radicalducati Chapter 262 The Assassin Draws His Blade, Who Can Stand Against Him?
Chapter 262 The Assassin Draws His Blade, Who Can Stand Against Him?
Chapter 262 The Assassin Draws His Blade, Who Can Stand Against Him?
The deep blue of Fishman Island no longer brings tranquility; instead, it feels like a heavy curtain pressing down on everyone's heart.
The Thousand Sunny sat alone in the harbor, like an isolated island.
The beautiful coral structures and playful fish around them were all shrouded in a cold shadow in the eyes of the Straw Hat crew.
Luffy sat cross-legged on the lion's head at the bow of the Sunny, his mouth pouting so high it could hang an oil bottle on it.
"Why is everyone looking at us so strangely? Aren't we here to help beat up Blackbeard?"
"Aren't we friends?" he muttered, his voice filled with confusion and grievance.
He held the precious straw hat tightly in his arms, as if it were his only comfort at that moment.
Nami slammed the nautical logbook shut in frustration. It didn't record the course or the weather, but rather the various suspicious rumors and hostile behaviors she had observed over the past few days.
"Now the entire Fishman Island is practically treating us like plague-bringing scourges!" She rubbed her temples.
"Go walk around the streets and you'll see, Luffy. Even the old lady who sold me the pretty coral before is closing her door like she's avoiding the plague today."
"Really?" Luffy tilted his head, looking puzzled. "But we didn't do anything!"
"It's precisely because we've done nothing and are hiding on the ship that we seem even more suspicious."
Sanji lit a cigarette, leaned against the ship's railing, and the smoke rose in wisps of blue light.
"An old man selling vegetables, trembling as he made change, whispered to me, 'Hurry up and leave, humans, you're not welcome here anymore.'"
He took a deep drag of his cigarette. "This feeling is even more unbearable than if we just charged in and started fighting."
Zoro was wiping his Wado Ichimonji sword, the blade reflecting his cold, stern face.
"Hmph, a bunch of fools who've been deceived. If explanations don't work, let's settle this with swords."
"No, Zoro!" Usopp and Chopper hugged each other, their eyes brimming with tears.
"Didn't you see their eyes? Those aren't enemies you can cut down! That's—that's the anger and fear of being deceived!"
Chopper nodded vigorously, his voice trembling with tears: "They seem to—really hate us."
Brooke sat quietly to one side, her violin resting on her lap, but she did not play it.
His empty eye sockets stared at those hostile gazes, his finger bones gently tapping the body of the instrument.
"Hehehe—it seems this old man of mine has truly become an unwelcome presence this time." His voice carried a hint of self-deprecation, but more so a sense of helplessness.
He could sense that the silent king beside him had an abyss-like aura that remained completely still, as if all the turmoil before him was merely a prelude to a mistake that would inevitably be corrected.
In stark contrast to the Straw Hat crew's predicament is Kojiro's situation on the side of the Cross Society.
This man, who simultaneously beheaded two of Blackbeard's generals and relieved the siege of Fishman Island, earned immense prestige here.
Although many people have speculated that it was the Crusaders, he doesn't seem to be among the targets of those speculations.
As he walked down the street, the fish-people residents would occasionally cast respectful and grateful glances at him.
"Lord Kojiro!" "Thank you for your help earlier!"
Kojiro simply nodded slightly, his face calm, but his sharp eyes subtly scanned his surroundings.
As an Assassin, who also falls under the categories of stealth and assassination, his senses are far more acute than those of ordinary people.
"There's a stench of the same kind in the air," he muttered to himself, his hand resting lightly on his sword.
"More than one. Like a drop of water merging into the ocean, cleverly exploiting people's fears—are they ninjas? And—a faint, sweet, fishy smell, is it poison?"
He sensed an incongruous noise, but the source was well hidden, like a real shadow, making it difficult to pinpoint its exact form.
He became a hero of Fishman Island because he killed the enemies in the open, but now the lurking darkness is also making him feel troubled.
He was truly powerless to change the shadows that loomed over this place.
The oppressive atmosphere was finally ignited in the most famous mermaid café on Fishman Island.
On this day, even the sunlight seemed unable to penetrate the invisible haze that shrouded the island.
Inside the café, several human pirates from the Cross Guild were trying to find some solace in the dull atmosphere.
Their initially polite exchange with the mermaid waiters was disrupted by a burly, drunken fish-man who suddenly barged in. "Get out! You human scourges!" the burly man yelled, his eyes bloodshot and his voice hoarse as he pointed at the human pirates and cursed them.
"You're the ones who brought the assassins! You're the ones who gave the Navy an excuse to get out of our homeland!"
Enraged by this unfounded accusation, the human pirates immediately engaged in a heated argument.
During the scuffle, it's unclear who started it, but the situation quickly spiraled out of control.
Wine glasses shattered, tables and chairs overturned, and shouts and screams mingled together.
