Chapter 198: The First Meeting with Queen Otohime

The pirate ship "Dark Maru" that once belonged to Wood and his crew was completely obliterated by the World Government's bombardment on Enies Lobby. Not even a single plank could be salvaged from the wreckage.

With their ship destroyed, Wood and his companions had no choice but to hitch a ride with Tiger and his crew, making their way to the Sabaody Archipelago. In gratitude for Wood and his crew's help, Tom and his two disciples, using whatever materials they could find, built a new ship for them, aptly named the "Dark Maru II," free of charge.

Unable to return to Water 7 and now a wanted man by the World Government, Tom accepted Tiger's suggestion and joined the "Sun Pirates" as their shipwright.

The Sun Pirates were already a crew made up of individuals wanted by the World Government, and all were Fish-Men, so Tom's addition to the crew felt perfectly natural and was welcomed without any hesitation.

However, when Iceburg and Franky expressed their desire to join the Sun Pirates alongside their mentor, they were met with firm opposition from both the Sun Pirates and Tom himself.

The Sun Pirates had two main reasons for rejecting the boys. First, Iceburg and Franky were human, and the Fish-Men crew was not keen on the idea of living closely with humans. Second, Arlong and the others felt that Iceburg and Franky were too weak and would only drag down the overall strength of the crew. They had already turned away most of the Fish-Men from Fish-Man District who wanted to join, so there was no reason to allow two human kids with insufficient strength to join them.

Tom's refusal was much simpler—he didn't want his two disciples to become pirates. He wished for them to continue their lives as skilled shipwrights. Tom himself had no choice but to join the Sun Pirates, as his bounty left him with no means to protect himself. However, Iceburg and Franky were not wanted criminals and could still live normal lives.

For these reasons, Iceburg and Franky were left behind at the Sabaody Archipelago, where they started their own shipyard. Sabaody Archipelago, being the gateway to the New World, had a thriving shipbuilding industry, as well as a robust coating business.

After their new ship, the "Dark Maru II," was coated, Wood and his crew successfully made their way to Fish-Man Island and officially entered the New World.

Sailing down to Fish-Man Island, ten thousand meters beneath the surface, is a journey fraught with peril. Beyond the skill of the coating artisans, many other factors can turn the voyage deadly.

For instance, the risk of a Sea King attack or the sudden depletion of oxygen within the bubble could spell disaster. Should the protective bubble surrounding the ship burst while descending into the depths, even the strongest of warriors would have no choice but to meet their end in the sea.

The immense pressure of the deep ocean could easily crush a regular human's internal organs, and without the ability to breathe underwater, no amount of strength could save them.

Entering the New World requires a certain level of courage and strength, and this initial passage to Fish-Man Island serves as a test for these pirates.

The high mortality rate on the way to Fish-Man Island has driven many aspiring New World pirates to risk the route past Marine Headquarters instead. At least with the Marines, they have a fighting chance, whereas in the deep sea, the odds are almost entirely against them.

Of course, while the two routes to the New World might be perilous for others, they posed no significant challenge for Wood and his crew.

If they had chosen to pass by Marine Headquarters, Wood could have simply informed Sengoku in advance, ensuring that no serious efforts would be made to stop them—just a few token warships giving chase.

As for the route to Fish-Man Island, with the Sun Pirates guiding them, what danger could possibly arise?

Tiger and his crew could practically navigate the route to Fish-Man Island with their eyes closed. Even when Sea Kings attacked along the way, Wood and his crew didn't need to lift a finger—Tiger's crew handled them effortlessly.

Upon arriving at Fish-Man Island, Wood and his companions were treated to the full experience of what it meant to be idols.

Tiger and the Sun Pirates might have been wanted criminals in the outside world, but on Fish-Man Island, they were nothing short of heroes.

As their massive bubble entered Fish-Man Island, a large crowd of Fish-Man Island residents, already informed of their arrival, gathered at the square, waving banners to welcome Tiger and his crew.

After their daring raid on Mary Geoise, Tiger and his crew had pulled off yet another grand feat, this time in defense of their fellow Fish-Men. To the World Government, Tiger was a dangerous criminal, but to the inhabitants of Fish-Man Island, he was a true hero.

Even King Neptune of Fish-Man Island did not stop his people from welcoming and idolizing Tiger and his crew; in fact, he seemed to support their actions.

As long as the World Government's formalities were observed, nothing else mattered to Fish-Man Island. Situated ten thousand meters below the surface, deep within the ocean, it was practically a no-go zone for humans. If not for the fear of the World Government's and Marine's top fighters, King Neptune would have had little reason to care about anyone's opinion.

Since Wood and his crew had played a heroic supporting role in the events at Enies Lobby, they too were warmly welcomed by the residents of Fish-Man Island.

During this time, Wood also met the famed Queen Otohime. To be precise, it was Queen Otohime who requested to meet with Wood once he arrived on the island.

Queen Otohime had dedicated her life to the dream that one day, Fish-Men and merfolk could live in harmony with humans. Unfortunately, despite her high status, her ideals did not have many supporters on Fish-Man Island.

Over the years, Queen Otohime had never encountered a human who shared her vision—until Tiger told her about Wood.

The meeting was set in the "Forest of the Sea," a place Queen Otohime often visited. This forest, home to the Poneglyph that is said to contain information about the legendary "Poseidon," was the location she had chosen to meet Wood. Knowing what he did about Poseidon, Wood didn't bring Robin along for this meeting; he decided to come alone.

Upon arriving at the Forest of the Sea, Wood found both Tiger and Queen Otohime eagerly awaiting his arrival. Both looked pleased to see him.

Tiger immediately apologized to Wood, admitting that he had broken his promise to keep Wood's identity a secret. He had informed Queen Otohime about Wood's alter ego, the Fish-Man Swordsman Yasuo, and had even told her about their conversation on the deserted island.

"Please don't worry about it, Tiger," Wood responded. "If it's Queen Otohime, I don't mind. I trust her to keep my secret."

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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 320+ at p@treon.com/Betek and change @ to a