Chapter 79: No discussion

"Captain Fugaku, put people on guard. If anyone approaches three hundred meters without heeding the warning, kill them immediately."

"Rob Lucci, bring your men and follow me to the island."

Yami issued his orders with calm authority.

He wasn't here to seize control of Fish-Man Island, though he certainly possessed the capability to do so.

Fish-Man Island represented one of several alternative targets he'd considered, but Yami still preferred establishing his base on the surface.

After all, humans remained naturally adapted to living on land rather than in the depths of the ocean.

If he claimed control of this island, the World Government might actually acquiesce to such an arrangement.

Fish-Man Island's strategic value was limited in their eyes, and avoiding conflict with a Shichibukai over such territory made political sense.

However, today's mission was different.

He intended to inform the king of Fish-Man Island that this territory now fell under the Uchiha clan’s protection, and they needed to prepare to pay the appropriate protection fee for such services.

"Yes, Yami-san."

The CP9 agents leaped from their vessel and followed Yami with practiced efficiency.

Before Yami and his group could enter the second bubble layer, fish-men from the immigration inspection station appeared to intercept them.

Yami didn't waste time on unnecessary conversation.

He immediately activated his [Sharingan], weaving precise genjutsu that compelled the officials to escort him directly to Ryugu Castle.

Lucci and the other agents had grown accustomed to such displays of power, falling into formation around Yami like experienced bodyguards.

The immigration officials, now under genjutsu control, provided passage without resistance.

However, the surrounding fish-men and mermaids observed these unexpected human visitors with open curiosity, wondering what circumstances had brought them to the depths of the ocean.

The group proceeded unhindered until they approached the palace, where a mermaid patrol finally noticed something amiss.

"You, why have you brought these people here?" the leading mermaid captain demanded.

Before he could finish his question, Yami's [Sharingan] captured his gaze.

The captain joined his immigration counterpart under genjutsu control, along with the ten fish-men comprising his patrol unit.

With this expanded escort, they continued their approach to the Palace without further obstacles.

Meanwhile, within the palace throne room, King Neptune addressed his three sons with visible concern etched across his features.

"The Whitebeard Pirates no longer possess the strength to protect Fish-Man Island, and Jinbei has abandoned his position among the Shichibukai," Neptune explained with a heavy voice.

"Without adequate protection, our people will return to the dark days when pirates routinely kidnapped mermaids and fish-men to sell as slaves!"

The aftermath of the War at Marineford had created a power vacuum that lasted only twenty days, yet pirates had already begun appearing around Fish-Man Island with increasing frequency.

During Whitebeard's protection, pirates hadn't dared enter Fish-Man Island's territory directly.

Instead, they lurked in the surrounding waters, ambushing any fish-men or mermaids who ventured beyond the island's boundaries.

This predatory behavior explained how auction houses in the Sabaody Archipelago maintained their supply of mermaid slaves.

Without the Whitebeard Pirates' deterrent presence, these same pirates would soon grow bold enough to assault Fish-Man Island directly.

Neptune couldn't estimate how many of his people would suffer capture and enslavement.

"I can only hope that whichever Yonko we approach will demand reasonable protection fees compared to what we paid the Whitebeard Pirates," mused the eldest prince.

Despite Fish-Man Island's population of five million, its defensive capabilities remained limited against determined pirate crews.

These raiders possessed no fear of death, and many commanded formidable combat abilities.

Even successful resistance against pirate attacks would result in significant casualties among the defenders.

The constant stream of pirate threats made complete elimination impossible, and even the Navy would occasionally exploit such chaos to capture mermaids for the Celestial Dragons.

Without the backing of a sufficiently powerful force, Fish-Man Island could never achieve lasting peace.

"Fish-Man Street has been experiencing increased unrest recently. Those residents may be developing dangerous ideas," added the second prince.

External threats and internal instability created a volatile combination that demanded immediate attention.

Before Neptune could respond to his sons' concerns, a thunderous crash echoed through the throne room.

BANG!

The massive palace doors collapsed inward, striking the floor with tremendous force.

