147 Chapter 147 Planning Inside the Ryugu Palace
Miss Serena, the mermaid, guided Adrian toward the iconic building of Fishman Island—the Mermaid Cafe.
At the top level of Fishman Island stood the Ryugu Palace, a luxurious structure crafted from large coral reefs, shells, and other exquisite materials. A giant golden dragon loomed over it, adding to its grandeur.
Simultaneously, the Ryugu Palace served as the Royal Palace of Fishman Island!
No matter which world is it, those who have money and power have got it all.
From the time since past till present, the one representing justice has always been late.
After the Bullhead Pirates were completely wiped out by White Ghost, the Fishman guards responsible for patrolling Fishman Island finally arrived at the scene.
After the hustling and bustling for a while, they collected all the bodies of the Bullhead Pirates.
Having calmed down the surrounding residents, these Fishman guards quickly reported White Ghost's arrival.
Inside the palace, the Minister of Security, responsible for overseeing Fishman Island's safety, received the news.
Faced with intelligence about a pirate with a bounty exceeding 500 million berries, this loyal seahorse mermaid dared not be negligent. She immediately passed the information to higher authorities.
The true master of the Ryugu Palace, King Neptune, held the title of the "Great Knight of the Sea."
"What? White Ghost has come to Fish-Man Island?"
Upon hearing that White Ghost had come to Fish-Man Island, King Neptune was taken aback. Even his orange-red, voluminous beard—covering most of his face—couldn't hide the surprise etched there.
The pirates who routinely invaded Fish-Man Island and indiscriminately captured its residents were just profit seekers, but King Neptune knew that the true culprit behind this situation was the Celestial Dragon race, seated atop the World Government!
These Celestial Dragons had caused far too much harm to the Fish-Man and Mermaid tribes.
As a legendary figure who had ruthlessly tormented the Celestial Dragons, White Ghost naturally gained favor from King Neptune.
However, favor did not mean he was whole heartedly welcomed.
Just to really explain, King Neptune did not welcome any pirate to Fish-Man Island!
As for Adrian, who had recently caused a stir in the Sabaody Archipelago, was also not welcomed.
If the World Government and the Marines were to learn that White Ghost was currently on Fish-Man Island, who could say for certain whether they would not send forces to capture him?
If the high-level figures of the World Government and the Marines Headquarters really decide to send troops to capture, will those rude and brutal human marines "conveniently" clear out some of the Fishman tribe they already disdain, and maybe even take away a few young and beautiful mermaids to please the Celestial Dragons?
If…
For a moment, a large number of terrifying and frightening future scenarios flooded into King Neptune's mind, making his emotions fluctuate.
"My dear King Neptune, what are you worrying about?"
At this moment, a soft female voice mixed with some curiosity sounded, then a moment later, a slender figure appeared in the royal palace hall.
Her appearance seemed to improve the atmosphere in the Royal Palace Hall a lot, and King Neptune's worries also eased a lot.
"Otohime."
King Neptune felt a great relief in his heart, immediately looking towards his beloved wife and gently calling out her name and truthfully telling her about the situation.
"It's about the troublemaker, White Ghost, who offended the Celestial Dragons in the Sabaody Archipelago some time ago. The Fishman guards reported that this troublesome figure has come to Fishman Island."
"Oh?" Hearing this news, Queen Otohime, with her wavy golden hair, also showed a faint surprise on her delicate face. "Has White Ghost done anything?"
"He…" King Neptune frowned slightly, seeming to have some difficulty understanding. "This White Ghost just rescued a mermaid who was abducted by a pirate crew on the island, and directly wiped out the entire pirate crew."
"Is that so?" Queen Otohime's eyes flickered, and she spoke gently and peacefully, "Since White Ghost hasn't done anything to harm the interests of Fishman Island, why are you worried, Neptune?"
"It's because of the Celestial Dragons!"
King Neptune sighed bitterly.
"Otohime, the news of White Ghost coming to Fishman Island won't be hidden for long. The incident he caused in the Sabaody Archipelago some time ago was too much, and as we all know the World Government and the Marines Headquarters won't let him go. They might send troops at this very moment, and suppress the Fishman Island!"
"I feel like you're worrying too much, my dear King Neptune."
Queen Otohime patted this worrying king, but at the same time found it somewhat amusing.
"In the depths of Fish-Man Island, who would tattle about the arrival of White Ghost to the World Government? The Fish-Men or the Merfolk?"
{Missy, what about the Pirates? And the fish-men supremacist? What about information merchants? Or just regular merchants?}
At her words, King Neptune was momentarily stunned.
Indeed, how could he forget about this!
