[~1200 Words]
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Gyoncorde Plaza was already overflowing with merfolk and fish-men. Their voices blended in low murmurs as they speculated about the monumental event that would soon decide the fate of Fish-Man Island.
The last time the plaza had been this crowded was the tragic day when Queen Otohime was assassinated mid-speech.
Soldiers of the Sea King Army stood in disciplined rows, maintaining order among the restless crowd. On the high platform sat King Neptune, the Left and Right Ministers, and other royal officials.
Among the princes, only Prince Fukaboshi was present. Calm, steady, and level-headed, he was not one to act rashly—unlike his two younger brothers, who had been ordered to remain in the palace to prevent any impulsive outbursts.
Then, the crowd's attention shifted to the figure approaching on a flying carpet. Lady Shyarly's arrival drew countless eyes, and even Neptune rose to greet her.
A quiet, invisible pressure spread through the air, silencing every voice in the plaza in an instant.
The flying carpet came to a stop just behind Neptune's throne.
Expressionless, James scanned the massive gathering. His voice was calm but cold.
"Neptune," he said, "begin."
At that, Neptune sighed softly. As his gaze swept across the countless faces of his people, a strange emptiness filled his heart.
Power? Wealth? Family? Citizens?
Throughout his twenty years of rule, he had devoted himself only to his family. Perhaps… he truly wasn't fit to be king anymore.
It was time to step down.
His expression hardened with resolve. Picking up the Den Den Mushi, Neptune's voice echoed clearly across the plaza and into every home within the island's bubble.
"People of Fish-Man Island," he declared, "today, I, Neptune, stand before you with pride. Whether it is the sunlight our merfolk have longed to feel, or the air our fish-men have dreamed of breathing freely—today, those dreams will finally come true!"
A wave of noise burst through the crowd.
"Your Majesty Neptune! What do you mean?"
"Sunlight? Air? Are we going to the surface?"
"That's madness! The humans above won't allow us to live in peace!"
Murmurs of disbelief, cries of support, and even songs of sorrow rose together in chaos.
"Silence!" roared the Right Minister, slamming his trident-like blade against the floor. The sound reverberated through the plaza, and gradually the noise subsided.
Neptune continued solemnly,
"This is Lady Shyarly's prophecy. In accordance with her vision, I shall abdicate my throne. From this day forth, Fish-Man Island will become part of the Divine Kingdom—under the rule of His Imperial Majesty, God Emperor James!"
When the words left his lips, Neptune seemed to age a decade. His shoulders sagged under the weight of his decision.
"What? Lady Shyarly's prophecy?"
The crowd stirred again—but this time, no one doubted her. Her name carried absolute authority among the people.
Once the murmurs quieted, James gave a slight nod to Shyarly.
She stepped forward gracefully, her voice ringing clear and confident.
"Everyone, do not fear. The future of Fish-Man Island is bright. As long as we follow the path laid out by the prophecy, and heed the will of Lord James, our people will thrive beneath the light of a new dawn."
Her assurance soothed the crowd. Most citizens cared only for stability—food to eat, a place to live, and safety for their families. If those were guaranteed, they would accept almost anything.
"Go now," Shyarly continued, "before the sun climbs high. Return home and prepare for what comes next. Today marks the dawn of our destiny!"
The cheers that erupted shook the plaza to its core. Even the bubble membrane surrounding Fish-Man Island trembled faintly under the collective roar of its people.
From that day forward, James's dominion grew by hundreds of thousands of new soldiers and nearly five million additional citizens.
Though merfolk and fish-men possessed greater physical strength than ordinary humans, most lacked discipline and ambition.
Training was rare among them, and few achieved true mastery.
Still, for James's purposes—mining, construction, and heavy labor—they were the perfect workforce.
As the crowd dispersed like a retreating tide, one figure swam upstream against it.
Jinbe, the "Knight of the Sea," left the Sun Pirates and approached Neptune's side. After bowing slightly, he spoke in his deep, rumbling voice.
"James… Lord James. May I have a word with you? There are matters I must address."
James had already noticed his troubled gaze.
Beneath Jinbe's stoic exterior, there lingered a heavy, almost mournful resolve.
James frowned faintly. "Very well. Follow me."
With a flick of his hand, the flying carpet glided forward. Just as it passed over Jinbe's head, it dipped into a swirling pocket of space—an alternate dimension.
Neptune and the others gasped in disbelief, their eyes wide. What kind of power was this?
"Boss Jinbe!" Shyarly's voice echoed faintly from the green void.
Startled, Jinbe steadied his breathing and leapt in after her. The dimensional gate closed instantly behind him.
His feet met solid ground. Stumbling for a moment, he regained his balance and wiped the sweat from his brow before stepping toward Shyarly and James.
"This place… what is it?" he asked, still dazed.
"There's no need for questions," James replied curtly. "Speak your mind."
Jinbe hesitated, then lowered his head. "Last night, I received a call from Marco the Phoenix. He asked about the one who killed Namur…"
"Oh?" James's tone didn't waver. "And what did you tell him?"
"I told him I didn't know," Jinbe admitted firmly. "But… Whitebeard once extended his protection to Fish-Man Island. To deceive him—it weighs heavily on my conscience."
He drew the massive sword from his back and shouted, "Please, allow me to atone for my deceit by severing my arm!"
As the Knight of the Sea, Jinbe lived by a strict code of honor.
To lie to Whitebeard, a benefactor of his people, was an act of betrayal. Yet, as a citizen of Fish-Man Island—now under James's rule—he was bound by new loyalties.
If he crippled himself, he'd lose combat strength, and that might displease James.
James smirked faintly. "Heh. Asking my permission, are you? I see what you're trying to do—you want to remain loyal to both sides without losing too much."
He leaned forward, eyes gleaming with amusement.
"How about this, Jinbe? Start with a few fingers. As for your arm… save that for three years from now. If you still wish to die by then, I won't stop you."
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