Are there more accomplices?
Jack raised an eyebrow slightly, turned his head, and fixed his gaze on the Radio Snail.
...
...
About an hour later.
Shano stepped into Fishman Street, followed by King Neptune along with the escort team led by the three princes.
Jack was already waiting at the warehouse door. As soon as he saw Shano approaching, his eyes lit up, and he went up to him.
Thus, the residents of Fishman Street were dumbfounded to see...
The giant who had easily wiped out the New Fishman Pirate Crew was now standing obediently before the black-haired boy, answering all his questions with utmost respect.
"So, you're saying all of Hody's men have been taken down by you without exception?"
"Yes, boss."
"And you found a diary on him that records the truth about the assassination of Princess Otohime?"
"Yes."
"Then you contacted his ally Vander Decken and set a meeting time?"
"Hmm, but that guy is very cautious. He refuses to enter Fishman Island and set the meeting place somewhere off-island, which I've already marked on the Nautical Chart."
"Oh, well done, Jack!"
Shano gave his arm a firm pat, "For your first solo mission, you really came through!"
Finally receiving praise from Boss Shano, Jack scratched his head and chuckled, gone was the imposing figure from earlier.
This kid...
The more Shano looked, the more satisfied he was. You can't always judge by appearances; Jack, straightforward as he is, has a good head on his shoulders.
Following me all this way, he's seen the world and, like Kuina, has grown into a capable individual.
As for his tendency to lose his head in a fight and charge at anyone...
There's no helping it; that might never change.
...
Meanwhile.
Neptune, who had come along, had just finished reading the diary that Jack handed him.
"So, that's how it is..."
Neptune's hands trembled, his voice low and shaking, "Otohime's death was all because of this beast..."
Hody seemed very proud of his perfectly executed plan. In the diary, he detailed everything meticulously.
He not only orchestrated the assassination but also stole treasures from the Jade Hand Box, deliberately framing humans to incite the Fishman Island residents against them.
All of Princess Otohime's years of effort went up in smoke.
Even though Neptune and the three princes inherited her will and have advocated for peace all these years, deep-seated resentment against humans still runs rampant on the island.
Otohime, oh...
Neptune took a deep breath, suppressing the sorrow and anger within, then turned to the three princes and said solemnly:
"Wake up Hody."
The three princes, already filled with rage, immediately stepped forward.
The Eldest Prince, Manboshi, grabbed the unconscious Hody, while the other two landed punches on his chest with all their might.
"Cough... cough!"
The sharp pain in his chest made Hody cough violently, and he slowly opened his eyes.
When he saw Neptune and the three princes standing before him, his pupils contracted sharply, but soon he scowled with a sneer:
"Oh... isn't this our 'Sea God' majesty? What brings you out of Dragon Palace City today, to grace my territory?"
Neptune gazed at him coldly: "Hody Jones, do you admit to planning the assassination of Otohime?"
"So, you know a lot... At this point, even if I don't confess, you wouldn't believe me, would you?"
Hody licked the blood on his lips, sneering:
"It was me! So what if I killed her, huh? That crazy woman kept babbling about 'letting everyone see the real sunlight again' and 'living in harmony with humans,' humiliating the Fishmen and Merfolk! Killing her was just acting on behalf of the heavens!"
"You bastard!"
"How dare you insult our mother!"
The Third Prince, Manboshi, roared in fury, throwing a powerful punch to knock him to the ground.
"That's nothing!"
Falling to the ground, Hody laughed even wilder:
"What's wrong? Despite your hatred towards me, is that all the strength you can muster? You weak royals are unfit to rule Fishman Island! Only a strong man like me can lead the Fishman Race to conquer the world!"
So you think you're strong?
Pretending again, huh?
Jack watched from afar, unable to hold back, grumbled indignantly: "That grin of his is disgusting; should have just taken him down right then."
"We wouldn't be able to confront him face-to-face otherwise. Being outsiders, a single diary isn't enough for Neptune and them to fully believe us."
Shano shook his head. Since Princess Otohime's death, Fishman Island's situation has been complicated. As a human, he couldn't act against them until Hody made a formal move.
Luckily, Jack is a Fishman, free of such concerns. He stumbled into it and found crucial evidence in Hody's lair...
This made things a lot simpler.
In this regard, Jack is indeed a fortunate asset.
...
Neptune closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his gaze was steady:
"Hody Jones, for committing regicide, inciting rebellion, and conspiring with foreign enemies, I, as King of the Dragon Palace Kingdom, sentence you to death, to be carried out immediately."
Hody's face changed, but soon he burst into a crazed laugh: