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Due to Shirahoshi's massive size, leaving from the front of the Ryugu Palace would attract too much attention.
So, they quietly slipped out from the back of the palace, starting their journey to the Sea Forest.
Throughout the journey, Shirahoshi was visibly excited, constantly observing her surroundings.
Ever since she had taken refuge in the Hard-Shell Tower nine years ago to avoid Vander Decken IX's attacks, she hadn't seen the outside world.
Now that she finally had the chance to go out, she was as curious as a child, eager to look at and touch everything.
Ain and Tashigi stood on Shirahoshi's shoulder, gazing at the "abyss" and admiring the beautiful scenery.
Meanwhile, Byakuya followed behind the three, bored out of his mind. He hadn't wanted to come in the first place.
Wouldn't it be more enjoyable to spend this time eating some of Ryugu Palace's delicious speciality food?
But, under the intense pressure from Ain and Tashigi's "assets," even someone as strong as Byakuya had no choice but to surrender and agree to their request.
The main reason for this trip was for Shirahoshi to visit the Sea Forest to pay respects to her late mother, Queen Otohime.
Byakuya also remembered that there was a Poneglyph in the Sea Forest. He thought he could grab it while there, making future tasks easier.
However, halfway through the journey, Byakuya noticed Shirahoshi occasionally glancing at him with curious eyes.
Could it be that even mermaids are drawn to my handsome face?
This puzzled Byakuya, so he couldn't help but ask, "Princess Shirahoshi, why do you keep looking at me?"
Upon hearing that Byakuya had caught her sneaking glances, Shirahoshi's face flushed red, and she buried her head in her soft, white chest.
In a faint whisper, she said, "A few days ago, I accidentally said something bad about you."
"Ain told me that once you find out, you would 'execute me on the spot.' So, I've been curious about how you'd 'execute me on the spot,' and... what that even means."
Byakuya was stunned by her words. Why were the three of you talking badly about me? I didn't even do anything to you!
Also, the things you've been discussing lately are way too inappropriate! Are you trying to corrupt an innocent mermaid?
But most importantly, what did she mean by "executing her on the spot"?
Let's not even get into the species difference—after all, mermaids shed their tails and develop legs when they reach a certain age, becoming indistinguishable from humans.
There were even rare instances of marriages between humans and mermaids. But with such a size difference?
It's just impossible! You can't stir a giant pot with a toothpick! Then, Byakuya suddenly thought about Luffy's Gomu Gomu no Mi (Rubber-Rubber Fruit).
It could perfectly solve that problem—stretching long, shortening, and inflating. Wow, Oda thought ahead!
Facing Shirahoshi's curious gaze, Byakuya felt a headache coming on.
He couldn't just explain to her what "executing on the spot" truly meant, so he shot a look at Ain, the one responsible for this mess.
Seeing Byakuya's glare, which seemed like he wanted to devour her, Ain felt her heart race.
Of course, it wasn't out of fear—it was embarrassment. Ain hadn't expected Shirahoshi to take her words so seriously.
She tried to explain then, but Tashigi interrupted her, and she thought the matter was over.
But to her surprise, Shirahoshi had brought it up before Byakuya.
"Ain, why don't you explain to Princess Shirahoshi what 'executing on the spot' means?
If you don't do a good job, be careful, or you might be the one getting 'executed on the spot,'" Byakuya said, his tone full of warning.
Ain rolled her eyes in defiance. Go ahead and try. I couldn't resist.
But you, Byakuya, always pretend to be so tough when all you do is make empty threats.
Seeing Ain's fearless expression, Byakuya was so furious that he clenched his teeth.
He almost wanted to throw her down and give her a proper "lesson" right then and there.
The atmosphere became increasingly tense, with a strange sense of intimacy. Finally, Tashigi stepped in to break the awkward silence.
"Shirahoshi, 'executing on the spot' just means that if you do something wrong, you'd get punished right then and there," Tashigi explained.
"How do you punish someone?" Shirahoshi asked.
"Well... uh... it means flicking your forehead," Tashigi stammered, trying to come up with a harmless answer.
"Oh, I see!" Shirahoshi finally understood. She then turned to Byakuya with a guilty expression and said,
"I'm sorry for speaking badly about you. Please, go ahead and 'execute me on the spot.'"
With that, she leaned toward Byakuya, closing her eyes in fear, waiting for him to flick her forehead.
A faint, pleasant fragrance filled Byakuya's nose as she approached, relaxing him.
The sight of Shirahoshi's deep cleavage, delicate face, and adorable expression, scared of the impending flick, combined with her ambiguous words—what man could resist such temptation?
Perhaps only someone like Sonic, devoid of worldly desires, could.
Even Byakuya almost couldn't suppress the urge to search through the system store to see if there was a giant potion to make him bigger.
He imagined himself shouting, "I'm done being human!" and taking the potion to engage in an epic "battle."
Unfortunately, the system store didn't grant Byakuya's perverse desires—nothing there, not even a hair.
Thus, Byakuya awkwardly flicked Shirahoshi's flawless forehead with a gentle touch.
Shirahoshi opened her eyes and asked expectantly, "Does that mean you've forgiven me?"
Byakuya nodded.
"Wonderful!" Overjoyed that she had been forgiven, Shirahoshi instinctively moved to hug Byakuya.
Oh no! Are you trying to suffocate me as payback? Thankfully, Byakuya reacted quickly, dodging Shirahoshi's embrace.
While many men might dream of such a death, Byakuya was not one of them.
After this little incident, their relationship grew closer.
They finally reached the Sea Forest, filled with beautiful coral, but Shirahoshi's mood suddenly became sombre.
Everyone knew the Sea Forest was where her mother, Queen Otohime, was buried.
Byakuya instructed Ain and Tashigi to stay close to Shirahoshi to guard against any sudden attack from Vander Decken IX.
At the same time, he went deeper into the Sea Forest to find the Poneglyph.
Given Byakuya's speed, it wouldn't take long for him to locate the ancient stone hidden in the Sea Forest.
Meanwhile, at the Ryugu Palace, King Neptune had just caught wind of the rumours circulating the Fish-Man District...
Rumours had been brewing for days, becoming more detailed and sounding increasingly believable, without any obvious flaws.
Even some of the guards in the Ryugu Palace believed them after hearing the news.
After all, it was no secret that King Neptune had been showing great care and attention toward Marine Vice Admiral Byakuya during these past days, which only fueled the speculation.
Many suspected that King Neptune and Byakuya were conspiring together, though the nature of this supposed plot was up for debate.
However, only a few high-ranking officials in the palace and Madam Shyarly knew the truth. The details hadn't been spread to the general populace.
If the entire island were to learn about the prophecy of Fish-Man Island's destruction, true chaos would ensue.
After spending time with Byakuya and his companions, Neptune and the others felt reassured that the island wouldn't be destroyed by Byakuya after all.
But if the truth were revealed now, they feared that the residents might act irrationally and provoke Byakuya, making Shyarly's vision a reality.
This would render all their efforts over the past few days worthless.
While Neptune was discussing the situation with a few ministers and his eldest son, Fukaboshi, they suddenly heard a commotion at the palace gates.
They could make out faint shouts from outside, such as, "Hand over the Marines!" and "Bring us the murderer!" along with cries for vengeance.
Neptune frowned deeply and said, "Fukaboshi, see what's happening outside."
"Yes, Father," Fukaboshi replied. Not long after, he returned with a grim expression on his face.
Seeing his son's troubled look, Neptune's heart sank as he quickly asked, "What's the situation?"
"When Byakuya and his group first entered Fish-Man Island, they killed more than a dozen Fish-Men who insulted them.
Now, the families of those Fish-Men have gathered outside the palace.
There are over a hundred of them demanding that we hand over the Marines so they can avenge their loved ones."
"They're also saying that if we don't hand over the Marines, it proves the rumours are true—that our Ryugu Kingdom is planning to wipe out all the Fish-Men in the Fish-Man District with the help of the Marines."
"They've threatened that if we don't comply, they'll strike first." Neptune found himself in a tight spot.
If he handed over the Marines, all their efforts over the past few days would be for nothing, and Fishman Island would still face destruction.
If he didn't, more Fish-Men would start believing in the rumours, sparking an uprising in the Fish-Man District, which would surely lead to bloodshed.
It seemed like an impossible choice. But between the two, he knew that allowing some to die was better than risking the destruction of the entire island.
Fukaboshi remained calm as he said, "Father, I believe someone is fanning the flames behind the scenes."
It's the only explanation for how the rumours spread so quickly in just a few days and why these Fish-Men dare to stand at the palace gates, demanding we hand over the Marines."
Neptune immediately caught on. "You think it's the New Fish-Man Pirates?"
As a leader who advocated for peaceful coexistence with humans, Neptune was well aware of the New Fish-Man Pirates, led by Hody Jones, who had long opposed him in the Fish-Man District.
They had been preaching hatred toward humans and sowing the seeds of enmity in the minds of young Fish-Men for years, causing Neptune no end of headaches.
