"Hahaha! Come on! Kill me! My will has already spread throughout Fishman Street, as long as my compatriots are still oppressed and bullied by humans, still hiding in this sunless place to live on, there will be countless others to inherit my will in the future! You will never—"
Before he could finish his words, the Eldest Prince Shano had already drawn out the Trident and pierced Hody's heart without hesitation.
Hody's eyes widened, blood oozing from the corners of his mouth, finally collapsing on the ground, lifeless.
This scene surprised Shano slightly.
He originally thought Neptune's handling would be like in the original manga, at most imprisoning Hody permanently.
Instead, the strike was so decisive.
Indeed.
Neptune in his youth was also known for his fiery and impulsive nature, a "Great Knight" who was close friends and drank heartily with Whitebeard.
It was only after marrying Otohime, influenced by his wife's gentle and kind nature, that he gradually restrained his temper, becoming more magnanimous and amiable.
The current Neptune is not yet the figure burdened by heavy pressures, trapped in an elderly crisis six years later.
Hody's lack of remorse for the assassination event back then, as well as his face-to-face insults against Otohime, undoubtedly touched the deepest reverse scale in his heart.
"..."
Neptune looked at Hody's corpse, silenced for a long time, before heaving a long sigh, turned around and deeply bowed to Shano:
"Lord Shano, thank you and your subordinates for revealing the truth, so that Otohime... can finally rest in peace."
The three princes stood behind him, tears in their eyes at this moment, kneeling directly on the ground before Shano.
Shano quickly helped them up: "It was a small effort, if you want to thank someone, thank Jack; also, regarding Vander Decken..."
Neptune's gaze turned cold, speaking firmly:
"The villain threatening Shirahoshi, the old man won't let him off, since he's already taken the bait, the old man will personally lead troops immediately to completely eliminate him!"
Shano nodded: "Jack, accompany him just in case."
"Yes, boss!"
...
If Hody Jones at least had some strength with the aid of Fierce Medicine ES.
Then Vander Decken was someone without any strength at all, purely disgusting people with the Mark-Mark Fruit and his despicable style.
Under being locked onto and ambushed in advance, he couldn't possibly have any chance to fight back.
Shano had just returned to Dragon Palace City not long ago, when Neptune and Jack also came back.
The three princes specifically brought the bound Vander Decken, and in front of Hard Shell Tower gave him a violent beating, making him wail and snot and tears before Shirahoshi, begging for mercy, and then took him to the prison.
Could this be resolving years of fear and mental knots for the sister?
Shano found it quite amusing, wholeheartedly agreeing, if Nami and Nojiko had similar experiences, he would do the same.
"Lord Shano, not only did you reveal the truth about Otohime's death, you completely resolved the hazard of Vander Decken, these are two great favors, the Dragon Palace Kingdom will remember forever."
Neptune once again, with the three princes, expressed gratitude to Shano, and eagerly requested to host a banquet again with the highest standards tonight, welcoming all the crew of Endgame.
This enthusiasm was indeed hard to refuse.
And thinking that the two sisters hadn't visited Dragon Palace City, and maybe could become friends with Shirahoshi, Shano agreed.
The Eldest Prince Shano took his two brothers to welcome the crew all over Fishman Island, soon, Kuina, Smoker, Zeff, and others arrived at Dragon Palace City.
Nami and Robin arrived last, the latter seemingly fruitful from her archaeological journey, a light smile on her lips, mood great, while Nami seemed a bit dazed, like a puppet.