HST: Chapter 142/143

Chapter 142: Too Kindhearted

In the Ryugu Palace, Neptune, the three princes, and Caelan were gathered in a palace hall, discussing serious matters. After the crisis with the New Fishman Pirates had been resolved, Nami and the other girls began touring Fishman Island. They also visited the Sea Forest so Robin could read the Poneglyph there.

"Neptune, how do you plan to deal with those fishmen?"
Caelan took a sip of water and asked in a deep voice.

Neptune glanced at the three princes and fell into thought.

Although those fishmen had tried to seize control of Fishman Island, they were still his people. And there were far too many of them to deal with easily.

"How about we just let them go?"

"They are still my people, and they were all manipulated by Hody Jones."

Neptune sighed, his heart softening.

Besides, they hadn't caused that much damage in the end, so he decided to let them go.

As for trying to kill his entire family—well, they hadn't succeeded, had they?

"Do you have a son named Jesus or something?"

Caelan looked at Neptune like he was staring at a saint, completely speechless.

They tried to steal your throne and wipe out your whole royal bloodline.

For hatred like that, even exterminating them all wouldn't be overboard.

With such indecisiveness, no wonder Fishman Island couldn't develop properly.

"So, what do you think we should do then?"
"If we imprison them, we don't have the manpower. If we kill them, I really can't bring myself to do it," Neptune said with a bitter smile.

He knew that most of those fishmen were far from innocent and had committed plenty of crimes.

But Fishman Island had only 5 million residents. There was no way to allocate guards for 70,000 to 80,000 criminals.
And he couldn't bear to kill 2 percent of the island's population either.

"In that case, have them undergo labor reform to atone for their sins."
Caelan thought for a moment and proposed a solution.

Since Neptune didn't want to execute them, then they wouldn't be executed.
But releasing them outright would be a huge threat to stability.

"Labor reform?" Neptune didn't quite grasp what Caelan meant.

"Simply put, force them into high-intensity, unpaid labor. The profits they generate will be used to make up for the harm they caused."

"For example, if they're assigned to mining, each person must work 16 hours a day and meet their quotas. After ten years, they'll be considered reformed and can start over."

"For other jobs, the intensity and work hours would increase, and the reform period would be longer."

Caelan took another sip of water to moisten his throat as he explained it plainly.
This was his punishment—turning these fishmen into working drones. They'd have no salary, and they'd labor only to repay what they owed.

They would work until they dropped.

What's that? You say you can "start over" in ten years?

Digging for 16 hours a day, surviving even two years would be a miracle.

Technically, these people should just be called slaves.

But since Caelan was practically a sun god in Neptune's eyes, calling it "slavery" would tarnish his image.

Neptune looked at Caelan in shock, as if staring at a devil.

Mining was already brutal labor, yet you expect 16 hours of it a day—and for ten straight years?

Could anyone even survive that?

You had to understand, on Fishman Island, the hardest jobs didn't even come close to mining, and most people only worked eight hours a day.

Even then, many fishmen already found it exhausting.

"Caelan, would you consider adjusting this? It sounds a little… excessive."

Neptune asked cautiously.

"Excessive? Have you interrogated the officers among those fishmen? Do you know how many atrocities they've committed?"
Caelan scoffed, full of disdain.

He had already eliminated most of the New Fishman Pirates' officers, but there wasn't enough time to investigate everyone thoroughly. There were definitely some officers still among the remaining 70,000 to 80,000.

And don't forget—your wife, Otohime, died at the hands of these fishmen.

Her dream of peace between humans and fishmen was shattered by that same group.

"We're currently investigating. I believe we'll have results soon."

Sensing Caelan's rising anger, Neptune shrank back.

He quickly ordered Fukaboshi to retrieve the confessions from the fishman officers.

Before long, Fukaboshi returned, holding a report and looking furious.

"Father! Mother wasn't assassinated by humans, but by Hody Jones!"

Neptune was stunned.

Back then, it was Hody Jones who spread the claim that humans had killed Otohime.

Now it turned out to be the classic case of "the thief crying 'Catch the thief!'"

"Why? Otohime didn't have any grievances with him, right?"

Neptune asked, baffled. No matter how hard he thought, he couldn't understand why Hody Jones would go so far.

