[Chat Group For The Death] Chapter 41 - 45

Chapter 41: It’s So Embarrassing to Be My Former Little Brother!

Lucas smirked as he spoke in the Chat Group for The Dead. "Do you guys know The Mermaid Princess?"

Whitebeard: "Gurarara! The Mermaid Princess? Of course, I know! Neptune, the King of Fishman Island, is my old friend. He has a daughter, Shirahoshi, who is said to be the most beautiful woman in the world."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Damn it! After all this, you saved Fishman Island for a woman? Beauty leads to disaster! Besides, she’s a mermaid. Do you even realize that mermaids have tails instead of legs?"

Fisher Tiger: "Uh… Actually, mermaids can grow legs once they reach 30 years old. But… Shirahoshi is gigantic. There’s no way she’d grow human-sized legs."

Pirate King Roger: "Wait, her size is comparable to Whitebeard’s? That’s unfortunate. An ordinary human wouldn’t stand a chance."

Lucas: "Haha! You guys are so naive. Roger, why don’t you tell them?"

Pirate King Roger: "Huh? Tell them what?"

Lucas: "Don’t play dumb! You’ve read the Poneglyph on Sky Island—you know the truth."

Pirate King Roger: "Hiss… Damn it, Lucas! You’re really going to spill this?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "What? What? What are you talking about?"

Lucas: "Fine, since Roger doesn’t want to explain, I will! Have you all heard of the Ancient Weapons?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Of course! The three legendary weapons said to have the power to destroy the world. I spent years searching for them. I even asked Roger for help, but the bastard refused me! Wait…"

Connecting the dots, Shiki suddenly realized something.

Golden Lion Shiki: "Roger read the Poneglyphs on Sky Island… so he knows a secret about Fishman Island? And that secret is related to an Ancient Weapon?!"

Lucas: "Bingo. The Mermaid Princess is Poseidon, one of the three Ancient Weapons. She has the power to command the Sea Kings."

Golden Lion Shiki: "WHAT?! Damn it! If I had known that back then, I would’ve seized Fishman Island myself! The Mermaid Princess is an Ancient Weapon?! This is insane!"

Whitebeard: "Something doesn’t add up. If the Mermaid Princess was really an Ancient Weapon, then why has Fishman Island suffered for so long? That island has existed for over 800 years—surely there have been multiple mermaid princesses during that time."

Pirate King Roger: "It’s not what you think. Poseidon is a power—the ability to command Sea Kings. It manifests in a mermaid princess, but not every mermaid princess is Poseidon."

Lucas: "Exactly. The last known Poseidon existed 800 years ago. There’s no fixed pattern for its emergence. Shirahoshi just happens to be the current one."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Huh… this ‘weapon’ seems a little unreliable. So, Lucas, what’s your plan?"

Lucas: "I don’t care about controlling the Sea Kings. My main concern is making sure no one else uses Poseidon against me."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Agreed! Even if you don’t want to wield that kind of power, you have to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands."

As Lucas conversed with the spirit, his coated ship finally reached Fishman Island.

King Neptune and Sea Knight Jinbe had received word of his arrival and personally welcomed him with a grand reception.

At the banquet, Lucas wasted no time getting to the point. "Fisher Tiger asked me to help move Fishman Island to the surface. You can prepare for it if you want, but the choice is yours."

Neptune’s eyes widened in surprise. "Moving Fishman Island to the surface? That would be wonderful!"

For centuries, Fishman Island had longed to leave the cold, dark depths of the ocean. However, they had been forced to stay hidden, fearing the cruelty of humans who saw Fishmen and Merfolk as little more than slaves.

Neptune hesitated before cautiously adding, "With the Whitebeard Pirates and you as allies, perhaps Fishman Island can finally be free from oppression."

After discussing Fishman Island’s future, Jinbe spoke up. "Lucas, you mentioned Fisher Tiger… Have you really spoken with him?"

Lucas grinned. "Yes. He wanted me to tell you—you did well."

