Chapter 414 - 253

Chapter 253: Neptune's Welcome, Everyone Goes Their Separate Ways!!At the entrance of the outer bubble membrane of Fish-Man Island, the ocean currents were stilled by a solemn atmosphere.Densely packed arrays of Ryugu Palace guards stood behind the rainbow-colored water curtain. Fishman warriors clad in armor rode deep-sea behemoths draped in saddles, the blades of their tridents glinting with a cold light under the searchlights.Behind them, giant seahorses and armored sharks cruised slowly, their gill covers opening and closing to release strings of heavy bubbles.The sea tides surged.King Neptune's physique was as burly as a deep-sea rock, his orange-red curly hair and beard burning like flames in the dark currents.The flame tattoos on his arms rose and fell with his muscles, as if actual scorching waves would erupt at any moment.The golden trident in his hand, inherited from ancient times, had its tip lowered slightly, yet it possessed the majesty to split ten thousand meters of sea pressure.Beside him, the three princes floated quietly:Fukaboshi held a heavy halberd, his expression as cold as a reef; Ryuboshi had his arms crossed, his blue hair fluttering like seaweed; Manboshi curled inside a mermaid shell, his round eyes darting around alertly.And the most eye-catching was the figure to Neptune's front-left, steady as a mountain—Jinbe.The deep blue whale shark was wearing a kimono, his hands hanging naturally at his sides.Those eyes, which had weathered many storms, pierced through the dark seawater, quietly watching the direction from which the sunny was sailing."His Majesty the King is here in person... the three princes are guarding him, and even Boss Jinbe has been mobilized!"A young guard lowered his voice, the sea beast he was riding flicking its tail fin uneasily."With such a lineup, could it be a visit from the Celestial Dragons? Or a fleet from the highest levels of the World Government?""Idiot."At the front of the queue, an old veteran with a Captain's insignia carved on his dorsal shell didn't turn his head, his raspy voice mixing with the sound of bubbles:"Didn't you see the flags flying atop the palace walls?"He tilted his chin, pointing toward the spires of Ryugu Palace faintly visible inside the bubble membrane.There, several flags emblazoned with a skull wearing a straw hat were unfurling in the artificial breeze.The surroundings fell silent instantly.Only a long cry, like a deep-sea whale song, echoed in the distance."Is that person... coming?" the young guard's voice carried an uncontrollable tremor—not of fear, but of an excitement bordering on pilgrimage.The veteran didn't answer, only slowly stroking an old scar on his chest armor... one left behind from repelling slave traders once.His gaze swept over every face in the formation, young or old, over the streetlights flickering peacefully inside the bubble, the mermaid children laughing as they swam across the rainbow bridge, and the schools of fish swaying leisurely in the coral forest.In these past three months, ever since that flag was raised, everything had changed.The slave traders who once rampaged in dark alleys had vanished; the thugs and pirates who extorted protection fees now steered clear. On the record of 'missing mermaid' cases, the curve had plummeted to its lowest point in a century.They might have only seen that smiling face on the front page of the World Economic Journal: the wide-open mouth of a rubber man, and eyes burning beneath a straw hat.But in every tavern, every kitchen, and every street hung with that flag on Fish-Man Island... the name 'straw hat' was a promise harder than Sea Stone."Remember—"The veteran's voice was soft, yet it clearly reached the ears of every guard:"The ones coming are not Celestial Dragons, nor the Gorosei."He paused, looking at the ship enveloped in blue light getting closer and closer, where the silhouette of a person wearing a straw hat was faintly visible at the bow."It's the person who... finally allowed this deep sea to breathe."At the very front of the formation, King Neptuneslowly raised his golden trident.The tip of the trident pointed toward the entrance passage.The ocean currents shifted accordingly, and the rainbow light spread out like a long welcome carpet.Jinbe swam forward half a body length. The corners of his usually serious mouth curled upward into an almost invisible arc.He's here.Their 'Four Emperors'."Jinbe, long time no see!!"His shout passed through the seawater and bubble membrane, becoming muffled yet jubilant.Jinbe opened his eyes, his mouth curling into a soft smile."Still the same as ever, Luffy-kun."A