https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-666-Intelligence-and-Investigation-a-Fishman-Wants-to-Serve/13464646/
Chapter 667: You Forced Me to Choose
Chapter 667: You Forced Me to Choose
"Ah! Prince Sharkstar!"
"The exotic prince, always so charming! Prince Sharkstar, look at me!"
In the neon-lit hall, from the elderly women to the young girls, everyone was shouting and cheering as Sharkstar walked the central runway. Even a single lap around the stage was enough to earn him a flood of gifts.
A wealthy matron was pinching something in her hand, as if holding a steel wool ball, her eyes intensely scanning Sharkstar's fish tail, as if trying to scrape off his scales.
The less fortunate girls, meanwhile, were starry-eyed, fixated on Sharkstar's strikingly handsome face, converting their savings into expensive alcohol gifts that were cheap in the outside world but exorbitantly priced here.
This place was the Nujiao White Horse Club, located on Ohara's Entertainment Street, and it was the pinnacle of male modeling establishments. Especially since the appearance of the Merfolk Prince, this place had been elevated to a sacred site in the hearts of women.
Every night, a large number of women came to admire Prince Sharkstar's valor and beauty. Although financial constraints often prevented them from having Sharkstar accompany them, the other male models in the club were of high quality.
As for Prince Sharkstar, he would only accompany one guest each night, with the highest bidder winning the privilege!
In a sense, this was a form of 'slave trading,' but Sharkstar didn't see it that way. Instead, he viewed it as work, earning his value through his labor.
After a lap around the runway, Sharkstar returned to the backstage area amidst the cheering crowd. However, before he could enter his room, Yusirou, dressed in Wano-style attire like a nobleman, was already waiting there.
"Your people are looking for you. Unfortunately, it's a Fishman, not a Merfolk, or he could have worked here too", Yusirou said with a regretful look.
He hadn't thought about hiring more Merfolk to open a 'Merfolk Prince' branch, which would increase the club's popularity.
However, apart from Sharkstar, the other Merfolk seemed uninterested in working here. They preferred to stay in the sea, following the Governor's orders.
The Governor was someone Yusirou dared not and could not criticize. Fortunately, Sharkstar hadn't thought about leaving, and Yusirou continuously improved Sharkstar's treatment to keep him bound to the club.
"Clansmen?"
Sharkstar frowned slightly, but before he could think further, he saw a Fishman bowing to him as he entered.
A shark Fishman.
"Your Highness."
Before the Fishman could speak, Sharkstar stopped him and said to Yusirou, "Lord Yusirou, could you please step out for a moment?"
"Take your time."
Yusirou left with a smile, closing the door behind him and standing at the exit, lighting a cigarette. However, a hint of worry lingered on his face.
Fishmen like this had visited Sharkstar several times recently, and each time, Sharkstar's expression grew more somber, which worried Yusirou.
Apart from fearing the impact on business if Sharkstar left, they had become friends over time. Both of them had come from distant lands to chase their dreams. If Sharkstar had any difficulties, Yusirou wanted to help.
Being the king of male models was his dream, but that didn't mean he wasn't a warrior.
"Your Highness, more of our people have been captured."
The shark Fishman, seeing the door closed, said directly, "Although they were rescued, we can no longer stay on the island where they were captured. The locals have developed a rift with us, and we have to leave."
Sharkstar sighed, "The Governor is managing the situation. At least they have no issues with us. Suddenly coming ashore causes discomfort for both humans and us. We all need to be patient. With time, we will surely be able to live in harmony with humans."
Incidents involving Fishmen being captured were not isolated.
Some Fishmen, relying on their strength, bullied ordinary humans and were punished accordingly.
Others were captured by greedy humans who wanted to sell them for money or use them as slaves.
The Governor was impartial, punishing whoever was at fault.
However, the rifts created by these incidents couldn't be erased by mere punishment.
Sharkstar had spent some time in human society and increasingly understood that the previous radical ideas were not viable. It was rare to have someone of high status and great influence willing to accept them. For small issues, they had to endure.
Perhaps in a few decades, when Fishman Island had fully integrated into Ohara and the local people accepted their presence as a custom, they wouldn't fear a decline in status after Sagel's passing and being driven out. Instead, they would truly become a part of Ohara.
Therefore, some sacrifices were inevitable. He couldn't abandon his life in Ohara because of the plight of his clansmen. This was their best chance to establish a foothold on the surface.
