Chapter 39: The King’s Burden
The stars above Fish-Man Island shimmered like pearls, casting a tranquil glow across the kingdom beneath the sea. The grandeur of the Ryugu Palace had dulled as the banquet came to a slow end. Laughter had faded. The plates had been cleared. Music had long since stopped.
Five hours had passed since the celebration began, and now the halls echoed with silence.
Most of the Voidreign Pirates had retired.
Seraphim Hancock, Kuina, and Uta had quietly returned to the ship, their laughter from earlier replaced with calm steps and sleepy yawns. Even Meruem, who rarely showed fatigue, wordlessly hoisted Vash—who had passed out beside a coral wall—over his shoulder like a sack of drunk dreams. Vash, eyes half-lidded, mumbled nonsense about mermaids and treasure maps, drooling slightly.
Blackeye, the bamboo-munching panda, had already curled into a ball aboard the ship, sound asleep with a few bamboo sticks sticking out of his mouth like cigars.
As the rest of the crew departed into slumber, only two figures remained in the now-empty grand hall: Jessie, and King Neptune.
The Sea King glanced toward the lone pirate captain. Jessie stood calmly with a drink in hand, hat tilted slightly, his silhouette framed by the glowing coral walls. There was something serious in the air—something Neptune hadn't felt all night.
Jessie's voice broke the silence, soft but resolute.
"King Neptune," he said, "I want to speak with you. Alone."
The king's eyes narrowed.
A moment passed before he finally gave a small nod. With a wave of his hand, the remaining staff and guards cleared the room. Even the musicians packed their instruments without question.