At the entry port of Fish-Man Island, the guards were surprised to see Taro appear.
They hadn't received any news that the "Hero of Fish-Man Island" and "closest partner"—Mr. Taro—was visiting the island.
No ships had entered the port in the last few hours. Rather than believing Taro had swum ten thousand meters down into the deep sea alone, they preferred to believe their own information was simply outdated.
"Mr. Taro, how did you...?"
The Guard Captain came forward and saluted.
Taro waved his hand, interrupting the captain, and said solemnly:
"I have urgent business with King Neptune. Please announce me! Also, please expedite my entry inspection!"
The Guard Captain froze for a moment and said respectfully:
"Mr. Taro, if it's you, there's no need for an entry inspection."
"You can enter the island directly. I'll report to Ryugu immediately!"
Taro had nothing but the clothes on his back and a sword. In his urgency, he didn't care that he was technically "breaking the rules."
He nodded to the Guard Captain and leaped toward the interior of the island.
After leaving the entry port, he transformed into a Falcon again and flew toward Ryugu.
The sky of Fish-Man Island wasn't very high, so many residents spotted Taro.
However, after a brief moment of stunned silence, they erupted into deafening cheers of joy like a mountain tsunami.
Taro looked at the Fishmen waving their arms at him below and waved back in response.
Then he gestured, indicating he was heading to Ryugu and couldn't stay long!
When Taro arrived at Ryugu, the entrance was already open.
He dived straight in, passed through a stretch of seawater, and stopped in front of the main hall of Ryugu!
King Neptune was already waiting there with The Three Princes and the Left and Right Ministers.
"Hohohoho, Taro, you've come! Neptune!"
King Neptune was very happy to see Taro, his nose twitching as he laughed heartily.
Taro looked solemnly at the Ryugu guards around them, then glanced at the princes and ministers behind Neptune.
"Are you looking for Shirahoshi? She went to the Fish-Man District. I'll notify her to return right away! Hohohoho!"
Noticing Taro's gaze, Neptune assumed he was just wondering why Shirahoshi wasn't present.
Taro shook his head, looking at Neptune before him, his expression still serious.
"Your Majesty Neptune, I want to talk to you!"
Neptune finally realized that things might not be simple and nodded.
"Please!"
The group entered the main hall. After taking their seats, Taro did not speak.
Neptune understood and instructed Shark Star and the others:
"You all go out first. No one is allowed to approach the hall without my command!"
Shark Star and the others also realized that Taro's visit was likely of great importance. After exchanging glances, they all withdrew.
Once the others had left, Neptune swam down from his throne and sat opposite Taro with his tail coiled, quietly waiting for Taro to speak.
Taro pondered for a moment and looked up.
"Your Majesty Neptune, I want to know the history of Fish-Man Island from 800 years ago!"
Neptune didn't seem very surprised; he just stared at Taro with piercing eyes, not rushing to speak.
Taro thought his question was too general and was about to rephrase it when Neptune shook his head.
"That period of history was not recorded. I do not know!"
Taro was stunned, his brow furrowing slightly. That shouldn't be right?
Neptune knew the names of the three ancient weapons and Joy Boy, which meant Fish-Man Island should have records!
"Your Majesty the King, that Mermaid Princess from 800 years ago..."
Neptune straightened his body upon hearing this, his expression becoming much more solemn.
"Taro, allow me to ask you a few questions first!"
Taro was a bit taken aback by the interruption.
But he soon nodded in agreement. To get something, one must give something.
"Go ahead!"
Neptune stared at Taro and asked, "Taro, I presume you know about the 'ancient weapons'?"
Taro nodded; there was nothing to hide.
"uranus, pluton, and Poseidon—the three ancient weapons. I do indeed know of them!"
"Then you must also know the true identity of the Mermaid Princess from 800 years ago?"
Taro nodded again. "I do! She was poseidon!"
Neptune's eyes flickered, and his tone became somewhat strange.
"Then you also know that the Mermaid Princess from 800 years ago made a promise with a certain person?"
Taro had been preoccupied with his own thoughts, and only now did he feel something was off.
He raised an eyebrow, quite puzzled.
"King Neptune, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Neptune observed Taro carefully for a while, his gaze gradually becoming resolute.
"That person was called 'Joy Boy.' Do you know him?"
Taro's brow tightened. He still didn't understand Neptune's point, so he decided to be direct.
"I know."
"I also know he made a promise with the former Mermaid Princess, but in the end, it couldn't be fulfilled!"
"Because of that, he left a Letter of Apology to the Mermaid Princess—the poneglyph in the Sea Forest!"
"But, Your Majesty Neptune, why are you asking all this...?"
A sharp light flashed in Neptune's eyes, and his expression became even more solemn. He crossed his arms, his fists clenched under his armpits.
"Taro, what do you want to know? You may ask now!"
Taro was a bit dazed, but fortunately, it was finally his turn to ask.
He swallowed, clearing his throat.
"Since we're talking about that Mermaid Princess, I want to ask if she left any words or records back then?"
Neptune didn't hesitate for a second and shook his head directly.
"She was unable to leave any words!"
Taro froze, hearing the implication in those words. "Unable to?"
Neptune nodded. "Taro, since you know the poneglyph in the Sea Forest is a Letter of Apology, can't you guess?"
Taro thought about it, and then he had an Epiphany. His pupils contracted slightly.
"You mean, the Mermaid Princess... suddenly...!"
Neptune gave a soft hum of affirmation.
Taro's heart suddenly went cold.
The Mermaid Princess was "unable to" rather than "did not" leave any words, which only meant one thing!
She had died suddenly, passing away on the spot!
That was the "poseidon" of that era!
What power could cause her to die so suddenly that she couldn't even leave a final word?
And Joy Boy's Letter of Apology also indirectly proved that the Mermaid Princess was no longer in the world at that time!
If both were still alive then, and Joy Boy wanted to apologize, he could have just said it to her face.
If that wasn't possible, he could have made a call or sent a message through someone. There was absolutely no need to carve it onto a poneglyph!
Taro had wondered if the Mermaid Princess had been killed by a blast from Dark King.
However, after careful consideration, he found that this conflicted with the timeline he had previously deduced.
His original speculation was that Dark King blasted the "original" Enies Lobby, causing Fish-Man Island to sink into the deep sea.
Then, Joy Boy and the Mermaid Princess promised to help the Fish-Man Race return to the surface.
Finally, the Mermaid Princess passed away, and after Joy Boy left the Letter of Apology, he also passed away!
Taro's brow twitched violently, his throat feeling a bit dry.
"The Mermaid Princess of that time—how did she die?"
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