Jinbe’s eyes filled with emotion. He lowered his head in shame. "I don’t deserve such words. I failed to protect Fishman Island… and I let that fool, Arlong, run wild…"

Jinbe briefly recounted the events of the past decade. Meanwhile, the chat group erupted in laughter.

Golden Lion Shiki: "Shihahaha! Who the hell is this Arlong? He sounds ridiculous. A fishman dreaming of an empire? Didn’t he came from the New World?! What kind of idiot would come up with something so dumb?"

Pirate King Roger: "It’s one thing to dream—but the real issue is when someone actually acts on that dream."

Lucas: "Don’t be fooled! Arlong’s so-called ‘Fishman Empire’ is nothing but a joke. Do you know what he’s actually been doing for over ten years?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "What?"

Lucas: "He’s occupied a few dozen villages… and his main business is collecting protection fees. That’s it. He’s basically a small-time mafia boss."

Fisher Tiger: "…"

At that moment, Fisher Tiger went completely silent.

It was so embarrassing.

His former little brother—someone he once took under his wing—had spent over a decade playing gangster in the weakest sea in the world.

How humiliating.

He wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.

Chapter 42: This Number Is Useless!

"I'm sending you this message out of friendship!"

Lucas' voice was calm but firm as he looked at King Neptune. "Hody Jones, a former palace guard, has stolen Fishman Island’s secret 'Tamatebako'[Energy Steroid] and is currently planning an uprising to seize control."

The room fell silent.

"Additionally, he was the mastermind behind the assassination of Princess Otohime."

"What?!" Neptune’s expression twisted in shock. "Otohime’s death… but wasn’t she killed by a human?!"

Lucas shook his head. "Hody Jones framed a human to cover his tracks. Think about it—how did he find the so-called 'murderer' so conveniently and quickly?"

Neptune’s face darkened as he recalled the events surrounding his wife’s assassination. It did seem strange in hindsight.

"I’ll deal with him immediately!" Sea Knight Jinbei’s voice was laced with barely contained fury as he stood up, ready to take action.

Lucas, however, raised a hand. "Be careful. Hody Jones has numbers on his side and access to that dangerous drug. Even you might struggle against them alone."

Marco stepped forward. "I’ll take a team to back him up."

Neptune, still deep in thought, spoke up. "That 'Tamatebako'… It’s a forbidden drug passed down through Fishman Island’s history. It can temporarily grant immense strength, but the side effects are devastating. Jinbei, accept their help. This isn’t a fight to take lightly."

Jinbei, after a brief hesitation, nodded. With Marco and his men accompanying him, he set off to eliminate Hody Jones and cleanse Fishman Island of internal threats.

Meanwhile, Lucas turned back to Neptune. "Now, take me to meet Princess Shirahoshi."

Neptune’s expression immediately became… strange. "You… know about Shirahoshi?"

Shirahoshi had lived in the Hard-Shell Tower since she was a child, rarely seen by outsiders. Few even knew of her existence.

Lucas responded casually, "I heard she’s the most beautiful woman in the world. Naturally, I had to see for myself."

Neptune’s face stiffened. This brat is after my daughter?!

He scrutinized Lucas before sighing in relief. Given Shirahoshi’s gigantic size, he figured Lucas wasn’t seriously interested in her. It was likely just admiration from afar.

"Fine. But prepare yourself," Neptune warned as he led the way.

Hard-Shell Tower

Lucas finally laid eyes on Shirahoshi—and she was indeed enormous. Her sheer size could quite literally swallow him whole.

The chat group erupted in chatter.

Golden Lion Shiki: "I have to admit, she’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. If I weren’t already dead, I might have been tempted!"

Lucas: "An old man like you acting like a young man? Give it up! This isn’t a woman you can play with—just admire from a distance."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Tsk! And you can?"

Lucas: "Maybe one day, I’ll solve the size difference problem."

Pirate King Roger: "Are you all missing the point? This isn’t just any mermaid. This is Poseidon—one of the three Ancient Weapons, capable of commanding the Sea Kings!"

