One Piece: Starting in God Valley as a Slave

Carl smiled noncommittally and said,

"She is very special, so you want to discuss the terms with me again, right?"

Otohime had completely let go, nodding straightforwardly, and replied,

"Yes, Admiral Black Dragon, I do have a condition, but I just don't know if you can represent the entire World Government?"

She looked at Carl with a sharp gaze. The Admiral of the Navy was indeed a high-ranking official, but it was obviously not enough to represent the entire World Government. Even the Admiral wouldn't claim that authority lightly. She wanted to know if Carl was here with the intention of the World Government this time, and to what extent he could act on their behalf.

Carl was momentarily taken aback by the question, then suddenly held his forehead and laughed heartily.

Otohime swallowed nervously, wondering if her question had been too direct. She felt uneasy, she wasn't entirely sure why Carl had come, nor what had caused his sudden laughter.

At that moment, Otohime's mind spun with speculations and worries. She began to wonder if she'd made a mistake with her sharp question, provoking such a strange response from Carl.

Perhaps Carl was so enraged that he laughed, or maybe in the next instant, he would erupt.

The imbalance of power between them and Carl weighed heavily—a harsh reminder of the weak's plight. Even a minor action from the strong could instill panic or terror in the powerless. Their fates lay in the hands of the powerful.

As Otohime and her companions waited anxiously, Carl's laughter gradually subsided. He looked at her and said,

"Is it enough that my last name is Figarland?"

When the name Figarland came out, Jinbe and the others didn't react much, but Otohime and Neptune were thunderstruck, staring at Carl with wide eyes of disbelief. Otohime, who had just managed to stay composed, even trembled as she spoke.

"Admiral Black Dragon, are you talking about the Figarland family from Mary Geoise?"

Carl narrowed his eyes slightly, replying,

"What? Have you ever heard of anyone else in the world who dares to carry that name?"

At this point, Shyarly, perched on Carl's shoulder, spoke in a weak voice,

"Yes, his last name is indeed Figarland, and I saw him called Saint Carl in my crystal ball..."

Shyarly's words confirmed Carl's identity. Otohime and the others had always trusted Shyarly's powers.

Otohime murmured,

"Figarland Carl… Someone from that family actually became an Admiral of the Navy?"

Looking at Carl's young face, Otohime nodded stiffly, continuing to speak to herself,

"Yes, if it's that family, it makes sense… only they would carry such privilege."

Neptune was both terrified and strangely relieved. As the king of an allied nation, he knew all too well the weight of the name Figarland. Compared to that surname, the title of Admiral seemed to pale.

The fact that Carl hadn't killed him on the spot could be considered an act of mercy.

Tiger, Jinbe, and the others were puzzled by Otohime and Neptune's reactions, wondering if the name Figarland held a special meaning.

In the silence, Carl spoke coolly,

"Am I qualified now?"

Carl's voice felt like thunder in Otohime and Neptune's ears. Otohime nodded vigorously, saying,

"Yes, Saint Carl! You certainly have the authority!"

"Then tell me your terms."

Otohime lowered her head almost to her chest and said through gritted teeth,

"I dare not call it a condition. Consider it my wish… I just hope the residents of Fish-Man Island can live on land one day, so humans see that fish-men and mermaids aren't aliens—that we can live together in harmony!"

Carl looked down at Otohime. In that moment, he was like an emperor, one word from him deciding countless fates.

He paused, and the silence felt like an eternity to Otohime and her companions.

Finally, Carl's voice broke the silence.

"Very well. When I meet your daughter, I can make your wish come true."

These words made Otohime feel as if a great weight had been lifted. She breathed a sigh of relief, a look of ecstasy spreading across her face, mixed with a powerful sense of disbelief.

Otohime, born a royal and naturally saintly, had worried over the fate of the fish-men and mermaids since her youth. She knew humans were the world's dominant race, and if they refused to accept the two tribes, their fate would be bleak.

Thus, she fervently wished for true integration between the mermen and humans, though she knew that once prejudice set in, it was nearly impossible to erase. Without the World Government's initiative, her efforts alone might be in vain.

However, with Carl's promise, she saw hope for the first time, as brilliant as a dream.

So overwhelmed was Otohime that she rushed to Carl, gripping his hands tightly, her eyes glistening with tears,

"Thank you, Saint Carl. If that day comes, you will be the Fish-Man Island's savior!"

Carl raised an eyebrow, saying,

"I don't care for titles like that. Let's wait until your daughter is born."

"Yes, Saint Carl. I will give it my all!"

"Take it easy. Rushing won't help, it might harm your health."

In truth, Carl wasn't particularly concerned about Otohime's health, but before Shirahoshi was born, Otohime needed to have three other children. If she hurried, it could affect Shirahoshi's birth.

Otohime nodded, though Carl sensed she'd likely take action as soon as he left.

If Otohime's appearance had aligned with his tastes, Carl might have considered it. Now, Otohime and Neptune had only been married a short time, perhaps for her ideals, she would have agreed.

But then, the child born might not have been Shirahoshi.

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+115 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg