Chapter 59: Ch 59. You Dare Call Yourself Worthy? Roman’s Disdain
"Submit to you? Not a chance!"
"Become your crew member? Never!"
"Accept your twisted ideology? Impossible!"
Fisher Tiger slowly stood up, one hand pressed firmly to his wounded chest. Blood still trickled down, yet a cold, mocking smile spread across his face.
His voice was firm. His will, unshakable.
With every declaration, Hody Jones's expression grew darker, his fists tightening until veins bulged from his arms.
"You done talking?" Hody's voice dropped low. "Then go and die."
Boom!
In an instant, his figure vanished and reappeared right in front of Tiger!
A powerful fist surged toward Tiger's face, expanding in his vision like a cannonball of destruction!
But—!
It stopped. At the last moment, Hody suddenly stopped his punch.
The gust from the punch rippled through the air, blowing Fisher Tiger's hair back.
Hody stood there, his fist just inches from Tiger's face.
"...No," Hody sneered, withdrawing his arm. An idea suddenly came to Hody Jones.
"Killing you now would be far too kind."
"I want you to watch it. Watch Fishman Island transform. Watch everything you stood for fall into ashes."
"Only then, in utter despair, will you be allowed to die!"
With a sinister grin, Hody crudely wrapped up Tiger's wound with bandages to keep him alive, but barely.
Then, without mercy, he shattered Jinbe's limbs and bound him tightly with sea-stone ropes, making sure he couldn't escape at all.
Once done, he picked up a Den Den Mushi and barked into it coldly, "Commence the plan."
Ryugu Palace, Banquet Hall
Music, laughter, and the scent of fresh cuisine filled the grand hall.
The feast was in full swing.
But just then—
Bang!
A soldier burst through the doors, stumbling forward with panic in his eyes.
Neptune's cheerful face froze over, instantly turning serious.
"What's happened?" he asked, his voice heavy.
Such disruption in Ryugu Palace was unheard of and usually, unpardonable. But for him to barge in despite knowing the punishment, something serious must have happened.
Yet this soldier knelt, disregarding the consequences, and shouted:
"Your Majesty! Emergency! Hody Jones has rebelled with the New Fishman Pirates—and he's brought thousands of human slaves with him!"
Neptune's heart sank.
Before he could respond—
Tap.
Roman stood up, face calm yet ice cold.
"Neptune," he said, each word slow and cutting, "I need an explanation."
Not 'Your Majesty.'
Just Neptune.
The temperature in the room dropped.
Neptune felt the weight of it and knew Roman was angry.
Even so, a king must remain composed. He raised a hand to reassure Roman and then turned to the soldier.
"Explain fully."
The soldier spoke in a rush, "The details are unclear! But it's confirmed, Hody Jones has formed a new pirate crew. Over a thousand fishmen and nearly ten thousand human slaves are rampaging through Fishman Island, claiming to bring 'true revolution' to our land!"
"Also... both Fisher Tiger and Jinbe have been defeated... Tiger's chest was even... pierced through!"
Gasp—
Everyone inhaled sharply.
These were two legends of the Fishman race!
To imagine them defeated—it shook the entire hall.
Roman's eyes narrowed, thoughts racing like a storm.
Whether as a secret ally to Fisher Tiger, or as a Marine Admiral here to recruit Jinbe into the Warlords' system.
This was personal.
Hody Jones… had made the worst mistake of his life. Hody Jones had provoked Roman.
Whoosh—
Roman stood. "Ain. Stella. We're going."
"Yes!"
The three of them exited the hall swiftly, heading straight toward the ensuing chaos on the battlefield.
Neptune watched them go, eyes flashing with urgency.
"Shark," he turned to his son, "mobilize the troops im—"
"No need."
Roman's voice drifted from afar, resolute and calm.
"Don't throw away lives and add to the casualties for nothing. Leave this to me."
His confidence was overwhelming.
Neptune paused, then nodded. Still uneasy, he followed with his ministers in tow.
Chaos. Flames. Screams.
Fishman Island was in turmoil.
Fishmen and the human slaves under Hody's command ravaged the streets, toppling buildings, inciting riots.
All of it was Hody's doing.
For him, a fishman supremacist to the core, this was his dream.
"Join the New Fishman Pirates!" he roared. "Claim supreme power! Overthrow Neptune! We, the fishmen, will be kings!"
Cheers erupted all around him.
He turned to Jinbe and Fisher Tiger, bound and broken.
"You hear it?" Hody grinned. "The sweet scent of revolution in the air? Soon, I'll be the new king of Fishman Island. After that, I'll lead wars across the sea and rule it all!"
Fisher Tiger forced open his eyes, his breath shallow, but his voice sharp.
"Heh... You? Worthy?"
His tone carried disdain deeper than words.
Hody's smile twisted into rage.
"Jahahaha! You'll see it with your own eyes. I only hope your body holds up long enough for the coronation."
Just as his laughter echoed—
Step. Step.
Three figures appeared.
Roman, Ain, and Stella emerged from Ryugu Palace, walking calmly toward the chaos.
Hody's gaze sharpened. "So the palace sends just three people? Does Neptune think these three can stop ten thousand?"
If Hody had known about Don Krieg's fate, perhaps he wouldn't have spoken so confidently.
With a sneer, he stepped forward, flexing his muscles.
"So you're that Admiral White Dove?"
Roman didn't even look at him.
"Those about to die… don't deserve words."
He closed his eyes.
Insult.
Absolute insult!
Hody trembled with fury.
But just as he raised his fist—
Roman opened his eyes.
And in that moment…
The tides began to turn.