Fire Fist Ace: "If Fishman Island possesses such power, why is Shirahoshi locked away like a prisoner?"

Lucas: "Because despite holding the power of the Sea Kings, Shirahoshi is terrified of everything. She’s timid and cries at the slightest provocation. You expect her to lead an army? Keep dreaming."

Golden Lion Shiki: "What?! What a waste! Doesn’t Fishman Island understand what they have?"

Lucas: "Oh, they do. They discovered Shirahoshi’s power when she was still a child. But instead of nurturing it, they hid it, pretending it didn’t exist."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Idiots!"

Lucas: "Absolutely. Shirahoshi was raised under her mother Otohime’s ideals of absolute kindness and peace. It’s no surprise she ended up so useless."

Fisher Tiger: "That’s unfair! Princess Otohime was a truly kind and noble woman."

Lucas: "Ha! Kindness without strength is just weakness. If that’s not stupidity, then what is? She believed that appealing to the World Government’s mercy would save Fishman Island? Seriously? Did she really not understand the nature of the Celestial Dragons?"

Fisher Tiger: "…"

Even Fisher Tiger couldn’t refute that. He had experienced firsthand the cruelty of the Celestial Dragons.

Lucas: "Had Fishman Island properly utilized Shirahoshi’s power—if they had wielded Poseidon’s strength while still advocating for peace—then the island would have long achieved equal status in the world."

Fisher Tiger: "Is that so? Then… now?"

Lucas: "Now? It’s too late."

He sighed, glancing at the timid Shirahoshi, who was still trembling slightly.

Chapter 43: Newcomers

Lucas looked at Shirahoshi with a sigh and remarked, "What a waste! Poseidon, the legendary Sea King, reduced to nothing more than a fragile princess hidden away. At this rate, she’s only good for display."

King Neptune’s face twitched with embarrassment, while Shirahoshi gazed at Lucas curiously, unsure whether to feel insulted or curious.

"Don’t be afraid," Lucas reassured her with a smile. "I’m not a bad guy. I came here to fulfill a promise. Soon, I’ll take you and Fishman Island away from the depths of the sea."

Shirahoshi blinked, her large eyes widening. "Fulfill the promise?"

As the words left her lips, her pale cheeks turned bright red.

According to ancient Fishman Island legends, the one who fulfilled a promise with the mermaid princess was destined to be her future husband. The realization sent her heart into a flurry.

Just then, Sea Knight Jinbei returned, his expression grim. "Lord Lucas, King Neptune! We’ve successfully captured Hody Jones and his gang. After interrogation, it’s confirmed—Hody was the mastermind behind Princess Otohime’s murder."

Neptune’s body stiffened, his hands clenching into fists.

Jinbei’s voice was laced with anger. "These bastards not only assassinated our queen, but they also mass-produced Tamatebako to overthrow Fishman Island. If it weren’t for Lord Lucas’ warning, I don’t know how much devastation they would have caused."

King Neptune took a deep breath. "Where are they now?"

Jinbei replied, "They’ve been imprisoned. Additionally, Marco and his team uncovered another threat on Fishman Island—Vander Decken . They’ve gone to capture him as well."

Inside the Chat Group

Golden Lion Shiki: " Vander Decken  That name sounds familiar."

Whitebeard: "It’s an old legend, nothing more. The protagonist was called Vander Decken ."

Fisher Tiger: "It’s not just a story. The real Vander Decken  exists, though not as exaggerated as the myth."

Fire Fist Ace: "So, is he some wanted criminal on Fishman Island?"

Lucas: "Exactly. He also discovered Shirahoshi’s identity as Poseidon and has been harassing her for years. That’s why she’s been confined to the Hard-Shell Tower."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Wait a second—are you telling me a single criminal managed to lock up the mermaid princess all this time? That doesn’t add up! Could he even break into the palace?"

Lucas: "Not quite. Vander Decken  ate the Paramecia Target-Target Fruit. It allows him to lock onto anyone he’s touched, and anything he throws will automatically home in on them—forever."

