"Shyarly, could you do another divination?"
Inside Ryugu Palace, King Neptune hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.
Shyarly took a slow puff from her pipe, her cold blue eyes fixed on him.
"Isn't the news bad enough already, King Neptune? Or do you want me to predict the end of the world too?"
Because her prophecies almost always brought misfortune, Shyarly had long treated her ability as a curse—even smashing her crystal ball once.
Yet Neptune had begged her to divine again… and she had already revealed two disastrous outcomes.
"I want you to divine Shirahoshi's safety," Neptune said hoarsely. "You know who she is… that child has been locked inside the Hard-Shell Tower her whole life."
"Pitiful?" Shyarly scoffed. "The Fishmen outside living in garbage are far more pitiful."
The gap between royalty and commoners was absolute.
For many, simply having enough to eat was already paradise.
"You—!" the second prince snapped.
"It's fine…" Neptune lowered his head. "This is my failure as a king."
Shyarly clicked her tongue but didn't continue mocking him.
"…No. It's because Fish-Man Island is too weak."
Overpopulation, poverty, abandonment—Fish-Man Street was filled with children left to survive alone.
Their hatred of humans was not born out of nowhere.
Shyarly didn't hate humans herself—she had met kind ones—but they were far too few.
Since Whitebeard died, Fish-Man Island had only grown more vulnerable.
Even the flag of Monkey D. Luffy offered little protection.
"Fine. But don't blame me if it's bad again."
Just as she prepared to begin—
The palace doors burst open.
"Father! Look who's back!"
Neptune turned—
"Hody…?!"
Relief flashed across his face—until he saw the massive figure behind him.
"Jack…!"
The entire hall tensed instantly.
But Neptune forced himself to remain calm.
Buggy's subordinate… we cannot afford to offend him…
"Third Idiot, is this your family?" Jack said bluntly. "Since you're home, I'll leave."
"Wait!"
Hody quickly explained everything.
"…They were captured by Alabasta… then handed to the Celestial Dragons… then Doflamingo…"
Neptune frowned deeply.
"Why would Doflamingo do such a thing…?"
"I don't know!"
Hody clenched his fists.
"But what about the others? They've already been taken to Mary Geoise!"
Silence filled the hall.
"…We can't do anything," Neptune said bitterly.
The other mermaids lowered their heads.
Jack frowned.
"Then just go there and demand them back."
"They won't listen…" Hody said quietly. "We're a member nation… but we're not valued."
Jack's eyes hardened.
"Then start a war. Beat them until they listen."
Neptune froze.
This guy… is he serious?
"We don't have that strength," Hody muttered, glancing at Neptune.
"…Unless we use that power."
Neptune shook his head immediately.
"Absolutely not."
Shyarly gave a cold laugh.
So Shirahoshi matters—but the others don't?
Before she could continue—
Another commotion erupted.
Neptune Army officers rushed in.
"Your Majesty! The Fishmen and merfolk… they're gathering outside Ryugu Palace!"
"What?!"
"They're calling for… your abdication."
The officer swallowed hard.
"They want Lord Jack… to become the new king."
Every gaze turned to Jack.
"…Why are you looking at me?" he said flatly. "I didn't do anything."
"H-He's telling the truth!" Hody quickly said.
Shyarly smirked slightly.
"You've done more than enough already."
She glanced at Jack's legs casually.
"Come visit my Mermaid Café sometime."
Jack didn't respond—but didn't deny it either.
Meanwhile—
Shark Star grabbed his weapon.
"This is madness! I'll stop them—"
"Don't go!" the officer said urgently. "The atmosphere outside is… wrong."
"What about the Neptune Army?!"
"…We have families too."
The officer raised his head.
"If we keep guarding the palace… who protects them?"
Silence.
"If even the king can't protect his people…"
"…what right does he have to rule?"
Neptune stepped forward, eyes heavy.
"Do you understand what you're saying? The enemy is overwhelming. Resistance means annihilation."
Then—
Jack spoke.
"If you don't fight just because the enemy is strong…"
"…you might as well die."
The hall went still.
"I don't understand your big principles."
"But even if I can't win…"
"I'll still fight."
Hody stared at him.
"…Brother Jack…"
Jack slowly removed his shirt.
Scars covered his entire body.
"I was abandoned as a child."
"I fought my way up from nothing."
"People call me reckless. Stupid."
He didn't care.
"This is my way of surviving."
Jack's voice was low—but absolute.
"Dignity…"
"…is forged in battle."
"If you don't fight—how can anyone respect you?"
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