"We, the Celestial Dragons currently stranded on Fish-Man Island due to an unfortunate accident—led by myself, Pluming—have reached a consensus. To prevent further chaos, we must work toward ending this conflict."
"Therefore, we request the temporary withdrawal of all charges against the Ryugu Kingdom regarding the unauthorized harboring of escaped slaves, as well as the suspension of any related prosecution. As proof of our commitment, we propose lifting the occupation meant for forcible inspection, ordering the full retreat of all Marine forces, and releasing all Kingdom citizens currently detained. We seek the understanding of the Celestial Dragon presently holding military command."
"Should you agree to these terms, we will immediately order the Marine forces to withdraw. We ask that you sign and stamp the enclosed joint declaration alongside our own signatures."
"Please give this your careful consideration—for a better world tomorrow."
"World Noble: Saint Samuel C. Pluming"
"It's been nearly two hours since we handed that document—along with the joint declaration bearing all their signatures—to a Marine on their side... but there's been no response. No movement whatsoever."
Damn them. I even used official World Government stationery and formatted everything properly...
"Mmm. Given the contents, I expected some kind of reaction immediately... This is troubling."
"Indeed. Quite troubling."
Though honestly, I'm quietly grateful we had enough time to prepare meals for the Celestial Dragons.
Apparently all they'd eaten while detained by the fish-men were dried fish and water. Even my mediocre cooking looked like a feast to them.
Thanks to that, I can feel their sentiments gradually shifting in our favor.
Though if they swing too far and try declaring me their slave again, I'll lose my mind...
I need to carefully monitor and adjust that balance.
"However, I must apologize, King Neptune. Regardless of how this battle concludes, the Marines may demand your custody during post-war negotiations..."
"I am this nation's king. Risking my life for my people is only natural. Moreover... I bear responsibility for failing to stop both armies from clashing! You're just a boy, yet you managed to turn that nightmare scenario into a stalemate..."
Neptune bows so deeply his crown nearly falls off, expressing genuine gratitude and apology—but seriously, could you please just escape instead?!
He probably figures that since Queen Otohime and the princes evacuated, everything will be fine even if the worst happens. But the fact that the fish-men's king got captured over some absurd Celestial Dragon complaint will absolutely trigger further fish-man uprisings!
The scattered fish-men will start staging rebellions across the seas eventually—I'm certain of it!
Arlong and Jinbei, standing beside me, act like it's perfectly natural for the king to remain here, but come on!
(We absolutely need King Neptune to persuade and calm the rebelling fish-men! We can't afford to lose him in some weird way!)
In the worst case, I'm even considering knocking him unconscious and abducting him—forcing an escape even if it means fish-man casualties. I'm already making preparations for that scenario in parallel.
Since the content was sensitive, I consulted with Arlong and Jinbei about potentially doing exactly that. Both gave me their blessing: "If it comes to that, we're counting on you."
...Still, I'd rather find a way for everyone to either stay on the island or evacuate together.
"King Neptune, changing subjects—how are the rescued civilians?"
"Fortunately, there were fewer injuries than expected. However... they all bear deep wounds on their hearts."
"...Then their hatred toward humans has—"
"Indeed, it has deepened. It's not visible now, but once they regain composure, perhaps..."
"They might be influenced by the rioters who already went wild?"
"Or perhaps... they'll influence those rioters even further."
I glance sideways at Arlong and Jinbei. Their expressions are heavy.
They claim they've explained what damage that reckless rampage caused, how badly things went, and secured promises that there won't be any unauthorized action in the next battle, but...
(Releasing the prisoners from their restraints was the right call.)
Keeping them bound might have led to lynch mobs.
I've stationed Issho at the large room housing the prisoners—formerly where captured mermaids were held—so problems shouldn't arise there, but...
"Kuro, you must be careful as well."
"The fish-men might harm me?"
"...In a sense, you represent their greatest problem made manifest."
"Meaning?"
Is it because I'm a former almost-slave turned pirate—
"You're living proof that fish-men cannot survive without human assistance."
