Fish-Man Island.
Ten thousand meters below the surface, sunlight filtered through the vast ocean, transforming into a soft, ethereal halo that bathed the opulent coral structures of the Ryugu Palace in dreamlike hues.
"Boom—"
A deep, resonant sound shattered the ocean's tranquility, like the call of a massive, ancient whale.
A colossal black silhouette slowly surfaced, its sleek, streamlined hull reflecting a cold, metallic gleam in the ambient light.
It was the Nautilus Replica No. 1.
Since being dispatched by Mike to carry out the "Deep-Sea Gold Rush Project," it had become the most mysterious and awe-inspiring presence in these waters, its command temporarily entrusted to the island's new guardian, Enel.
"Ah—choo…"
Enel stretched lazily as he stepped off the submarine, his signature long earlobes swaying.
Rubbing his bleary, half-lidded eyes, he looked for all the world like a man who hadn't gotten nearly enough sleep.
Behind him, elite soldiers of the Ryugu Kingdom followed, their faces filled with pure, unadulterated admiration.
Despite Enel's perpetually bored and careless demeanor, his strength was undeniably, terrifyingly real.
Ever since he'd taken up residence here, the slave traders who used to plague the surrounding waters had met with absolute disaster.
One ship came, it sank.
Two ships came, they sank in pairs.
Enel didn't care who they were or what powerful forces backed them.
Mike had declared Fish-Man Island his territory.
Anyone who dared cause trouble here was disrespecting the Boss.
And disrespecting the Boss meant disrespecting Enel.
Any unauthorized vessel found sneaking around Fish-Man Island was now summarily reduced to a pile of smoking charcoal by a bolt from the heavens.
A new, terrifying legend had begun to spread through the underworld: Fish-Man Island was a forbidden zone.
Enter at your own peril.
None who dared had ever returned.
Thanks to the 24/7 deterrent of this human-shaped radar, Fish-Man Island was enjoying an era of unprecedented peace.
The island's inhabitants, merfolk and fish-men alike, could finally lift their heads high, walk with pride, and live without fear.
Children could be seen playing and splashing in the open water, their laughter echoing without the constant, gnawing fear of being snatched away by unseen hands.
Elders lounged on the shores, basking in the soft light, savoring a hard-won tranquility they had only dreamed of.
"Thank you, Enel-sama!"
"Thank you, Captain Mike!"
Such voices echoed across Fish-Man Island every single day.
The people were deeply, profoundly grateful to the two "gods" who had brought them peace.
A quiet, profound change was unfolding
Alabasta's spices, carrying the dry warmth of the desert, began appearing in the island's markets.
Dressrosa's intricate, whimsical toys became the new favorites of the children.
Even the rare and wondrous "Dials" from Sky Island found their way into shops, drawing gasps of amazement.
The people of Fish-Man Island were beginning to realize that the outside world wasn't the terrifying monolith of legends.
Not all humans were ruthless slavers.
They began to reach out, to embrace new experiences, and their smiles shone brighter than ever before.
"Clank—"
One by one, fish-man soldiers emerged from the Nautilus, each one laden with treasure.
Crates overflowing with Belly, glittering jewels, heavy gold bars, strange antiques, and… the most priceless secret of the sea: Devil Fruits.
"Splash—"
In the waters around the sub, a massive effort was underway.
Thousands of fish-men and merfolk, all mobilized by King Neptune, were transporting even more treasure.
The sheer volume was overwhelming, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Captain Mike's "Deep-Sea Gold Rush Project" was, in a word, insane.
The ocean floor, a graveyard of eight hundred years of shipwrecks, was denser with treasure than a school of fish.
A single submarine couldn't possibly hold it all.
Even the mermaids, who were usually content to just look beautiful, were now gracefully flicking their tails, helping to transport the lighter items.
This was a request from their benefactor, their savior, Captain Mike.
His needs were a sacred decree, and the entire island, from young to old, mobilized with a zealous, joyful energy.
The wealth dredged from the depths was swiftly sorted on the docks.
Mountains of Belly, glittering heaps of gold and jewels, piles of priceless antiques, and a small, carefully guarded cache of enigmatic Devil Fruits.
The entire island operated like a well-oiled machine, orderly and efficient.
The gold, jewels, and antiques were loaded onto transport ships bound for Alabasta and Dressrosa, where they would be converted into even more Belly to fuel the limitless ambitions of the New Marine.
The Devil Fruits, however, were placed under the tightest security and shipped directly to Marineford.
"Yahahaha! Not bad, old man Neptune!" Enel grinned at the bustling scene, casually picking his ear.
"Even if the boss spends money like water building that New Marine of his, we can totally handle it down here!"
"Indeed," King Neptune boomed, his massive face brimming with satisfaction.
"Kuro-san just called. Reinforcements are on the way. The New Marine has completed its initial reorganization, and the 'Deep-Sea Gold Rush Project' is about to expand to the Four Seas and all of Paradise!" His voice was filled with awe.
"When that happens, Fish-Man Island, as the designated treasure hub, will only get busier!"
"Hmph—" Enel smugly tilted his chin, flaring his nostrils.
"What can I say? That's what happens when you're the boss's most trusted subordinate." He yawned.
"Alright! I'm heading back to… ahem… rest!"
'That was close', Enel thought with a flicker of guilt in his eyes.
Ever since arriving on Fish-Man Island, he'd discovered a new, highly entertaining hobby: using his island-wide "Mantra" to eavesdrop on the inner thoughts of the residents.
The constant, gushing praise for "Boss Mike" and "Enel-sama" was sweeter than honey, more intoxicating than wine, and, dare he say, almost as good as his beloved apples.
He'd "eavesdrop" for hours every day, just savoring it.
"Hmm."
Just as he was about to slip away—
"Wah—! Guardian God—Enel-sama!"
A high-pitched, childish voice rang out.
A little mermaid, no older than five, was staring at him with pure, unadulterated adoration, her little face flushed red with excitement as she waved her tiny hands.
"Hmph—" Enel glanced at her, deliberately tilting his head up with an air of supreme aloofness, before strutting away with an exaggerated swagger.
"Whoosh—"
Suddenly, a big, red apple traced a graceful arc through the water and landed squarely in the little mermaid's hands.
"Wah!" she gasped in delight, hugging the apple tightly before taking a big, eager, toothless bite.
"Crunch!"
The crisp sound, and the little mermaid's satisfied giggles, reached Enel's ears.
His steps faltered for just a second, and his long earlobes twitched.
He pulled an almost identical apple from his own pocket and took a fierce bite.
"Crunch—"
'Mmm, so sweet!'