Chapter 419 - 258

Chapter 259: Chaos in Ryugu Palace!Ryugu Palace Banquet Hall.That dull and sudden thudding sound, penetrating the thick coral walls and the lingering atmosphere of the banquet, clearly drifted in.The hall, where the atmosphere had originally been heavy due to Madam Shyarly's prophecy, was instantly disrupted by this new development.King Neptune's massive body jolted suddenly. He tilted his head to listen, a hint of confusion appearing on his majestic face."That direction is... the Hard-Shell Tower?!"He stood up abruptly. The golden trident beside his throne seemed to sense its master's fury, humming slightly.A hidden pain and anger buried deep in his heart for ten years erupted like an undersea volcano. His voice deepened with rage:"Is it that persistent piece of trash, Vander Decken?!"This name was like a poisonous thorn, stabbing deep into Neptune's heart.As the culprit who ruined ten whole years of his daughter's sunshine and prevented her from seeing her mother one last time, Neptune had personally led the Ryugu Army out to sea to search for him countless times, wishing he could drag him out and pin him to a deep-sea pillar with his trident!However, the vast ocean was boundless, and Vander Decken's ghost ship was exceptionally cunning, its movements as elusive as a phantom.Time and again, he slipped through the RyuguArmy's net like a loach, leaving Neptune with immense rage but nowhere to vent, only deep helplessness and resentment.Worry instantly overwhelmed the chaotic thoughts caused by the prophecy.Shirahoshi's safety was above all else!His gaze was like lightning, instantly locking onto the subordinates waiting below. His loud and urgent command rang through the hall:"Minister of the Right! Immediately lead the elite of the Royal Guard to the Hard-Shell Tower! Ensure Princess Shirahoshi's absolute safety at all costs!"The seahorse Minister of the Right's expression tensed as he bowed to receive the order:"As you command, Your Majesty!"..."Report—!!!"A palace guard practically stumbled into the hall, his face filled with panic."N-not good, King Neptune! Hody Jones... he's leading the main force of the New Fish-Man Pirates, and they've already reached the gates of Ryugu Palace!""They are riding giant Sea Beasts, coming with aggressive intent, claiming they want to... occupy Ryugu Palace!"The guard's voice trembled from haste, and even worse news followed:"Not only that, a large number of radical Fishmen from Fish-Man District, along with their human pirate subordinates, are pouring out of every street, causing riots all over the island, attacking garrisons and shops!""Fish-Man Island... Fish-Man Island is in total chaos right now!""What?! That bastard Hody... actually chose this time?!"Jinbe stood up abruptly, his broad face darkening instantly, his gaze sharp as a blade.He knew better than anyone the extreme ideology and destructive power of Hody Jones and his followers... Meanwhile, in the deep waters outside Ryugu Palace.Shadows loomed.A terrifying sea beast, comparable in size to a small mountain, slowly surfaced. On its back, broad as a plain, stood the elite of the New Fish-Man Piratesin a dense, dark mass.They held weapons, their eyes filled with fanaticism, like a group of demons from the abyss.The leader was none other than Hody Jones.He stood at the highest point of the stingray's head, his crimson eyes scanning the Ryugu Palaceabove that seemed within reach, his mouth curling into a smile full of malice and ambition."Listen up, everyone—!""Today! Is the day of commemoration when Fish-Man Island sweeps away weakness and unifies its will!""All Fishman-kind... must unite under true power!"He raised his red trident high, its cold tip pointing towards the magnificent Ryugu Palace."Those inferior humans who can only struggle to survive on land and cannot even breathe in the sea are born to be ruled and enslaved by us Fishmen!"He paused deliberately, his voice suddenly rising, full of hysterical arrogance:"Even the so-called 'emperor of the sea'... in this deep sea that we dominate, is just prey waiting to be slaughtered!""The history that has always been written by weak royalty and human lies..."Hody Jones's smile was twisted and hideous, a pathological fanaticism burning in his eyes."Today, it is time for us to completely rewrite it with power!!""Oooooh—!!"The members of the pirate crew beneath him let out a deafening roar, the sound waves stirring up chaotic undercurrents in the deep sea.The giant stingray let out a dull low growl, carrying this subversive malice as it slowly approached Ryugu Palace's protective barrier... Inside Ryugu Palace, the heavy air was almost thick enough to drip."Damn... of all times!"Jinbe's expression shifted constantly; anger, worry, and a sense of duty clashed violently in his heart.After a long silence, he took a step forward, cupping his hands slightly toward Neptune on the throne, his voice deep:"King Neptune, the situation is critical. I request that the external communication and broadcast channels be opened.""Please allow this old man... to go and negotiate with Hody first, to try..."Tap, tap, tap—!Clear and steady footsteps approached from a distance, interrupting his words.Accompanying