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Arashi stands 3.3 m tall, while Neptune is 12.2 m. Despite the size difference, Arashi appears remarkably imposing.
"Your Majesty Neptune." He offered a gentle smile. "It's hard to believe it's been over ten years since we last met at the World Summit."
Neptune was momentarily stunned before a strange emotion arose within him. "So Arashi remembered me too."
He could never forget the overwhelming aura and presence of this man during that summit—an aura so powerful even the Marines of CP0 feared him.
"I didn't expect you to remember me." Neptune sighed, stepping aside to lead the way. "Please, come with me to the palace."
Arashi nodded, then glanced at Fisher Tiger standing behind Neptune. Tiger acknowledged with a solemn nod.
"Well then," Arashi announced with a warm smile, "I won't keep you or the court waiting."
Neptune beamed. "You're too gracious!" With that, the group moved toward Ryugu Kingdom.
Along the way, Arashi's talkative nature surprised Neptune and his court—his warmth was rare among humans.
In small details, they felt genuine respect. Neptune's initial tension softened. They passed under the Whitebeard flag, hanging tall in the island's center. Arashi paused and pointed, smiling at the banner.
"Letting pirates guard your people—that's the Marines shirking duty. On behalf of the Marines, I apologize for our past negligence toward you and Fish-Man Island."
Neptune's heart skipped. He'd read more into the comment than intended, but soon realized Arashi's apology was sincere.
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at Ryugu Palace. The grand hall was adorned with platters of fruit, noble wines, and rich foods, filling the air with fragrance.
Neptune sat in the main seat, regret in his voice. "I apologize for the hurried preparations on behalf of Ryugu Kingdom."
Arashi casually waved it off. "Worry not about appearances. More important to the Marines is Your Majesty's attitude."
He turned to Fisher Tiger. "Vice Admiral, on behalf of my intentions—what does His Majesty think of the proposal?"
Neptune paused, surprised by Arashi's urgency and the directness. After a moment's thought, he no longer hesitated.
"Fleet Admiral Arashi, I deeply appreciate all you've done for Fish-Man Island. Therefore, I see no reason to refuse your proposal."
He took a steadying breath. "For the peace of our people and friendship with humanity, on behalf of Ryugu Kingdom and Fish-Man Island, I pledge to cooperate with the Marines."
Arashi's smile grew wider. "Hahaha! This banquet will be joyous, Your Majesty Neptune. Humans and Fish-Men can live together in peace."
Neptune nodded firmly and raised a glass. As he drank, an image seemed to shimmer before him—a soft silhouette, smiling and drifting closer.
"Princess Otohime!" he exclaimed. "See it? Your dream blooms today! Fish‑Man Island—now it has a future!"
Neptune burst into tears and a joyous howl, seemingly drunk on hope. The hall fell silent as the once-celebratory atmosphere froze in awe.
Crown Prince Fukaboshi looked to Arashi, worry flashing in his eyes. Fisher Tiger also frowned—clearly concerned at Neptune's display.
In such a formal setting, this outburst could jeopardize their alliance. If Neptune angered Arashi… the consequences could be dire.
"Fleey Admiral Arashi," Fisher Tiger began, anxious to explain, but Neptune remained lost in his tears and muttering.
"Otohime… Did you see?" he murmured. All eyes turned to Arashi. His earlier smile had vanished, replaced by a grave, somber expression.
The hall remained deathly still for what felt like an eternity—only Neptune's sobs and incoherent words broke the silence.
Bam!
A glass slammed down on the table.
Every heart jolted. Crown Prince Fukaboshi's face drained of color—he sensed doom. "He's furious!"
But then Arashi slowly lifted his head and locked eyes with the sobbing king.
"Neptune!" his voice thundered. Neptune snapped to attention, frozen and bewildered.
"Here and now, I vow on behalf of the Marines!" Arashi declared, voice strong and solemn.
"Fish-Men and humans shall coexist peacefully—celebrating our differences and living as equals!"
"As long as I, Arashi, draw breath, this covenant between us will be upheld unwaveringly!"