{Seriously!}
Why would the people of Fish-Man Island inform the World Government or the Marines about White Ghost?
Shaking his head slightly, King Neptune patted his forehead with his hand.
"Otohime, I really… sigh, let's just not mention the matter of White Ghost."
"My dear King, are you getting confused again?"
Queen Otohime walked over, lightly tapping King Neptune's muscular arm as a reminder.
"Though we don't need to worry about the World Government's learning of White Ghost's arrival at Fish-Man Island, as hosts of the island, we cannot afford to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to the arrival of White Ghost."
King Neptune scratched his head, puzzled. "Otohime, just say it straight!"
Queen Otohime whispered, "Where exactly is this White Ghost on Fish-Man Island now?"
After a moment of recollection, King Neptune replied, "According to the report from the Minister of Security, after rescuing the mermaid kidnapped by the pirate crew, White Ghost followed her to the Mermaid Cafe."
Queen Otohime fell into thought, and after a while, said slowly,
"Since White Ghost has not shown hostility towards Fish-Man Island and even helped rescue the mermaid in distress, it seems that White Ghost has goodwill towards Fish-Man Island, at least not like the other pirates who have malicious intentions."
"Neptune, ever since the execution of Roger and the disbandment of Roger's Pirate Crew, Fish-Man Island has lost the protection of the Pirate King's flag, and the lives of the island's residents have become increasingly difficult. I believe you are well aware of this."
"Merely relying on the reputation of Fish-Man Island and the Ryugu Kingdom is not enough to deter those greedy pirates! In order to claim the hefty rewards offered by the Celestial Dragons and to satisfy the greed of the nobles and merchants, pirates, mercenaries, and even the hidden forces of the World Government will never give up hunting mermaids."
"Perhaps, can we ask White Ghost for…"
"Otohime, are you suggesting that Fish-Man Island should ask White Ghost for his flag?!"
King Neptune's expression changed instantly as he guessed what Otohime wanted to say and said immediately.
"Is that really appropriate? White Ghost is not like other pirates; he has offended the Celestial Dragons!"
"It is precisely because White Ghost has offended the Celestial Dragons that we can use his flag to suppress those pirate scoundrels who roam around Fish-Man Island for the bounties on Celestial Dragons!" Otohime explained.
"Think about it, if White Ghost doesn't even fear the World Nobles, how could he allow those pirates to freely plunder Fish-Man Island?"
"I still think this isn't quite right," King Neptune shook his head, still not entirely agreeing with Otohime's plan.
"How much worse could it get than it already is?" Otohime reasoned, "The Celestial Dragons won't voluntarily stop harming Fish-Man Island."
Even though Otohime dearly hoped for peace between Fish-Man Island and the humans on the surface, she also understood that not all humans were benevolent.
Those humans who acted with malice and the pirate scum, would never think of of coexisting peacefully with Fish-Men and Merfolk!
King Neptune understood Otohime's reasoning but still hesitated.
"I wonder how White Ghost's strength compares in…"
Otohime sighed helplessly, "Being able to fight with the Admirals and Vice Admiral, destroying half of the Sabaody Archipelago, do you think White Ghost's strength is weak?"
Finally, King Neptune had nothing more to say. Looking across the vast sea, those who could contend with the Admirals and emerge unscathed were only a handful, standing at the very top.
Even if White Ghost utilized some tricks, being able to achieve this much made him one of the top-tier powerhouses of the sea!
With such strength, coupled with his acts of tormenting the Celestial Dragons.
Protecting Fish-Man Island was more than assured!
{… Kami-sama, please give them brain.}
"Even if Fish-Man Island were to ask White Ghost for his pirate flag…" King Neptune asked, "What price would we have to pay?"
Now it was Otohime's turn to be puzzled.
At present, Otohime only had the idea of asking White Ghost for his flag temporarily. She only knew about a few events White Ghost had been involved in at sea.
For example, the fact that White Ghost was wanted for stopping the horrific massacre by the World Government and Marine Headquarters in the South Blue, or how he had once single-handedly destroyed eight Marine warships, and so on…
These pieces of information were all extensively reported in the World Economic Journal.
After the earth-shattering events White Ghost caused in the Sabaody Archipelago, journalists from the World Economic Journal gradually uncovered his past experiences.
Even the incident where White Ghost annihilated an unknown pirate crew in a town in the West Blue was meticulously reported in the newspaper and attracted a lot of attention.
However, other than that, Otohime knew nothing about White Ghost's personal information, his interests, or his habits.
After pondering for a long time and failing to come up with any ideas, Otohime sighed helplessly and said, "Regardless, for the residents of Fish-Man Island, we still need to talk with White Ghost."