them was a unique female voice, a mix of anxiety and tenderness, coming from the direction of the corridor."Luffy-sama... please, please wait for me!"Everyone's gaze was instantly drawn to the entrance of the hall.Luffy walked in first, his pace casual but carrying an invisible aura.And the massive figure following closely behind him at the doorway made everyone's breath hitch!!It was Princess Shirahoshi!She was actually "swimming" cautiously into the hall, swaying her beautiful pink-and-red fish tail, her face filled with nervousness yet also a hint of irrepressible novelty at "going out" for the first time."Shirahoshi?! You... why have you come out?!"King Neptune stood up abruptly, his massive body creating a gust of wind, his voice filled with shock and instinctive worry."I brought her out!" Luffy answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world, his tone crisp and direct."Luffy!"Another beautiful figure had already flown toward him like a swallow returning to its nest.Uta crashed directly into Luffy's arms, her arms tightly encircling his neck, her face buried deep in his shoulder as if to confirm his presence.Luffy was slightly startled, then raised his hand to comfortingly pat her slightly trembling back."It's okay now."He said softly, his hands gently gripping her fragrant shoulders as he pulled her slightly away from his embrace.Uta stood up straight, pouting a little reluctantly.But meeting Luffy's calm and steady gaze, she still obediently let go and stood quietly by his side.Only then did Luffy look up. The shadow under his straw hat obscured part of his eyes, but his gaze slowly swept across the hall, finally landing on King Neptune."Open..."He spoke, his voice not loud, but every word was clear, carrying a kind of decisive power that brooked no opposition."Open all the protective gates and communication channels of Ryugu Palace.""Let them in.""Huh?!"As soon as these words were spoken, Jinbe's heart skipped a beat.He saw something familiar in Luffy's eyes.It was the extremely suppressed anger and coldness that only appeared when a companion's territory was invaded or an important promise was trampled upon.A strong sense of unease instantly seized him."Wait! Luffy-kun!"Jinbe hurried forward, standing between Luffy and Neptune, his tone urgent."You can't directly fight Hody! He's a Fishman, and you're a human!""At such a sensitive time, your intervention will be magnified infinitely and will completely escalate the already fragile conflict between humans and Fishmen!""You will become the clearest target in the eyes of all radical Fishmen. The bridge of peace that Queen Otohime and Brother Tiger worked so hard to maintain and build might collapse because of this!"He spoke earnestly, trying to make Luffyunderstand the complexity:"In the eyes of the merfolk, you are a hero, but in the eyes of many Fishmen steeped in hatred, your human identity is the original sin!""This will make your position on Fish-Man Islandextremely difficult!"He clenched his fists, pain and determination flashing in his eyes."I... cannot stand by and watch the path they paved with their lives be destroyed by a single conflict!""Jinbe,"Luffy calmly interrupted him, his black eyes deep as the night, looking straight at the experienced helmsman."Don't tell me these grand principles that I don't understand."He took a step forward, an invisible pressure quietly spreading."If you want to stop me..."He paused, his tone flat but every word weighing a ton."Then try it."—Clang!Just as he finished speaking, the clear, cold sound of a blade being unsheathed rang out from a corner of the hall!Crimson-gold electrical arcs were already crackling on the blade of the cursed sword "kikoku," emitting an extremely dangerous aura.Zoro had fully awakened at some point. Leaning against the wall, his right eye open, a beast-like grin on his face, his gaze scraped over Jinbe like a blade."Hey, Jinbe... don't use those troublesome 'principles' to interfere with our Captain's decision."Jinbe jolted, as if awakened by a bucket of ice water.Complex emotions surged in his chest!That's right, his identity now was, first and foremost, the helmsman of the Straw Hat crew, "First Son of the Sea" Jinbe!Questioning the Captain's decision was not a position he should take.After a long time, he slowly exhaled a long breath, as if all his worries and struggles were released with it.He looked up, his gaze becoming firm and steady again, and said deeply to Luffy:"In that case... Luffy, can that fellow Hody Jones be left to me to handle?""Hmm?"Luffy blinked, seemingly a bit surprised, but then that cold expression vanished like snow melting in the sun.Revealing his signature bright smile, he patted Jinbe's broad shoulder hard."You should have said so earlier, Jinbe! That guy is all yours!"He laughed lightheartedly, as if the tense atmosphere from a moment ago had never existed."Don't let me down!"King Neptune stood by, watching the sudden turn of events and his own transition from decision-maker to bystander. His giant hand froze in mid-air, his mind a complete blank."...???"So... a king as big as me sitting here is just a mascot responsible for nodding and opening gates?I can't even get a word in?!"