One Piece: Deriving All Things

In Neptune's view, a heroic figure like Whitebeard, who had come to Fish-Man Island's aid in times of crisis, would ensure that Shirahoshi would be treated well within the Whitebeard Pirates. But Sanders was different. Apart from what was printed in the newspapers, they knew almost nothing about him. They didn't know what kind of person he was, his ways, or how he interacted with others. Everything about him was an unknown.

"How about I request aid from the Whitebeard Pirates right now?" Jinbe suggested after a moment's thought. He was confident that Whitebeard would step in to help if they asked.

"There's not enough time," Neptune replied, his face clouded with worry. "Even if the Whitebeard Pirates manage to fend off the Raijin Pirates this time, what about the future? The Whitebeard Pirates won't stay on Fish-Man Island forever; there will come a time when they leave."

Jinbe fell silent. It was already a great kindness for Whitebeard to offer Fish-Man Island his protection; they couldn't expect him to act as their permanent guardian.

"Damn it! Why did it have to be Shirahoshi?" Prince Shark Star said through gritted teeth.

"Madame Shirley was right after all," said the second prince, Starfish. "She said Sanders' arrival would be good for Fish-Man Island, but not necessarily for us."

"Shirley? That fortune-teller from the Mermaid Cafe? Did she make a prediction about this?" Neptune asked in surprise. He had heard of Shirley's abilities.

"Yes, Madame Shirley mentioned something to that effect before," Shark Star said. "We just didn't expect that Sanders would want to take Shirahoshi."

Gripping his trident, Shark Star clenched his fists in frustration, feeling helpless that he couldn't protect his sister or fulfill their mother's last wishes.

"Why does Sanders want to recruit Princess Shirahoshi as his crewmate?" Jinbe wondered aloud. "He seems well-informed about Fish-Man Island—he even knew about Vander Decken IX's harassment of her. And as far as I know, he's never been here before."

"It might have something to do with a legend that's been passed down in the royal family," Neptune said after a moment's hesitation. When Sanders showed interest in recruiting Shirahoshi, Neptune suspected that this might be his reason.

"A legend?" Jinbe asked, surprised.

Neptune nodded. "Yes, according to legend, every few centuries, a mermaid princess is born with the power to summon the Sea Kings."

"Summon Sea Kings?!" Jinbe's eyes widened. As a Fish-Man, he understood the incredible might of these creatures, especially the giant Sea Kings, each of which could easily capsize an island.

"So… Princess Shirahoshi…" Jinbe began.

"I'm not sure if Shirahoshi possesses this power," Neptune replied. "But there was a time when she did cause the Sea Kings to go on a rampage."

"Could Sanders be trying to harness this power? What could he be planning?" Jinbe asked, drawing a sharp breath.

"I don't know," Neptune said, shaking his head. "We're in no position to stop Sanders from taking Shirahoshi. So, for now, let Shirahoshi go with him. If he's seeking to control her power, he'll have to treat her well. Besides, he did say we could send someone along with her, so let's have one of her brothers accompany her."

After he finished speaking, Neptune looked over at his three sons. He was understandably uneasy about letting Shirahoshi go with Sanders alone. Given that he couldn't change the outcome, he decided that one of his sons would lead a small team to accompany her.

"Maybe I should go along as well," Jinbe suggested after some thought.

"No, you're one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Even meeting with the Whitebeard Pirates has to be done in secret; how could you openly appear on the Raijin Pirates' ship?" Neptune shook his head.

"I could secretly board the ship, stay for a while to make sure Sanders means no harm to Princess Shirahoshi, and then leave," Jinbe proposed. "If he does have ill intentions, I'd be able to intervene with my strength."

"We'll decide that later. For now, let's give Sanders an answer." Neptune rose and headed toward Sanders' room, with Jinbe and his three sons following, their expressions grim.

In front of Sanders, Neptune spoke with a stern face, "I agree to Shirahoshi becoming your crewmate, but please treat her well."

"Shirahoshi will be my companion, and no one will harm her unless they step over my dead body," Sanders replied with a smile. In truth, his observation abilities had already allowed him to hear Neptune's decision clearly.

"Also, I'll have my second son accompany her to take care of Shirahoshi. She's still a child," Neptune added.

"No problem; I had already agreed to that."

"And about Shirahoshi joining your crew—I don't want this news spread around. It wouldn't reflect well on Fish-Man Island if it got out," Neptune said. After all, the idea of the Mermaid Princess becoming a pirate could have repercussions with both the island's residents and the World Government.

