Fisher Tiger remained silent, listening ily as Cudius spoke.

  "Your hatred 't ge the past, and perhaps it 't ge the future either. But I ," Cudius said with a calm smile. "So, Fisher Tiger, would you be willing to help me?"

  Fisher Tiger was quiet for a long moment before finally asking, "Yhness, are you askio help you mahe chaos of Fish-Man Street? To work for you?"

  Cudius touched his thoughtfully before responding. "Yes, it's for me. But it's also for Fish-Man Isnd, and for yourself. Holy, I'm not particurly ied in the people of Fish-Man Street. I don't io trol you as subordinates irict sehink of it more as… a bor traployment."

  Tiger didn't care much about the terms Cudius used, such as "bor tract" or "employment." What struck a chord with him was the mention of w for Fish-Man Isnd and for himself.

  In the past, Fisher Tiger had been the leader of Fish-Man Street in name, but he hadn't thought much about Fish-Man Isnd's overall future. His focus had been on his personal journey—he wao see the wider world, driven by a desire to explore and perhaps even a faint echo of Fish-Man Isnd's age-old dream of freedom.

  But being a sve in Mariejois had ged him. Seeing the cruelty of humans and the suffering of his fellow Fish-Men and Merfolk had sparked a transformation in his soul. For the first time, Tiger truly uood what he wao free his people and make Fish-Man Isnd a better, safer pce, free from oppression.

  A, for all his resolve, he didn't know where to start. He couldn't even protect himself, let alohers.

  "You don't want to see Fish-Man Street tinue as the cer of Fish-Man Isnd, do you? Watg your fellow Fish-Men harm their own kind and drag the isnd down with them?" Cudius asked with a knowing smile.

  Tiger nodded slowly. "If Fish-Man Isnd is to ge its fate and escape its current humiliation, it must first us people and grow stronger. ing up Fish-Man Street wouldn't just restore order to the isnd, it would also reduternal flicts and allow us to focus oernal threats. It would be a great be to both Fish-Man Isnd and Fish-Man Street."

  Cudius smiled approvingly. "I'm gd you uand that."

  Fisher Tiger hesitated before tinuing. "Although I hate the Wover, I have to admit objectively speaking that Fish-Man Isnd has no future without it. At least for now."

  "Correct," Cudius replied, nodding.

  "Meeting someone like you, a reasonable Celestial Dragon… perhaps this is the best opportunity Fish-Man Isnd has had iuries," Tiger said softly.

  Cudius raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more Tiger wao say.

  After a pause, Tiger tinued, his voice firm. "But it's not enough, Yhness. What you've done so far… it's not enough."

  Cudius raised his teacup, took a small sip, and asked evenly, "What's missing?"

  "Above Mariejois, there are thousands of my people still ensved. Fish-Men and Merfolk alike are native to Fish-Man Isnd. If you, Yhness Cudius, truly wish to uhe power of Fish-Man Street, then you must also extend your prote to them," Tiger said, his gaze locked onto Cudius.

  Cudius set his teacup down slowly, meeting Tiger's eyes. "And what is it you wao do?"

  "As you've done before, liberate my people. When there are no more Fish-Man or Merfolk sves in Mariejois, I, Fisher Tiger, will pledge myself to you—to work for you, for Fish-Man Isnd, and for our future.

  "But if you 't do this, then even if it costs me my life, I will never let go of my hatred for humanity. I 't afford to trust anyone anymore… but this is the only time I'm willing to put my trust in someohis is your one and only ce," Tiger said, his voice deep with vi.

  Cudius stroked his thoughtfully, his expression unreadable as silence filled the room. The atmosphere grew heavier with each passing sed.

  Just as Tiger began to wonder if he'd pushed too far, Cudius finally spoke. "Are you threatening me?"

  Tiger shook his head, his eyes filled with siy. "As I said, I am deeply grateful for everything you've done so far. This is not a threat.

  "If anything, think of it as a reminder. If you refuse, I'll use my death to make sure you remember this moment. Perhaps one day, in some quiet afternoon, you'll think of me, and that memory might soften your heart enough to act. That's all I hope for."

  Cudius gazed out the window, lost in thought. The sunlight streaming into the room was warm but not harsh, illuminating his ptive face. He had always uood that Fisher Tiger was a man of iy and ce, but in this moment, he felt something deeper.

  The idea of using one's owh to make a statement was easy to talk about, but hoeople could actually do it? Tiger wasn't asking for immediate ge; he was gambling on the faint hope that Cudius might one day recall this versation and honor his wish. The despair aermination behind such a gamble struck a chord in Cudius's heart.

  "If you don't uand someone's pain, you ever truly empathize with them?" Cudius woo himself.

  Up until now, everything Cudius had done had been driven by practicality by is and goals. Even his as on Fish-Man Isnd were calcuted, aimed at building alliances and seg influence. But in this moment, he could feel the weight of Tiger's despair, a despair so profound it had driven the man to risk everything for even a glimmer of hope.

  He now uood why Tiger would one day scale the Red Lih his bare hands and burn Mariejois to the ground. It wasn't mere anger; it was a desperate cry for justice.

  "I have to admit, I'm impressed, Tiger… Fisher Tiger," Cudius murmured, still staring out the window.

  The sound of movement behind him caught his attention. Wheurned, he saw Fisher Tiger kneeling on the floor, his forehead pressed to the ground.

  "Thank you for your kindness!" Tiger choked out, his voice thick with emotion as he repeatedly bowed his head.

  Cudius sighed softly as he watched the man before him. After a moment, he spoke with quiet resolve. "In the name of Donquixote Cudius, I promise you, Fisher Tiger—I will do everything in my power to ehere are no more Fish-Man sves in Mariejois."

  Tiger's eyes turned red, his restraiions bursting forth. His choking sobs became full-blown cries of anguish. Tears and mucus flowed freely as he pressed his head against the floor, repeating over and over, "Thank you, Yhness. Thank you for your kindness."

  Cudius observed Tiger's raw, unfiltered dispy of emotion and couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart.

  "What kind of sorrow and despair must a man eo reach such a breaking point?" Cudius thought to himself. "To be reduced to this… it only shows how deeply the world is broken. And seeing this… it only strengthens my resolve to ge it."