Chapter 107: 107. Mariejois Incident, Alex's Layout

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari ---------- One of the most renowned islands in the New World: Fish-Man Island. Situated 10,000 meters below the surface of the sea, it is home to Ryugu Palace, where the royal family resides. "Are you serious, Tiger?" King Neptune's expression was grave as he addressed the weathered leader of the former Fish-Man District standing before him. Tiger didn't hesitate. He lifted his shirt, revealing a brand seared into his chest. Seeing this, Queen Otohime gasped in shock, covering her mouth. The mark was unmistakable—the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon, the symbol of slavery under the Celestial Dragons. In that instant, Queen Otohime understood Tiger's resolve to storm Mariejois and liberate its enslaved inhabitants. Through her ability to hear the voices of others, Otohime perceived Tiger's inner turmoil: a deep well of rage mingled with profound sorrow. "The slaves there endure a living hell, they are trapped in relentless abuse and suffering. During the three years I was there, I witnessed firsthand the madness of the Celestial Dragons." "So, King Neptune, Queen Otohime—remove me from Fish-Man Island. This is something I must do alone, and I refuse to drag the country I love into the conflict!" Neptune's silence was heavy with contemplation, while Otohime, her compassion evident, gave a subtle nod. With Otohime's support, Neptune reluctantly agreed, granting Tiger his request. Within days, news spread across Fish-Man Island that Tiger had been exiled. By the time the news circulated, Tiger had already left the island, swimming purposefully toward the towering Red Line. Meanwhile, the Shadow Guards stationed on Fish-Man Island had already relayed the information to Robin. "Lord Alex, Tiger has left Fish-Man Island," came the report from one of the Shadow Guards. Hearing this, Alex nodded in satisfaction. Before he could issue further orders, Robin stepped forward, presenting him with another Den Den Mushi. Her anticipatory readiness brought a smile to Alex's lips. Robin had become an increasingly capable and efficient manager, always one step ahead. With a glance of approval, Alex picked up the receiver and pressed the dial button. The call went unanswered at first, but moments later, the other party returned the call. "Admiral Alex," came the voice on the other end—a woman's voice projected through a male-patterned Den Den Mushi. Unperturbed, Alex responded smoothly. "The plan is moving forward. Are you prepared, Catarina Devon?" "Of course, Admiral," the voice replied with a sinister chuckle, and the phone bug's features twisted into a mischievous grin. "I've been in position for more than half a year for this moment. Everything is ready—I'm just waiting for that merman to take the bait." "Good," Alex replied, his tone sharp with authority. "You'll be the captain of the Shadow Guard for this critical phase of my plan." Feeling Catarina's confidence radiating through the line, Alex hung up, a smirk forming on his face as he anticipated the coming events. Catarina Devon was no ordinary operative. She had graduated flawlessly from the Shadow Guard training program and had mastered the abilities of the Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Nine Tailed Fox. Two days later, Alex's attention intensified. With unshakable resolve, Fisher Tiger scaled the towering Red Line under the cover of midnight, reaching the Holy Land of Mariejois. As he stood before the opulent domain of the Celestial Dragons, his heart burned with anger and determination. Moving silently, he crept up to the gates, where two guards stood watch. Over the past three years, Tiger had come to understand the routines of this accursed place. While heavily fortified during the day, Mariejois became surprisingly vulnerable at night, its guards lulled into complacency. Moreover, intelligence gathered before his departure from Fish-Man Island revealed that much of the government's forces—including the CP agents and elite guards—had been dispatched to handle unrest at the massive bridge project. This created a window of opportunity Tiger could not afford to miss. Fish-Man Karate: Water Shot! Tiger harnessed the moisture in the air, condensing it into powerful droplets, which he fired with precision at the unsuspecting guards. The water bullets pierced through the guards with lethal force, silencing all four without raising any alarms. With the path clear, Tiger stepped through the gates, his fury and determination growing stronger with each step. He made his way toward the slave quarters—the place where he himself had been imprisoned for three grueling years. Once inside, Tiger unleashed his pent-up rage, displaying the brand of the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon scorched into his chest. His defiance inspired the slaves, their despair turning to fury as they joined him in rebellion. What began as a small act of liberation quickly escalated into chaos. Freed slaves turned into liberators, and their numbers swelled as ten became one hundred. Tiger led the charge with relentless vigor, his battle cries echoed by the roar of the newly freed. The rage and pain of years of oppression erupted into a violent storm of retribution. It wasn't long before the riot drew attention. Alarms blared throughout Mariejois, summoning guards from every corner. However, the Celestial Dragons' slave yard was no ordinary prison. While it housed many rare and exotic species, it was also home to countless combat slaves—powerful warriors who now turned their chains into weapons. Outnumbered and overwhelmed, the guards found themselves quickly overrun by the rampaging slave force. The fires of rebellion spread rapidly, consuming the slave quarters in an inferno of anger and liberation. "Utter madness," a man muttered, perched on a ledge using Moonwalk to survey the chaos below. Dressed in the uniform of a guard, he observed the raging fires and the escaping slaves overturning carriages in their desperate bid for freedom. He smirked to himself. "Everything is unfolding exactly as predicted," he murmured. "It's... exhilarating. Both the strength and the strategy behind it." A twisted gleam appeared in his eyes as he licked the corner of his mouth, his excitement building. The man then turned his gaze toward the Celestial Dragons' residence, the area under the heaviest protection, and began to descend. Moving through the heavily guarded area, he blended in seamlessly with the other guards, walking confidently toward a specific target within the Celestial Dragons' quarters. Once out of sight, his body began to distort and shift unnaturally. Moments later, the man's form had completely transformed into that of Fisher Tiger, the merman instigator of the rebellion. A wicked grin spread across the imposter's face. For the first time in her life, she was about to execute a plan that would directly strike down the so-called gods of this world. The thought alone sent a shiver of exhilaration through her body. "Ah, just imagining it... it's almost too much to bear," she whispered to herself, her voice dripping with sadistic glee. "I wonder how those pigs will react when they're slaughtered like the cattle they think everyone else is." This was Catarina Devon, a master of deceit and transformation, who had spent half a year infiltrating this domain as a servant. She knew every detail of her surroundings and had prepared meticulously for this moment. Her footsteps quickened as she approached her target, her smirk transforming into a mask of rage. Upon entering an area within the Den Den Mushi's surveillance range, her expression shifted again, perfectly mimicking Tiger's fiery determination. Fish-Man Karate: Water Shot! With a ferocious strike, Catarina unleashed an attack that obliterated the guards in an instant.