Chapter 151: Sengoku: Wonderful!

In the end, Neptune finally "succumbed." He didn't dare to confront Claudius head-on. After all, the imposing demeanor of the Celestial Dragon left him little room for argument.

Neptune nodded and said, "Your Highness' kindness is something we, the Fish-Man Island, will remember in our hearts. We will rely on you and Admiral Sengoku moving forward."

Claudius withdrew his gaze from the scenery outside, placing his wine glass on the table with a smile. "There's no need to thank me. In truth, it is the World Government and I who owe your people an apology. This is simply us trying to correct a mistake."

Standing to the side, Sengoku adjusted his glasses, a glint of admiration in his eyes. Claudius' ability to lead conversations and create resolutions without causing conflict was nothing short of extraordinary. His methods were subtle yet forceful, making it hard for others to resist or refute.

Before they had arrived at Fish-Man Island, Sengoku had prepared himself for lengthy discussions and possible pushbacks. He imagined days of back-and-forth negotiations, or worse, weeks of tension and mistrust before reaching any agreement. But in the span of a single conversation, Claudius had neatly wrapped up the matter of Whitebeard's flag without even directly demanding its removal. Instead, he'd framed it as if King Neptune himself had "eagerly" removed it for the sake of diplomacy.

From a World Government standpoint, this was a masterstroke. It not only reclaimed their authority but also made Fish-Man Island appear cooperative an invaluable gesture of respect that Claudius had cleverly maneuvered them into.

Sengoku couldn't help but feel a little giddy. I thought this mission would drag on for days, maybe even weeks, and now I might be able to head back to Marineford tomorrow? Truly a miracle!

But before Sengoku could fully indulge in his relief, Claudius' voice rang out again.

"With the security issue resolved for now, and with any future adjustments to be addressed as needed, I believe it's time we move on to a different topic. Let's discuss the development of Fish-Man Island," Claudius said with a smile.

Sengoku's fleeting happiness disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. He groaned internally. Development? Wasn't our job here just to deal with the pirate flag issue?

But as the thought settled, Sengoku reconsidered. Perhaps Claudius had been tasked with broader responsibilities by the Five Elders. CP-X, after all, was a jack-of-all-trades department, capable of meddling in everything from politics to economics.

Neptune was visibly stunned, unsure how to respond. He had assumed Claudius' only purpose here was to address the presence of Whitebeard's flag, but now the discussion had shifted into unfamiliar territory.

"The development of Fish-Man Island?" Neptune repeated, his tone uncertain.

Princess Otohime, however, looked intrigued. She remembered how Claudius had mentioned "a business worth hundreds of millions" when they first met at the port. Unlike Neptune, who had grown resigned to the island's isolation, Otohime had always dreamed of bridging the gap between their people and the surface world.

"Your Highness, what exactly do you mean?" Otohime asked eagerly. "We of Fish-Man Island have long yearned to integrate with the sea above us. It's been eight hundred years since that promise was first made."

Claudius nodded knowingly. He had done his homework. Eight centuries ago, Joy Boy had made an unfulfilled promise to bring the people of Fish-Man Island to the surface. Though that promise had been broken, the longing for coexistence with the surface world had been deeply ingrained in the hearts of Fish-Man Island's residents ever since.

However, Claudius knew that such a monumental goal couldn't be achieved overnight. For now, building trust and fostering cooperation between the two sides would be crucial steps. Fear and misunderstanding had created an invisible wall between the Fish-Man Island and the rest of the world, and tearing it down would require time and effort.

"I understand this dream of yours, Princess Otohime," Claudius said sincerely. "I've taken it into consideration, but we must take this process one step at a time. Trust must first be built between our peoples before we can make any large strides."

He glanced at Neptune, then back at Otohime, and continued, "The best way to eliminate fear is through understanding, and understanding comes through interaction. Both sides need to face their fears and work to dissolve them."

Claudius paused for a moment, then smiled. "This is why I believe that trade and cooperation should be the foundation of our efforts. It will allow both sides to engage with one another gradually and in a controlled manner. For that to happen, Marine and CP-X are more than willing to serve as the bridge that connects Fish-Man Island to the surface world."

Princess Otohime nodded thoughtfully, feeling that Claudius' words carried merit. She admired his logical approach, even if the path forward wouldn't be easy.

Sengoku, on the other hand, had no idea what Claudius was doing. He glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, his mind racing. Marine as the bridge? Couldn't you have at least briefed me on this plan, Your Highness?

Despite his confusion, Sengoku trusted Claudius' judgment. If this was the plan, he would support it fully. Without missing a beat, he nodded firmly and said, "Yes, we in Marine are ready and willing to shoulder this responsibility."

Princess Otohime smiled, clearly reassured by the Admiral's support. "Then, Your Highness, what specifically do you have in mind?"

Claudius leaned back slightly in his seat, the picture of ease. "The first step is employment," he said.

"Employment?" Otohime asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

"Exactly. I've learned that one of the root causes of the unrest on Fish-Man Island stems from poverty. Many of your residents, especially those from Fish-Man Street, lack stable opportunities. This has led to desperation and, in turn, crime. The solution, then, lies in providing them with dignified work," Claudius explained.

Otohime looked thoughtful, nodding as Claudius spoke. "Yes, that's something we've always believed, but we've struggled to find the right avenues."

Claudius smiled. "Then allow me to propose one. As I understand it, the Fish-Men are naturally gifted in shipbuilding, and their strength and skills make them ideal for heavy labor. As it happens, both Marine and CP-X are in dire need of skilled workers and laborers. Why not employ them? With fair wages and proper training, this could be a win-win situation for everyone involved."

Hearing this, Sengoku's eyes lit up as if a lightbulb had gone off in his head. He hadn't considered this before, but it made perfect sense. The mermen and Fish-Men could be invaluable assets, especially in Marine's current efforts to expand and develop. Their expertise in shipbuilding alone could help bolster Marine's fleet.

"Brilliant! Your Highness, this is an excellent idea," Sengoku said with enthusiasm. "If we can hire Fish-Men to assist with projects like constructing ships or developing routes in the Calm Belt, it would benefit everyone. Why didn't I think of this sooner?"

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