Chapter 254: Born Murderer

Undersea Paradise, Fish-Man Island, Ryugu Kingdom.

To recruit Fish-Man soldiers, Fleet Admiral Sengoku specially dispatched the Navy's two most unique Vice Admirals: Tsuru and Garp, to personally arrive at Fish-Man Island.

In fact, it was a move born of helplessness.

Who else could represent the World Government but Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, when the Five Elders rejected Sakazuki's application and dispatched Sakazuki to guard Punk Hazard?

If the Fleet Admiral could not easily leave headquarters, Sengoku would have wanted to come personally to negotiate.

The Fish-Men are now a delicacy on the Grand Line; everyone wants to take a bite.

If the speed is too slow, one can only wait for the next time.

Therefore, Tsuru and Garp were specially dispatched to arrive, ensuring the recruitment of Fish-Man Navy personnel at the earliest opportunity and the establishment of a Navy fleet specifically targeting the area below sea level.

What if pirates jump into the sea to escape in the future?

Hmph, hmph, hmph! Where do you think you're going!

As the Chief of Staff of the Navy Headquarters, Tsuru handling negotiations and diplomacy was a piece of cake.

And Garp, being a long-time friend of King Neptune of the Ryugu Kingdom on Fish-Man Island, was perfectly suited to ease relations.

Inside the banquet hall of the Ryugu Kingdom.

While Garp was devouring his food, he couldn't help but mutter, "That guy Barzab, his attitude is truly arrogant now; we've been waiting for two days and still haven't seen a sign of him."

Tsuru glanced at Garp and said nothing.

The old companion's lack of affection for the Celestial Dragons was known to almost everyone within the Navy; even the Five Elders pretended not to hear or see it.

If Garp wants to mutter, let him mutter.

"Garp, this negotiation must follow the will of the World Government; do not act on impulse."

Tsuru understood: Garp and Neptune were long-time friends, so he might subconsciously lean toward Fish-Man Island, especially since Garp was happy to see the World Government suffer a loss.

Until the Navy can solve its funding problems, it cannot break free from the World Government's control.

"Little Tsuru," Garp said with his cheeks puffed out, "I just came along to join the fun; just pretend I don't exist."

In reality, Garp wanted to see up close whether Saint Saint Saiwen had been affected by the contract with Imu, or rather, whether he had been corrupted by the privileges of the Celestial Dragons.

Having roamed the seas for many years, Saint Saint Saiwen was the only man Garp had encountered with hope of defeating Imu.

Yet he signed a contract with Imu and became a Celestial Dragon.

Because of this matter, Garp had been depressed for a long time.

"Where are those lackeys?"

"I heard Saint Saint Saint Saiwen will arrive at Fish-Man Island tomorrow; they have already gone ahead to wait at the port."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk," Garp sighed.

"Truly a bunch of good lackeys."

Garp thought he perhaps understood: why Barzab was willing to sign a contract with Imu.

Although the Celestial Dragons are trash, the privileges granted by their status are indeed quite confusing.

It is only because Garp has a big heart and almost no interest in power that the World Government would not try every means to invite Garp to become a Celestial Dragon.

Vice Admiral Garp and Saint Garp are two completely different concepts to the World Government.

The value of Saint Garp is understood by those who know.

The left fist represents justice; the right fist symbolizes power.

After eating and drinking their fill, Garp accompanied Tsuru to Fish-Man Street and Mermaid Street, striving to discover King Neptune's demands from the ordinary Fish-Man populace.

Conscription is, after all, not the same as selling slaves.

Selling slaves only requires capturing the Fish-Men, transporting them to the slave market where buyers will come to purchase them; one can even capture slaves according to the buyer's requirements.

Commonly known as customized service.

Conscription is different.

The World Government and the Navy need the Fish-Men and must ensure the emotional stability of the Fish-Man soldiers.

If conscription were carried out in the manner of capturing slaves, it would be no different than burying a time bomb beside oneself.

Who knows when the Fish-Man soldiers will revolt, or when they will secretly become deserters.

Precisely because of this,

the World Government and the Navy are willing to negotiate with the Ryugu Kingdom of Fish-Man Island regarding conscription, seeking a result where both sides are happy.