...
What?
"As you know, Fish-Man Island is the only place where fish-men can live safely and stably."
The king gives a small, bitter laugh at the current state of things. But I'm not laughing. Seriously.
"An island where fish-men live, ruled by fish-men, for fish-men."
"Yes. It's a beautiful island, and I believe it's become famous as one of the Grand Line's premier tourist destinations—"
Oh.
I see...
Right.
That's how it is.
"In other words... this island barely functions because humans visit. The fish-men harbor resentment about their inability to live without the very humans who persecute them?"
"Indeed. ...This country naturally has its wealthy class. But how did they build that wealth...?"
Ah, I see.
(Through trade with humans, obviously. Humans are the only ones bringing money and supplies down to the ocean floor.)
Even if those humans are pirates.
(This is the ocean floor. While unique underwater food production is technically possible, large-scale farmland can't exist with such limited sunlight exposure.)
Meaning normally, they couldn't support a population large enough to maintain such a massive city.
Growing this large as a nation requires enormous funds to purchase food and supplies.
Trade and transactions with humans must have been massive—meaning unavoidable contact with humans on a considerable scale.
"I've heard from the pioneers that all fish-men dream of living on the surface..."
"They can't help envying it. Land where grain grows freely. Sunlight naturally pouring down at dawn. Rain clouds occasionally blocking that light to provide different blessings."
None of these exist on the ocean floor.
"Some probably think: if only humans didn't exist, we could live on the surface."
"Indeed, such people surely exist."
"And for those who think that way, my existence symbolizes their greatest obstacle."
"...They understand you've saved them—that's undeniable. The mermaids you rescued are praising your character and encouraging other citizens to cooperate."
Li Ling and the children rescued near the island.
I'm grateful, but... are they safe?
Please don't get into fights.
I'd gladly play villain once or twice rather than cause unnecessary conflict.
I'm a pirate, after all.
"However, as someone who reminds them that they cannot survive without such protection, many likely resent you."
"...I see."
Well, I can't feel great about it, but it's understandable.
It's purely an emotional issue, which makes it difficult to resolve. Nobody—including Arlong and the others—can do anything about it right now.
As long as they're careful with their actions, that'll have to be good enough.
(So that's why the pioneers were so cooperative with the island's development...)
This island is essentially a frontier settlement.
Sky Island had similarly limited usable land, but here the environmental restrictions are even more severe.
(...When we return, maybe I should seriously consider granting the fish-men an island or two. It'll serve as leverage when incorporating fish-men later.)
Mixing them with humans would complicate things, so granting an entire island to fish-men would be better.
If we periodically collect a portion of production and sales as tax, the island won't go to waste.
The problem is crew members complaining about essentially relinquishing conquered territory.
Even claiming we'll collect it as tax, there'll definitely be losses. I'll need justification and groundwork...
(Well, to make that work smoothly, the fish-men need to survive this as intact as possible.)
"The conflict between fish-men and humans runs deep. Overcoming it will require clearing many hurdles. That's precisely why we must survive this crisis first."
"But how? Even though the Celestial Dragons here have become cooperative, how will the government move...?"
"Ha. ...Well, I've thought of several strategies."
Will they... work?
Honestly, most of the plans I've devised come with question marks.
If it were just about military strength, we could manage. It'd be brutal, but possible.
But the real problem is achieving proper "resolution." That's everything.
With government trust and credibility having crashed through the floor, what can we do?
There's one possibility where we might pull it off—
(... It'll be a gamble, but there's no other choice.)
"If battle resumes, could you formally declare war on the hostile armed forces in the name of the Ryugu Kingdom's monarch?"
My proposal draws skeptical vibes from Arlong, Jinbei, and the others, but King Neptune strokes his magnificent beard, deep in thought.
"...I see."
"You want to officially reframe this as a war?"
"Yes."
As expected, royalty experienced in governance understands quickly. That helps.
