The Great Voyage Begins with the Celestial Dragons

Compared to everything Fishman Island can gain, what Fishman Island needs to give up is almost negligible.

Furthermore, after further in-depth communication, she also discovered a flaw in Luther that wasn't exactly a flaw.

Luther could perhaps regard enemies and even strangers as mere ants, just as he had just waved his hand to exterminate Fishman Street.

But Luther didn't want to see those around him suffer.

"Teacher, you shouldn't have reminded me. Although the time you taught me was short, you taught me so well."

Thinking of this, Otohime couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Tap! Tap!

By this time, Otohime had almost arrived at her destination.

She composed herself, silently raised her head, and looked at Neptune, who was over ten meters tall.

"Over there in Fishman Street..."

Neptune's unease deepened when he saw Otohime's expressionless face before him.

"Not an inch of land was left standing; I witnessed all the fishmen perish in the flames..."

Otohime calmly described the scene at that time.

Before she could say more, Neptune roared:

"Enough!!!"

Neptune glared angrily at Otohime and said, enunciating each word clearly:

"You would never have said such cruel things before!"

"People change, and so do mermaids. Fishman Island needs a new transformation."

"Otohime said softly, meeting Neptune's gaze without backing down, just as she had done when they disagreed," Otohime said.

But this time, Neptune felt fear as he looked into Otohime's intimidating eyes.

In the past, Princess Otohime would only stick to her own opinions because of her inner kindness.

The current Otohime is completely like a true mermaid queen, exuding an unquestionable aura.

However, Neptune had once followed Whitebeard, so he wasn't intimidated by Otohime's still-unawakened Haki, but his voice turned cold:

"I shouldn't have let you go to the World Conference."

“We won’t go this time, but we will go in the future. We can’t keep closing ourselves off.” Otohime said softly. “You have no idea how far human society has developed. If we keep clinging to Fishman Island, we mermaids and fishmen will be slowly abandoned by the world and eventually be treated by humans as if we were intelligent beasts.”

"Ha, you would never have said such a thing before."

Neptune was extremely uncomfortable with the current Otohime. The kind-hearted Otohime had deeply touched his heart, making it impossible for him to patiently listen to her.

Seeing Neptune's expression, Otohime immediately understood his thoughts and sighed softly:

I have a question!

“Ask!” Neptune frowned slightly.

"What will happen to Fishman Island without Whitebeard's protection?" Otohime asked calmly.

“Even without Whitebeard, Fishman Island has survived for so many years. We are located at the center of the two Grand Lines, the only two passages connecting the two Grand Lines. We have our own way of surviving,” Neptune said solemnly.

"Go with the flow, cling to the old ways, that's your answer, isn't it, Your Majesty!" Princess Otohime said slowly.

“This is the defense of Fishman Island, Otohime!” Neptune insisted.

"Times have changed, and clinging to the past will not lead us to tomorrow, Your Majesty."

Otohime shook her head slightly. If she hadn't been by Luther's side for so long, she might have agreed with Neptune's idea.

They thought that by staying in the sea, Fishman Island would be invincible.

But after truly witnessing the strength of top-tier experts, Otohime realized that this was highly unrealistic.

If a powerful figure like Luther were to infiltrate Fishman Island, it would be a disaster.

The terrain of Fishman Island would become their prison, leading to their complete annihilation.

Establishing multiple island bases, or having one's own top experts, is the best way to ensure the continuation of a race.

The latter, Otohime sees no hope for the foreseeable future. Neptune, the strongest of the fishmen, is probably no match for Luther's helmsman, Nekomamushi, let alone a general-level human.

Seeing Otohime's resolute attitude, coupled with the unfamiliar feeling she gave him, Neptune became furious for a moment:

"Otohime, if you believe that only you can lead Fishman Island to a new future, then try leading the new Fishman Island."

"what do you mean?"

Otohime looked at Neptune with surprise.

If she were still the naive girl she once was, she might not have understood Neptune's implied meaning.

Now, however, she understands immediately upon hearing it.

She just hadn't expected that Neptune would bring up the matter of separating the family.

Her original plan was to draw a clear line between the new and old Fishman Island; otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to Fishman Street in front of all the fishmen today.

Only in this way will the mermaids and fish-men here completely give up on her.

Afterwards, Neptune banished her from the Dragon Palace Kingdom, thus severing ties between the two sides.

Regardless of her final outcome, at least she has a way out.

She just didn't expect Neptune to bring this up on his own initiative. Did he think of this as well?

Neptune was even more furious when he was looked at by Otohime with a look of surprise but also approval.

He said it in anger, and he regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth.

But judging from Otohime's expression, she had clearly wanted to do this for a long time.

"Alright, alright, since Fishman Island can no longer accommodate you, then it's a good thing to part ways here."

Neptune said, somewhat annoyed.

He didn't want things to come to this; it was Otohime who forced him to.

"Separation is indeed a good thing."

Otohime nodded slightly, her eyes showing a hint of disappointment as she looked at Neptune.

Now she understood perfectly well that Neptune had acted impulsively rather than with careful consideration.

"Let's part ways here."

Neptune looked at the completely changed Otohime and waved his hand somewhat listlessly:

"Shark Star, Emperor Star, White Star, what are your plans for them?"

After thinking for a moment, Neptune still asked about the arrangements for his children.

No matter how Otohime changes, she is still, at least, the mother of these people.

"I will take Shirahoshi with me. She is still young, and I will raise her to adulthood. Shark Star and Imperial Star are in your care," Otohime said softly.

"That's exactly right!"

Neptune nodded.

In just a few words, they clarified the affiliation of the group.

Neptune accepts whatever the outcome.

Otohime, aside from Shirahoshi, didn't want to fight for anything else.

If it weren't for Shirahoshi's special circumstances, Otohime wouldn't have wanted to compete for it.

For the sake of future stability on Fishman Island, Shirahoshi believes that only on a new Fishman Island will everyone feel at ease about the old one.

"From this day forward, the new Mermaid Island will be renamed Mermaid Island, and I will become the Queen of the Mermaid Kingdom."

After taking one last deep look, Otohime left those words and turned to go outside.

"I'll give you the status of a member state too." Neptune shook his hand wearily.

"No need, and the cost of the Heavenly Gold for Fishman Island will be borne by the Mermaid Kingdom for the next 10 years."

Otohime shook her head with her back to Neptune.

With the backing of the Don Quixote family, becoming a member state or even one of the fifty member states of the World Conference would not be difficult.

On the contrary, Fishman Island has lost half of its population and needs this opportunity to recuperate even more.

Neptune stared blankly as Otohime's figure disappeared, finally sighing and slumping onto his throne.

"Otohime, perhaps you're right. But being right doesn't mean everyone can accept it..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the palace returned to its quiet state, leaving Neptune alone, filled with sorrow.

Chapter 237 The History Awaits to Be Unveiled

boom! ! !

The palace gates slowly opened.

Under the watchful eyes of Luther and the others, Otohime walked out from inside step by step with a blank expression.

With each step she took, her aura grew stronger.

"interesting..."

Upon seeing this, Barrett raised an eyebrow, and his gaze toward Otohime took on a serious tone.

"You've taken that step."

Luther murmured a sigh, silently watching Otohime, whose aura had almost reached its peak.

hum! ! !

An aura of dominance emanated from Otohime.

Wherever Conqueror's Haki passed, the Neptune soldiers guarding the vicinity fell to the ground like wheat being harvested.

Only Luther and others were completely unaffected by this.