Paper Paper Fruit In One Piece

"I'm going to the palace to knock out that guy Hody. I promised Coward Star I would protect her!"

"Luffy, you should know how bad the relationship is between the Fishmen and humans, right?"

"If you rush over like this, it won't solve anything. It will just make all the Fishmen and Mermaids think humans are being cruel and showing off their power..."

"I don't care about them!"

"I just want to do what I want to do."

Seeing the giant Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi about to cry, Luffy turned to look at her pet shark, Megalo.

"Shark, take me to the palace!"

"Fishman Karate—"

?!

However, Jinbe, who had been trying to stop him, immediately took a horse stance and threw a punch at Luffy from a distance.

"Shark Fist!"

It was empty!

Despite the punch having no special effects, like a beginner's training punch, Luffy suddenly flew backward through the air! And then—

"Ouch, ouch, ouch~~"

Luffy instinctively used Haki to defend himself, but even with the Haki protection that should have greatly reduced the damage from the punch, he still felt pain!

"Huh? Can Luffy be hurt like that? Is it 'Haki released'?"

Usopp asked in surprise. Roman shook his head and explained:

"That's not it. The secret of Fishman Karate is controlling the water content. By vibrating the water inside the body, it's possible to 'attack from a distance'..."

It wasn't that the Straw Hats were heartless and enjoying the scene, but Luffy and Jinbe were both completely lacking any murderous intent!

"Biological cells contain about 60% water, so even a rubber person can't escape it." 

Luffy, getting back up and not showing weakness, immediately entered his 'Gear Second' state.

"Gomu Gomu no Jet Stamp!"

With a kick like a bolt of lightning, Luffy instantly broke through the air, sending white shockwaves. But the experienced Jinbe quickly crossed his arms to block it.

"Is this the level of your training?"

...Luffy wasn't even taking it seriously, and Roman, as an observer, could immediately tell. 

Forget about his trump card, 'Gear Fourth.' Even with Gear Second and Haki-enhanced skills, like 'Eagle Gun' or 'Vulture Rocket,' Luffy didn't use them.

"Get out of the way!!"

"No!!"

...With nothing left to say, the two of them tightened their fists and charged at each other!

Swish—"Enough, both of you."

Seeing the two of them refusing to back down or show their true strength, Roman stepped between them with a 'Soru' move, arms wide to catch both punches with one hand.

"Move, Roman!"

"Please don't interfere—"

Smack!

Before they could retract their fists, Roman gripped both of them, pulling them toward himself.

"Be careful!" x2Both Luffy and Jinbe instinctively shouted in warning.

Luffy, who had met Roman the first time he went out to sea, knew him well from their journey through thick and thin. As for Jinbe, he knew Roman's true identity as a Celestial Dragon but had seen him betray that status in Impel Down to rescue everyone, and in the Summit War, he had even helped Luffy escape from Akainu's grasp...Boom!

However, the two punches, filled with strong power and Haki, didn't hit Roman. Instead, they passed through his body, which had suddenly turned into a sheet of 'paper,' and slammed directly into their intended targets: Luffy's face and Jinbe's face.

Thud.

With a loud thump, both of them fell backward onto the ground. Roman, back to normal, clapped his hands.

"Luffy, this isn't something you can solve by just charging in and knocking the enemy away. You must've seen the real relationship between humans and Fishmen in Sabaody, right?"

Slaves, commodities..."If we act recklessly, it will only make things more complicated and turn into a bigger riot."

"I don't care!"

Luffy sat up and rubbed his face, "I took Shirahoshi to have some fun. If this leads to her getting hurt, I definitely won't agree to it!"

"But rushing in like that and knocking everyone out will only make things more chaotic!"

Jinbe also sat up.

"The people here won't thank you. They'll just fear 'humans' even more. Unless—"

The blue whale shark fishman finally revealed his real goal with a serious face:

"This human is a 'hero'!"

"I don't want to—"

Luffy stood up without hesitation, rejecting Jinbe's hint.

"I like heroes, but I don't want to be one!"

"If there's a piece of meat, a hero would share it with others, but a pirate would take it and have a feast. I want to eat meat!"

So, Luffy isn't stupid.

He's clearer than anyone else about what the title of 'hero' really means.

