Princess Otohime smiled, unfazed by Cudius's brief distraction, and continued, "Thanks to Your Highness, Fish-Man Isnd has become what it is today. Both Neptune and I are deeply grateful."

  As soon as she finished speaking, Neptune nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, I never imagined things would go so smoothly."

  Of course, if someone other than Cudius had attempted these changes, it would have been far more difficult after all, they wouldn't have had the necessary resources at their disposal.

  Hearing their words, Cudius smiled and said, "No need to be so polite. Our retionship with Fish-Man Isnd is mutually beneficial. I've gained a great deal from Fish-Man Isnd as well, benefits I wouldn't have even dared to imagine before."

  After a brief pause, Cudius continued, "King Neptune, Princess Otohime, you may have already received the news, next year's Reverie will be attended by one hundred participating nations. And among them… is Fish-Man Isnd."

  Neptune nodded, his expression filled with curiosity and confusion as he asked, "Yes, we've received the notice from the World Government, but this is the first time such a situation has occurred. Why has the Reverie's scale suddenly doubled?"

  Cudius's lips curled into a subtle smile, and he replied softly, "There's a very important reason for it."

  "We value this Reverie immensely."

  "Personally, I believe this could be a meeting that will reshape the entire world one that will rewrite this era. That's why I hope both Princess Otohime and King Neptune will attend."

  "Reshape the world? Rewrite the era?" Neptune and Otohime were visibly surprised.

  Although they had specuted that this would be a major event, they hadn't expected even someone of Cudius's stature to regard the Levely with such importance.

  Perhaps… something truly monumental was about to happen?

  After a moment of contemption, Princess Otohime asked, "Your Highness, could you tell us more about this?"

  Cudius smiled, an enigmatic glint in his eyes, but instead of answering directly, he changed the subject.

  "Princess Otohime, do you still intend for Fish-Man Isnd to move to the surface?"

  Although she wasn't sure why Cudius had suddenly shifted the conversation, Otohime immediately responded with conviction, "Of course! The eight-hundred-year-old wish of Fish-Man Isnd has always been to live under the sun!"

  Cudius nodded knowingly. He understood all too well, this was part of Joy Boy's legacy.

  After a moment of thought, he asked again, "Then, Princess Otohime, how do you pn to accomplish this? Are you thinking of relocating the entire popution of Fish-Man Isnd to the surface, abandoning this deep-sea home? Or..."

  Before Otohime could answer, Neptune quickly waved his hands, "Your Highness, I'm afraid you've misunderstood!"

  "While we do wish to live on the surface, Fish-Man Isnd is our homend our roots."

  "Abandoning it is out of the question."

  "In truth, not everyone on the isnd even wants to go to the surface."

  "There are two main schools of thought here, one group, like us, longs for the sea above. But the other believes that fish-men and merfolk should remain in their natural habitat, deep underwater."

  Princess Otohime nodded and added, "Yes, Your Highness. But these two perspectives aren't in conflict because we never intended to force anyone to go to the surface. It may seem a bit greedy, but in reality..."

  At this point, she hesitated slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed.

  Cudius wasn't surprised at all.

  Even if he put himself in their shoes, he found it puzzling why so many of them wanted to leave the ocean.

  If he were a fish-man or a mermaid, he'd never have such an idea.

  Living underwater was objectively more advantageous and natural for them, wasn't it?

  After a brief awkward silence, Otohime continued, "What we want is to establish a stronghold on the surface. Those who wish to live there can do so, while those who prefer to stay can remain on Fish-Man Isnd. The two communities will stay connected—that's the pn."

  Cudius nodded in understanding, then said, "That seems reasonable. But you must also be careful, it could lead to a new form of separatism."

  He didn't eborate further. This was Fish-Man Isnd's internal matter, and he had no interest in interfering.

  It was true, though while maintaining two settlements might seem fine in the short term, over time, they might evolve into two entirely separate societies.

  Neptune nodded solemnly, "We're aware of this risk and will take necessary measures to prevent such divisions."

  Seeing that, Cudius didn't press the issue further. Instead, he smiled and said, "In that case, perhaps I can help with this endeavor."

  As soon as he spoke, both Otohime and Neptune seemed visibly excited.

  Princess Otohime quickly asked, "Your Highness, do you have a proposal in mind?"

  Cudius smiled and said, "You're both aware of the development in the Calm Belt, aren't you?"

  Princess Otohime nodded, "Of course. Many of our people return to Fish-Man Isnd for extended vacations every month."

  The Calm Belt development project operated in shifts, Cudius couldn't really treat the fish-men workers like sves. Their rights had to be protected.

  The system worked as follows:

  Workers had weekly two-day rotations and were divided into twelve shifts per year.

  Every month, a different batch would take a one-month-long break and return home.

  While back on Fish-Man Isnd, they could spend their savings and maybe even find themselves a wife.

  Because of this system, the isnd naturally received plenty of firsthand reports about the developments in the Calm Belt.

  Both Neptune and Otohime were well aware of the situation.

  "The Calm Belt isn't far from Fish-Man Isnd," Cudius continued.

  "With your isnd's capabilities, the round trip would take only three to five days."

  "This would significantly reduce the issues caused by distance, and the Calm Belt itself is a vast, empty area—untouched by external forces."

  "The only existing power there is Amazon Lily. And in terms of alliances, it's safe to say that the Kuja Tribe has one of the most harmonious retionships with Fish-Man Isnd."

  "Perhaps, rather than starting with the surface, the best first step for Fish-Man Isnd is to establish itself in the Calm Belt?"

  Cudius's tone was casual, but his words carried weight.

  Princess Otohime's eyebrows raised, surprise fshing in her eyes. "Your Highness… Are you saying you're willing to support Fish-Man Isnd's development in the Calm Belt?"

  Cudius nodded. "That's right."

  Neptune hesitated before speaking, "Your Highness… Our goal in reaching the surface is to integrate into the world. But isn't the Calm Belt even more isoted than Fish-Man Isnd?"

  "If you simply move us there, isn't it still just another kind of isotion?"

  Princess Otohime shot Neptune a gre. "Neptune, what do you understand? Do you think the Calm Belt is the same as it used to be?"

  "His Highness sees the bigger picture!"

  In this regard, Otohime had far greater foresight than Neptune.

  The Calm Belt wasn't fully developed yet.

  But its potential was enormous.

  Cudius wouldn't waste such a valuable region.

  Sooner or ter, it would become a major center of activity.

  Hadn't sea trains already started running there?

  In the future, even ordinary ships might be able to navigate it freely.

  If Fish-Man Isnd moved into the Calm Belt now, they'd gain a first-mover advantage.

  Cudius chuckled, "Yes, the Calm Belt is a top priority for the World Government's future pns."

  "I won't let such a valuable area go to waste. Significant investments will be made to develop it further."

  "And once that happens, it will not remain the Calm Belt as we know it today."

  Neptune's expression shifted slightly.

  "A top priority of the World Government?"

  Hadn't the development of the Calm Belt been a secret from the World Government?

  So why was Cudius saying this now...?

  Meanwhile, Princess Otohime's eyes gleamed with realization.

  If Cudius's own influence grew further, wouldn't Fish-Man Isnd. his solid ally reap even greater benefits?

  And in her heart, she knew…

  She absolutely supported that.