needed to mention the treatment of fishmen, and the other party was already hooked.
He had fishmen under his command, and all he needed to do was give examples of their treatment, and the other party became extremely excited yet cautious. Lily could sense a palpable tension, as if they were yearning for something unattainable.
Do fishmen and mermaids yearn for land and sunlight to this extent?
Just the mention of land and sunlight was enough to excite them, and what if they were to witness it in person? What would that be like?
"Don't worry about the fishmen. I'm not here to argue; I'm a man of honor."
Sage spoke up, "Let's do this first. Once the fishmen's representative arrives, let him witness it for himself. For now, let's withdraw and head back."
"The assignment in Wano."
"Don't worry about it for now. With insufficient numbers, there's no point in forcing them to stay. Let Akainu lead the Monster Tribe to guard this place."
Sage smiled, "Now, let's welcome our new allies who are about to arrive."
The Dead Star ship withdrew from the Wano waters, and in its place, Akainu's warship patrolled with the Monster Tribe.
It wasn't long before a group of fishmen approached the shores near the outskirts of Ohara.
"Father, I'm going ashore!"
Sharkstar wrapped a scarf around half of his face and was the first to step onto land. He turned back to the group of fishmen in the water, with only their heads poking out, and said, "You must see it with your own eyes to make a decision."
Although the Catastrophe's words were enticing and sounded wonderful, they seemed too good to be true.
However, the Catastrophe had a reputation that was somewhat reliable.
But if they didn't take a look, they would feel uneasy.
After all, they were pirates.
If it turned out to be a lie, only he would die!
Sharkstar composed himself and looked towards a city that was not only larger than any human city he had ever seen but also more prosperous than Mariejois. He took a deep breath and swam towards it.
He was only twenty-four years old, and male mermaids were different from female mermaids. Female mermaids could grow legs after the age of thirty, but male mermaids never would.
However, as a man, even on land, he could move like a snake, using his fish tail.
Soon, Sharkstar entered the city from the outside.
Ohara's royal city had no walls, or perhaps they had been torn down, transforming it into a boundaryless city. There was no need to distinguish between the inner and outer city, and as the population grew, buildings naturally emerged at the edges, gradually expanding the city.
Walls couldn't defend against anything.
For Sharkstar, the absence of walls meant no guards, and no one would question him, allowing him to enter freely.
But as soon as he entered, he felt uncomfortable.
Ohara was bustling, even more so than the Seven Water Capital, as described by his people. Numerous humans of various heights and builds walked around, making Sharkstar's robust physique less conspicuous.
However, he still attracted attention.
Mermaids walking on land naturally drew stares.
Many people marveled at the sight of a merman, causing Sharkstar's mood to sink.
He felt like a rare monkey on display.
Indeed, the Catastrophe's words didn't seem entirely truthful.
Opportunities and equal treatment...
Mermaids were still being judged by humans.
Sharkstar slightly bowed his head and continued walking, mentally preparing himself for being captured in a burlap sack.
(To be continued)
If that happened, even in death, he would resist!
Whack!
Just as he had this thought, a hand gripped his wrist from an unknown source. Sharkstar's eyes flashed with killing intent, and he clenched his other fist, ready to strike back.
"Hey, buddy, nice muscles!"
As he raised his fist, he saw a slick-haired, well-dressed man in a suit, smiling and holding him back.
Just one person?
Sharkstar narrowed his eyes, suppressing his anger, and coldly asked, "What do you want?"
"It's like this..."
The handsome man chuckled, sizing up Sharkstar, then nodded in satisfaction. Sharkstar had seen that expression before on pirates who invaded Fishman Island and plundered their tribe, but this guy was a bit more restrained.
"You're quite handsome, and a merman, too! That's rare. Can you take off your mask so I can get a better look?" he said.
Was he judging his appearance, estimating his value?
Humans were truly evil.
Sharkstar raised his hand and pulled off the scarf mask, revealing a face similar to a human's but with a robust and valiant appearance.
"Yes, yes, you're quite a looker. It's rare for a merman to look like you."
The handsome man spoke excitedly, causing Sharkstar's face to turn colder.
"Are you trying to see how much I'm worth? Go ahead, bring out all your men. I'm not afraid!"
"You're a real straight-talker, young man. But my men are all at work, and there's nothing to fear. You know what I do, right? So, let's talk."
The handsome man released Sharkstar's hand and rubbed his hands together, saying, "Let me be blunt. Are you interested in a high-paying job? Someone like you is a rare find and will be in high demand."