"The key to this strategy is who we're fighting. The Celestial Dragons on our side are merely symbols of this incident. The real authority rests with myself and King Neptune. Meanwhile, the enemy forces exist in an ambiguous state."
Exactly. With Rear Admiral Skipper gone, no Marine officially holds command authority.
That Moira person is just a supplementary role—the collar attached to the Marines.
Even military men like Smoker don't know his rank, meaning he's a floating existence within the military organization despite wielding excessive power.
That's precisely why he's stuck in this unstable position, unable to bridge the government and Marines.
The Marine brass will inevitably voice strong complaints about this later.
Friction between government and Marines will definitely intensify.
If we exploit that gap, political escape routes might open up.
"That's why it matters that we formally declare war on what appears to be a Marine armed force."
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
"You really are peerless when it comes to devious schemes."
"I'm a pirate."
"You're the only pirate I know who fights with official statements and documentation."
Having finished the audience with King Neptune, I'm eating a late breakfast on deck with Hina while monitoring the enemy position.
Arlong is outside the ship, watching over the previously rampaging group. The only fish-men here now are Jinbei and Li Ling.
Well, one's a mermaid.
"But that's clever—approaching Marine Command directly about prisoner exchange to negotiate peace, bypassing the government entirely."
"...It's a desperate measure I barely squeezed out."
We're holding numerous prisoners, but so are they.
Mainly from the riot group—many fish-men were captured during the earlier chaos.
To define these as prisoners of war rather than criminal detainees requires King Neptune's formal declaration of war.
"At this point, involving the government will only complicate matters—that's obvious. No matter how many times I considered it, the Marines were the only ones with decision-making authority while excluding government intentions."
If the confusion spread this far due to poor government judgment and successive defections, then Sengoku and the others are probably racing around various locations alongside their regular work, trying to loosen the government's reins.
If they learn that Celestial Dragons can testify about Celestial Dragon rampages, they'll bite.
"But is it safe? The timing for both the statement and war declaration seems a bit late, doesn't it?"
"Their attack was essentially a one-sided surprise assault. Plus, I had Saint Pluming sign an official document explicitly stating the temporary withdrawal of all charges against the Ryugu Kingdom and suspension of prosecution. We'll use that as leverage to force a reset."
Assuming we can bring them to the negotiating table.
I'm gathering materials bit by bit, but still not enough to force them to swallow this completely.
Ideally, the enemy forces would just retreat here...
"But seriously, the Marines haven't moved at all."
"Right, I'm concerned about that too. They're not even cooking... Are they eating properly?"
"? Since dawn?"
"Yes, nothing. I've been watching the ship's smokestacks closely, but smoke only came out briefly. Probably for the Celestial Dragons' meals."
"When was that?"
"...About thirty minutes before you went to deliver the official documents, I'd say."
...Thirty minutes.
Two and a half hours. Shortly after dawn.
(There's no entertainment on the ships. We rescued all the humans held captive—clearly women and children kept for the Celestial Dragons' pleasure. So with nothing to do, they started going to bed early and waking up early? Give me a break.)
Anyway, the Celestial Dragons are still active—confirmed.
So the documents were delivered and read long ago, yet they still haven't moved. Why?
It's actually fine for us since it lets the militia rest and eat.
(The skinny Marine prisoners at least ate the porridge I made. They said they couldn't stomach food over there...)
The ocean floor with no escape. Absolute rulers in the Celestial Dragons.
Obedience to orders inherent to soldiers. Enemies who are fish-men rightfully furious at them.
Guilt. Life centered in the closed environment of ships, however large.
(Plus Rear Admiral Skipper, actually shot before everyone's eyes... Did they inadvertently create an environment resembling confinement-based brainwashing?)
Why are these people picking fights at someone else's home, then imploding on their own?
If you're going to have internal conflicts, do it somewhere else.
(If we were human forces, I could've exploited soldier desertions to turn the tide... but being fish-men creates bizarre problems in every direction.)
They're not just a different species—they just launched an unreasonable attack.
