The name "Fish-Man Island" conjured images of a distant paradise located deep beneath the ocean, isolated and serene. But in reality, it wasn't nearly as remote as it seemed.
Geographically, Fish-Man Island was astonishingly close to Mariejois, Sabaody Archipelago, and Marine Headquarters at Marineford. If one was adequately prepared and faced no interruptions, the journey from Sabaody Archipelago to Fish-Man Island could be completed in half a day, a stark contrast to the weeks or even months it took to travel between islands above the sea.
After all, Fish-Man Island was simply located 10,000 meters below the ocean's surface. In practical terms, it was only 10 kilometers straight down, not far at all in the grand scheme of things.
As Claudius was chatting with Sengoku, he barely noticed the passage of time before Lenny, the excitable mermaid, shouted, "Your Highness, we're here! We've reached Fish-Man Island!"
Claudius blinked in mild surprise. "Already? That was quick."
He walked to the edge of the ship and peered out. In the distance, he saw a massive bubble enveloping the island. While the island itself didn't look particularly large at first glance, what stood out most prominently was the enormous tree that seemed to grow straight out of the sea, towering over everything else. It was the largest tree Claudius had ever seen, far more massive than the mangroves of the Sabaody Archipelago.
"What a tree..." Claudius murmured, awestruck.
"Your Highness, that's the Sunlight Tree Eve," Mero said excitedly. "It's the mother tree of our Fish-Man Island. Thanks to it, even though we're 10,000 meters under the sea, we can still see sunlight and blue skies. Without it, this place would be shrouded in darkness."
The enthusiasm in Mero's voice was evident. Both she and Lenny were practically glowing with excitement now that they were so close to their home.
Claudius nodded, but his thoughts briefly wandered. The Sunlight Tree Eve was indeed a marvel, one said to rival the Treasure Tree Adam in legend. Unlike the Eve, however, the Adam had suffered greatly over the years, its wood harvested for shipbuilding after being damaged by war. Claudius' own flagship, the Prometheus, used materials from the Treasure Tree Adam.
Staring at the colossal Eve tree, a peculiar thought crossed Claudius' mind: What kind of battleship could I build if I chopped that tree down?
Of course, he quickly dismissed the idea. Attempting such a thing would undoubtedly turn Fish-Man Island's population against him, and he had no intention of creating such chaos.
As the Prometheus sailed closer to the island, it entered a vast coral forest on the seafloor. The towering coral formations were so massive that they resembled a sprawling jungle.
Among the corals, Claudius noticed countless treasures scattered about, black pearls the size of fists lay strewn like ordinary pebbles. It was a mesmerizing sight, one that spoke to the wealth hidden beneath the waves.
"This place is a treasure trove," Claudius muttered, his voice low and contemplative.
"What are you thinking, Your Highness?" Sengoku asked, noticing Claudius' expression.
"I'm thinking about how much the World Government has overlooked in the past few centuries," Claudius replied with a hint of bitterness. "All this untapped wealth, all these treasures, and we've barely scratched the surface. I feel like I've missed out on hundreds of billions of berries just in my lifetime!"
Sengoku raised an eyebrow, confused by Claudius' lament. As a Marine Admiral, his mind didn't work like a businessman's. While he understood large-scale strategies like the Calm Belt project, the smaller, more practical ideas often eluded him. To him, the pearls and treasures scattered around the coral forest were just part of the local scenery, beautiful but not particularly significant.
Claudius, on the other hand, saw opportunities everywhere. His mind raced with possibilities: establishing trade routes between Fish-Man Island and the surface world could be immensely profitable. Exotic items from the surface could be sold to Fish-Man Island at exorbitant prices, while treasures like pearls and coral from Fish-Man Island could fetch astronomical sums on the surface, especially among the nobles.
And that wasn't all. The untapped wealth of the ocean floor minerals, rare materials, and other resources represented an opportunity so vast it was almost overwhelming.
"If I manage to secure a monopoly on trade with Fish-Man Island," Claudius thought, his excitement building, "I could become the richest man alive."
His gaze shifted to Lenny and Mero, the two mermaids who had been with him for over a decade. He trusted them completely, knowing they would never betray him, even with the freedom to return to the sea. If he needed reliable agents to manage his business interests on Fish-Man Island, they were the perfect candidates.
"Good deeds really do pay off," Claudius mused, feeling rather pleased with himself. "All these years of treating Lenny and Mero well, turns out I was investing in my future."
Lenny's excited voice broke his train of thought. "Your Highness, this is Coral Hill, the most prosperous port on Fish-Man Island! All major fleets arrive here first. Once we dock at Coral Hill, we can disembark."
Claudius smiled as he took in the sight of the bustling port. Coral Hill was indeed vibrant, its bright coral structures contrasting beautifully against the deep blue of the surrounding ocean.
"This is my hometown," Lenny continued, her voice tinged with both excitement and nostalgia. "Mero and I used to live here before...before we were captured by slavers. It's hard to believe how far we've come since then."
The two sisters glanced at each other, their eyes filled with gratitude. Though their journey had been harrowing, meeting Claudius had changed everything.
Sengoku, observing the port ahead, remarked, "It looks like King Neptune is prepared to welcome us."
Before leaving Sabaody Archipelago, Sengoku had sent word to King Neptune, informing him of Claudius' arrival and emphasizing the importance of the visit. As a ruler, Neptune was obliged to extend the utmost respect to someone of Claudius' status, even if he did so with some trepidation.
At the port, the Fish-Man Island honor guard had cleared the area, forming a grand welcoming procession. Standing at the forefront were King Neptune and his wife, Princess Otohime. As the Prometheus approached, the two exchanged uneasy glances.
Neptune's towering frame seemed tense, his expression filled with uncertainty. Watching the enormous ship draw closer, he couldn't help but wonder: Is the arrival of Saint Donquixote-Claudius a blessing for Fish-Man Island or a curse?
Sensing her husband's anxiety, Otohime placed a gentle hand on Neptune's tail. Her bright, hopeful smile seemed to dispel some of his worries. "Don't fret, my king," she said softly. "Didn't Admiral Sengoku assure us that Saint Claudius comes with goodwill?"
Neptune frowned. "Marine officers like Sengoku may be honorable, but they would never dare speak ill of a Celestial Dragon. How can we trust their words entirely?"
Despite his doubts, Neptune could only hope that this meeting would bring his people closer to a brighter future and not plunge them into deeper despair.
***
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