Bonus 20
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As the Flying Pirates, led by Vander Decken IX, were overcome with intense desire, they found themselves at the heart of Gyoncorde Plaza.
A radiant green light enveloped Princess Otohime, who lay in a pool of blood, capturing the astonished gaze of everyone present.
The visible wound on her chest began healing rapidly, with granulation forming at a noticeable speed. Otohime's weakened heart regained strength, beating once again, pumping a significant amount of blood throughout her body.
Suddenly, three squads of soldiers from Ryugu Palace rushed over from a distance.
"Your Majesty Neptune, Boss Jinbei, we've heard reports of an attempt on Otohime's life..."
Before he could complete his sentence, a bloodied soldier hoarsely interrupted, "Oh no, Boss Jinbei, those rascals from Fishman District have launched a sudden attack on Ryugu Palace!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the squad leader who was speaking initially turned pale, sensing something ominous in his heart.
"What?!" Jinbei exclaimed, shocked to the core. Ignoring everything else, he advanced, grabbing the soldier by the collar and sternly shouting, "Is everything you just said true?!"
Since Boss Tiger's capture, Jinbei had reluctantly become a Shichibukai again. This drastic change in status had led to widespread disdain from most fishmen in Fishman District.
As a result, Jinbei rarely visited Fishman District.
But he never imagined those individuals would be so audacious as to attack Ryugu Palace.
"Boss Jinbei, perhaps what he's saying is true."
"We just got a report from Hody Jones, claiming there's chaos in the square. Princess Otohime was targeted by a human assassin, and they're requesting our assistance..."
The captain's tone was stern, harboring resentment towards Hody Jones.
This guy... how dare he play games with Jinbei! ! !
"Boss Jinbei, those individuals have taken control of the Ryugu Palace, and even the three princes are on the verge of being captured by them!"
The blood-stained soldier urgently wiped away the blood obscuring his vision from the corners of his eyes.
"What?! Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi and Manboshi were also caught?"
Neptune's figure on the side swayed; the golden trident in his hand slightly deformed, and his eyes became abruptly sharper.
"Impossible!! How could those three ne'er-do-wells from Fishman District overpower the Royal Army so swiftly?! Even that kid Hody Jones must have his limits!"
Jinbei immediately detected an unusual scent.
The fishmen in Fishman District now resembled more of a gang rather than mere criminals.
The true elites had been mostly recruited by Tiger, the former Sun Pirates.
Regarding the soldiers of Ryugu Palace, Jinbei had spent some time among them. While they might not have the extensive battle experience of the Sun Pirates, they were certainly not pushovers.
The timing of the two groups arriving for support and reporting was almost simultaneous, meaning—
The soldiers of Ryugu Palace held on for just a moment before collapsing! !
"I don't understand what's happening," the bloody soldier said, slowly released by Jinbei. A hint of confusion crossed his face. "Initially, even though several groups of soldiers were dispatched, the battles were quite evenly matched, but..."
As if recalling a horrifying scene, the soldier couldn't help but shiver, fear evident in his eyes.
"Hody Jones abruptly left Ryugu Palace. After that, for some unknown reason, all the thugs from Fishman District suddenly became more formidable. They overpowered us in an instant and took control of Ryugu Palace."
"Sudden increase in strength?! How is it possible to gain power out of thin air?!"
"Do those Fishman District thugs show any distinctive features after their sudden power surge?"
Otohime, whose complexion was slowly regaining color, rose from the ground, pushed herself to stand steadily, and took a deep breath. "Did their eyes turn red with white pupils?"
"Seems to be..."
the soldier recalled.
"Otohime, what do you mean..."
Neptune approached and gently supported Princess Otohime, his eyes filled with uncertainty.
"Yes, it must be the Tamatebako. You mentioned before that it holds power achievable only through pacts with demons. Their appearance aligns exactly with the legend!"
"As long as you pay the price of your life, you can attain boundless power!"
"As for Hody Jones, even if he exhausts his life, his strength will not increase that much!"
Jinbei took a deep breath, then calmly turned to look at Atlas beside him.
"Sir Hakuryu, I'm truly sorry that you've encountered trouble on your visit to Fish-Men Island. It's quite absurd, but please entrust the remaining matters to Fish-Men Island."
"Alright, since this concerns your Fish-Men Island, it's not appropriate for me, an outsider, to meddle."
Atlas nodded, showing reluctance to intervene.
It's often more beneficial to offer assistance when it's truly needed than to merely add to the situation.
Benefits can be maximized by acting at the last crucial moment.
...
Ryugu Palace.
The battlefield was shrouded in smoke, and numerous soldiers from Fish-Men Island lay on the ground. Their armor was in ruins, and they radiated anger. It was evident that their demise wasn't imminent.
In the heart of the battlefield, a tall white shark-man with red eyes wielded a crimson trident, baring his sharp fangs as he surveyed the area. His body dripped scarlet blood, forming a pool on the ground.
What a formidable force...
Tightening his fist gradually, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes, seemingly intoxicated by the immense power coursing through his body.
"Have you apprehended those three fools from Ryugu Palace?"
Suddenly opening his eyes, his scarlet gaze fixated on a fellow fish-man beside him, questioning with a lethal intent.
"Of course, Brother Hody, we've got them. Those three little ones couldn't resist our might!"
"Jahahahaha!! Perfect. This will serve as a means to pressure Neptune and the others. With his wife dead and his sons on the brink of death in our hands, the Great Knight of the Sea is bound to lose his mind, right?"
Imagining Neptune's forthcoming reaction, Hody Jones couldn't help but burst into laughter, gazing up at the sky.
"But what about Jinbei? Even though he betrayed our fish-men clan, there's no denying his strength. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been enlisted by the World Government as a so-called Shichibukai."
"Yeah, and the Marines are present on Fish-Men Island."
"Jinbei?"
Hody Jones, still facing upward, slowly opened a corner of his eyelids, wearing a disdainful expression on his face.
"With the potency of this energy steroid, even Jinbei can't rival me!!"
Having recently experienced the staggering might of the steroid, just one dose was sufficient to double his strength! !
Two doses could directly quadruple that power!
Yet, he never anticipated that when the strength disparity was too vast, even if he traded his entire life for the power, he would merely be a somewhat larger ant.
"As for the Marines, they must be under siege by those fools by now, right? Jahahahaha!!"
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