Neptune shuddered. Through his drunken haze, conflicting emotions surged—grief, relief, hope. Tears streamed down his cheeks, falling onto the polished floor.
Arashi's powerful words stood like bedrock in every Fish-Man's heart. In their eyes, he had delivered unshakeable promise.
After the banquet, Ryugu Kingdom erupted in celebration. Arashi remained at the palace—formal agreements still to be signed.
They would define funding levels, the Marines' elite base construction, and the recruitment of Fish-Men into Marine ranks.
Of course, Arashi didn't need to handle the details—his subordinates would see to it.
That night, Arashi sat alone in a room Neptune had personally arranged.
The décor was unlike anything he had seen on land—a sea-themed marvel of shells and glowing pearls.
The ceilings were sprinkled with strange luminous beads. The rooms were vast and open.
Fascinated, he admired the design before settling into thought. "The Marines still face financial strain."
"Without funds, we cannot scale recruitment or support logistics and if we can't recruit, future plans stall."
"Ryugu Kingdom signing on relieves some of that burden. Next, there's Cobra's kingdom of Alabasta."
"Alabasta has long maintained a secret army; many years ago, Barrett even took part. They are reliable."
"It's time to plant foundations in the New World. We can expand recruitment steadily, growing range and scale over time."
Though the position of Fleet Admiral was powerful, it came with worry and responsibility. Arashi believed he could bear that weight—indeed, he even relished it.
Suddenly, his eyes shifted to the door.
"Since she's come, don't stay hidden outside!" he called.
Outside, a delicate voice hesitated, then the door inched open. Through the crack, he caught sight of a large but graceful face.
He paused, then laughed warmly. "Are you Princess Shirahoshi, daughter of Neptune?"
As he spoke, he gestured, and the door swung fully open. Before him stood Princess Shirahoshi in full form—upper body human, lower body fish—the living legend of a mermaid princess.
"You… you are Fleet Admiral Arashi?" she asked, her wide eyes innocent and shy, yet open and curious.
"Come in, Princess Shirahoshi." Arashi invited with a gentle smile. "I suspect you've come with many questions, haven't you?"
Shirahoshi blushed, studied him closely, and then stepped inside carefully. They stood silently for a moment before she finally spoke.
"They say you are terrifying. But I think you're handsome... and young—and kind-looking."
Her round face hovered close, shy yet bold. Even Neptune's princes wouldn't dare disturb him like this.
In the eyes of the Ryugu court, Arashi was formidable—a marine who single ‑ handedly challenged two Emperors at sea.
A Fleet Admiral of fearsome power and influence. "Am I... terrifying?" Arashi let out a gentle laugh.
"Judgment comes from rumor, not from understanding. Perhaps the world has misunderstood me."
Shirahoshi nodded shyly. "Yes, you seem warm—so different from other humans."
Arashi sat opposite her, intrigued. "Tell me, how many humans have you met?"
Shirahoshi hesitated, then began. Shirahoshi furrowed her brow and began counting on her fingers.
"Not many, hehe, not even more than ten!" Then she looked curiously at Arashi. "You humans are so small, and not very strong either. So why are people so afraid of you?"
Arashi smiled faintly. "Strength isn't measured by size. As for fear... perhaps it's because of a natural darkness that resides in every living being."
"Whether it's humans or Fish-Men, there are both good and bad among them."
"But here on Fish-Man Island, people have had more encounters with the bad ones from the human world."
Shirahoshi blinked in confusion. "Why is it that we meet more bad people?"
Arashi's smile faded, and his voice grew heavier. "There are many reasons for that. But for now, let's talk about why you came here."
Shirahoshi blinked again, then stared intently at Arashi. "After the banquet today, my father and brothers were so excited and emotional."
"I came here secretly to ask you one thing—will Fish-Man Island become a better place in the future? Will my father and brothers finally stop frowning every day?"
Arashi fell silent. There was no doubt—this was the pure hope of a fourteen-year-old mermaid girl.