Otohime had always been kind, and she had helped Hody Jones on more than one occasion.

"The officers said it was because Mother advocated for reconciliation with humans. That made Hody Jones, who hated humans, furious."

"So he assassinated Mother and pinned it on the humans, just to destroy her dream!"
Fukaboshi's voice trembled with rage, his eyes filled with hatred.

"Damn it…"

Neptune nearly exploded in anger.

If you hated humans so much, why didn't you go fight them directly? Why kill my wife?

"Neptune, what do you think of my labor reform plan now?"

"The fishmen from the New Fishman Pirates all grew up under Hody Jones's ideology. If they aren't properly disciplined, they'll end up just like him."

Caelan smiled calmly as he watched Neptune seething with anger.

Sure enough, people only act when the fire's burning under their own seat.

"Caelan, I'll do as you say. I will make sure they undergo proper labor reform!"

Neptune finally made up his mind, his voice resolute.

Otohime once said that hatred should not be passed down to the next generation.

But if these radical fishmen were released without reformation, the next generation might all become like Hody Jones—and that would spell disaster.

"Let me make it clear—I'll be taking a portion of the profits they generate to fulfill some unfinished business."

Caelan said this in a serious tone.

Unfinished business?

In that case, I must help!

Maybe it'll even help fulfill the dream of fishmen living on land.

Neptune's eyes lit up and he responded quickly, "No problem. Everything they produce is yours. Even the treasures of the royal palace can be yours!"

"Wouldn't that be a bit too much?"
Caelan said with mock embarrassment.

"There's nothing wrong with that. Caelan, you're now the guardian of Fishman Island. It's only right."

"If you don't accept it, we'll feel guilty."

Neptune spoke tactfully.

"Then I'll respectfully accept."
Caelan nodded, seemingly reluctantly.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 143: Poseidon

Seeing that Caelan had agreed to accept the treasure, Neptune finally felt relieved.

"Caelan, may I tell them about your identity?"

Neptune looked at Caelan, seeking his approval.

He wanted to reveal to his three sons Caelan's identity as the Sun God Nika.

At present, the three naïve princes were still somewhat dissatisfied with Neptune's decision to align with Caelan.

"Identity?"

Caelan was puzzled at first but quickly understood that Neptune was referring to the Sun God identity he had fabricated.

"No problem. It's fine if they know, just don't let it spread to outsiders."

After all, there were still many people in the world who believed that the Nika Fruit had been eaten by Luffy.

The three princes also felt a little confused. Caelan, the famous God Slayer, had another identity?

"Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi, let me formally introduce him to you."
"This is the inheritor of freedom's will, the new Sun God!"

Neptune spoke solemnly to his three sons.

"Could it be... the legendary one?"

"He really exists?!"

The three princes were stunned at first, then their eyes lit up in understanding.

This man was actually the legendary Sun God who would one day lead Fishman Island to the surface!

They had no doubts whatsoever.

The two blinding beams Caelan had used to obliterate Hody Jones and the New Fishman Pirates were clearly divine.
The brilliance that burst forth in that moment had felt like staring directly into the sun itself.

If that wasn't the power of the Sun God, then what was?

"No wonder, Father. No wonder you insisted on siding with Caelan-sama!"

Now that they understood Caelan's true identity, the three princes immediately grasped Neptune's reasoning.

From that moment on, the three gazed at Caelan with awe and reverence, practically worshiping him.

This man was the hope that could lead Fishman Island out of its predicament.

Seeing that his sons had finally understood, Neptune nodded in satisfaction.

"But..."

As he thought of his daughter, still trapped in the Hard Shell Tower, Neptune hesitated over whether or not to ask Caelan for help.

They had just sworn allegiance to Caelan, and he had already dealt with Hody Jones. If he were to help them with Vander Decken as well, wouldn't that be asking too much?

How could someone of a Yonko-level status be expected to keep cleaning up their mess?

Seeing Neptune's troubled expression, Caelan smirked inwardly.

The biggest threat—Hody Jones—was already gone. The princes' distrust had vanished too. At this point, the only thing that could make Neptune this nervous had to be related to Shirahoshi.

