170 Fishman Island: A series of bizarre events (2/2)

I let slip a small wave of conqueror's Haki as I crossed them. They did not seem too keen on the hunt at the moment, but I was not privy to their thoughts, that could change at any time. It was better to be safe than sorry.

As we began to finally dip into deeper water, a small draft rose off the ground. It was a cove. The cove, more like, for below us laid a wide-open gateway, taking us slightly deeper into what resembled a deep valley. We could barely see the exterior from where we were, and that too was only because of the use of Observation.

The valley was crested with a gleaming double bubble that towered over our ship. Around the bubble, the occasional gleam could be seen dispersing light from within to the outside.

As we neared the bubble, a smaller frigate pried itself out from the double-layered pocket, a black flag on its mast top.

It was a pirate flag, of that I was sure. Weather they were antagonistic or not was yet to be seen.

As the frigate neared us I could see the silhouette of a figure on its stern staring at us. It was a fish man.

”Leave!” the shrill voice sounded out, as the frigate drew close enough for us to see who was speaking.

It was a short whiskered man with a brown cap on his head. His features reminded me of a obese rat, while his flag was that of a skull with rat teeth.

”Surrender or Die! I am Rock-Wrecker Nezumi, either pledge fealty to me, or leave this place!” He announced imperiously.

I was confused.

From what Marco told me, this was Whitebeard's territory. Then, why did was it that the man in front of us acted with such sincerity. It felt almost like I was being accosted by a police officer for tax evasion!

Moreover, the man had a name that I could not even recall to have ever read. From behind the frigate, a low rumble could be heard, startling both parties. A third ship had made its way out of the bubble in the time that Nezumi had been confusing me. This ship looked more regal, royal colours on its side as it waved the majestic flag of the Ryuga family.

A imperious looking man stood at the ship's head. A small drum sat behind him with two of his men banging it on either side, this was the object that had been making the dull rumble.

Without as much as a word, he motioned to his men. Within minutes the joker before us had been terminated, there had been times where he had attempted to fire off cannon balls, but they had either failed or only been rocketed back to his own ship under the springy influence of the bubble around it.

After the man and his nameless crew had been well and truly detained, (and by detained I mean smacked atop the head with what looked like a stick made from the reef around) he turned to us. His baritone voice finally rumbling out as the beating drum ceased.

”Who are you, and what intention do you have with the underwater kingdom? I suggest that you not try anything funny, we have the right to use extreme violence if necessary.”