"She can live on one of the floating islands in the sky. Those islands have forests, lakes, and everything she might need, and no one would know she's there," Sanders said in understanding. He had recruited Shirahoshi for her Sea King power, not to have her fight in battles.

"How do you plan to deal with Vander Decken IX?" Neptune asked. Because of him, Shirahoshi had been confined to the Hard-Shell Tower. If Vander Decken IX wasn't taken care of, Neptune would never allow Shirahoshi to leave.

"Simple—find him and kill him! If I don't resolve that issue, I won't take Shirahoshi with me," Sanders replied with a smile.

Hearing this, Neptune felt a sense of relief. At least this troublesome figure, Vander Decken IX, would finally be dealt with.

"As for protecting Fish-Man Island…" Neptune began, but Sanders interrupted him.

"You can have Jinbe contact Whitebeard right now. If he doesn't mind, we can place the Raijin Pirates' flag next to his," Sanders said, looking at Jinbe.

Jinbe glanced at Neptune, and after receiving a nod, he took out a Den Den Mushi. After a short wait, a voice came through.

"Hey, Jinbe, what brings you here? Coming for a feast, or is there some new trouble?" came Marco's voice from the Den Den Mushi.

"Marco, I need to speak with Oyaji," Jinbe replied, referring to Whitebeard as "father," even though he wasn't one of his sons. This showed how close Jinbe was to the Whitebeard Pirates, which explained why he had even given up his Warlord status and been imprisoned in Impel Down to avoid fighting them.

Soon, Whitebeard's powerful voice echoed through the Den Den Mushi. "Gurararara! Jinbe, has something happened on Fish-Man Island?"

Hearing this, Jinbe glanced at Sanders, who gestured for him to proceed freely.

Jinbe ultimately decided not to reveal Sanders' intention to take Shirahoshi. He knew it would serve no purpose. Instead, he explained that Sanders intended to protect Fish-Man Island alongside Whitebeard and sought his opinion.

"Gurararara! Sanders, that lightning brat, huh? Is he close with you all on Fish-Man Island?"

"Up to you! You can keep my flag or put it next to Sanders'—I don't mind. Do whatever you think is best," Whitebeard replied casually. He protected Fish-Man Island simply out of his good relationship with Neptune and Jinbe and had no intention of gaining anything from it.

With Sanders offering protection, Whitebeard believed that it might deter those who sought to capture Fish-Men and mermaids, and since Sanders wasn't taking territory, it wouldn't hurt his pride either.

"Thank you," Jinbe said, feeling somewhat guilty. This arrangement would benefit Fish-Man Island, but it wouldn't offer much for Whitebeard. From an outsider's perspective, it might even look as if the Raijin Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates were jointly claiming Fish-Man Island.

"Gurararara! What nonsense are you saying? Come have a drink with me whenever you have the chance!" Whitebeard laughed heartily. "Oh, and tell that lightning brat that if he truly wants to protect Fish-Man Island, I won't object. But if he has any hidden motives, then I won't hesitate to see him buried at sea!"

After Jinbe ended the call, Neptune and the others observed Sanders carefully, noting that he seemed completely unfazed by Whitebeard's warning.

"Well then, that's settled," Sanders said. "When we reach the New World, I'll announce to the world that the Fish-Men of Fish-Man Island are my friends. Anyone who harms them will be an enemy of the Raijin Pirates. Now, let me share some information with you."

"What information?" Jinbe asked, curious.

"The human pirate who killed Queen Otohime was actually hired by Hody Jones, the captain of the New Fish-Man Pirates." This was the advantage of knowing the original story—some things were easy to learn that others would only uncover much later.

"What did you say?" Neptune exclaimed, eyes wide in shock. "Hody Jones was the one who hired the human who killed Otohime? And he blamed it on humans?!"

The three princes, too, were filled with shock, rage flickering in their eyes.

"I have no reason to lie to you," Sanders continued. "And soon, I'll bring him before you. You can confirm everything yourself. Oh, and Shirahoshi already knows about this."

"Shirahoshi knows?" Jinbe asked in surprise.

"Yes, her pet, Megalo, witnessed the entire incident and told her about it. However, she chose not to tell anyone because she respected Queen Otohime's dying wish for forgiveness," Sanders explained with a smile.

"I see... so that's how it was." Neptune and the others, hearing Sanders' detailed explanation, knew he wasn't lying; they could simply call Shirahoshi's shark to confirm it.

"Damn it! So it was him all along. I knew it was too convenient for a human pirate to assassinate our mother right at that moment. This was all Hody Jones' doing!" Shark Prince seethed, visibly angry. "I won't forgive him!"

