Chapter 63: The History of Fish-Man Island
King Mars and Prince Neptune, upon seeing the familiar bull-horned fish-man, Tom, hurried over to greet him. They wanted to catch up and learn about the current state of the sea.
Among the fish-men who had ventured beyond the island, Tom was one of the most successful. He had made a name for himself as a renowned shipwright in Water 7, and his reputation had even spread to Fish-Man Street.
Many fish-men, and even merfolk, dreamed of following in his footsteps, heading to Water 7 in search of a life under the open sun, experiencing the vast wonders of the ocean.
Kokoro, the future stationmaster of the Sea Train, was once a mermaid who sought refuge with Tom, hoping to carve out a new life for herself.
Even the royal family of the merfolk sometimes envied Tom's freedom, longing for the ability to roam the seas freely and earn the respect of humans through extraordinary shipbuilding skills.
"Tom, aren't you supposed to be in Water 7? Don't tell me... you've become a pirate too?" King Mars asked in disbelief.
Tom had always been a rare example of a fish-man thriving in the human world without resorting to piracy. He was an idol to many among their kind. Had he now fallen, just like those desperate fish-men who joined pirate crews in pursuit of the sun?
"Your Majesty, King Mars, I am indeed a pirate now. But I have no regrets. I believe that my captain will soon lead the fish-men to a new future!" Tom said with a hint of awkwardness before lowering his voice slightly.
"Our captain and fighters have killed a Celestial Dragon before. I suggest you let them in quickly. We won't stay long—we're heading for the New World soon!"
Tom's words made King Mars stagger backward in shock, nearly falling off his whale mount. In the distance, Redfield overheard the conversation, a faint smirk forming on his lips.
Without hesitation, King Mars ordered his soldiers to allow the Hell Pirates into Fish-Man Island. He also arranged for Fish-Man coating specialists to reapply the protective bubble around the Golden Ark, ensuring they could depart smoothly when the time came.