But just as the chaos reached its peak, a sudden change occurred!
On the ceiling of the café, several large chandeliers made of hard coral and heavy seashells suddenly had their suspension cables snap at the same time!
This is no coincidence!
"boom-!!!"
The enormous chandeliers crashed down like meteorites!
Coral fragments and sharp shells scattered like shrapnel! The screams instantly turned into mournful wails.
As the smoke and dust dissipated slightly, the scene before them froze everyone's blood.
More than ten innocent residents of Fishman Island and mermaid waiters were crushed under heavy light fixtures or seriously injured by flying debris. Blood stained the ground, and the painful groans and cries were heartbreaking.
Among them, the youngest and most beautiful mermaid songstress, Cosette, had her tail pinned down by the giant lamp base, blood gushing out, and she was unconscious, her fate unknown.
A deathly silence followed, then a volcanic eruption of fury.
"It was you! It was you humans who killed them!"
"Kill them! Avenge Cosette!"
"The Straw Hat Boys! The Crusaders! They're all accomplices!"
A wave of anger swept through the entire café in an instant and spread like a plague across the entire island via Den Den Mushi.
All the pent-up anger, fear, and resentment were ignited by this bloody tragedy at this moment, pointing precisely at all the outsiders on the island, especially the Straw Hat crew who were suspected.
The public's anger could not be contained.
Thousands upon thousands of fish-man island residents, armed with harpoons and clubs, surged toward the harbor like an angry tide, surrounding the Thousand Sunny.
They were no longer merely suspicious, but convinced that the Straw Hat Pirates were the culprits behind the disaster.
"Hand over Straw Hat Luffy!"
"Execute these humans!"
"And that cursed skeleton!"
"Luffy! Let's break out!" Zoro gripped his sword hilt, his eyes sharp, showing no fear even in the face of thousands of people. "These fooled fools, just knock them out!"
"No! Green Moss Head! We can't lay a hand on civilians!" Sanji shouted, trying to stop them, but sweat was beading on his forehead. The situation seemed hopeless.
Nami anxiously grabbed Luffy's arm: "Luffy! Let's go back to the ship and use the Propulsion Cannon to leave here temporarily! We'll come back after we find out the truth!"
Usopp and Chopper were terrified, but they still stood in front of Luffy, shouting, "Luffy, run! They'll really hurt you!"
Franky activated the weapon system on his arm, but faced with the crowd, he felt helpless: "Super—trouble! There's no way to fight this!"
Brook drew his sword halfway from its sheath, standing guard beside Luffy.
"Hehehe, while I don't want to be rough with the ladies and gentlemen, I can't just watch the captain get hurt."
Even Roger crossed his arms and said in a deep voice, "Kid, things are not good. Let's make a strategic retreat first. I don't want to see you capsize here."
However, Luffy remained unmoved despite all his companions' attempts to dissuade him.
He stood there, looking at the fish-man islanders whose faces were contorted with fear and anger, and at the cold weapons in their hands. He suddenly raised his head, his eyes showing no fear, only a deep and unwavering determination like the ocean.
He shoved Usopp and Chopper aside, stepped forward, and stood at the very front of all his companions, facing the surging tide of fury.
"Everyone!" Luffy's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly cut through the noise and reached every member of his crew, "Don't attack!"
He looked around at his crew, a stubborn smile on his face.
"They are the residents here, the people we must protect! If we fight now, we'll really become the bad guys! And those bastards hiding in the shadows will get their way!"
Then, he turned around, faced the dark mass of people, took a deep breath, and roared with all his might.
"Hey—! You guys!! Listen up!"
His voice was like thunder, instantly silencing the noisy crowd.
"My crew! We have absolutely nothing to do with this!!!" Luffy pointed at the Straw Hat crew behind him, his eyes burning with determination.
"If you want to execute them, come at me alone! Let them go!"
He clenched his fist and pounded it heavily on his chest, making a dull thud. His gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on the direction of the Dragon Palace.
"I, Straw Hat Luffy, am here to help you defeat Blackbeard and protect this island! I will not fall until I have done so! And I will never let your home be destroyed because of this despicable plot!!"
"If you're going to arrest someone, arrest me alone! My companions are not to be touched!"
After saying that, he voluntarily extended his hands, his face showing no fear of death, only an almost calm acceptance.
His straw hat seemed to gleam with an undeniable brilliance in the deep blue light.
At that moment, the angry crowd was stunned by this sudden action and resounding words.
Looking at this young man who took on everything voluntarily, and at the unwavering determination in his eyes, the anger in some of their hearts seemed to be doused with cold water, and they began to waver.
However, just as the crowd calmed down, several more voices came from among them.
"This guy has already confessed, he did it! Shouldn't we arrest him?!"
"Yeah, even if it has nothing to do with his partners, this guy has already admitted it!"
The scattered words were deafening compared to the roars. The guards of the Dragon Palace were almost unable to control the situation.