Lucas: "When Shirahoshi was a child, Vander Decken  touched her with his hand. Ever since, he’s been using his ability to send love letters her way. When she didn’t respond, he escalated to throwing weapons—axes, swords, you name it."

Pirate King Roger: "A long-range, auto-tracking ability? That’s actually a pretty good Devil Fruit."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Eh, it’s decent, but not against real fighters. It’s just a glorified harassment tool."

Whitebeard: "Gurarara~ True masters wouldn’t even flinch against such attacks. Even if I were asleep, I could block those projectiles without waking up."

Fire Fist Ace: "Agreed!"

Ace chuckled as he recalled his own experience. Before the truly joined Whitebeard’s crew, he had relentlessly tried to assassinate Whitebeard in his sleep, attempting to claim his head. But no matter when or how he attacked, Whitebeard always blocked him—often knocking him away in the process.

Whitebeard didn’t even need to wake up.

Ding! Howard Stark has joined the chat group!

Ding! The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, has joined the chat group!

Ding! The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, has joined the chat group!

Ding! Sword God Ryuma has joined the chat group!

Ding! The Golden Thief Woonan has joined the chat group!

Golden Lion Shiki: "What the hell?! We have new members? Let’s see… Golden Thief Woonan?"

Pirate King Roger: "Wait, is that the Woonan I know? Hey~ Woonan, it’s me, Roger!"

Whitebeard: "Five newcomers… but only one might be an old acquaintance. Woonan, is that really you? It’s me—Edward Newgate, Whitebeard!"

Golden Thief Woonan: "Roger? Golden Lion? Whitebeard?! What’s going on here?!"

Pirate King Roger: "Long story short, for certain reasons, the dead have gathered in this chat group."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hahaha! Imagine that—even after death, I can chat with my old rivals. It’s the only real benefit!"

Lucas: "Who said that was the only benefit? This chat group is more than just a gathering place for the dead. If any of you have unfulfilled dreams, I can help you accomplish them. Of course… I expect some compensation in return."

Chapter 44: Belonging to Different Worlds

Young members of the group, like Fire Fist Ace, were unfamiliar with Woonan’s legacy. He couldn’t help but ask, "Who is Woonan?"

Pirate King Roger: "A legendary pirate from my era, known as the Golden Thief. It’s said that he possessed one-third of the world’s gold—wealth beyond imagination."

Fire Fist Ace: "One-third of the world’s gold?! That’s insane! Even Tesoro, the Golden Emperor, doesn’t have that much, does he?"

Gold Thief Woonan: "Golden Emperor Tesoro?"

Whitebeard: "A young man who inherited the same Devil Fruit ability as you—the Gold-Gold Fruit. He may not have collected a third of the world’s gold, but he controls about one-fifth of the world’s currency."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hah! When I found out the Gold-Gold Fruit had a new wielder, I knew you were long gone, Woonan. A shame... You stole so much treasure from me, and I never even got the chance to take it back!"

Gold Thief Woonan: "Serves you right! I only stole from villains like you. I never touched Roger’s or Whitebeard’s treasures."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Haha! Unlike you, I had ambitions. Anyway, tell me—where did you hide all that gold you hoarded?"

Whitebeard: "People are still searching for your treasure, Woonan. Many pirates out there would kill to find it."

Gold Thief Woonan: "Oh? Has anyone managed to locate it yet?"

Whitebeard: "Not that I’ve heard. The treasure you left behind is still buried, waiting for the right person to claim it."

Gold Thief Woonan: "Then let them keep searching! If fate wills it, someone worthy will find it."

Lucas: "Or... you could just give me the gold. In exchange, I’ll fulfill some of your lingering wishes."

Gold Thief Woonan: "Wishes? I died without regrets, and I have none now. But as a token of thanks for letting me join this group, I’ll gift you something instead."

Ding! The Golden Thief Woonan has sent an exclusive red envelope: [Gold-Gold Fruit – Top Level] to group leader Lucas.