Sharing meat with others is a hero's responsibility, and Luffy knows it's a noble act, but having a feast is something Luffy loves doing. Compared to the greatness recognized by society, Luffy respects it, but he wants to live the life he enjoys, free and carefree.

"What kind of weird metaphor is that?!"

Nami was speechless. At such a serious moment, you're only thinking about meat…

"It's fitting," Roman patted Nami's shoulder. "Being a hero isn't that easy. The world has its own troubles; living a free and easy life is the best way to live."

Is this really coming from you, a 'candidate Admiral'?

Roman shrugged silently in response to Nami's questioning look.

"But, when we're chasing our dreams, it's okay to do a little 'heroic' stuff along the way. As for how others think or comment, that's not our concern."

"Got it."

Jinbe, always sharp, immediately understood what Luffy was trying to say.

"Then, you eat the meat, and just do as I say."

"Okay!"

Luffy nodded: this part he's got.

It's usually like this with the Straw Hat crew—Roman thinks, Luffy acts. Now it's Jinbe giving advice, but Luffy doesn't mind. After all:

They're all partners!

"Then, Roman, what do you think?"

Having convinced Luffy, Jinbe turned to look at Roman. Roman is the strategist of the Straw Hat crew, so technically, Jinbe was 'taking' Roman's job.

"I have no objections,"

Roman was well aware of Jinbe's plan to 'shape' Luffy into the hero of Fish-Man Island.

Being a hero means sacrifice and responsibility, but it also brings prestige and power!

The power of a country.

Many strong individuals in the world have probably already sensed that to become the true 'Pirate King,' it's not enough to just reach Laugh Tale. 

Power, influence, connections, prestige… all are necessary!

——————"Ka-ka!"

"Everyone, step over the 'image,' or I'll bite your flesh off and eat it!"

Facing the orders of the cigar-smoking hammerhead shark fishman and the smallest member of the New Fish-Man Pirates, the people of Fish-Man Island could only step on the portrait of the late Queen Otohime with tears in their eyes.

Although fishmen are said to have ten times the strength of humans, it's like Roman's past life where humans' maximum weight capacity was 300 kilograms, yet most ordinary people could barely lift 30 kilograms.

On Fish-Man Island, home to millions of fishmen, most of them are just 'strong' ordinary people. In front of the angry fishmen and cadres, they could only silently step on the image of the late Queen Otohime.

This scene appeared in several key locations across Fish-Man Island, and in the Royal Palace of Ryugu Castle:

"How easy."

Among the fallen soldiers, there was King Neptune of Fish-Man Island.

"Once called the 'Great Knight of the Sea,' and now just a weak old man."

Hodi Jones mocked the defeated man on the ground.

"Your strength is as weak as your ideas!"

"We fishmen are born noble, yet you bowed down to those ants who rely on numbers to gain advantage! You've completely disgraced the fishmen's pride—"

"Your strength..."

"Was the thing you just ate poison?"

The deadly medicine, ES, was originally a secret treasure of the Ryugu Kingdom, but after it was stolen... now it seems that the criminal is right in front of us! However:

"This poison uses the life force of the user to gain power, you shouldn't rely on something like this—"

"Shut up!"

Crack—

His words were suddenly interrupted by a powerful kick from the opponent, sending the massive body flying for several meters! The entire palace shook violently, and King Neptune was trapped in the rubble, unable to speak.

"Take this useless fool with me. I'll 'judge' this coward in front of everyone!"

"Boss, Vander Decken IX is over there..."

After not finding Princess Shirahoshi in the Ryugu Palace, Vander Decken IX immediately activated his ability and led his crew to chase after Shirahoshi.

"Forget about him. Send a broadcast to the entire island, saying—"

——————"An hour later,"

"I will decapitate the 'former king' Neptune!"

"I'm going to change this country. We, the Fishmen, should be a noble race! Overthrowing the weak Neptune is just the first step, next we'll show the humans on the surface the strength and resolve of our people..."

The crazy, cold voice echoed through the entire island via broadcast, making the members of the "New Fishman Pirate Crew" who were occupying the critical points of Fishman Island reveal excited, sinister smiles.

"The good show is about to start!"

As everyone instinctively headed for the square, the giant square was quickly occupied by the "New Fishman Pirate Crew." Around the coral buildings, everyone could see:

"Ha ha ha, today will be the day of Fishman Island's rebirth!"