Rather than being plagued by trouble.

However, when Tsuru and Garp arrived at Fish-Man Street, they were met by Fish-Men full of suspicion, unwilling to say even a single extra word.

Seeing this situation, Tsuru sighed deeply.

"The discrimination problem between Fish-Men and humans... is far more serious than we imagined."

"That's quite normal," Garp muttered.

"If Whitebeard had not chosen to protect Fish-Man Island a few years ago, the current situation would only be worse."

"Whether it is the nobles of the member countries or the pig-like Celestial Dragons of Mary Geoise... the trend of comparison is severe; everyone takes pride in owning mermaid slaves."

"They have not directly driven us away..."

Garp looked in a certain direction: "It must be that the Warlord Tiger secretly instructed them."

Tsuru followed Garp's gaze and happened to see the Flame Flag belonging to the Morning Star Pirates, and beneath the flag, a mountain of skulls piled up.

And the Fish-Men arranging offerings.

Recalling recent rumors of Yuzhi Xiliu, an officer of the Morning Star Crew, wreaking havoc and killing indiscriminately on the seas, Tsuru murmured.

"At certain times... Saint Saint Saint Saiwen's behavior is more like that of the Navy than ours."

The Navy soldiers following Tsuru and Garp, gaining experience, fell into deep thought one after another.

The World Government and the Navy ignored Fish-Man Island, allowing slave traders to capture Fish-Men at will; instead, it was the pirates... Saint Saint Saint Saiwen who was willing to protect Fish-Man Island.

Wherever the Flame Banner rises, no pirate dares to cause trouble; this is the reputation the Morning Star Corps carved out with their own blades.

Those blind-eyed pirates now have their heads displayed beneath the Flame Banner.

When Tsuru and Garp arrived beneath the Flame Banner and saw those skulls up close, they finally understood why Yuzhi Xiliu earned the title of "Born Killer."

His killing intent is indeed immense.

Just as Tsuru and Garp fell silent, the cheers of the Fish-Men broke the quiet.

"My lord Yuzhi Xiliu has arrived."

"My lord Yuzhi Xiliu."

The Fish-Men who had been standing beneath the Flame Banner swarmed around Yuzhi Xiliu and accepted round bundles from his hands.

Inside the bundles were, unmistakably, skulls of burned human heads...

"Have any pirates caused trouble recently?"

Yuzhi Xiliu had truly enjoyed killing, and the Teleportation Fruit was perfectly suited for traveling and killing, matching the extermination missions Yuzhi Xiliu executed flawlessly.

Those pirates who knew the Fish-Man Island flew the Flame Banner yet still caused trouble there deserved to die.

Yuzhi Xiliu vowed to protect the Captain's reputation with his life!

"My lord Yuzhi Xiliu, there truly are none left."

"Fish-Man Island has almost become a no-go zone for pirates... My lord Saint Saint Saiwen will arrive tomorrow; I shall take you to rest first."

As he passed Garp, Yuzhi Xiliu forcibly suppressed the inexplicable urge to stab Garp, offered a simple greeting, and hurried away.

Yuzhi Xiliu did not understand: he and Garp had no past grudge and no recent quarrel, so why did he suddenly want to stab Garp?

How strange.

Tomorrow I must ask the Captain, or go find the Fish-Man fortune teller Miss Xia Li for a divination.

After glancing once more at the skulls beneath the Flame Banner, Tsuru and Garp returned to the lodging arranged by the Ryugu Kingdom.

What they saw and heard on Fish-Man Island today left the Marines following Garp bewildered.

Clearly the Marines represent justice, yet the Fish-Men shun the Marines, instead welcoming Yuzhi Xiliu of the Morning Star Corps with boundless enthusiasm.

It is truly a topsy-turvy world.

Addressing the newcomers' confusion, Tsuru explained: "No matter how eloquently justice is spoken, it cannot replace tangible action."

"The Fish-Men can see what the Morning Star Corps is doing, while we Marines have done nothing."

Tsuru silently resolved: she must find a way to grant the Marines financial independence and minimize the World Government's influence over them to the greatest extent possible.

There are already many sycophants within the Marines.

If change does not come soon, one day they too will become sycophants of the World Government.