Gold Thief Woonan: "Did you receive it?"

Lucas: "Received!"

Gold Thief Woonan: "Wait, I have a question. If the Gold-Gold Fruit already has a new wielder, how can I still grant its power to you? And more importantly—can you even use it?"

Lucas: "That’s precisely why you were able to send it to me. But if you’re that curious, I’ll show you."

In the real world, Lucas casually stomped the ground. The floor beneath him melted into liquid gold, then reformed into intricate sculptures, shifting rapidly under his control.

Sea Knight Jinbei, watching this display, was visibly startled. "Mr. Lucas... what exactly are you doing?"

Lucas chuckled. "Relax. This is the ability of the Gold-Gold Fruit—I just acquired it."

Jinbei frowned, deep in thought. "Mr. Lucas... If I’m not mistaken, this is your fourth Devil Fruit ability. Just how many abilities do you have?"

Lucas laughed. "Who knows? Even I don’t have an exact count. The more spirit I interact with, the more Devil Fruit powers I can collect."

Both Jinbei and the rest of the Fishman Island warriors were left speechless. Meanwhile, in the chat group, Woonan himself was stunned.

Gold Thief Woonan: "Incredible! You really do have four Devil Fruit abilities?! This chat group is something else."

Lucas: "Mr. Woonan, are you sure you have no lingering wishes? If so, I’ll move on to the next new member."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Speaking of new members, I’ve been meaning to ask—why are there newcomers we’ve never heard of before?"

Lucas: "It’s complicated. There are two main reasons: some of us come from different eras, while others come from entirely different worlds."

Whitebeard: "Different worlds?"

Whitebeard could understand the idea of people from different eras joining, but the concept of other worlds left him perplexed.

Lucas: "That’s right. Some of our new members aren’t just from another time—they’re from entirely separate realities. But we’ll get to that later. For now, let’s focus on those from different eras."

Pirate King Roger: "Why not start with the other worlds? My curiosity is killing me!"

Lucas: "Because this world is still a chaotic mess. No point in rushing ahead when we have plenty to deal with here first. Anyway... @Sword God Ryuma, you’re the famous Sword God of Wano, right?"

Sword God Ryuma: "That’s me. Judging by the way you talk, you must be from a time after my death."

Pirate King Roger: "Ryuma... the Sword God of Wano? Wait, I think I’ve heard of him before."

Whitebeard: "Gurarara! I remember Oden mentioning him. Ryuma was the Dragon-Slaying Samurai of Wano, wasn’t he?"

Sword God Ryuma: "Indeed. It seems you knew of me. It’s strange, though—I assumed my name would have faded with time."

Pirate King Roger: "Not at all! I sailed with Kozuki Oden, a descendant of Wano’s ruling family. He spoke of you with great admiration. We even journeyed together to Raftel."

Chapter 45: Strength Changes Mentality

Sword God Ryuma: "Raftel? What island is that?” [*Rafter/Laugh Tale was named by Roger]

Pirate King Roger: “It’s an island at the end of the New World”

Sword God Ryuma: “If I recall correctly, There is a legend of the last island, one said to hold the ultimate secret of the world. Does it truly exist?"

Pirate King Roger: "Of course, it exists! And we were the first to find it."

Whitebeard: "Ryuma, how do you know about the Legend of the Last island? As far as I know, Wano Country has always been a closed nation."

Sword God Ryuma: "Wano closed itself off from the world? As expected, the Kozuki Clan continued their foolish decision-making long after my time."

Pirate King Roger: "Wait, the Kozuki Clan? You think they were idiots? Ryuma, are you sure you’re from Wano Country? The Kozuki Clan is the ruling family, the ones everyone in Wano reveres!"

Sword God Ryuma: "At one time, I admired them too. But after I left Wano and saw the world, my perspective changed."

A pause followed before he continued, his tone filled with the weight of his experiences.

Sword God Ryuma: "Eventually, I came to realize that I alone could conquer the entire Wano Country if I so desired. That was the moment I stopped idolizing its rulers."

