Gyoncorde Plaza was a vast open area located in the northwest of Fishman Island.
Although it lay in the northwest, it was very close to major gathering places such as Mermaid Cove, Coral Hill, and Gyoverly Hills, making it effectively the central plaza of Fishman Island.
Whenever any major event occurred, the residents of Fishman Island would usually gather here.
On ordinary days, people would also stroll here and run small businesses. Since going out always carried risks, this place had been where most Fish-Men and Merfolk played as children.
And today, what happened on Fishman Island was undoubtedly the first time in hundreds of years that the age-old, unchanging royal succession had undergone such a tremendous change.
Though it was called a country, in essence it was more like a city, and news spread relatively quickly.
More and more Merfolk and Fish-Men gathered here. They not only filled the plaza itself, but also crowded the coral hills around it. Many people were even floating in midair atop bubbles created with Bubbly Coral.
"Everyone, I trust I am not unfamiliar to you. I have gathered you here today for just one matter.
From today onward, I will be the new king of Fishman Island. The former royal family has, at this moment, become history.
Fishman Island's history of darkness and misfortune will also come to an end in this era. We will create a brand new and powerful history!!
You may have doubts in your hearts, you may even feel fear, but do not worry. Your lives will only become better.
I will show you with facts what a truly safe nation looks like!"
Standing at the center of the plaza, Nereus's voice spread throughout the entire square through Megaphone Den Den Mushi. In the process, Nereus even used a faint trace of Conqueror's Haki, lending his tone an even greater sense of authority.
"Nereus!"
"Nereus!"
It was started by a resident from the Fish-Man District, which had always been the strongest base of support for Nereus.
They could even be called fanatics. No matter what form Nereus's coup took, even if it were a terrifying, bloody conflict, they would stand unconditionally on Nereus's side.
Following closely behind were those who lived on Fishman Island and had received Nereus's help: slaves he had rescued, the families of those slaves. Spurred on by the residents of the Fish-Man District, they joined the chants as well.
Although some people were still confused about all this, the majority of the residents accepted it.
This was no ancient dynasty with aristocratic families, political parties, and all sorts of messy complications.
The entire royal family consisted of only two people. Aside from those two and a handful of ministers, everyone else was just an ordinary resident of Fishman Island, differing only slightly in wealth.
For ordinary people, the king was a very distant figure. Even in such a small country, some people would go their entire lives without ever seeing their own king.
This wasn't unique to Fishman Island. It was the reality in many nations across the seas.
In recent years, Nereus, who had provided them with security, was more trustworthy to many people than the royal family ever was. The residents of the Fish-Man District, in particular, felt that Nereus ought to be king.
If one truly followed certain nonexistent legal formalities, then over in the Drum Kingdom, Dalton—the former chief royal guard—would never have had any chance of becoming the new king, let alone being recognized by the World Government as the ruler of an affiliated nation.
As long as Nereus could make Fishman Island's future better, those who harbored doubts would naturally let go of them over time.
"Mr. Nereus… did he really become king after just one night?"
In a more remote area, Ginny pinched her own cheek, feeling as if she might not be awake, and she wasn't the only one.
Kuma, Amphitrite, Luna, and the subordinates under Nereus who lacked Fish-Man or Merfolk bloodlines were all there.
What was happening now was Fishman Island's internal affair, and there was no need for them to compete with the local residents for space.
"Isn't that perfectly reasonable? Someone that powerful, and approved by others as well, shouldn't they naturally be the one to become king?"
"Is that how the Minks choose their king too?"
"Mm… the Minks only have the Duke, but the Duke really is the strongest, and also the one everyone acknowledges. I guess it's the same."
Luna thought over what had happened in the past and felt that everything unfolding now was only natural.
Some human pirates and merchants who had passed through Fishman Island but not yet departed were also watching all of this. Pirates from Paradise didn't know much about Nereus and weren't particularly interested.
But those from the New World, pirates who knew Nereus's name, had all realized one thing.
Fishman Island… no, given Fishman Island's position, if Nereus came to rule the entire island, then the whole Grand Line would likely be thrown into upheaval.
Signals from Den Den Mushi were being transmitted outward one after another, carrying news of what was happening in the deep sea to distant places.
However, when so many people gathered together, accidents could sometimes happen. While most people were focused on the center of the plaza, some newly arrived pirates began to harbor other thoughts.
Sneaking around the edge, they kidnapped two Merfolk, trying to take them out of Fishman Island.
But before they could even leave, a terrifying presence had already locked onto them.
Nereus's Observation Haki was observing the entirety of Gyoncorde Plaza. Within this range, nothing that happened could escape his perception.
The bodies of those few suddenly became unable to move, and the blood flowing within them even caused a sharp, stinging pain.
As Nereus raised his arm, those men were lifted into the air as well, and the Merfolk stuffed into burlap sacks fell out.
"From today onward, if any citizen is taken from Fishman Island by illegal means, it will be my shame!"
As Nereus clenched his fist, the pirates who had attempted trafficking slaves right in front of him were instantly reduced to a cloud of blood mist.
Fishman Island's traditional martial arts centered on controlling and striking with water. When combined with Vampire's ability to manipulate blood, the effect was even greater. Individuals who were not proficient in Haki had absolutely no ability to resist Nereus.
Even slightly weaker powerhouses must constantly guard against Nereus's ability in this regard. If their bodies are affected by Nereus's power, causing even a momentary stiffening, it could prove fatal in a battle between top-tier fighters.
From a certain, perhaps inappropriate perspective, those pirates had appeared at just the right time. For the residents of Fishman Island, human traffickers had always been their greatest problem.
Discrimination and prejudice could be endured. At worst, they could simply avoid going to the surface.
But these pirates and traffickers always posed a direct threat to their safety.
Such incidents had happened frequently in the past, and even if the former royal family hadn't committed any great wrongs, they had done very little about this issue.
Nereus, however, used the most ruthless means to make his stance clear.
For a moment, the cheers reached an unprecedented peak…
*TN: Spring of XX: It signals a narrative shift into a period of renewal, hope, new beginnings, youthful energy, or significant change related to the subject (XX).
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