"King Neptune, I still haven't met Poseidon. Why don't you introduce Princess Shirahoshi to me?"

Caelan pretended to be displeased.

Taking the initiative allowed him to control the conversation.

Neptune, who had still been caught up in indecision, was startled by the question and flustered.

It wasn't that he had no intention of introducing Shirahoshi. He just felt awkward asking Caelan for help again.

As for how Caelan knew—well, in Neptune's mind, it made perfect sense.

As the Sun God Nika, it was only natural that Caelan would be aware of Shirahoshi's identity as Poseidon.

"Caelan, it's not that I didn't want to introduce you to Shirahoshi. I just have my reasons!"

"The year Otohime died, my six-year-old daughter was targeted by a lunatic."

"That guy, Vander Decken, actually proposed to my six-year-old daughter. Of course we rejected him."

"As a result, he used the powers of the Mark-Mark Fruit to constantly harass and threaten her. To protect Shirahoshi, we had no choice but to keep her locked inside the Hard Shell Tower. She hasn't stepped outside in eight years."

Neptune spoke bitterly, rage flashing in his eyes as he cursed Vander Decken.

Because of that scumbag, his daughter had been trapped in isolation for eight long years and hadn't even been able to attend Otohime's funeral.

They had searched for Vander Decken many times, but he always remained hidden without a trace.

"You couldn't even protect your own daughter? That's just pathetic!"

"If you can't do it, then I will!"

Caelan acted 'shocked' and snapped angrily.

In truth, he understood the situation. It really wasn't Neptune's fault.

The Mark-Mark Fruit was simply too broken.

Once someone was marked by touch, anything the user threw would automatically home in on them.

Unless obstructed mid-flight, it would always hit the target.

Even an island—if it could be lifted—would fly toward the marked person.

"Then I'll leave it to you." Neptune looked ashamed of his inability to protect his own daughter.

Hearing Caelan's offer, he felt relieved once again.

Compared to Hody Jones and the New Fishman Pirates, Vander Decken was a small fry.

"Urm Caelan, it's just... we don't know where he is, so we haven't been able to do anything." Neptune said hesitantly.

"Spread the word that I'm going to take Shirahoshi away. He'll definitely show himself."

Caelan looked at Neptune with confidence.

He already knew Vander Decken was hiding inside Noah, but after everything Caelan had done, if Vander Decken hadn't fled by now, he'd be an idiot.

"What if he doesn't show up?"
Neptune asked cautiously.

"Then I'll still take Shirahoshi with me and keep her safe."

"Prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

Caelan rubbed his chin and chuckled.

"That's true. It's foolproof."

Neptune nodded in agreement, though he felt something was off. After a moment, it hit him.

Caelan's ship was filled with beautiful women. All the male crew members were on a different ship.

Are you trying to abduct my daughter?

Still, considering Caelan's identity as the Sun God Nika, maybe he really was just concerned...

Neptune looked at Caelan, uncertain of his true intentions.

"What, you're hesitating?"

"Even if I kill Vander Decken, I'll still take Shirahoshi with me."

"It's too dangerous for her here. I'm better suited to protect her."

Caelan met Neptune's gaze and said seriously.

"It does make me feel better to have Shirahoshi under your care, but..." Neptune replied, expression stiff.

Yep, he was definitely here for his daughter.

This so-called Sun God had impure thoughts!

But Caelan was right. They really couldn't protect Shirahoshi.

So, is his daughter really going to be taken away by Caelan?

For a moment, Neptune didn't know whether to feel relieved or worried.

"Then it's settled. You spread the word that I'm taking Shirahoshi, and I'll go see her now."

Caelan patted Neptune on the shoulder with satisfaction.

"Understood. We'll get it done."

Neptune agreed and arranged for a maid to escort Caelan.

As Caelan left the palace, the three princes couldn't stay silent any longer.

"Father, are we really letting him take our sister away?"

"What choice do we have? Caelan is right. We really don't have the power to protect Shirahoshi. Her identity as Poseidon is far too dangerous."

Neptune sighed helplessly.

Only a man like Caelan could truly guarantee Shirahoshi's safety.

They couldn't even defeat Hody Jones.

They were powerless. Caelan could do anything.

The contrast was crystal clear.

(To be continued.)