Chapter 118: Heading to Ryugu Palace
"What?! Queen Otohime was killed by Hody Jones?!" Jinbei asked in surprise, his face filled with disbelief. Many fish-men on Fish-Man Island believed that the death of Queen Otohime was the result of the actions of humans, and they themselves thought the same way.
"It seems so. That's what my sources tell me," Rodney shrugged and added, "I can't go empty-handed when meeting King Neptune, so I'll bring him this 'gift' and hope he appreciates it."
No, he wouldn't appreciate it, but he would surely need it.
"Do you have any evidence?" Jinbei inquired.
"I'll make him confess. It might not have been possible before, given his strong will, but now…"
Rodney trailed off. Genjutsu weren't all-powerful. Originally, they relied on disrupting the target's five senses with chakra interference, but in this world, people didn't have chakra. So, he had to resort to using spiritual energy to disrupt their mental energy and induce illusions.
Hody Jones, who had taken drugs, might not have been easy to control. Still, now, in his near-death state, he was more susceptible to illusions, especially if Rodney kept his eyelids open.
Jinbei had mixed feelings but decided to trust Rodney's words to some extent. Rodney continued, "I had no reason to frame this guy; it wouldn't make sense. He's just a lowlife, not worth my time."
Indeed, there was no reason for him to do so. Jinbe nodded and somewhat believed in Rodney's words.
Brook and Lester followed them, with Jinbei leading the way. They attracted quite a bit of attention on their journey, with many people being surprised when they saw Hody Jones being dragged by a human. After all, he was the former boss of Fish-Man District, now looking pitiful with a hole in his chest and a missing arm.
Some were inclined to inquire about the situation, but seeing Jinbei behind Rodney, they chose silence. Jinbei was highly respected on Fish-Man Island, and if he chose not to interfere, there must have been a reason. He wouldn't allow humans to bully fish-men recklessly.
"What a reputation you have on this island, Jinbei," Rodney remarked.
"They're just giving me face. Is it true about Hody Jones?" Jinbei asked, wanting assurance.
"I'm pretty sure it's true. Do you really think I'd lie to you? I won't let you down, Jinbei. I also have to uphold your trust," Rodney assured him.
"Then, what about the little girl who was mistreated by Arlong?" Jinbei inquired. He couldn't rest easy until he knew.
"After I killed Arlong, she was freed. I asked her to take me to the other side of Reverse Mountain, and then I lost track of her. I guess she's doing what she loves now. She's a strong and optimistic girl," Rodney replied.
Nami had a strong spirit, shaped by her difficult childhood. Although she had developed a love for money, Rodney suspected she was now happily traveling the seas, recording detailed maps of what she saw.
"If you want to see her, you can look for the octopus fish-man, Hatchan. He should be back by now," he added.
Jinbei nodded and said, "He's back and currently selling takoyaki in Fish-Man District."
Takoyaki? Rodney's expression turned strange. What was the main ingredient for making takoyaki? Could it be...
His thoughts seemed off.
Under Jinbei's guidance, they met up with the Fish-Man Pirates, including Aladine, Robin, and Perona. Aladine, seeing Hody Jones in such a state, immediately grew silent.
'Captain, please stop causing trouble wherever we go. Do you really feel uncomfortable if you're not stirring up some kind of incident?' Robin thought to herself, reminiscing about the various mishaps they'd had since joining Rodney.
Crocodile's defeat in Alabasta, and Moria's defeat in Thriller Bark all flashed through her mind.
Now, on Fish-Man Island, as she had expected, Rodney had gotten into trouble again.
Agh, Captain, do you feel ill if you don't stir things up everywhere you go?
"This? Well, he basically asked for it. I was just defending myself. I mean, technically, it might have been a bit excessive," Rodney replied, amused at Aladine's reaction.
Excessive? More like you beat him to a pulp!
Robin couldn't help but shake her head at her captain's antics.
Rodney turned to Aladine and said, "Let's not dwell on this. Robin, they invited us to the Ryugu Palace. Are you coming too? Aladine mentioned that after dealing with matters at the palace, he'll take you to see what you've been wanting to see."
"Could it be..." Robin's eyes lit up.
She had initially joined Rodney in hopes of finding the Poneglyphs, but she'd also grown fond of his company. Being under his protection felt comforting. However, she hadn't forgotten her ultimate goal—finding the Void Century.
The Void Century? Rodney snapped his fingers, "Yes, that's right. But hold on, we'll have to wait a bit. Let's not rush it."
At this point, Jinbei and the others had already contacted Prince Fukaboshi to come and receive them. Rodney and his crew boarded a fish-shaped vehicle nearly a hundred meters long and were led through a special passage that allowed them to enter the splendid and magnificent Ryugu Palace.
The palace was constructed with an abundance of colorful coral, shells, and other beautiful materials, giving it a luxurious and royal appearance. It gleamed with a rich and opulent beauty.
Looking at it, Rodney couldn't help but think, "Money is really nice!" He made a mental note to build something like this when he became rich. Of course, that was a story for another day.
"Is this similar to the bubbles in Sabaody Archipelago?" Robin asked, looking at the bubble that enveloped them with curiosity.
"You could say it's similar. This is the Bubbly Coral, a specialty of Fish-Man Island. It allows us merfolk to move on land as if we were in the water," Prince Fukaboshi explained.
The Bubbly Coral was a crucial means of transportation for merfolk. They could activate bubbles on top of the coral, sit on them, and move effortlessly in places devoid of water. It was a vital mode of transportation, and nearly all merfolk carried one with them when going out.
The bubbles also had impressive load-bearing capacity. They could serve the same function as bubble coating, protecting ships, and much more, providing a safeguard for pirate crews whose bubbles had shattered upon arriving at Fish-Man Island, allowing them to recoat their ships and continue to the New World.
Upon reaching Ryugu Palace, guided by Fukaboshi, Rodney and his group entered the grand hall.