Between Two Worlds: Nen and Haki

"Stop!"

Neptune reacted immediately upon seeing Zane.

The man looked exactly like his bounty poster, allowing Neptune to identify him instantly.

Noticing his sons seemed ready to strike, he quickly raised a hand to restrain them.

"Father, this human—"

"Fukaboshi, this is the captain of the Three-Eye Pirates, Mr. Zane. You must treat him with respect!"

Fukaboshi turned back to his father in confusion, but Neptune gestured for him to remain calm and began the introduction.

"Let me correct you. I am not a pirate. That 'pirate crew' label is a crime fabricated by the World Government. In reality, I am simply a Hunter."

Zane sighed at Neptune's introduction and provided his own.

"A Hunter?" Fukaboshi and his two brothers scrutinized Zane with curiosity.

Neptune fell into deep thought. After briefly regaining his composure, he said solemnly, "Very well, Mr. Zane. I understand you are a Hunter, not a pirate. However, I still wish to know why you allowed your subordinates to cause trouble in the Fishman District."

"Didn't I just say? My subordinates are here to recruit soldiers for me," Zane said with a faint smile.

Neptune frowned. "But as far as I know, your subordinates have killed and injured many people here. Isn't that taking it a bit too far?"

He was only cautious because of Zane's strength; otherwise, Neptune would have already sent his army into the Fishman District.

"Too far? Mr. Neptune, surely you know that the Fishman District is mostly filled with thugs. If you don't use a heavy hand against such criminals, how can you ever hope to suppress them?"

"Furthermore, to put it bluntly, if I take these thugs away, it would relieve you, the King, of a great burden. If you play your cards right, this could even be the perfect opportunity to clean up the Fishman District once and for all."

Zane remained perfectly calm in the face of Neptune's questioning.

"The Fishman District is part of Fishman Island. Regardless of what the people inside are like, they are still my citizens. If you came here as a tourist, Mr. Zane, I would welcome you. But if you intend to seize my citizens, I simply cannot accept that."

Neptune slammed his trident heavily onto the ground, his voice low and resolute.

Seeing that the King and the human were on the verge of a breakdown in negotiations, Fukaboshi, the three princes, and the Royal Army immediately raised their weapons again, looking at Zane warily.

"How naive!"

Facing Neptune's words, Zane spat out those two words with a blank expression.

The man was just talking a big game.

If he truly cared about the people in the Fishman District, how could someone like Hordy Jones ever have risen to power?

Boom!

A nearly tangible pressure swept out alongside those words, instantly overwhelming everyone present, including Neptune.

Thud, thud...

Cobweb-like cracks rapidly spread across the ground.

Soon, amidst the incessant sound of bodies hitting the floor, the Royal Army was completely wiped out under the overwhelming pressure of the Conqueror's Haki.

The three princes, including Fukaboshi, were no exception. They failed to withstand the Haki and collapsed in front of Neptune.

As for Neptune himself...

Though the King once known as the Great Knight of the Sea was no longer at his peak due to old age, his will was clearly exceptional.

Faced with Zane's Conqueror's Haki, he merely turned pale and took a step back, rather than falling like the others.

However, after feeling that power, Neptune was visibly shaken.

The look he gave Zane was filled with dread.

Seeing is believing.

Although he knew Zane was strong from reports, the concept of a true powerhouse finally became clear now that he faced him in person.

'Such oppressive Conqueror's Haki... Damn it, has this man already reached the level of Roger and Newgate?'

Neptune had been on good terms with Roger and Whitebeard; in fact, he and Whitebeard were sworn brothers because of a past favor.

He might lack the strength, but he certainly didn't lack experience.

At this moment, he felt a pressure from Zane's Haki that he had only ever experienced from the likes of Roger and Whitebeard.

'There is a saying: if the enemy can go, so can I!'

He wasn't targeting innocent civilians, but a group of vicious fishman thugs.

If pirates could oppress them, why couldn't he?

In fact, Zane had discussed this recruitment plan with Manlong beforehand.

After all, Fishman Island was Manlong's home.

He couldn't ignore his trusted general's feelings when recruiting here.

The result of that conversation went without saying.

The fact that Manlong personally led the team to the Fishman District was enough to show his stance.

Zane raised his hand and pointed two fingers like a sword.

Lightning condensed into a beam. With a gentle wave from Zane, a long, scorched crack appeared between him and Neptune.

"Do not cross this line. If you do, I will truly consider you an enemy." Zane gave his final warning, pointing his fingers toward Neptune.

The man might be naive, but he wasn't a bad person.

Unless Neptune insisted on being an enemy, Zane didn't care to continue fighting.

Having given the warning, Zane didn't linger. He turned and walked into the Fishman District to find Manlong and the other two.

With his Observation Haki...

If Neptune dared to cross that line of life and death, Zane would have plenty of ways to deal with him even from deep within the district.

Silence.

After a long silence, Neptune ultimately did not dare to cross the line Zane had drawn.

He summoned more people from Ryugu Palace to take away the unconscious crowd, leaving behind a lonely figure at the entrance of the Fishman District.

Just as planned.

Manlong was in charge of force, while Nico Robin and Baby 5 handled the communication.

After some 'friendly' persuasion, the thugs of the Fishman District eventually took the initiative to accept the recruitment.

Of course, this recruitment was only the initial trial.

Zane had his requirements; he didn't want just any fishman.

Those who were truly heinous weren't qualified to join his Hunting Team at all.

Nor were those who were too weak.

They were similarly kept out.

All business aside.

Having already experienced the core entertainment of Fishman Island, Zane joined the recruitment team after meeting up with Manlong's group.

"Captain, there are simply too many fishmen here. Even after filtering out the elderly, women, and children, there are probably tens of thousands who need to be screened," Nico Robin said, coming to Zane's side.

Crackle!

A bolt of lightning shot from his fingertip, striking a fishman in front of him.

The fishman trembled violently as the current coursed through him, eventually falling weakly to one knee.

"Not bad. You pass!"

Seeing the fishman only kneeling and not unconscious, Zane pointed toward the qualified area with satisfaction.

"Thank you, sir!!" Although his body was still paralyzed, the fishman wept with joy upon learning he had passed.