I, as the King of Fish-Man Island, requested the help of the Caesar Pirates!
As soon as these words were spoken, Mars' expression shifted from sorrow to excitement. He declared passionately, "The Caesar Pirates have agreed to lend their flag to us, to Fish-Man Island!"
"As long as our island flies the flag of the Caesar Pirates, they will protect Fish-Man Island and safeguard our merfolk and fish-men!"
His final words rang out with strength and conviction. As soon as they fell, every mermaid and fish-man present was stunned. Their faces were filled with shock—they couldn't believe what they had just heard. It was too sudden, too overwhelming to process.
At that moment, Caesar floated into the air, rising to the same height as Mars. Under the gaze of millions, he spoke in an unshaken, authoritative tone.
"As long as the flag of the Caesar Pirates flies over this island, we shall protect it!"
As he finished, Caesar gave a slight glance to Brad. Understanding the cue, Brad stepped forward in front of the gathered masses and presented a pristine, newly made flag of the Caesar Pirates. He handed it to King Neptune in front of the entire crowd.
Neptune received the flag with both hands and, lifting it high, displayed it for all to see.
For a moment, the crowd was silent—then a rising wave of voices spread across the square. The air trembled with noise.
Then came Caesar's proclamation to the world.
"As the captain of the Caesar Pirates, I declare—no one shall bring harm to Fish-Man Island!"
"We will ensure safety for all who abide by its laws!"
"From this day forward, no force in the world shall capture or auction mermaids and fish-men. Those who dare violate this decree will face the wrath of the Caesar Pirates—punishment, or even complete destruction!"
With these words, Caesar turned his piercing gaze towards the group of humans present. Without moving a muscle, he lifted them effortlessly into the air with the power of his mind.
The captured humans screamed in terror as they found themselves levitating before him.
Caesar turned to Queen Otohime and asked calmly, "Who among them are the slave traders?"
Otohime, using her extraordinary ability to perceive emotions, quickly identified the guilty ones. Though all the humans were terrified, only some of them carried the weight of guilt in their expressions. The others, while fearful, were innocent of the crime of trafficking.
Caesar gave a brief nod and declared, "Let this be a warning to all who enter Fish-Man Island!"
Without hesitation, he hurled the identified traffickers beyond the borders of Fish-Man Island. The crushing pressure of the deep sea swallowed them instantly—reduced to nothing in an instant.
The merfolk gasped at the display.
The Frenzy of the Fish-Men, Mars' Gift
Though Caesar's words had ended, their echo remained in the minds of all who stood in the square.
For the people of Fish-Man Island, this was an event unlike anything they had ever seen.
And now, with the flag of the Caesar Pirates raised in front of all, everything had changed.
The surviving humans, who had just witnessed their comrades perish in an instant, turned deathly pale. Terror clung to them like a second skin.
Those who had been lifted into the air were visibly shaking. Some even lost control of their bodily functions.
Though many among them were honest traders, the sheer weight of what had just occurred—the realization that Caesar was not a man to cross—was now seared into their very souls.
They had heard stories of his strength before, of his battles against the Navy, but such tales had always felt distant. Now, standing before him, they understood the reality of his power.
"Go." Caesar's voice was cold, devoid of emotion.
Though there were no human traffickers left among them, not all of them were righteous individuals. Some were deceivers, opportunists—but not criminals deserving of death. Caesar needed witnesses. The events of today needed to spread.
And so, those who still had strength fled, scrambling away in fear, while the ones who collapsed were carried away by soldiers.
It had taken only minutes—from capturing the humans to executing the traffickers and releasing the others. But the impact would last a lifetime.
Only after all the humans had left Dragon Palace did the fish-men and merfolk in the square fully absorb what had happened.
They realized, truly and completely—Fish-Man Island was now under the protection of the Caesar Pirates.
What Caesar had done was not only a message to outsiders but also a statement to the merfolk themselves. He had cemented his image—not as a typical pirate, but as a force of change.
And then—
A single voice rose above the crowd.
"Caesar!"
Another joined in.
"Caesar!"
One by one, they shouted his name.
Soon, the entire square was chanting in unison.
"Caesar! Caesar! Caesar!"
The voices of millions blended into a deafening roar, a force of nature all its own.
Even the sea itself seemed to tremble at the sheer volume.
The cheers shook the very foundations of Fish-Man Island, stirring even the Sea Kings who lurked in the ocean depths beyond.
From the crowd, Mars, Neptune, and their ministers watched the spectacle unfold.
For the first time in history, Fish-Man Island had an unwavering protector.
At that moment, on Fish-Man Street, the district infamous for its deep-seated hatred of humans, even the most resentful fish-men looked on with conflicted expressions.
The Caesar Pirates—could they truly be different?
One of the elder fish-men, one who had long harbored hatred towards humanity, exhaled deeply.
"Perhaps, for once, we can trust a human."
Another followed.
"I hope the Caesar Pirates will bring true peace to our island."
A third, a seasoned warrior, muttered, "This man… he is different."
—
Meanwhile, above the square, Mars and Neptune had long since overcome their initial unease.
At last, they had accepted it.
And with that acceptance came gratitude.
Caesar had accomplished in a single moment what generations of Fish-Man Island's rulers had failed to do.
Mars turned to his soldiers, his voice firm.
"Go. Raise the flag of the Caesar Pirates at the entrance of Fish-Man Island. Let every outsider see it and know—Fish-Man Island is under the protection of Caesar's crew!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the soldiers shouted in unison before departing with the banner.
With that, the Caesar Pirates had secured their place on Fish-Man Island—not just as protectors, but as legends.
To avoid the overwhelming crowds of admirers, Caesar and his crew soon returned to Dragon Palace.
There, after Mars had calmed his excitement, he gave Caesar a gift as a token of gratitude.
"Captain Caesar, please accept this."
A soldier stepped forward, carrying a tray. Upon it lay a magnificent black cloak, adorned with golden embellishments that gleamed under the light.
Neptune smiled and explained, "This cloak is crafted from special materials found only on Fish-Man Island. It is waterproof, highly resistant to heat, and impervious to ordinary flames. It insulates against extreme temperatures, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer."
"The fabric is the same used in royal streamers—it allows the wearer to float slightly as if caught in a gentle current. And, if infused with Armament Haki, it will grow stronger over time."
Caesar took the cloak, pleasantly surprised.
He admired its elegant yet commanding design. It reminded him of the cloak once worn by the legendary mafia boss from Tutor Killer—only without the insignia.
Without hesitation, Caesar donned the cloak.
At that moment, his presence seemed to grow even stronger.
He adjusted it slightly and smirked.
"This… is quite nice."
Mars and Neptune nodded, pleased with his reaction.
A new era had begun for Fish-Man Island.
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