"This whole thing could have been avoided," Shark Prince continued, breathing heavily with anger. "If it hadn't been for Hody hiring that assassin, our mother would still be alive. Humans have no reason to assassinate Queen Otohime. If Fish-Men did end up migrating to the surface, it would only make it easier for pirates to capture and sell Fish-Men and Mermaids. The depth of the ocean protects us in that way. If they had time to plan an assassination, they'd be better off capturing two Mermaids and selling them."

"I'll bring him here and leave him to your judgment," Sanders promised with a smile. Part of the reason he hadn't brought this up earlier was to build goodwill now—he understood that forcing Shirahoshi onto his ship could give him a bad reputation.

"Princess Shirahoshi is just too kindhearted," Jinbe said with a sigh. Then he looked at Sanders, "Lord Sanders, I hope you will treat that kind-hearted child with respect."

"I have no intention of forcing Shirahoshi to do anything other than join my crew," Sanders reassured them. "Even if she possesses incredible powers, I give you my word."

Neptune and the others exchanged uneasy glances. Sanders clearly knew something about Shirahoshi's powers, but could they really trust his promise?

"I hope you remember your word," Neptune said firmly, though his tone held some doubt.

"Well then, could I get a transport? I'll bring back Hody Jones and take care of Vander Decken IX as well."

"Now? Those two are quite elusive, hiding in places that even the Sea Kings can't locate."

Neptune looked somewhat surprised.

"I told you, I can easily locate them, as long as they're still in this world," Sanders said. In truth, while Neptune and the others had been discussing, he had already used his ability to deduce the whereabouts of both Fish-Men and could capture them at any time.

"I'll go with you," Jinbe proposed.

"Take my steed," Neptune offered.

With that, Sanders and Neptune came to an agreement. They all returned to the banquet hall, where Nami and Robin immediately looked toward Sanders. He gave them a reassuring smile, and the two understood—though they didn't know what their captain had done, they could tell that another new crewmate would soon be joining them: the Mermaid Princess.

"Jinbe and I are heading out for a bit," Sanders said to Nami and Robin. "After the banquet, Neptune will arrange accommodations for you. Wait for us to return." With that, Sanders and Jinbe quickly departed.

Meanwhile, Neptune called his two ministers into a room behind the banquet hall. He told them about Sanders' plan to take Shirahoshi with him, knowing he'd need the ministers' help to keep her departure from Fish-Man Island a secret.

"This is absolutely unacceptable!" the left and right ministers protested in unison. "Princess Shirahoshi is still so young! She cannot go off to become a pirate!"

Neptune sighed and explained the pros and cons to the two ministers. After a moment of silence, they understood the gravity of the situation. Fish-Man Island couldn't stand against the Raijin Pirates on their own, even if Neptune didn't want his daughter joining Sanders' crew.

Without a word, the two ministers left the room.

"Where are you two going?" Neptune asked.

"To select suitable guards for Shirahoshi."

"And to prepare what she'll need for her journey," they replied in unison.

Neptune sighed. The ministers cared deeply for Shirahoshi—almost as much as he and his sons did. In fact, everyone in the Ryugu Kingdom was fond of their kind-hearted but timid princess.

"Damn it, that Sanders!" Even someone as dignified as Neptune couldn't help but curse at that moment.

Sanders and Jinbe left the banquet hall and rode out of Ryugu Palace on Neptune's mount, a whale named Hoe with a crown atop its head, measuring 40 meters long. Sanders guided Hoe along the way while Jinbe stood silently by his side.

"Jinbe, would you consider joining my crew?" Sanders suddenly asked, extending an invitation.

"No, but please take good care of Princess Shirahoshi," Jinbe replied, declining calmly. He needed to retain his status as a Warlord of the Sea to continue protecting Fish-Man Island. If he ever left that position, the Whitebeard Pirates would be his first choice for a crew.

"I take good care of all my crewmates. Are you sure you won't reconsider?" Sanders pressed. "The Raijin Pirates have great potential. Once my crew grows stronger, we'll rival even the Yonko crews—or surpass them. Besides, if you joined, you could look after Shirahoshi yourself."

Jinbe remained silent, causing Sanders to helplessly shrug. Forcing Shirahoshi aboard had already cost him much of the Fish-Man's goodwill.

"Just remember what you promised—that you won't force Shirahoshi to do anything against her will," Jinbe said finally.

"Do you know the nature of the power Shirahoshi possesses?" Sanders asked, instead of directly answering.

Jinbe looked over at Sanders. He was indeed curious about Shirahoshi's powers, and Sanders seemed to know a lot.

"Have you heard of the three ancient weapons?" Sanders asked with a smile.

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T/N:

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