<h4>Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Neptune is Dumbfounded!?</h4>


    The Ryugu Pce on Fish-Man Ind was vast and magnificent, rivaling even the opulence of udius'' own pce.


    Although Fish-Man Ind was somewhat isted from the rest of the world, it was clear they were far from destitute. In fact, the grandeur of the pce showcased the ind''s wealth and affluence.


    udius, alongside his entourage, followed King Neptune into the pce. Walking behind Neptune was a burly blue-skinned man who caught udius'' attention. The man''s presence felt familiar, and after a moment of recognition, udius realized who he was looking at none other than the future Warlord of the Sea, Jinbei.


    Jinbei, still rtively young at this time, carried himself with a calm dignity and exuded strength. Yet, there was something faintly endearing about him, a certain unpolished charm that seemed out of ce given his imposing stature.


    Noticing udius'' lingering gaze, Neptune smiled and introduced him. "This is my most trusted subordinate, Jinbei, the captain of the Ryugu Pce Guard."


    "So it really is him," udius thought to himself. Then, with a polite smile, he said aloud, "You certainly look the part, impressive andmanding."


    "Thank you for your kind words, Saint udius," Jinbei replied, his deep voice resonating through the hall.


    udius returned the smile but didn''t continue to focus on Jinbei. While Jinbei was undoubtedly strong and loyal to Fish-Man Ind, udius had no particr ambitions concerning him at the moment. For now, udius had no intention of trying to sway Jinbei''s allegiance. After all, his heart belonged to Fish-Man Ind, and while the Celestial Dragons held no ill will toward him, earning his loyalty would be no simple feat.


    Still, udius mused that in the future, as he built stronger ties with Fish-Man Ind, perhaps their rtionship might evolve. But that was a matter for another time.


    For now, udius followed Neptune and his party into the Ryugu Pce. The pce''s interior was just as impressive as its exterior, a masterpiece of underwater architecture. Neptune had prepared a grand banquet in honor of udius'' visit, and udius graciously epted the hospitality.


    The banquet wasvish and enjoyable, a disy of Fish-Man Ind''s rich culture and culinary delights. After the feast concluded, the room was cleared, leaving only a small group: Sengoku, Stussy, Neptune, Princess Otohime, and udius himself. It was time to get down to business.


    Seated with a ss of deep-sea wine in hand, udius took a sip and marveled at its unique vor. "This wine is remarkable. The taste is unlike anything on the surface. I wonder what ingredients were used to make it."


    Neptune chuckled at udius'' praise, and udius turned his attention back to him with a smile. "Fish-Man Ind truly is a remarkable ce. Lenny and Mero weren''t lying to me about how beautiful it is."


    At the mention of the two names, Neptune raised an eyebrow. "Lenny? Mero? I believe I heard those names at the harbor earlier. Are they part of your esteemed entourage, Your Highness?"


    udius paused, his expression briefly thoughtful. "You could say that, though it''s a bitplicated. Lenny and Mero are mermaid girls from Fish-Man Ind. They were... previously ves in Mariejois, and byw, they belonged to me."


    At these words, Neptune and Otohime''s expressions darkened. Despite udius'' otherwise cordial demeanor, hearing him speak of their people as ves was a painful reminder of the injustices Fish-Man Ind had endured for centuries.


    Noticing the shift in the atmosphere, Sengoku quickly intervened. "There''s been a misunderstanding! Please don''t take this the wrong way."


    "Yes, exactly," Stussy added, her tone calm and reassuring. "His Highness udius is not like the other Celestial Dragons. Over the years, he has done nothing but protect Lenny and Mero. They are not merely his subordinates, they are his friends. His Highness has never restricted their freedom."


    udius nodded, his expression softening. "That''s true. Lenny and Mero are my dear friends. Their return to Fish-Man Ind is something I struggle with, as I''ll certainly miss them. But at least we''re not far apart. Mariejois and Fish-Man Ind aren''t so distant, we''ll always be able to see each other again."


    Hearing this, Neptune and Otohime visibly rxed. It was unlikely udius would lie so openly about such matters, especially when the truth could be easily uncovered.


    "I see. It seems we misunderstood you, Your Highness. Please forgive us," Neptune said, bowing slightly.


    udius waved it off with a smile. "No offense taken. Let''s move on to the reason for my visit."


    He leaned forward slightly, his tone turning more serious. "As you both may know, I''m not just a Celestial Dragon. I also oversee CP-X, an organization under the World Government. Our goal is to improve the world, to address its ws and weaknesses. And, as you are undoubtedly aware, one of the most ring issues within the World Government is its treatment of Fish-Man Ind."


    As udius finished, Sengoku chimed in, his voice steady. "Exactly. We won''t deny the faults within the World Government. That''s why we''re here today, to address these issues and work toward a solution that benefits both sides."


    Neptune''s expression grew heavy, his toneced with doubt. "I''m grateful that Your Highness is willing to acknowledge these problems, but... I must be honest. We of Fish-Man Ind have little faith in humans from the surface."


    Otohime looked at her husband with concern, but she remained silent, letting him speak.


    udius nodded thoughtfully. "I understandpletely. Centuries of mistreatment and oppression cannot be undone with words alone. Trust must be earned through actions, not promises."


    After a brief pause, udius continued. "That''s why I''vee here with sincerity. I''m sure you''ve already heard about what transpired in Mariejois and Sabaody Archipgo. I imagine news travels quickly to Fish-Man Ind."


    Otohime nced at Neptune before nodding. "Yes, we''ve heard of it. Despite our istion, Fish-Man Ind often receives visitors from the surface. We are not entirely disconnected, and we know of your efforts on behalf of our people."


    udius smiled. "Good. Then you understand that the measures I''ve taken are only the beginning. The World Government is determined to demonstrate itsmitment to Fish-Man Ind, and I''m here to make that clear. However, there is one matter we must address directly."


    Neptune''s expression tightened, a hint of apprehension crossing his face.


    udius leaned back slightly, his tone measured. "It''s no secret that Fish-Man Ind has sought protection under the g of Edward Newgate—Whitebeard. The Pirate g is a public deration, one that cannot be ignored. Am I correct in saying this?"


    Neptune hesitated, unsure how to respond. Before udius and Sengoku''s arrival, the ind had temporarily removed Whitebeard''s g, but the implications of udius'' words left him uneasy.


    udius smiled, waving a hand dismissively. "Don''t worry. I''m not here to reprimand you. I see that the gs have already been removed, which demonstrates your understanding of the matter. That''s all that needs to be said."


    Neptune nodded reluctantly. "Yes, we... we took them down."


    "Good," udius said with a nod. "Recognizing and correcting a mistake is the mark of a wise leader. With this step, we can move forward without issue."


    ***


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