Lucas: "Ah, I see. Strength changes mentality. It’s natural—once someone surpasses those they once admired, their perspective shifts."

Sword God Ryuma: "It’s not just about strength. It’s also about vision. The policy of isolation was enforced after my death, but even in my time, I opposed it. I fought to keep Wano open to the world. I failed."

Pirate King Roger: "So the isolation of Wano… it wasn’t always that way? I never knew that."

Sword God Ryuma: "Few would. The problem started when rumors spread across the sea that Wano was the Land of Gold. This attracted countless pirates and invaders. I left Wano to hone my swordsmanship, but I constantly returned to slay those who dared trespass."

Sword God Ryuma: "However, the Kozuki Clan and I had very different opinions on how to solve Wano’s problems. I believed Wano needed to open itself to the world and establish its own presence. The Kozuki Clan believed that sealing Wano off was the only way to protect it."

Sword God Ryuma: "Despite my strength—despite slaying dragons, pirates, and invaders—I couldn't change the path Wano ultimately took."

His words carried regret, but also a sense of bitter inevitability.

Pirate King Roger: "Don’t be too hard on yourself. A man named Kozuki Oden tried to follow your will."

Sword God Ryuma: "Did he succeed?"

Pirate King Roger: "Well... I died before I could see how it all turned out."

Whitebeard:"He failed. Wano is now ruled by a tyrant, and the Kozuki Clan has fallen."

Pirate King Roger: "WHAT?! Impossible! Oden was incredibly strong! How could he lose?!"

Whitebeard: "I’m not entirely sure of the details, but Oden was defeated. The current ruler of Wano is Kurozumi Orochi, and the Beasts Pirates have turned the land into a weapons factory."

Sword God Ryuma : "Hmph. I knew it. Isolation leads to stagnation. A closed nation will inevitably become weak and vulnerable to invasion."

Pirate King Roger: "Kaido? Kaido the Beast took over Wano?! That brute? There’s no way he could have killed Oden! @Lucas, you seem to know everything. What really happened?"

Lucas: "I do know what happen."

Pirate King Roger: "I figured as much. You always seem to have all the answers."

Sword God Ryuma: "Can you explain it? I’m very curious."

Lucas: "It’s a long story…"

Ding! Sword God Ryuma has sent an exclusive red envelope: [Observation Haki – Advanced] to group leader Lucas!

Lucas smirked. "Now that’s what I call a well-mannered samurai."

After receiving and integrating the red envelope, he began his explanation.

"The Kurozumi Clan was once one of Wano’s powerful Daimyo families, second only to the Kozuki Clan. However, their ambition led them to ruin. When they failed to seize the title of Shogun, they were stripped of power, and their members were persecuted throughout Wano."

Sword God Ryuma: "The Kurozumi Clan? I remember them. They were always hungry for power but lacked true strength. What was their crime?"

Lucas: "They tried to claim the Shogunate. And they failed."

Sword God Ryuma: "Hah! Predictable. A family full of weaklings, relying on schemes instead of strength. But how did they return to power?"

Lucas: "Though the Kurozumi Clan had fallen, some of its members were… persistent. Two in particular: Kurozumi Orochi and two Devil Fruit users—one with the Barrier-Barrier Fruit and another with the Mimic-Mimic Fruit."

Whitebeard: "Barrier-Barrier Fruit and Mimic-Mimic Fruit? That sounds familiar…"

Pirate King Roger: "When did you hear of them?"

Whitebeard: "Back in my Rocks Pirates days. I met users of those very abilities. I remember their last names were Kurozumi. I never thought much of them at the time. But how did they manage to take over Wano?"

Lucas: "Kurozumi Orochi aligned himself with Kaido of the Beasts Pirates. With Kaido’s brute force backing him, he was able to manipulate events within Wano’s political sphere."

Lucas: "The user of the Mimic-Mimic Fruit transformed into the former Shogun—Kozuki Sukiyaki, Oden’s father—and publicly passed the title of Shogun to Kurozumi Orochi."