The opulent banquet hall of Ryugu Palace stretched wide and tall, an architectural marvel befitting the grandeur of the underwater kingdom.
At its center stood a shell-shaped stage where a mermaid songstress performed alongside a dozen musicians. Their melodies flowed like waves, enchanting everyone in attendance.
Atop his throne, King Neptune sat proudly, his golden trident standing beside him like a symbol of might. Before him, the table overflowed with aromatic dishes, a feast that stirred hunger with just a glance.
To Neptune's right sat Aeridar in the seat of honor. Opposite him, occupying the left-hand place of prestige, was Jinbe.
In the world of pirates, strength commands respect, and in all of Ryugu Kingdom, only Jinbe stood as Aeridar's equal in power.
Seated along the right, beneath Aeridar, were sixteen key members of the Chris Pirates: commanders, ship captains, and crew leads. On the left, following Jinbe, were Ryugu Kingdom's top officials; the Left and Right Ministers, the three royal princes, and ranking officers of the Neptune Army.
Contrary to the impression one might get from the anime, the Neptune Army isn't just a handful of soldiers, it is Ryugu Kingdom's national military force, officially titled the "Neptune Royal Army," composed entirely of fish-men and merfolk.
As a kingdom constantly harassed by pirates, their martial strength could never be weak. Figures like Jinbe and Hody Jones were once elite soldiers within its ranks.
In the original Fish-Man Island arc, Hody Jones confessed he had joined the army to gain real combat experience. This detail alone proves the Neptune Army regularly engaged pirates and maintained a structured combat training system.
"Aeridar-sama, I take it you're passing through Fish-Man Island en route to the New World?" Neptune asked, lifting a crystalline goblet. The red wine within shimmered in the light as it swirled gently.
Aeridar chuckled lightly and raised his own glass. "But of course. The New World is paradise for the strong."
"Then may your time on Fish-Man Island be a joyous one! Kanpai!" Neptune downed the wine in one go.
"Kanpai." Aeridar mirrored the gesture, emptying his cup and giving a subtle nod.
Their brief exchange might have seemed cryptic to onlookers, as if they'd reached an unspoken understanding.
In truth, Neptune's opening line extended goodwill, and Aeridar's toast was his way of accepting it, assuring the king he came with no hostile intent. The shared drink sealed this mutual respect.
Once Aeridar and Neptune finished their first toast, the mood in the hall lightened noticeably.
"Aeridar-sama, this is our first time meeting, I offer you a toast." Jinbe's voice rang out with his usual forthright warmth, raising his cup toward Aeridar.
"You honor me. The name 'Knight of the Sea' carries great weight across the Grand Line. It was a shame you weren't at Marineford." Aeridar raised his glass in return. He had genuine admiration for Jinbe and found his presence agreeable.
True to his title, Jinbe treated every member of the Chris Pirates with fairness.
From prominent figures like Aeridar, Arlan, and Oliver, to newly appointed ship commanders whose names weren't yet known beyond their bounties, Jinbe toasted each one personally.
Those newer recruits, many with bounties merely in the tens of millions, were visibly thrilled. To be honored by a Warlord of the Sea was a distinction they would never forget.
With wine flowing and conversations overlapping, the banquet grew into a festive blur of laughter and clinking glasses. Hours passed in joyful revelry before it finally wound to a close.
Afterward, Neptune had accommodations prepared for the Chris Pirates.
Yet while the crew leaders and officers rested, Aeridar had no intention of turning in just yet. Accompanied by Arlan and Oliver, he sought a private meeting with Jinbe.
Fish-Man Island, Fish-Man Restaurant.
In a corner of the bustling eatery sat a burly man, over two meters tall.
His white hair shone like silver, and a deep, cross-shaped scar marred his left cheek. He wore a high-collared coat, white with golden trim, open at the chest to reveal a series of brutal, narrow scars.
A tachi hung from his waist, and his loose-fitting trousers were cinched with a black belt. On his feet were three-toed, round-toed boots polished to a high shine.
Before him were several fine dishes and a few bottles of rum. Yet despite the delicious spread, he ate with little enthusiasm.
At that moment, a wiry man in a black coat entered the restaurant. A black eyepatch covered his left eye, and a flintlock pistol and a narrow dagger, half a meter long, hung from his belt. Brown sandals slapped lightly against the floor with each step he took.
A gaunt, dark-skinned man approached a sturdy, white-haired man seated at a table. Tapping the wood softly, he leaned in and said in a low voice,
"Captain, word just came in, Aeridar-sama is here."
"What? That man's come?" The white-haired man's expression tightened. He jerked his head up, eyes wide with shock.
"...Yes," the skinny man nodded. "I also saw several people on the street with Chris Pirates tattoos. Word is, Aeridar-sama was personally invited by King Neptune and Jinbe the Knight of the Sea to a banquet at Ryugu Palace."
Sure enough, beyond the floor-to-ceiling window, the white-haired man could see pirates passing by outside, some bore the Chris Pirates emblem inked on their arms or chests.
"What do we do, Captain? Should we go see him?" the thin man asked.
"To go see him, huh..." The white-haired man frowned deeply, his voice dropping to a murmur. "Do you really think we have the right? After retreating from the New World like beaten dogs?"
"That man wasn't wrong," he continued bitterly. "The Grand Line's a sea ruled by monsters and legends. Back in the East Blue, I was considered a top-tier swordsman. But out here... in the New World? I'm nothing but third-rate."
"Don't talk like that, Captain," the gaunt man said, trying to encourage him. "Sure, we can't compare to the Four Emperors or those monster pirates who command the seas... but we've still made a name for ourselves. That defeat, just bad luck, that's all."
"Still, for us all to get wiped out like that, by him of all people, what a damn disgrace!" the white-haired man growled, slamming his fist on the table. Rage and frustration burned in his voice.
"Yeah, but... that guy's been making waves since over a decade ago. He's a monster in his own right. Losing to someone like that, it's nothing to be ashamed of. We're still young. We've got time... and chances."
The thin man clapped his captain on the shoulder, knowing full well that the real reason he hesitated to meet Aeridar was pride.
"...Fine," the white-haired man said abruptly. He rose to his feet, grabbed a full bottle of rum, and downed it in one go. Wiping his mouth, he added flatly, "Let's go see that man. We already knew the gap between us, saw it clear as day over two years ago."
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