Taro's mouth twitched.
Damn it, I've already taken off my pants, and you're telling me there's nothing left?
He looked at Neptune with a face full of suspicion.
"You said before that the Mermaid Princess didn't leave any words behind! But at the very end, one sentence suddenly pops up!"
Neptune's bulbous nose twitched slightly.
"She indeed failed to leave any words before her death!"
"Because, including Joy Boy, no one could have imagined that the sentence she said would actually become her last words!"
Taro was silent for a while, then nodded, accepting Neptune's explanation.
Indeed, before someone dies suddenly, no one would think that a certain sentence of theirs would be their last words!
After a long silence, Taro spoke again.
"In other words, you believe the 'companion' that the Mermaid Princess wanted to see refers to a 'person'... I can understand that!"
It was indeed easy to understand why the successive Kings of Ryugu would assume the 'companion' was a 'person'.
Because if the murderer who killed the Mermaid Princess was truly an ancient weapon,
Although Uranus's exact nature was uncertain, one could speculate:
It was either like Poseidon, being one of the human races themselves,
Or like Dark King, an object that also requires human control.
Therefore, no matter how one thought about it, that so-called 'companion' could only be a 'person'!
The only suspicious thing was 'his' true identity!
Having thought this through, Taro continued,
"However, I don't understand why the giant Sea Kings believe 'companion' refers to 'Dark King' just because the Mermaid Princess is 'Poseidon'!"
"Why couldn't it be 'Uranus'?"
This question stunned Neptune for a moment, and he shook his head.
"You've stumped me; I don't know how to answer... Perhaps only those giant Sea Kings can give you the answer!"
Taro was somewhat disappointed upon hearing this, his expression shifting.
He lowered his head to ponder for a while, then became somewhat hesitant.
Neptune had been watching Taro's face, and seeing this, he immediately said solemnly:
"Taro, you promised not to tell Shirahoshi about this. You and I both know very well that Shirahoshi doesn't yet have the ability to deal with those giant Sea Kings..."
Taro quickly waved his hand to interrupt Neptune.
"No, no, no, you've misunderstood. I wasn't thinking of having Shirahoshi ask the giant Sea Kings."
"Shirahoshi's power hasn't fully awakened yet; she can't communicate anything too complex with them. I understand that, of course!"
"I was like that just now because I thought of a possibility!"
Neptune was very surprised and asked without hesitation, "What possibility?"
Taro hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Tell me, is it possible that 'that person' has multiple identities?"
Perhaps feeling that his words were a bit nonsensical and that Neptune might not understand, he added,
"What I mean is, is it possible that 'he' is related to both Dark King and Uranus?"
This time it was Neptune's turn to be dumbfounded. He stared blankly for a long while before stammering:
"Why would you think that? Is there any basis for it?"
Taro's eyes shifted slightly, and he scratched his hair somewhat awkwardly.
"It's just some wild speculation, no basis for it! Don't worry about it!"
Although Taro said that, he actually did have some basis for this idea.
From the giant Sea Kings' act of 'retaliation' against Water Seven, it was clear they knew who the Mermaid Princess went to see.
Even though 800 years had passed, whether the person the Mermaid Princess saw was the controller of 'Dark King' or someone from Water Seven, that person should have died long ago!
But to this day, Aqua Laguna is still happening!
That means that person isn't dead yet, and the giant Sea Kings' 'great grudge' remains unavenged!
Looking at the entire world of One Piece, the only one who could possibly have lived for 800 years is that Lord Imu, who might have undergone the 'Perennial Youth Operation'!
Uranus is in Marijoa, held by Lord Imu!
If the person the Mermaid Princess met back then was truly Lord Imu,
Then the actions of the giant Sea Kings indicate another thing!
That is, even if Lord Imu does not currently control Dark King, he must have had a massive connection to Dark King back then!
800 years ago, was Lord Imu's identity the controller of Dark King?
Or one of the Water Seven shipwrights who built Dark King?
It's likely far more than that!
Taro thought of Alabasta, which was also deeply entangled with Dark King.
King Cobra planned to ask for the truth at the World Conference. He could do this because he clearly didn't know that a figure like Lord Imu existed in the world!
From Neptune's reaction just now, the successive kings of Ryugu certainly didn't know of Lord Imu's existence either!
The kings of two countries deeply involved with the 'Void Century' and the Giant Kingdom were unaware of Lord Imu's existence.
This further proved that Lord Imu's identity had been multiple since 800 years ago!
This guy must have had identities in both the Giant Kingdom camp and the 20-Nation Alliance camp.
Furthermore, his identity was likely defined in a positive light!
Both sides believed Lord Imu was one of their own, a 'companion'!
In that case, naturally, no one would suspect him!
Only by using different identities for disguise and playing both sides in the two major camps could Lord Imu become the ultimate winner!
Tsk tsk, Lord Imu's game of playing both ends against the middle is really smooth!
And Alabasta, which pulled the same maneuver, probably has an even deeper connection with Lord Imu!
After all, Alabasta switched sides again and chose to withdraw just as the 20-Nation Alliance was enjoying the fruits of victory!
It has to be said, that decision was truly brave!
While Taro marveled at Alabasta's 'bravery,' he also marveled at Lord Imu's intellect!
If even a part of these wild thoughts approached the truth, then Imu's scheming was already terrifying!
Neptune noticed that after Taro responded, he fell back into deep thought, realizing that Taro had just been brushing him off before.
This current Joy Boy had clearly thought of something much more profound, but he just didn't want to tell him.
However, Neptune didn't mind. The Joy Boy who stirred the world 800 years ago could be described as far-sighted and wise.
As his successor, Taro certainly wouldn't be any worse!
Seeing that Taro's state had become much more relaxed, as if he had already figured out some key points,
Neptune thought for a moment, leaned forward, and said in a solemn tone,
"Taro, I've already told you everything you wanted to know! Now, please answer one question for me seriously!"
Taro was taken aback, then showed a smiling face.
"Your Majesty Neptune, if there's something you want to ask, just ask. There's no need for this!"
There was no trace of a smile on Neptune's face; he was very serious.
"Taro, you are clearly only about twenty years old. Why do you know so much about figures from 800 years ago?"
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