Sitting on a high platform, Hody Jones, with his white hair, looked pleased with himself. Behind him, on the platform, King Neptune and his three sons were tied to steel frames, and the King's soldiers lay scattered on the ground like a "carpet," showing the "New Fishman Pirate Crew's" power to everyone!

Although it was the power gained from drugs, power was still power.

The winners live, and the losers die!

"Next, all we need to—"Whoosh,

While Hody Jones muttered to himself, it felt like "fate" was helping him. A group of Fishman pirates arrived, pushing a massive shark, "Megalo," along with Princess Shirahoshi and also:

"Hody, we caught Princess Shirahoshi and Jinbe with the trap!"

"What!?"

"Jinbe was caught too..."

"It's over, it's really over for Fishman Island..."

Amidst the noise of Fishmen and mermaids around the square, Hody Jones was first stunned, then overjoyed!

At this moment, Hody Jones felt as if "fate was on his side." The only two people he truly feared on Fishman Island were Jinbe, the Warlord of the Sea, and Shirahoshi, who could summon Sea Kings. That's why he had started his coup when Jinbe's "Sun Pirates" were absent, and even teamed up with Vander Decken IX to locate Shirahoshi...Strictly speaking, his plan had no flaws, but who would have thought someone would take Princess Shirahoshi away ahead of time! But now it seemed:

"The heavens are with me!"

The people he sent out not only caught Shirahoshi but also Jinbe! How could Hody Jones not become arrogant?

Since the situation was already decided, why not make the victory even "sweeter"? Hody Jones directly exposed his past crimes.

"Did you see that? Fate is on my side! I've been preparing for this day for ten years!"

"Ten years ago, I also assassinated Queen Otohime, the Queen of Ryugu Kingdom!"

!!!!!

"How could this be? The gentle queen..."

"Wasn't it said that humans did it?"

"Have we always..."

The shocking news one after another nearly shattered the brains of the Fishman Island residents!

"Ha ha ha, no one can stop me now—"

Boom!

However, the next second, Hody Jones, who had just been laughing arrogantly, was sent flying with no resistance! He crashed through a large building behind him and disappeared into the ruins.

"Enough,"

A human wearing a straw hat stood where he had been just moments ago.

"You made Shirahoshi cry. Don't expect me to let you off!"

?!

"Tch, Luffy, you showed up too soon..." 

"Heh, can you really expect Luffy to stick to the plan?" Several calm voices came from behind the platform, and the Straw Hat crew appeared from thin air. At the same time, the king and his three sons were lowered from the steel frame by them.

"What's going on? Who are these people...?"

"Luffy, help me!" 

Facing the fish princess Shirahoshi, who was crying uncontrollably, Luffy adjusted his straw hat.

"Of course!"

....."Who's that?"

"A human..."

"It seems like he knows the princess and Jinbe..."

"He's probably here to help us..." 

As the fishmen and mermaids whispered around them, the Straw Hat crew rescued the king and his three sons, leading them and the injured soldiers away from the square.

"Is this 'The Celestial Dragon's letter'?"

Sitting on a large box, Roman looked at the introduction letter signed by 'Donquixote · Mjosgard,' along with the intention forms inside. For a moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

Otohime, What a shame.

Naturally gifted with a broad Observation Haki, able to feel others' thoughts and emotions, and convey her own awareness to others, affecting their minds and thoughts and causing strong resonance, even changing their values and beliefs.

It could be said to be the permanent version of Ms. Golden Week!

Of course, she didn't have the emotional force and variety that Ms. Golden Week had.

Although physically weak by nature, with such a rare Observation Haki even more powerful than Conqueror's Haki, with some training, Yukihime would become a master of mental control! A true Yuri in the making! Yet...

Such a person, who should have become a 'strong one,' had to spend her life struggling for her people, misunderstood and unaccepted, only to finally see hope, only to fall at the hands of malicious compatriots.

—This is the fate of the 'hero'!

That's why Luffy would say:

"Who are we?"

The moment he appeared, Luffy raised his arms and looked up, surrounded by the center of attention in the entire square.

"Think what you want!"

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 ----You can read 10 advanced chapters at my patreon.com/YeyeQiu