Inside the Dragon Palace, King Neptune listened to the deafening roars outside and watched the images of the port transmitted through the crystal ball, his enormous body trembling slightly.
The image of Queen Otohime, who dedicated herself to reconciliation with humans, still seems vivid in my mind; her dream of coexisting with humans still resonates in my ears.
However, what lies before me now is the sorrowful memory of the queen's death because of humans, and the tragic scene of my people suffering bloodshed.
Beset by internal and external troubles: the navy pressing in, unseen assassins, and the people's rage—
The immense pressure, like the pressure of deep-sea water, nearly crushed his spirit.
His eyes became somewhat cloudy, a mixture of anger and despair that nearly drove him to madness.
"Your Majesty!" Jinbe stepped forward, his voice as firm as a rock, trying to stabilize the crumbling dynasty.
"This is definitely a conspiracy! Someone is trying to sow discord! Luffy would never—"
"Enough! Jinbe!" King Neptune roared at his close friend, his voice filled with pain and exhaustion.
"The facts are clear! My people are bleeding! Is this the result of Otohime's dream?! For the stability of Fishman Island, we must—we must give the people an explanation!"
In the center of the port square, a guillotine stood.
Luffy was bound by seastone chains and taken to the execution platform.
He still wore his straw hat, but his face no longer held its usual playful smile or fear; instead, it held a deep sense of determination.
Nami, Zoro, and the others tried to rush to save the people, but were blocked by more guards and angry crowds.
They were unwilling to harm innocent civilians, and thus found themselves in an unprecedented predicament.
Roger stood with his arms crossed, watching everything with a cold gaze. His domineering aura was faintly visible, but he was also waiting, waiting for an opportunity.
Just as the executioner was about to strike, a huge blue figure crashed onto the execution platform like a cannonball, blocking Luffy from the guillotine!
It's Jinbe!
He spread his arms wide, facing the countless angry and bewildered gazes below, his voice like thunder, resounding throughout the entire square.
"Gentlemen!!!"
The entire room fell silent for a moment.
Jinbe's gaze swept over everyone, his eyes filled with an undeniable determination.
"I know your anger! I know your fear! Like you, I deeply love this deep sea, I deeply love Fishman Island!"
"But!!!" He changed his tone, his voice becoming even louder.
"This man before you, about to be executed! Does he feel even a trace of fear? Is he truly a sinner?!"
He pointed at Luffy, speaking each word as if making a vow: "He is Fire Fist Ace's brother! You should all know about Ace's loyalty and righteousness in the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"How could someone he cherishes so much and entrusts his dreams to be a despicable person who would betray him and harm the innocent?!"
He turned abruptly to look at King Neptune high above, his voice filled with earnestness and determination.
"Your Majesty! Please recall Queen Otohime's long-cherished wish! Please trust my eyes, which have witnessed countless storms and trials!"
"If Luffy is wrongfully killed here today, Fishman Island will forever lose a true friend, which would play right into the hands of the mastermind behind it all! If Luffy is ultimately proven guilty..."
"I, Jinpei—am willing to commit suicide here to atone for my sins!"
This high-stakes gamble, which involved risking everything on personal reputation and past relationships, shocked everyone.
King Neptune, looking at Jinbe's resolute gaze, was torn between the image of Queen Otohime's hopeful smile for peace and the anger of the people before him, plunging him into a tremendous struggle and nearly causing his mental breakdown.
Just as King Neptune lost his composure, a young merman in the crowd, who had been filled with righteous indignation, suddenly had a cold killing intent flash in his eyes.
A poisoned dagger silently slid from his hand, and his figure, like a ghost, broke through the guards' lax defenses, aiming straight for the dazed King Neptune!
"Your Majesty, be careful!" the ministers around him exclaimed.
But a golden figure was faster than a sound!
"Rubber, rubber—!!!"
The Seastone chains seemed to lose some of their power at that moment, and Luffy's body shot out like a spring, instantly blocking in front of King Neptune!
"Pfft!"
The poisoned dagger pierced deeply into Luffy's chest!
Time seems to stand still at this moment.
Everyone stared wide-eyed as the boy they had been clamoring to be executed shielded their king from a fatal blow with his own body.
"Thank goodness you're alright, sir. I told you I wouldn't let anything happen to you until I knocked that black-bearded guy off his feet—"
Blood gushed from his chest, dripping onto the ground of the square, and also dripping into the hearts of every resident of Fishman Island.
The angry roar abruptly ceased, replaced by a deathly silence, followed by an outburst of incredulous gasps and panic.
"Luffy!!!" The Straw Hat crew's eyes widened in horror.
King Neptune looked at Luffy, who was standing in front of him and slowly falling down, and saw the relieved expression on Luffy's face. Queen Otohime's words were clearer than ever before in his mind.
Otohime — So, people like you really do exist in this world —