96 The Unchangeable Event
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Queen Otohime, with a heart as vast as the ocean, harbored a dream that one day, the Fish-Men could bask in the glow of the real sun, free from the shadows of fear and the chains of slavery.
She believed, with unwavering faith, that even in the darkest of hearts, there existed a flicker of goodness.
It was with this hope that she embarked on a perilous journey, aiming to bridge the chasm of distrust between her people and the humans above the sea.
Her plan was audacious yet simple: to persuade the World Nobles to endorse a treaty that would ensure a harmonious coexistence between the two races.
With the guidance of Mjosgard, a figure of considerable influence, Queen Otohime stepped into the lion's den—the opulent, yet foreboding, residence of the World Nobles.
This momentous endeavor caught the attention of the Five Elders, who saw in Jinbe's nomination as one of the Seven Shichibukai an opportunity to soften the long-standing tensions.
To them, peace with Fish-Man Island wasn't just a diplomatic victory; it was a necessary step in maintaining the world's delicate balance. They, too, lent their support to Queen Otohime's cause, hoping to cement the treaty.
However, the path to peace was strewn with obstacles. Among the World Nobles, there existed a faction that delighted in the cruel tradition of enslavement, viewing the captivating mermaids as nothing more than trophies to adorn their grotesque collections.
Leading this vile opposition was Saint Rosward, a man whose heart was as cold as the depths of the darkest sea.
He rallied those who harbored resentment from past grievances, notably the devastation wrought by Fisher Tiger, to stand against any notion of equality and freedom for the Fish-Men.
Despite the daunting resistance, Mjosgard's efforts, combined with Queen Otohime's persuasive eloquence, began to turn the tide.
Slowly, families that once sat on the fence started being to change their position. These families, though few, were pivotal in shifting the scales towards Queen Otohime.
Yet, the reality remained that a substantial portion of the World Nobles were blinded by their privilege and cruelty, considering the Fish-Men as mere playthings rather than sentient beings. This deep-seated bigotry posed a significant hurdle.
In this critical moment, the Five Elders emerged as unexpected supporting Queen Otohime's cause. With their endorsement, the dissenting Nobles found themselves cornered, forced to bow to a power even greater than their own arrogance. This victory, however, was not without its shadows.
Saint Rosward and his followers, though momentarily subdued, plotted in the dark.
Their plan was sinister: an assassination of Queen Otohime, executed with such cunning that it would leave the Five Elders powerless to retaliate.
By dispersing the blame across multiple families, they aimed to create an untouchable shield of complicity, ensuring that no single entity could be held accountable.
The CP0 agents, pawns of the World Nobles, were set in motion, their loyalty to their masters overriding any moral or hierarchical obligations.
Even Brontes, who held nominal authority over them, could only watch as the dark plan unfolded, a testament to the twisted power dynamics that ruled the World Government.
...
At night, the CP0 operatives were on the move when they bumped into agents from the Don Quixote family. This sparked a secret clash, but Brontes knew all about it.
Mjosgard boldly faced Saint Rosward at his home, questioning his motives.
"What's your plan, Saint Rosward?!" Mjosgard asked, clearly upset about the attack.
Rosward, with a sneer, replied: "The moment that damn mermaid dies, all this talk of peace dies with her. Fish-Men are nothing but monsters, beneath us, meant to be enslaved."
"The World Nobles back her. Soon, Fish-Man Island will join the World Government." Mjosgard countered.
"That's if she makes it through tonight." Rosward coldly retorted, his intention to kill Queen Otohime chillingly clear.
"Haha! Do you think you can kill her? My men might not stop you, but you won't lay a finger on Queen Otohime." Mjosgard sneered.
Rosward mocked in return: "Oh? She's stronger than our CP0 agents?"
Then, a voice from the doorway cut in: "Because I promised to keep her safe before she left the Fish-Man Island."
"Who?!" Startled, Rosward and his subordinates were on edge.
"It's been a while." Brontes said, entering the room with a confident grin.
"Damn it!"
Rosward cursed under his breath. He could ignore all the World Nobles in Mary Geoise, including the Five Elders, and go directly to assassinate Queen Otohime.
But Brontes was different, unlike other marines, he wouldn't follow his orders just because he is a World Noble, not even the Five Elders can force him to do so, because they know the consequences would be catastrophic for them.
