One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

"What?!"

King Neptune and his sons stood frozen, staring blankly at Shirahoshi and Ace. A gentle smile lingered on Ace's face. 

Had they misunderstood?

Suddenly, Neptune and his sons let out a collective sigh of relief, their tension easing visibly. Observing the strange expression on his old friend Rayleigh's face, Neptune could only manage a bitter smile.

Who could blame him for misunderstanding?

After all, the name 'Flame Emperor' echoed with terrifying might across the seas. Anyone or any force that dared to oppose him would inevitably face utter destruction. His reputation was carved into the annals of maritime history.

How could anyone not tremble at the arrival of such a monumental figure?

Even though Ace bore the bloodline of the Pirate King, who once maintained amicable ties with Ryugu Kingdom, and had Rayleigh, an old ally, under his command, Neptune knew the weight of dealing with a true overlord of the sea. Respect and caution were essential to survival.

The circumstances of their meeting—Ace's sudden appearance in the Hard-Shell Tower, the doors seemingly forced open—only heightened Neptune's fear. 

Fortunately, his worst fears did not materialize. Shirahoshi had not incurred the wrath of this sea's ruler. Instead, for reasons beyond Neptune's understanding, this overlord had chosen to aid her.

"I am truly grateful for the Flame Emperor's assistance," Neptune said, bowing low. "Your declaration to the world during the Flame Emperor Incident saved countless merfolk from being captured. Please, allow our Ryugu Kingdom to express our gratitude to the Flame Emperor by hosting a banquet in his honor."

His tone was deferential, as befitted a king addressing one of the sea's most powerful figures.

Neptune had only witnessed Flame Emperor's fearsome power and poise during the live broadcast. Beyond that, his understanding of this overlord came from newspaper reports, which often painted him as a tyrant. 

Yet, Neptune could not reconcile this tyrannical image with the one who had taken a stand for merfolk and deterred pirates and bounty hunters from targeting them. Surely, such a person could not be as heartless as the papers suggested. 

Still, respect for such a mighty figure was paramount. Flame Emperor had, intentionally or not, already done a great service to Fish-Man Island, and Neptune sincerely wished to convey his gratitude to Ace.

"Banquet? That sounds exciting."

Ace chuckled upon hearing Neptune's invitation. A banquet in the Ryugu Kingdom was a novel experience for him. While he had hosted countless feasts on the surface of the sea, he had never attended one at a depth of 10,000 meters.

Ace couldn't help but feel intrigued by the prospect of tasting the fine wines and delicacies unique to Fish-Man Island. 

Seeing his enthusiasm, King Neptune and his sons exchanged relieved smiles. 

This absolute overlord of the sea, who could stand toe-to-toe with the World Government, was nothing like the figure they had envisioned. Ace carried none of the arrogance one might expect from someone of his stature. In fact, he seemed far more approachable than many of the infamous pirates they had encountered.

To Neptune, Ace even appeared more magnanimous than his old friend Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors.

"Then, please follow me," Neptune said with a welcoming gesture.

But Ace shook his head with a smile. "Not just yet. Shirahoshi's situation hasn't been fully resolved."

"Shirahoshi?" 

Neptune and his sons perked up immediately, their eyes lighting with hope. Could it be that Ace intended to resolve the problem of Vander Decken?

To Neptune and his sons, Vander Decken IX was a loathsome figure. Shirahoshi was the crown jewel of their kingdom, deeply cherished by her father and her three brothers—Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi. Yet because of Vander Decken's obsession, Shirahoshi had been forced to live in the isolation of the Hard-Shell Tower for years. 

She had been unable to even attend the funeral of her beloved mother, Queen Otohime. 

Over time, Shirahoshi's already timid personality had grown even more fragile. Her brothers often fantasized about tearing Vander Decken apart but, despite their efforts, the vastness of the sea made him an elusive target. His attacks left no trace, making him impossible to track.

Shirahoshi often wondered how much longer she would have to endure such a life. However, if Ace—'The Flame Emperor' himself—intervened, it would surely bring an end to her ordeal. 

Neptune and his sons couldn't help but feel excited. Could Shirahoshi finally step out of the Hard-Shell Tower and live freely?