smile appeared on Neptune's face as he said:"Our guests have come from afar; please come to Ryugu Palace for a gathering."As he spoke, he ordered the soldiers to open the entrance passage and led the Straw Hat Piratesinto Fish-Man Island... The moment the barrier was lifted, Sanji's figure had already turned into a spinning heart-shaped cloud of dust."This place is paradise—!!!"His final note was still vibrating in the air, but he himself had already disappeared down the coral path leading to Mermaid Cove, leaving only a floating sentence behind:"Don't worry about me~~ I'll show up at Ryugu Palace on time before the banquet~~~""That perverted kappa..."Zoro gripped his sword hilt, a vein popping on his temple."He's so lustful he doesn't even care about his life.""It can't be helped,"Luffy grinned and stretched his arms."This place is Sanji's 'All Blue' after all!"He suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to look at the other males on the ship:"Aren't you guys going to take a look? I heard Mermaid Cove has super~~ many beautiful and passionate mermaid sisters!"Usopp's nose twitched subtly."Ahem... as a sniper, it's true that I need to master topographical intelligence at all times."He straightened his belt with a serious face."Leave it to me, Luffy. I'll definitely bring that light-headed cook back!""Yohohoho~~ In that case, please by all means let me accompany you!"Brook's finger bones elegantly touched the brim of his hat, starlight seemingly flickering in his hollow eye sockets."After all... the chance to see a mermaid's panties with my own eyes might only come once in a lifetime!"Two suspicious patches of red appeared out of thin air on the bone's cheeks."Captain, I'm acting independently."Before Law's words had even landed, he had already leaped off the gunwale, the kikokuscabbard drawing a cold arc in the rainbow light."We'll meet up before dinner.""Alright, alright, everyone go then,"Luffy waved his hand as if shooing chicks."Just remember not to pester them too much! After all, our ship is full of hot-blooded..."He deliberately elongated his tone, pointing one by one at the red-faced Usopp, the humming Brook, and the feigned-calm Law:"—Sin-gle, young, men!"He emphasized those last words meaningfully.The group stumbled simultaneously and disappeared behind different coral thickets while grumbling."Hey, Zoro,"Luffy nudged the swordsman beside him with his elbow."You're really not going? Mermaids!"Zoro didn't even bother to lift his eyelid: "Haven't we seen Camie already? Seeing one is enough."He leaned against a wine barrel with his arms crossed:"Instead of wasting time on that, I'd rather swing my sword twenty thousand more times."Luffy was stunned for a moment, then gave a thumbs-up with solemn respect:"Amazing! With no women in your heart, drawing your sword naturally makes you a god!!""No wonder you're the man who will become the World's Greatest Swordsman!"Zoro's mouth twitched: "...Where did you learn such weird talk?"On the other side, Robin had elegantly put on her sun hat: "Chopper and I want to go see the Sea Forest. I heard there are lithic inscriptions of Fish-Man Island there.""Wait for me, Robin-san~"Chopper hurriedly followed."I heard the coral here has miraculous effects on bone regeneration...""SUPER—opportunity!"Franky's mechanical arms transformed with a clack-clack."In the Sea Forest, there's my master Tom-san's younger brother, Den! I have to go pay my respects!"The three of them left together."Then I'll go catch up with Hachi-san~"Nami spun a gold coin on her fingertip, her smile as sweet as honey."The fashion boutique he opened... should need a fashion consultant, right? I can also ask about Camie's recent situation while I'm at it~"Her departing figure seemed to carry the symbolic glow of Berries.The deck suddenly became empty.Luffy looked left and right.Uta was smilingly holding his arm and humming a tune;Yamato was looking around with her Spiked Club, her face full of the confusion of 'where should I go';Zoro was leaning against the wine barrel, breathing evenly, clearly having entered standby mode."Uh..." The straw hat Captain scratched his cheek."So in the end, only a few of us are going to Ryugu Palace?"Neptune's guard of honor had already swum to the palace entrance, and Jinbe's hearty laughter came across the seawater:"Luffy-kun! The banquet is already prepared!!"Luffy immediately threw the question to the back of his mind, his rubber arm stretching out with a'shoo':"Meat—!!! Jinbe, I'm coming—!!!"His cheer startled a group of glowing jellyfish, like scattering a handful of star fragments for this chaotic landing.