Looking at Brontes's smiling face, Rosward's eyes filled with hatred.
It was because of Brontes presence that the World Nobles started to considerate their actions before Brontes, otherwise Brontes would just knock them out using Conqueror's Haki.
Rosward was one of the World Nobles who demanded that Brontes should serve them and protect their security. Now, countless World Nobles hate Brontes to the core, and they hated Rosward and Five Elders even more for bringing Brontes to Mariejois.
"Brontes, this has nothing to do with you, right? This is an internal matter. You are an outsider, why do you want to meddle in this matter?!" Rosward snapped.
"I vowed to protect Queen Otohime. As long as she's here, she's under my protection. If anyone harms her, I won't stand by." Brontes said with a confident smile.
"This is my warning. Try anything, and I won't hesitate. No matter how many agents you send, they're no match to me." Brontes warned, summoning lightning chains that dragged forward two lifeless bodies from behind the door.
"ZliZli!"
"You killed my men for a mermaid?!" Rosward yelled, staring at the bodies. CP0 agents were the elite, yet Brontes had taken two down.
"This is a warning. Cross me again, and it won't end well." Brontes said calmly, his gaze sharp and dangerous.
Brontes didn't utter another word and promptly departed.
Rosward watched him go, a storm of emotions churning inside him. He harbored a deep desire to confront Brontes, and even to kill him, but he found himself paralyzed by fear, unable to voice his thoughts, much less take any action.
...
Days later, Queen Otohime's departure from Mariejois was a scene filled with joy and hope.
Her face was alight with happiness as she was escorted back to Fish-Man Island by a contingent of marine soldiers.
Jinbe, who had been anxiously waiting at Marineford for several days, was washed over with relief at the sight of Queen Otohime returning safe and sound.
The news that the World Government had agreed to their proposal filled him with an immense joy, a feeling he shared with the Sun Pirates as they accompanied Queen Otohime back to Fish-Man Island.
However, their journey back was marred by tragedy. The Sun Pirates were ambushed by a group of ruthless pirates, resulting in the untimely death of Queen Otohime.
Jinbe, who had taken it upon himself to ensure the Queen's safety, was left shattered by the event. Overcome with grief and guilt, he returned to Fish-Man Island, a shadow of his former self, feeling utterly helpless and guilty.
The sorrowful tide didn't recede with Jinbe's return. Upon his arrival, he was greeted with the news that Arlong and his followers, who were vehemently opposed to peaceful coexistence with humans, had departed. Jinbe stood on the shore, watching them disappear into the horizon, feeling utterly powerless to change their minds or the course of events.
....
The shockwaves of Queen Otohime's death reverberated all the way to Mariejois, leaving Mjosgard devastated.
He had poured his heart and soul into fostering peace between humans and the inhabitants of Fish-Man Island, and the news of the Queen's death, especially by human hands, felt like a cruel betrayal.
The incident reignited the flames of hatred among the citizens of Fish-Man Island towards humans, casting a long shadow over the prospects of peace.
In his quest for answers, Mjosgard confronted Brontes, his frustration boiling over: "Why?! Why did they have to kill Queen Otohime? Was it that coward Rosward?!!" He asked, his voice thick with anger.
"I don't know about that. But I don't think Rosward has the courage to do such a thing. The agreement is still ongoing, and I've heard that Queen Otohime's children are still working hard, so you shouldn't give up either." Brontes said in a calm voice.
"I worked so hard! Damn it! Damn it!" Mjosgard shouted angrily.
Mjosgard's departure left Brontes with a sense of unease.
Though he hadn't witnessed the events himself, his keen senses hinted at a deeper turmoil.
The incident had escalated quickly, with Mjosgard storming into Saint Rosward's residence, causing such a commotion that it required the intervention of the Five Elders to quell.
Life in Mariejois was uneventful for Brontes, as the world's minor troubles were not worth his attention and could be handled by his subordinates or the CP0.
However, after Queen Otohime's death, a significant incident occurred, which made Brontes angry.
"How could they let such an incident occur?!"
Brontes said furiously upon hearing the news.
"But, sir, the Five Elders have decided not to take action on this matter." Reported a Marine Captain in a trembling voice.
"I'll meet with the Five Elders and see what they have to say." Brontes said, putting on his coat and heading straight to the office of the Five Elders.
