one piece: gene extraction and fusion system-Chapter 289: The Fall of the Royal Family

Fishman Island.

A high place.

Penny stood atop a cliff, watching the riot unfold below. She held a Den Den Mushi in her hand and whispered, "Sister, do you want me to help?"

"Of course," Renee's calm voice came through the Den Den Mushi. "Neptune is going to die too. Killing Otohime alone isn't enough to complete Mr. Mio's plan, so you'll need to take care of the rest. But remember—shift the blame. It's best to pin it on the pirates."

"Okay." Penny smiled, her expression changing in an instant from that of a playful beauty to a fierce pirate with a scar at the corner of her eye.

She hung up the Den Den Mushi and turned her eyes toward Neptune. Without hesitation, she leapt into the chaos, weaving through the rioting fishmen and heading straight toward the king.

Neptune was cradling Otohime, face contorted with pain as he shouted desperately, trying to calm the enraged citizens of Fishman Island.

Even now, with death looming over them, both Neptune and Otohime worried only about the future of their people.

It had to be admitted—this couple genuinely loved their homeland.

"It's a shame," Penny thought coldly. "But your existence blocks our master's plan."

With a flicker, her figure seemed to merge into the shadows cast by the crowd, slipping closer and closer to Neptune.

She raised her hand, ghost energy coalescing into a small orb in her palm, radiating an eerie chill. When she reached Neptune's back, she struck.

The orb slammed into the back of Neptune's head—

...

On the Glory.

Mio watched with a calm gaze. The moment Penny made her move, he turned off the live broadcast. There was no need to see more. The outcome was already decided.

Fishman Island could not stop his plan.

Now, all he had to do was arrive.

As for the consequences of killing a Celestial Dragon on Fishman Island?

Mio didn't care. Not in the slightest.

"Speed up," Mio ordered.

"Yes," Bai Feng replied, and the Black Glory accelerated.

Unknowingly, a day passed.

The next day—

The newspapers exploded with headlines, and the story spread across the entire world.

It was not a small matter.

A Celestial Dragon had died on Fishman Island. Even more shocking, Princess Otohime and King Neptune had also died in the resulting riot.

A major event, no doubt.

And this time, even the World Government found it difficult to retaliate. After all, the instigator had been the Celestial Dragon himself.

Would the World Government really dare to publicly support the killing of a nation's monarchs by a Celestial Dragon?

It was Fishman Island.

Though not powerful in military terms, its unique geography made it indispensable.

Located deep beneath the sea, if Fishman Island were forced into becoming a pirate kingdom, the consequences would be dire.

Fishmen could operate freely underwater. If war broke out, they could simply punch holes in the hulls of enemy ships, causing them to sink before they even reached the battlefield.

And now, with the royal family gone, pirates began to eye Fishman Island as a tempting prize.

Using it as a base offered numerous advantages.

—

New World

Marco stared at the newspaper, then turned to Whitebeard.

"Dad, Fishman Island is probably in big trouble now. Without King Neptune and Queen Otohime, if no new ruler appears soon, riots will break out. The entire island might collapse. And pirates are bound to make moves—it's a strategic junction between the New World and the first half of the Grand Line."

"It's not that simple," Whitebeard replied, voice deep. "A new king will emerge on Fishman Island. And anyone who dares to meddle will suffer dearly."

"A new king?" Marco frowned. "Neptune's children are still young. Even with help from the ministers, they wouldn't be able to command authority. The youngest is just a baby. So who else could it be?"

"By the way, Dad," Joz chimed in with a grin, "why don't we make Fishman Island our territory? That could protect it from outsiders."

"No need."

Whitebeard shook his head and looked around at his sons.

"Don't get any ideas. Fishman Island is already being targeted."

Hearing this, Marco narrowed his eyes thoughtfully and nodded.

Clearly, his father knew something.

But Marco didn't ask further. Since Whitebeard didn't want trouble, he wouldn't stir any.

Still, he couldn't help but wonder—who exactly was targeting Fishman Island?

Gulp gurgle.

Whitebeard drank deeply, his gaze distant.

Finally, he sighed with regret.

He had visited Fishman Island. He had drunk with Neptune and Otohime. They had been friends.

And now, both were dead.

Whitebeard knew who was behind it all.

He also knew that if that man wanted to make Fishman Island his territory, Otohime would have opposed it. She had wanted Fishman Island to join the World Government.

Becoming part of a pirate's domain would have crushed her dream.

Perhaps, then, this entire riot had been orchestrated by Black Crow—Mio himself.

Even so, Whitebeard could do nothing.

He had visited Crow Island. He had seen the truth.

He understood just how deep Black Crow's roots ran.

And now, with Qiongqi and Talos both having headed for Wano Country—two terrifying figures with no past records—Whitebeard couldn't believe it was coincidence.

Talos was likely one of Black Crow's people, just like Qiongqi.

If that were true...

Then the Black Crow was far more terrifying than anyone knew.

Had he been alone, Whitebeard might have personally gone to confront Mio for justice.

But now, with so many responsibilities and so much at stake—he could not.

Not for Neptune. Not for Otohime.