LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 74: 74 Neptune is Poisoned
"Cough cough cough..."
Neptune coughed violently but started to recover as the medicine took effect.
"Sorry, I was rude."
A concerned mermaid swam up and gently wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief.
"Mr. Lynch, please forgive Fukaboshi and the others for their offense. I apologize on their behalf."
Princess Otohime leaned down to apologize, fully aware of the situation on Fish-Man Island and the importance of not offending Marine.
It would be good if this young man was strong, but it would be problematic if he was weak.
"Princess, please get up. Don't worry about these small matters," Lynch said, his frown still in place.
He remembered that in the original story, Neptune, known as the Great Knight of the Sea, was in excellent health.
Now, why does he look like a starving ghost?
"Princess, do you remember when the King started having this problem?"
Princess Otohime lowered her eyes, thinking for a moment. "It started about three months ago."
"It's strange—Neptune was in good health before, but suddenly he became like this."
"Have you seen a doctor?"
"I consulted one, and the doctor said it's nothing serious. It might just be from overworking and needing more rest."
"Princess, if you trust me, have someone you trust check on the King's personal attendant."
When the sun shines, it reveals changes in balance.
Lynch noticed that Neptune's condition seemed linked to his kidneys, which represent water in the five elements.
It seemed that something was wrong with the water Neptune drank, leading to kidney failure.
Only the guards who handle Neptune's drinking water could have been involved.
"You mean..."
Princess Otohime's expression changed, as if she had just realized something.
"Yes, I suspect someone poisoned the water."
"Princess, you must keep this matter private. Find someone you trust to handle it discreetly to prevent any unexpected events."
"Um."
Princess Otohime, convinced by Lynch's words, agreed to keep the matter secret.
Princess Otohime had also suspected something unusual about Neptune's illness. Despite consulting many doctors, the results were always the same.
"I have a person I absolutely trust here, and he saved my life during an assassination."
Not long after Princess Otohime said these words, Lynch saw Fisher Tiger whom he hadn't seen for many years.
So he's not dead after all!
Fishman Tiger didn't recognize the current Lynch; he only knew him as the masked Nighthawk from before.
Seeing Lynch stare at him, Tiger thought his identity as a wanted criminal had been discovered and nearly took action.
Fortunately, Princess Otohime intervened.
"I see that Your Excellency has a righteous heart, and I hope that Tiger's affairs will not be revealed."
Princess Otohime also asked Tiger to come out without any hesitation after seeing Lynch's warning.
In addition, Princess Otohime has a very special Observation Haki.
She has the ability to sense the feelings of all things to some extent.
For those who have strong desire or good Observation Haki, she can also perceive their intentions, both good and evil.
Her intuition told Princess Otohime that Lynch meant no harm.
But... this man seems very interested in her daughter, Princess Shirahoshi?
"I will, Princess."
Lynch smiled and nodded at Tiger.
Tiger muttered to himself, 'Have I seen him somewhere before?' and then went off to carry out the task.
The life of Fishman Tiger can only be described as legendary.
He was born in the most chaotic slum and could not even eat enough every day, but he was able to become the fish man he is today, even the royal family treats him with courtesy.
Over the past few decades, Fisher Tiger has been a slum boss, founded a pirate crew, and traveled the seas.
He fought Marines, rival pirates, the World Government, and even boarded Mariejois.
Fisher Tiger was the first hero to rescue slaves from Mariejois.
With his rich life experience, having encountered both evil and good people, he quickly identified the poisoner under his torture.
"I was wrong! I shouldn't have poisoned the King. Please spare me!"
"I didn't want to do it. Hody Jones forced me!"
"My family is in his hands. I had no choice. I'm sorry, Your Majesty."
Neptune sighed deeply as he looked at the servant who had served him for over ten years.
"It's that bastard Hody Jones again!" Tiger's face shook with anger.
They didn't know that Hody Jones was also behind the assassination of Princess Otohime, but they did know he had betrayed The Fish Men Island out of his extreme hatred for humans.
The massive weapon frequently inserted into Shirahoshi's special door was created by Hody Jones and his ally, Vander Decken IX, using the Target Target Fruit.
"Tiger, don't be angry. Let him finish."
Princess Otohime calmed everyone present with a gentle tone, "I know that you are also a victim in this matter. As long as you tell the truth, I will ask Neptune for leniency."
"Thank you, thank you, Princess!"
The fishman kowtowed several timesand then revealed the truth.
It turns out that after Hody Jones' failed attempt to assassinate Princess Otohime, he began plotting to turn The Fish Men Island against humans again.
During a black market deal, he got his hands on a strange drug similar to "evil medicine."
Unlike the vicious medicine that trades short-term strength for a shortened lifespan, this drug is colorless, odorless, and harmless to other races, but it's deadly to fish-men.
The worst part is that it's undetectable by doctors.
If anyone could stir up hatred against humans, aside from Princess Otohime, it would be Neptune.
So Hody Jones devised a meticulous plan.
Hody Jones planned to wait until Neptune was near death before stepping in with the antidote.
This would earn him the royal family's trust while blaming humans for the poisoning.
With his reputation greatly increased on The Fish Men Island, he could manipulate events without suspicion, even if Neptune is in trouble again, there will be no doubt about him.
The servant, being just a pawn, only knew part of the plan.
However, it wasn't hard for everyone to figure out the rest.
Hody Jones and his group would earn the royal family's trust, then hire pirates to assassinate Neptune, just as they had tried with Princess Otohime.
With Hody Jones on the inside, the plan becomes easy.
He could stir up hatred against humans on Fish-Man Island and even position himself to become the new king by marrying Shirahoshi.
From the start, Hody Jones appeared to outsiders as an extreme fishman with deep resentment toward humans.
Compared to saving Neptune's life, what happened before was nothing.
"Damn it! I'm going to kill that bastard sooner or later!" Tiger was furious.
"Fortunately, we met this Marine."
Princess Otohime said, casting a wary glance at Lynch.
It would be disastrous if Hody Jones ever made it into the palace.
However, he overlooked one crucial detail: Princess Otohime's ability to see into people's hearts.
At the same time, this incident also revealed a more serious matter.
.
.
TO BE CONTINUED
____________________
I've added an advanced chapter on P@treon, where you can read 30+ chapters ahead of everyone.
Link : patreon.com/MoonEater18