Raising his hand and extending three fingers, Brian continued to drive the deepest knife into the hearts of Neptune and his son.
"Third, and most importantly."
"Fish-Man Island needs to undergo another thorough purge, including the Fish-Man District. All potential sources of instability on the island must be eliminated."
"This includes the remnants of the rebel forces led by Daken, as well as all those who attempt to spread hatred toward humans on Fish-Man Island and hinder peace."
"As for the purge, the Ryugu Kingdom will take the lead, and I will have my Beast Girl Legion assist."
Though called assistance, they were actually the main force for the killing.
Yet, by forcing the Ryugu Kingdom to take the lead, Brian was essentially making Neptune and his son bear the brunt and absorb all the hatred from the entire Fish-Man Island.
Everyone knew that once another large-scale purge was carried out on Fish-Man Island, how could their reputation possibly remain intact?
The three demands grew increasingly harsh, yet they were also filled with temptation.
The harshness lay in the infringement of sovereignty. Once these three demands were accepted, Fish-Man Island would no longer be under the sole control of the Ryugu Kingdom.
They would have an "overlord" looming over them, and from then on, everything they did would have to consider Brian and the Rocks Pirates.
For any ruler, this was a tremendous challenge.
Especially when compared to the conditions offered by the Rocks Pirates after they first took control of Fish-Man Island, the contrast was stark—so stark that even Aegir found it difficult to accept in his heart.
He still felt some regret; they had grown too accustomed to peaceful days.
When Fish-Man Island was incorporated into the Rocks Pirates' sphere of influence years ago, the conditions were nothing like this.
The temptation lay in Brian's promise of the security Fish-Man Island desperately needed.
The Rocks Pirates did not intend to completely destroy Fish-Man Island but rather to integrate it into their system as a crucial strategic stronghold connecting the New World and the first half of the Grand Line.
"Hah, Neptune, what do you think?"
Aegir looked at his son, silently making up his mind.
Neptune clenched his teeth tightly. He understood that Brian's third demand specifically targeted those in the Fish-Man District who harbored deep hatred toward humans, especially the supremacists who believed in the superiority of fish-men.
This included the most prominent figures in the Fish-Man District at the moment, such as Tiger and Jinbe, all of whom were implicated.
This was forcing the Ryugu Kingdom to turn its blade against its own people.
One thing had to be acknowledged: racism was currently rampant on Fish-Man Island, from the upper echelons down to the commoners, with many holding such views to varying degrees.
Of course, among fish-men, such ideas were noticeably more prevalent than among merfolk.
Daken was merely one of the most extreme representatives, taking racism to its absolute limit and embracing the ideology of fish-man supremacy.
Aside from these extreme few, even figures like Tiger and Jinbe in the Fish-Man District held such views.
However, the royal family currently maintained quite good relations with Tiger and Jinbe, these "small-time troublemakers" from the Fish-Man District, after all—they were capable fish-men with significant usefulness.
Brian's demands left Aegir in a difficult position.
"Lord Brian!" Neptune suppressed his anger, "Our kingdom will accept your conditions, but regarding the third clause, we wish to handle it ourselves. Tiger and Jinbe from the Fish-Man District are not thugs."
"Tiger and Jinbe?" Brian's lips curled slightly upward, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
"They are indeed not thugs; in fact, they are assets to your Fish-Man Island. Therefore, the investigation is not aimed at them. It is to protect them."
"After all, you wouldn't want the future stars of your Fish-Man Island to be led down a path of outright opposition because of a few bad apples in the Fish-Man District, would you?"
He stood up and walked over to Daken. Mia, standing nearby, saw that Daken remained as lifeless as a dead fish even as his master approached. Her serpent tail instantly unsheathed, striking Daken.
Daken immediately began coughing violently, looking up at Brian.
"Daken's remnants will be left for you to handle yourselves. As for Tiger and Jinbe, arrange a meeting with them tomorrow. I want to see what caliber they possess."
"Tomorrow, at Ryugu Plaza, I will execute Daken in front of all fish-men and mermaids."
"This is a warning to those who dare to resist me, and a symbol of the transition from old to new for your Fish-Man Island. After that, we will discuss the investigation of Fish-Man Island."
Brian's word was final, leaving Aegir and Neptune no room for rebuttal.
His objective had been achieved—Fish-Man Island was now within the sphere of influence of the Beasts Pirates.
What remained was to see whether Tiger, Jinbe, and others like them would "know their place."
"I understand. I will make the arrangements."
Aegir nodded helplessly, watching as Brian departed.
After Brian left, he turned to his son Neptune, pondered for a moment, and said:
"Neptune, from now on, including all subsequent matters, you are not to participate. Leave everything to me."
"Once Fish-Man Island has been thoroughly cleansed by Lord Brian's forces, you will assume the position of King of Fish-Man Island."
"But—"
"This is an order!"
"Yes, Father."
Neptune nodded reluctantly, knowing that Aegir was protecting his reputation to prepare for his future rule.
The next day, the atmosphere in the main hall of Ryugu Palace grew even more tense.
Brian sat high in the main seat, flanked by the Mythical Zoan Lion Girl Griffin and the Mythical Zoan Centaur Girl Leona, who stood like two mobile volcanoes, exuding suffocating pressure.
Behind the three were several Ancient Species Beast Girls and Common Type Beast Girls, including Tuan Rong and Coco.
Though few in number, they were worth a thousand soldiers.
This time, the one coming to pay homage was the most important figure on Fish-Man Island—Tiger, the significant leader of the Fish-Man District, the primary gathering place for fish-men on the island.
Tiger was tall and burly, his entire body crimson, with a stern expression. He walked in, his gaze fixed directly on Brian above, his eyes subtly revealing caution and a trace of hatred—hatred toward humans.
As soon as he entered the hall, his eyes locked firmly on Brian, his hostility unconcealed.
This was the royal palace, yet the one seated on the throne was not the familiar King Aegir, but Brian—an "outsider."
A man like Tiger would undoubtedly feel significant turmoil in his heart facing such a situation.
Behind him, Jinbe, just eight years old, remained relatively composed. Despite his young age, he was already beginning to display extraordinary leadership qualities.
As a troublemaker from the Fish-Man District, Jinbe was one of the rare steady types among them.
His strength was also quite remarkable. Though still very young, as a shark fish-man, he already possessed power close to that of a Rear Admiral, calmly observing the situation within the hall.