Chapter 74: Ancient Weapon — Poseidon
"Try not to injure them too badly; just incapacitating them is enough."
"Don't worry, Big Bro. Leave this place to me."
Sunbell shook his arms, which were holding onto their weapons. The monstrous force transmitted through the weapon handles caused the guards to lose their grip. Even their bodies were shaken off and sent flying, slamming into the nearby wall and fainting.
Then, Sunbell closed the main gate alone and stood guard at the entrance.
Meanwhile, the two giants, Sebastian and Babel, continued to follow Nereus, dealing with the soldiers who gradually realized something was wrong.
Their own strength allowed them to knock out the guards without killing or injuring them. Furthermore, in the entire Ryugu Palace, there was absolutely no one who could stop their actions.
It could be said that Nereus faced no obstacles all the way to the final large door.
The heavy door felt like nothing in Sebastian's hands. Even though the Neptune Army soldiers behind the door had sealed it shut, it was pushed open effortlessly.
"Pontos, this should be our first meeting."
On the throne of Ryugu Palace sat a rather elderly male merman. Nereus hadn't researched his specific age, but as he said, this was their "first meeting."
He had almost no interaction with this King.
Pontos held a trident in his hand and wore a crown shaped like a flower bud on his head.
However, in terms of physique, Pontos didn't have the exaggerated size of Neptune; he was just the size of an ordinary person.
This situation wasn't uncommon. Growth on this sea was hard to predict. Some people remained child-sized for over twenty years, only to become adults within a year.
One might be born an ordinary baby but grow to the size of a Giant within a few months.
"Indeed, our first meeting. But I have long heard of your great name. Coming uninvited at this hour, you surely aren't here as a guest."
"Haven't you already guessed it? It's time for Fish-man Island to change its King."
Hearing this, Pontos sighed, seemingly lamenting that it was indeed so. On the other hand, the Neptune Army soldiers responsible for guarding the palace looked astonished.
"Mr. Nereus! Why are you doing such a thing?!"
"Yeah, why you of all people?! You are clearly the great hero of Fish-man Island, how could you..."
Although the Royal Family line of Fish-man Island had no achievements to speak of, they hadn't committed any atrocities against the civilians on the island either. They were basically inactive, drifting with the flow.
But in the era of feudal monarchies, compared to those restless rulers who caused public grievances with a single thought, inactivity was already a good thing.
The general environment of Fish-man Island leaned towards seclusion, and many people were accustomed to this.
The Royal Family should be the new King—this was the inherent view of many.
Yet Nereus possessed extremely high prestige. Countless people on Fish-man Island had received his grace. Many people's relatives and friends were brought back by Nereus, and his flag had brought much stability to Fish-man Island.
Therefore, seeing Nereus appear here now and make no secret of his purpose caused conflict in the hearts of many.
"Alright, you guys step down. You are no longer needed to guard this place."
"Your Majesty Pontos!"
"Step down. No matter what tomorrow looks like, you young people should continue to live. Now then, Nereus, come have a private talk with me. Someone as strong as you shouldn't be afraid of an old man like me."
Pontos didn't appear panicked at all; instead, he quite calmly dismissed the royal guards protecting him.
Although these guards couldn't really do anything, this actually made Sebastian and Babel think a bit more highly of him.
After all, remaining calm in the face of Nereus was not an easy thing in itself.
"Big Bro?"
"You guys go out too. Although the method is rough, I also want to hear what our King Pontos has to say."
...
Sebastian and the others, along with the Neptune Army soldiers, left the hall one after another. As the main door closed tightly, the inside and outside of the room seemed to become two completely different worlds.
"Nereus... perhaps I underestimated your ambition. Your original intention was for Fish-man Island, but with you, a pirate, becoming King, what will Fish-man Island become? Aren't you afraid of dragging Fish-man Island into hell?"
"The Fish-man District turning from an orphanage into a lawless zone, pirates committing crimes on Fish-man Island—aren't these all caused by your 'incompetence'?
You've seen it these past few months too, right? Babel and Sunbell, with just a few hundred people, were enough to guard the peace here.
Yet the hundred thousand-strong Neptune Army cannot form a reliable defense line in the deep sea. Any random Tom, Dick, or Harry passing through Fish-man Island can take a bite out of it.
Even if I do nothing but write my name on the national gate of Fish-man Island, it would be far stronger than you incompetent royals."
Fish-man Island couldn't defeat those top-tier powerhouses, but there weren't many such powerhouses in total. Pirates weren't a united block; Fish-man Island's defense capability shouldn't be this weak.
The ruling power of the Royal Family, no matter how bad, shouldn't be worse than street thugs like Hody Jones.
"As for my pirate identity... You are the legitimate King, yet it seems meaningless. Fish-man Island became a member nation of the World Government 170 years ago, but how many times has the Royal Family participated in the Reverie (World Council)?
When has the World Government ever treated Fish-man Island as a member nation? The situation of Fish-man Island can't get any worse."
Pontos didn't refute; he couldn't find a reason to refute. After all, what Nereus said was factual. The pirates under Nereus's command—pirates in the eyes of the World Government—did indeed perform much better than the Neptune Army.
"I don't have the ability to stop you. Your appearance itself exceeded the planning of fate. But there is one thing you must know."
"What?"
"In history, there are three weapons of immense power, each possessing the capability to destroy the world. The world calls them Ancient Weapons. One of these weapons is named Poseidon, also known as the Sea King.
Poseidon can command the Sea Kings of the deep sea; she is the King of all Sea Kings. Every so often, she is born into Fish-man Island with the identity of the Mermaid Princess.
Remember, it is not that only the Mermaid Princess can become Poseidon. Rather, whomever Poseidon awakens in, she will be the Princess of Fish-man Island.
Whatever you do, you must find Poseidon. You cannot let her fall into the hands of others."
Being crowned with the name of the Sea King (Poseidon) was explanation enough; she was the true King of the deep sea. In the original timeline, that generation of Poseidon just happened to fall upon Princess Shirahoshi.
When Merfolk and Fish-men reproduce, the fish species of the offspring is random; it could be any fish species. And this inheritance is intimately related to the inheritance of Poseidon.
Theoretically, any female mermaid has the possibility of awakening this aptitude.
If it were a different person and place, Nereus wouldn't find it strange for someone to tell him this.
But at a time like this, facing his blatant coup, Pontos's words gave Nereus a strange feeling instead...
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