Sharkstar replied coldly, "What kind of job? Slave—"
Before he could finish saying 'slave trade', the handsome man nodded vigorously, "Exactly! You know what I mean! We're from the White Stallion Club!"
He grabbed Sharkstar's hand again, "Someone like you is so rare. We'll offer you a base salary of 600,000 belli per month, and a 20% commission on drinks! Please join our club!"
Sharkstar stood there, stunned for a while. He looked at his tightly gripped hands and then at the man, "Work?"
"Of course, it's work!" The handsome man spoke with righteousness. "We earn money through our talents, not by selling our bodies or seducing wealthy women!"
"Money?"
"Yes!"
The handsome man clenched his teeth, thinking that Sharkstar might not find it sufficient. "Well, the commission is non-negotiable, but I can increase the base salary to 800,000 belli per month! I have high hopes for you. You can become our club's ace! Please, join us!"
As he spoke, he even bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle towards Sharkstar.
In reality, aside from the exceptional beauty of the mermaid women, both the male and female fishmen and mermen were incredibly ugly, shattering their illusions about mermaids.
Despite being of the same species, the male fishmen were often more bizarrely shaped than the fishmen, while the female mermaids were more alluring.
Initially, the businessmen were delighted to have fishmen and mermaids join, as the addition of a beautiful race would undoubtedly make their club very popular.
However, after a while, they realized that none of them were presentable.
As a cowboy club, they could only watch from the sidelines, never getting a chance to interact.
But now, things were different. This fishman had a tall and robust build, smooth skin, and a pale complexion from living deep in the ocean. Most importantly, he had a decent face! If he joined their club, they would undoubtedly become the number one cowboy club in Ohara!
"You'll give me a proper job and won't discriminate against me?" Sharkstar asked in disbelief.
He didn't know what the club was about, but he understood that if they were offering money, it must be a legitimate job.
A proper job for a fishman.
Just as Catastrophe had promised!
"Huh?"
The handsome man was a bit confused. "What do you mean by discrimination? It's not like we're still in an era where discrimination is acceptable. Don't talk nonsense. We don't care, but your own kind might cause trouble for you if they hear such things."
There were too many races in Ohara, but most of them looked human. Other races also considered themselves human and didn't feel out of place.
The Fur Tribe and the Fishmen Tribe were entirely different; one had animal features, while the other had characteristics of marine life.
The Fur Tribe, being the lord's retainers, held themselves in high regard, almost like the lord's pets, and were treated with more respect.
Only the Fishmen Tribe seemed odd.
They were quite insecure, and even though they had lived in Ohara for a long time and had integrated, they were still cautious. However, they no longer judged from a human perspective. To fully assimilate, they would eliminate any of their kind who held negative views of humans, even if it meant using force.
The humans of Ohara didn't discriminate against fishmen, and fishmen couldn't discriminate against humans.
If word got out that Sharkstar believed humans would discriminate against fishmen, they would surely come to 'correct' him.
"Anyway, just come with me!"
Seeing that Sharkstar wasn't speaking, the handsome man grabbed him and dragged the tall man towards the club.
"First, I'll show you around the workplace! Rest assured, just maintain your cool and aloof attitude, and many will like you!"
...
Half a day later.
Neptune, who had been anxiously waiting for his eldest son, arrived at the main port of Ohara with a heavy heart. He was prepared to confront Sage over the matter and headed to the palace for negotiations.
Then, in the reception room, Lily entered with a peculiar expression. She whispered something in Sage's ear, causing his expression to become even more peculiar.
Sage sat on the throne, sipping wine and looking at Neptune, who sat across from him with a tense posture. Sage tugged at the corner of his mouth and said, "I have one piece of good news and one piece of bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"
"Has he been arrested?" Neptune asked, barely containing his anger.
"Something like that," Sage replied.
"The bad news is that your eldest son has indeed been arrested."
Neptune's eyes nearly glowed red, and his body seemed to swell with rage at that moment.
Indeed, even Catastrophe couldn't guarantee the fishmen's treatment.
Even in Ohara, there were those who would capture them.
It was as if Catastrophe himself had made the arrest, just to give himself an excuse.
If that were the case, Neptune would rather die than let it stand.
"The good news is that your son is quite popular. He sold 800 bottles of wine as soon as he arrived and is now the club's top earner, making a lot of money."
Sage smiled with a twisted sense of humor, "He's become a cowboy!"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