"Yes, Shirahoshi will be able to live freely," Ace reassured them with a smile. "But to make that happen, we'll need someone's help."

"Someone's help?" Neptune and his sons echoed, momentarily stunned before eagerly asking, "Who?"

"He's already here," Ace said, his gaze shifting to the distance. A figure, shrouded in blue, was approaching swiftly.

"Jinbei!" 

Neptune and his sons exclaimed in unison, recognizing the newcomer.

"Jinbei-sama!" Shirahoshi cried out, her voice filled with warmth and respect.

The figure was indeed Jinbei, the famed "Sea Hero" and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. As a whale shark fish-man, Jinbei's presence was both commanding and reassuring.

"As expected," Jinbei remarked, his deep voice steady. "Only someone with such powerful Haki could possess this aura." His eyes gleamed with admiration as he looked at Ace.

During the Flame Emperor Incident, Jinbei had witnessed Flame Emperor's strength firsthand. 

He had seen how Ace unmatched strength, sharp intellect, and extraordinary leadership, had forced the Five Elders to terminate their Buster Call. 

Even more remarkable, he had done so not for personal gain but to protect the people of Sabaody Archipelago. 

Jinbei marveled at Ace's actions. With such immense power, Ace could have expanded the Entei Pirates' influence and territory far beyond the scope of the Four Emperors. Yet, Ace had chosen a path of restraint and principle, ensuring the safety of innocent lives. 

For Jinbei, who valued honor above all else, this was deeply admirable. However, due to the conflicting allegiances of that time, Jinbei had not been able to meet Ace directly. It was a lingering regret in his heart.

Now, meeting Ace here on Fish-Man Island felt like a chance to correct that.

"Just call me Ace," Ace said warmly, a faint smile curling his lips. "As it happens, I do need your help with something, Jinbei."

Jinbei nodded respectfully. "Then I shall call you Ace-san." His expression grew serious as he added, "If it's within my power, I will do my best to assist."

To Jinbei, this wasn't merely about admiration. Ace's declaration during the Flame Emperor Incident had directly benefited Fish-Man Island. The statement had deterred pirates and bounty hunters, sparing countless mermaids from the horrors of captivity.

For Jinbei, repaying such kindness was a matter of honor. A true hero of the sea always repays their debts.

"It's not that serious. I just need you to take care of Vander Decken." 

Ace smiled at Jinbei as he spoke. 

In the deep sea, few could match Jinbei's capabilities. While Ace had ways to exert his own power underwater, his mobility in the deep ocean was nowhere near Jinbei's. 

"Vander Decken? The one who's been threatening Princess Shirahoshi?" 

Jinbei's expression grew serious, his brow furrowing. 

"Exactly. I need your help to deal with him," Ace replied with a grin. 

"Help? No, this is clearly a favor to us, the people of Fish-Man Island." 

Jinbei's voice was filled with resolve, his eyes gleaming with determination. 

Ace didn't waste any time. "Here, take this," he said, handing Jinbei a small device—a den-den mushi snail. 

"This den-den mushi is imbued with my power. It can function perfectly even in the deepest parts of the sea, no matter how far away you are." 

Ace's confident smile never wavered. 

Jinbei immediately understood the significance of the device. 

"Ah, so this is likely how Ace-san managed to broadcast the Flame Emperor Incident's public execution to the entire world," he murmured to himself, admiring the ingenuity. 

"I understand. I'll handle it right away. My only concern is determining Vander Decken's exact location," Jinbei said, turning toward Nami with a respectful smile. 

"Just call me Nami—and leave that part to me," Nami replied, her tone light and confident. 

Then, her demeanor shifted. Her previously calm expression sharpened, and her beautiful eyes gleamed with intense focus. 

With a swift motion, she activated her Observation Haki, amplified by the powers of the Thunder Fruit. 

A sudden hum filled the air. "Buzz!" 

The vast "field of perception" created by Nami's mastery of Observation Haki, combined with her Thunder Fruit abilities, spread out rapidly like a web. 

Even in the deep sea, where many abilities weaken or falter, the combination of her Haki and lightning-based powers remained as sharp as ever, allowing her to extend her senses across an even broader range. 

"Found him," Nami said with a satisfied smirk. Her red lips curled into a confident smile. 

"I've pinpointed his location."