The option of fleeing to our side is hard to consider.
Surrendering to the people you tried to enslave—they probably think they'd just be killed!
If we'd brought forces comparable to the Black Cat Fleet, things might've been different...
"I'm worried about the Marines' mental state over there. I hope they're at least eating minimal meals."
"Even though they're enemies?"
"They're victims. ...Well, yes, they're currently enemies, but..."
What is this feeling?
Nothing comes to mind except pity.
I couldn't hold back and blasted them since we had no margin for restraint—is Borsalino even okay?
"Look at Ensign Smoker. He had enough energy to bluster, but he was mentally shredded."
"Yes. I still can't believe I saw Smoker like that."
"...Did you extract any information?"
Apparently, right before the reorganization, he was on a ship in Kuzan's fleet...
"No luck. Everything I ask gets 'shut up' or 'don't wanna talk about it.'"
"That's because you punched him..."
"He's the type who gets blood rushing to his head and slips up when hit. Maybe I should punch him again and provoke him thoroughly."
"Please don't. I mean, an uppercut though?"
"I managed to stop myself from going for the groin!!"
"Ladies shouldn't say 'groin.'"
When did you become such a barbarian?
In the original story, she used her ability and commanded fleets—though she hasn't eaten a Devil Fruit yet, and she's too young to command fleets or even ships.
...Hancock's somewhat of an exception.
Anyway, I don't remember her being this specialized in punches and kicks...
"So, the watch shift's coming up—anything you need done?"
"...You documented all prisoner testimony yourself, right?"
"Yes, I compiled it in report format. As you instructed, I gave it directly to King Neptune without showing anyone else."
Good, then we're set.
"However this concludes, don't neglect preparations for post-war processing. Even if we end up retreating, what we've accumulated might let us chain down the Celestial Dragons' future movements."
"...Won't that require the Marines having more authority than now? Can they manage that? The government's methods are rougher than I imagined."
"That's exactly why we need to do what we can now and increase our cards. Given time, the government will probably prepare other forces—hired pirates and such—"
While monitoring the Marines from afar, nibbling on thinly sliced dried fish and hammering out details—
A gunshot echoed from the distance.
What sounded like a single shot was actually multiple rifles fired simultaneously.
"Kuro!"
"They're finally moving."
Hearing the gunshot, the fish-men start stirring.
They probably won't riot immediately, but—
"Jinbei! Take command of the frontline units with Arlong right away! Don't let anyone attack until we confirm enemy advancement!!"
"Understood! Leave it to me this time!!"
Jinbei leaps from the deck's height without hesitation, issuing loud instructions to the agitated fish-men.
Good. That should prevent immediate rampaging.
...Hmm?
Conversely, the enemy Marines' movements are sluggish. The gunfire definitely came from their side though.
"...Kuro."
"Mm?"
"Here."
Hina hands over the binoculars hanging from her neck.
"Look at the ship. The one the Celestial Dragons are on."
She points to the ship they're aboard—the massive vessel that became the final battlefield during the previous engagement.
When we arrived, it was a bloody mess of fish-man and Marine corpses.
Just outside—where we'd cleared bodies, washed away blood and organs, covered everything with sand—the ground was stained with blood again.
About ten Marines lined up in a row, bound to posts, executed.
Some distance away stood another row—soldiers holding rifles at ready, faces pale enough to see even from this distance.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
And on the ship's deck, Celestial Dragons nodding in approval.
"Are you serious?!"
They keep effortlessly piling worst upon worst, these idiots!
And this time they actually did it—no, they made them do it!
(Considering the future, this is worst-case for both government and Marines—but!)
Limited to just this battlefield, having soldiers execute prisoners does bind their thinking.
The lack of any real riot signs in this nightmare situation proves it.
Those scum pulled off a ridiculous miracle!
"Kuro. They're planning another assault, aren't they?!"
Must be! Those bastards are really...!
"Hina, gather all unit commanders including Issho. Leave the prisoners."
"Round two. I'll explain the strategy."
***
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