"Your Highness, I'm not saying we can't endure. We understand your efforts. You have come here for us, but, but..."
The shark Fishman clenched his teeth, looking aggrieved.
Sharkstar felt comfortable in the club, but the Fishmen who had ventured out early knew what the club was like. Their prince, the future heir to the kingdom, was being treated like a pet, displayed and demeaned with money.
This issue had been a source of resentment among them from the start. No matter how King Neptune tried to explain, and no matter how Prince Sharkstar believed his labor was justified, they still felt insulted.
And things had only gotten worse recently.
Why were they being treated differently?
Why could others do business with the locals while they were not only suspected but also captured and enslaved?
"This is going too far!"
A shark Fishman shouted, "Vater is just a bit hot-tempered. He didn't mean to do it. Why target only us Fishmen?"
Vater, one of the Fishmen who had been influenced by the propaganda of the first thousand Fishmen, had come to the surface from Fishman Island, hoping to live alongside humans. He was temperamental, not necessarily hating humans, but he definitely had no good feelings toward them.
It was the same in the lower districts of Fishman Island. Due to past propaganda and frequent stories of their kin being captured, the Fishmen there had no good feelings toward humans.
Sag's appearance had only somewhat alleviated this attitude, but it couldn't completely eradicate it.
As a result, some Fishmen, like Vater, came to the surface with a sense of wariness. Typically, such individuals needed to be treated exceptionally well to feel warmth and gradually let their guard down, to understand and accept, and ultimately integrate into human society.
But the key was that Sag didn't care. So Lily's orders were impartial, and the people under Worldslider were a bit different. They had just overthrown the local rulers and were nominally loyal only to Sag. Thus, when they encountered Fishmen, some couldn't control their instincts.
Fishmen looked down on humans, but humans also looked down on Fishmen.
Want to buy something?
Not selling.
Want to eat?
Not serving.
Fishmen were wild people from the sea, capable of eating fish and other sea creatures. Human food was only for humans.
Some Fishmen, who were already temperamental and wary, were ignited by this attitude. Vater was a typical example, and as a Fishman, his strength was naturally much greater than that of ordinary humans.
And then
He was executed.
After the destruction of a village and the deaths of several people.
This incident created a severe rift between the island and the Fishmen, with everyone feeling justified.
Humans found Fishmen despicable, and Fishmen found humans despicable. The issue had no end and was difficult to resolve.
The Fishmen under Sag's command, upon learning about this, had no solution either.
Finally, someone had a bright idea: they would follow the example of the Furfolk and become vassals of the Governor. This way, they would have a status and wouldn't be discriminated against.
Of course, this also met with strong opposition from some Fishmen.
They had come to the surface to enjoy life, not to serve anyone. The lower districts of Fishman Island didn't even respect Neptune, let alone a human.
This shark Fishman was a representative of this group, but he belonged to the moderate faction and still recognized the royal family, so he came to seek advice from Sharkstar.
"Prince, many Fishmen are waiting for your decision", the shark Fishman said. "I hope you—"
"Wait for what decision?"
Before he could finish, Sharkstar interrupted, "Wait for me to rally all Fishmen to defy Sag's orders and attack Ohara Palace? Or wait for me to decide to become Sag's vassal so you have an excuse to form your own group and attack Ohara Palace?"
Sharkstar sighed deeply. "You keep coming to me with your grievances. Can't you understand that Ohara isn't ours, it's Sag's. We were only allowed to enter Ohara by his permission. He needs our strength, but that doesn't make us the masters of Ohara."
"There is only one master of Ohara, and that is Sag."
The shark Fishman looked at him. "I don't want to see my kin become corpses. Your ideas are useless."
He patted the Fishman's shoulder. "Finding a place where we are accepted isn't easy. Don't cause trouble. If it really comes to that, I'll have to clean up your mess myself."
Dying at the hands of their own was more dignified than having Sag order a purge, which would make their situation even harder to resolve.
Knock, knock.
Just as he finished speaking, a knock came from outside. The knocking grew louder, and then the door was pushed open. Yusirou rushed in, his face a mix of panic and excitement, holding a Den Den Mushi.
"It's the Governor, the Governor! The Governor is calling, Sharkstar, the Governor wants to see you!"
"Understood."
Sharkstar nodded heavily and took a deep breath. "It seems we've reached a point where a decision must be made. This is the result of your actions. I didn't need to choose, but now I have no choice. I don't want to be a vassal, but there's no other way."
(End of Chapter)
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