Her world was still small. She likely only thought about her own people, not the greater world.
Her concern revolved around her family. Nervous and uncertain, she came to Arashi seeking a definite answer.
"Yeah," Arashi finally replied. "Their troubles will soon be resolved and they won't have to worry anymore. I promise you that."
"Then let's do a pinky promise!" Shirahoshi giggled, stretching out her fair, delicate hand. Arashi extended his right pinky as well, and their fingers touched.
Because of the huge difference in their size, the scene looked a bit silly—yet it marked a heartfelt promise between the two.
"Hehehehehe!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Their laughter echoed through the room, a small and a large figure sharing a pure and trustworthy vow.
Shirahoshi was clearly curious about humans. Before this, she had barely interacted with any, and meeting Arashi for the first time sparked endless fascination.
She eagerly asked about human life and the vastness of the outside world. Her heart had already flown far away.
"Life outside... is so beautiful!" Shirahoshi murmured dreamily. A girl's dreams are always wild and free.
With Arashi's stories painting vivid scenes, her heart was already soaring above the sea, beneath the open sky.
"Shirahoshi!" Arashi suddenly called out seriously.
"Huh? Arashi?" she said dazedly, still caught up in her imagination.
Though their meeting was short, it felt like a bond that crossed generations. Arashi didn't mind that the girl called him by name.
As his status and strength had grown, he rarely experienced such natural interactions anymore. It reminded him of chatting and joking with friends from his previous life.
"Can you feel something... calling out to you?" Arashi asked quietly. He knew very well—this mermaid girl was no ordinary being.
She was likely Poseidon, one of the three Ancient Weapons. Born with powerful Observation Haki, she could hear the Voice of All Things and command the giant sea creatures.
This was the terrifying power of Shirahoshi.
"I can! How did you know that?" she asked in surprise.
"Don't tell anyone about this, not a single soul," Arashi said firmly.
"Okay!" Shirahoshi agreed without hesitation. She had a natural instinct—and believed Arashi was trustworthy.
His expression softened, and they continued talking. Before long, the next morning arrived.
With heavy panda-like circles under her eyes, Shirahoshi quietly slipped away, clearly reluctant to leave. Arashi simply smiled and closed his eyes.
From here on, matters on Fish-Man Island became much simpler. The Marines sent representatives to officially sign an agreement with Fish-Man Island, represented by King Neptune.
Fisher Tiger, acting as the Marine delegate, nervously and solemnly signed his name on the densely worded contract.
His handwriting was wobbly and clumsy, but it marked the beginning of official cooperation between the Marines and Fish-Man Island.
Afterward, Arashi calmly signed his name next to Fisher Tiger's.
Lastly, King Neptune added his signature. With the three names written, Fish-Man Island officially stepped into a new era.
Not long after, Buggy and Rosinante cheerfully brought out a camera and took a photo of the trio standing before the Ryugu Palace.
In the picture, Arashi wore a natural smile. Fisher Tiger's eyes were red with emotion, his face trembling. Neptune, on the other hand, looked a little stiff and nervous.
Without a doubt, this would become a photo passed down through the ages.
Two days later, Arashi and his companions departed Fish-Man Island and returned to Marine Headquarters.
Fisher Tiger was appointed Commander of the Fish-Man Island Base, responsible for local stability and the annual recruitment process.
Time flew by. Two more months passed.
In the Fleet Admiral's office, Arashi sat with a furrowed brow, reviewing the latest intelligence report.
"SWORD has just arrived near Wano Country and is trying to find a way into that closed-off land."
"The Blackbeard Pirates are rapidly rising in fame, recruiting countless strong fighters and establishing their base on Hachinosu."
"Marshall D. Teach has begun calling himself 'Admiral.'"
Then, setting one report aside, Arashi picked up another. His tense expression finally relaxed, and a small smile appeared.
"At last, some good news. We've just recruited a powerful new Marine."
The document before him was a personnel file. At the top, beside the photo, the name stood out boldly and clearly—
Issho.
Fujitora Issho.
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