All four members of the royal family startled, immediately turning toward the entrance.

Several human figures stood at the threshold, with dozens of Army soldiers positioned behind them in perfect formation.

"What's wrong with the Army? Why are they accompanying these human invaders instead of arresting them?" Neptune demanded in confusion.

Many of his most trusted soldiers stood outside the throne room, yet they showed no hostility toward these uninvited guests.

His first thought was that his own military was preparing to stage a coup.

Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi quickly retrieved their weapons, adopting defensive positions as they glared at Yami and his companions with undisguised wariness.

"My name’s Uchiha Yami, a Shichibukai," Yami announced without preamble, his voice carrying absolute authority.

"From this day forward, Fish-Man Island will fall under my clan’s jurisdiction. You will transfer all protection payments to me, and the Uchiha will assume responsibility for defending this territory."

"Shichibukai?" Neptune exclaimed; his confusion was evident.

"Fish-Man Island maintains membership in the World Government. The Shichibukai also serve as World Government affiliates. How can you possibly attack a fellow alliance member?"

Despite his indignation, Neptune felt a measure of relief.

At least these weren't common pirates seeking to pillage his kingdom.

"A mere Shichibukai thinks he can protect Fish-Man Island? You're not operating on the same level as a Yonko." Fukaboshi interjected rudely, his voice dripping with disdain.

Jinbei had once held Shichibukai status, yet even he required the Whitebeard Pirates' protection to ensure Fish-Man Island's safety.

In their understanding, the gap between Yonko and Shichibukai power remained insurmountable.

If a Shichibukai possessed such capabilities, they would never have sought the Whitebeard Pirates' protection initially.

"I'm not here to negotiate," Yami stated, his tone brooking no argument.

"I'm here to inform you of the new arrangement. If you refuse to cooperate, Fish-Man Island will simply require a new king who understands the situation."

As he spoke, Yami released his [Conqueror's Haki].

Dark crimson arcs of electricity danced through the air as his overwhelming presence instantly flooded the city.

The crushing oppressive aura left the royal family frozen in terror; their bodies unable to draw breath as they stared at Yami in absolute shock.

Outside the throne room, Neptune Army soldiers collapsed like wheat before a scythe, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of Yami's spiritual pressure.

Since awakening his [Conqueror's Haki], Yami had discovered that his mental power had increased dramatically, at least doubling in strength.

Controlling nearly a hundred Neptune soldiers and fish-men through genjutsu now felt effortless rather than taxing.

"Are you truly prepared to betray the World Government by attacking one of its member nations?" Neptune managed to gasp through the oppressive atmosphere.

He desperately hoped to leverage his World Government connections against this Shichibukai.

"The Shichibukai and World Government maintain a cooperative relationship, not a hierarchical one," Yami replied.

"Furthermore, do you honestly believe the World Government will intervene to defend Fish-Man Island?"

His words struck at the heart of Neptune's only remaining hope.

"Perhaps they'll actually celebrate such developments. What do you think?"

The brutal truth left Neptune clutching his chest, unable to formulate any defense.

Snap!

Yami's fingers snapped with precise timing, and his [Sharingan] immediately captured the gaze of Neptune's three sons.

Under genjutsu control, Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi raised their weapons against their own father.

"What!" Neptune's voice caught in horror.

Were his own sons truly rebelling against him?

However, he quickly realized this represented another manifestation of the Shichibukai's Devil Fruit abilities rather than genuine betrayal.

"You'll provide the same protection fee previously paid to the Whitebeard Pirates, plus ongoing food supplies sufficient for a certain number of people," Yami stated, outlining his terms without emotion.

He demanded both monetary compensation and provisions because the Uchiha clan would be conducting intensive training exercises on the island, leaving no time for conventional food procurement.

Neptune regarded Yami with a mixture of anger and helplessness.

He felt utterly powerless in this situation, unable to identify any viable path of resistance against such overwhelming force.

"Fine!" Neptune bit out through gritted teeth, his agreement forced by circumstances beyond his control.