<h4>Chapter 147: Chapter 147: udius: I Feel Like I Missed Out on Hundreds of Billions!</h4>


    The name "Fish-Man Ind" conjured images of a distant paradise located deep beneath the ocean, isted and serene. But in reality, it wasn''t nearly as remote as it seemed.


    Geographically, Fish-Man Ind was astonishingly close to Mariejois, Sabaody Archipgo, and Marine Headquarters at Marineford. If one was adequately prepared and faced no interruptions, the journey from Sabaody Archipgo to Fish-Man Ind could bepleted in half a day, a stark contrast to the weeks or even months it took to travel between inds above the sea.


    After all, Fish-Man Ind was simply located 10,000 meters below the ocean''s surface. In practical terms, it was only 10 kilometers straight down, not far at all in the grand scheme of things.


    As udius was chatting with Sengoku, he barely noticed the passage of time before Lenny, the excitable mermaid, shouted, "Your Highness, we''re here! We''ve reached Fish-Man Ind!"


    udius blinked in mild surprise. "Already? That was quick."


    He walked to the edge of the ship and peered out. In the distance, he saw a massive bubble enveloping the ind. While the ind itself didn''t look particrlyrge at first nce, what stood out most prominently was the enormous tree that seemed to grow straight out of the sea, towering over everything else. It was thergest tree udius had ever seen, far more massive than the mangroves of the Sabaody Archipgo.


    "What a tree..." udius murmured, awestruck.


    "Your Highness, that''s the Sunlight Tree Eve," Mero said excitedly. "It''s the mother tree of our Fish-Man Ind. Thanks to it, even though we''re 10,000 meters under the sea, we can still see sunlight and blue skies. Without it, this ce would be shrouded in darkness."


    The enthusiasm in Mero''s voice was evident. Both she and Lenny were practically glowing with excitement now that they were so close to their home.


    udius nodded, but his thoughts briefly wandered. The Sunlight Tree Eve was indeed a marvel, one said to rival the Treasure Tree Adam in legend. Unlike the Eve, however, the Adam had suffered greatly over the years, its wood harvested for shipbuilding after being damaged by war. udius'' own gship, the Prometheus, used materials from the Treasure Tree Adam.


    Staring at the colossal Eve tree, a peculiar thought crossed udius'' mind: What kind of battleship could I build if I chopped that tree down?


    Of course, he quickly dismissed the idea. Attempting such a thing would undoubtedly turn Fish-Man Ind''s poption against him, and he had no intention of creating such chaos.


    As the Prometheus sailed closer to the ind, it entered a vast coral forest on the seafloor. The towering coral formations were so massive that they resembled a sprawling jungle.


    Among the corals, udius noticed countless treasures scattered about, ck pearls the size of fistsy strewn like ordinary pebbles. It was a mesmerizing sight, one that spoke to the wealth hidden beneath the waves.


    "This ce is a treasure trove," udius muttered, his voice low and contemtive.


    "What are you thinking, Your Highness?" Sengoku asked, noticing udius'' expression.


    "I''m thinking about how much the World Government has overlooked in the past few centuries," udius replied with a hint of bitterness. "All this untapped wealth, all these treasures, and we''ve barely scratched the surface. I feel like I''ve missed out on hundreds of billions of berries just in my lifetime!"


    Sengoku raised an eyebrow, confused by udius''ment. As a Marine Admiral, his mind didn''t work like a businessman''s. While he understoodrge-scale strategies like the Calm Belt project, the smaller, more practical ideas often eluded him. To him, the pearls and treasures scattered around the coral forest were just part of the local scenery, beautiful but not particrly significant.


    udius, on the other hand, saw opportunities everywhere. His mind raced with possibilities: establishing trade routes between Fish-Man Ind and the surface world could be immensely profitable. Exotic items from the surface could be sold to Fish-Man Ind at exorbitant prices, while treasures like pearls and coral from Fish-Man Ind could fetch astronomical sums on the surface, especially among the nobles.


    And that wasn''t all. The untapped wealth of the ocean floor minerals, rare materials, and other resources represented an opportunity so vast it was almost overwhelming.


    "If I manage to secure a monopoly on trade with Fish-Man Ind," udius thought, his excitement building, "I could be the richest man alive."


    His gaze shifted to Lenny and Mero, the two mermaids who had been with him for over a decade. He trusted thempletely, knowing they would never betray him, even with the freedom to return to the sea. If he needed reliable agents to manage his business interests on Fish-Man Ind, they were the perfect candidates.


    "Good deeds really do pay off," udius mused, feeling rather pleased with himself. "All these years of treating Lenny and Mero well, turns out I was investing in my future."


    Lenny''s excited voice broke his train of thought. "Your Highness, this is Coral Hill, the most prosperous port on Fish-Man Ind! All major fleets arrive here first. Once we dock at Coral Hill, we can disembark."


    udius smiled as he took in the sight of the bustling port. Coral Hill was indeed vibrant, its bright coral structures contrasting beautifully against the deep blue of the surrounding ocean.


    "This is my hometown," Lenny continued, her voice tinged with both excitement and nostalgia. "Mero and I used to live here before...before we were captured by vers. It''s hard to believe how far we''vee since then."


    The two sisters nced at each other, their eyes filled with gratitude. Though their journey had been harrowing, meeting udius had changed everything.


    Sengoku, observing the port ahead, remarked, "It looks like King Neptune is prepared to wee us."


    Before leaving Sabaody Archipgo, Sengoku had sent word to King Neptune, informing him of udius'' arrival and emphasizing the importance of the visit. As a ruler, Neptune was obliged to extend the utmost respect to someone of udius'' status, even if he did so with some trepidation.


    At the port, the Fish-Man Ind honor guard had cleared the area, forming a grand weing procession. Standing at the forefront were King Neptune and his wife, Princess Otohime. As the Prometheus approached, the two exchanged uneasy nces.


    Neptune''s towering frame seemed tense, his expression filled with uncertainty. Watching the enormous ship draw closer, he couldn''t help but wonder: Is the arrival of Saint Donquixote-udius a blessing for Fish-Man Ind or a curse?


    Sensing her husband''s anxiety, Otohime ced a gentle hand on Neptune''s tail. Her bright, hopeful smile seemed to dispel some of his worries. "Don''t fret, my king," she said softly. "Didn''t Admiral Sengoku assure us that Saint udiuses with goodwill?"


    Neptune frowned. "Marine officers like Sengoku may be honorable, but they would never dare speak ill of a Celestial Dragon. How can we trust their words entirely?"


    Despite his doubts, Neptune could only hope that this meeting would bring his people closer to a brighter future and not plunge them into deeper despair.


    ***


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