However, their hideouts were well concealed, and despite several attempts to crack down on them, Neptune's forces had never been able to capture them.
Over time, they had no choice but to let the issue lie. Now, it seemed the New Fish-Man Pirates had seized this opportunity.
Neptune paced back and forth by the throne, unable to think of a solution to resolve the crisis peacefully.
Fukaboshi suggested, "Father, I believe the priority should be preserving Fish-Man Island. If these Fish-Men confront Byakuya, the consequences could be catastrophic."
Neptune, suddenly enlightened, responded, "You're right. Take the guards and arrest all the Fish-Men outside the gates."
"Then, send your younger brothers with guards to patrol the Fish-Man District. We can't allow any more chaos there. Everything else can wait until Byakuya leaves."
Under Neptune's orders, the palace guards mobilized. Those causing trouble were swiftly arrested and detained. Neptune's strategy, though risky, was the right choice when dealing with Byakuya's overwhelming power. But for Hody Jones, everything was going according to plan.
The high-ranking members of the New Fish-Man Pirates had gathered once more on a run-down ship. One reported, "Boss, most of the brothers we sent to spread the rumours have been arrested. What should we do next?"
Hody Jones smirked disdainfully. "What's the rush? There are over seventy thousand Fish-Men in the Fish-Man District. Neptune can't possibly arrest them all."
Another pirate asked, "What about Vander Decken IX?"
A tall Fish-Man stepped forward and replied, "He agreed without hesitation when we told him we'd hand over Princess Shirahoshi to him."
"But he said he wouldn't act alongside us—his only goal is Shirahoshi."
Hody Jones shrugged, unconcerned. "That's fine. Let him capture Princess Shirahoshi first. That'll distract Neptune and make things easier for us."
Then, with a glint in his eye, Hody addressed his commanders. "Brothers, the time is nearly ripe."
"Over these past few days, the rumours have pushed the Fish-Men to the edge of panic."
"Now that Neptune's forces are rounding up people in the Fish-Man District, they're even angrier with him."
"This is our chance. It's time to show the humans the fury of the Fish-Men."
As Hody Jones predicted, the Fish-Men in the Fish-Man District were caught between fear and rage.
They hadn't risen yet, but that was only because they lacked a leader. And Hody Jones was more than ready to step up, rally them, and lead the charge against the Ryugu Palace.
At least tens of thousands of Fish-Men from the Fish-Man District would choose to support Hody Jones.
By then, it would be too late for Neptune to fight back against such overwhelming numbers.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the deep sea, hidden aboard a dilapidated wooden ship, Vander Decken IX received Hody Jones' message: the plan was in motion.
Upon reading the news, Vander Decken IX became ecstatic, his expression twisted with excitement as he howled, "Princess Shirahoshi, you can't escape!"
"Now you will finally become my wife, Vander Decken IX!"
Ever since nine years ago, when Vander Decken IX touched Shirahoshi with his right hand, he hadn't washed that hand, using it to pursue her relentlessly.
For nine years, he had continuously expressed his love for Princess Shirahoshi.
Initially, he sent her love letters to the Ryugu Kingdom, but over time, his advances escalated—from letters to packages and eventually to threatening marriage proposals, terrifying Shirahoshi.
His behaviour enraged King Neptune, who ordered his three sons, the Neptune brothers, to lead the army in hunting down Vander Decken IX.
Despite being a wanted man, Vander Decken IX still attacked the Hard-Shell Tower where Shirahoshi was kept, using threats to pursue her.
Thinking of Princess Shirahoshi's stunning beauty made Vander Decken IX burn with desire.
However, you'd be wrong if you thought he was just a madman obsessed with her beauty.
Nine years ago, when Shirahoshi was only six, Vander Decken IX witnessed her crying, which summoned Sea Kings—gigantic sea creatures.
This discovery made him realize that Shirahoshi was the legendary Mermaid Princess, capable of controlling Sea Kings, as prophesied by their ancestors.
Driven by the lust for that power, he became obsessed with marrying her to harness that ability. Now, his chance had finally come!
On the other hand, Hody Jones underestimated Vander Decken IX, seeing him as a fool blinded by lust for Shirahoshi and easily manipulated.
Hody allowed him to pursue Shirahoshi in exchange for help taking over Fish-Man Island.
However, Vander Decken IX sneered, "We'll see who's bowing before whom when the time comes, Hody Jones."
Shirahoshi is mine, Fish-Man Island is mine, and the whole world will be mine. I, Vander Decken IX, will be the only king of this world."
His chilling laughter echoed through the deep sea, fading into the distance as Fish-Man Island descended into turmoil.
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