The Black Pearl had finally reached the Red Line, which was practically a miracle considering how difficult the journey had been.
Along the way, they had encountered a legendary figure like Garp, one of the pillars of the Marines, a Yonko Commander, two Shichibukai, agents of the World Government, and half a dozen Vice Admirals. Despite all that, here they were, gazing at the overwhelmingly massive Red Line.
Mikita spun her lemon-themed umbrella over her shoulder with a curious look. "The question is, what now? Are we just going to fly over it?"
Because Allen was known for preferring to sail across the sea, people often forgot that the Black Pearl was capable of flying. The ten thousand meters necessary to cross over the Red Line seemed like child's play.
"What do you think, Mikita?" Allen smiled at her, causing Mikita to blush.
Tashigi snorted with her hands on her hips. "This pervert would never pass up the chance to visit Fish-Man Island and see all the beautiful mermaids."
Everyone looked at Allen with accusing eyes. Feeling deeply offended, he immediately rejected the outrageous accusation.
"That's slander. By now, everyone should know I'm a model of virtue, a noble soul, a man with a heart of gold and a soul of diamond, someone capable of bringing kindness and generosity to the entire world."
Nami remembered how this "model of virtue" took every opportunity to rob merchant ships, calling it "collecting taxes in advance."
Robin remembered that this "man with a heart of gold and a soul of diamond" never missed a chance to kidnap pretty girls and try to convince them to join his crew.
Kaya remembered how this man, supposedly capable of bringing generosity and kindness to the world, had mercilessly defeated every one of his enemies. Some had even lost their lives... of course, they deserved it, but someone like that was hardly a symbol of kindness.
"Hey, if you've got something to say, just say it," Allen said with a smile as he noticed the girls' stares piercing him like daggers.
"No, nothing," they answered in unison as though they had rehearsed it.
"So, how do we get to Fish-Man Island?" Conis asked.
"Well, obviously we have to go to the bottom of the sea," Uta said with a shrug.
"How?" Conis asked again curiously.
"I don't know," Uta admitted, slightly embarrassed that she couldn't answer Conis's innocent question.
"Well, the Log Pose is pointing toward the bottom of the sea," Nami said as she looked at the Log Pose on her wrist.
If this had been an ordinary pirate crew, they would have spent hours wondering how to reach the famous island of the mermaids.
However, this crew included Vice Admirals who not only knew how to reach the New World but had spent years there.
"As pirates, your only option is to go to Sabaody and find someone to coat your ship," Gion said with a smile.
Doll frowned angrily. "Hey, Gion!"
Gion laughed as she raised both hands. "Relax. They probably already know, or they'll figure it out soon enough. There's no point delaying the inevitable."
"Even so, you don't have to help them!"
Allen smiled sincerely at Gion. "Thank you very much."
Gion blinked in surprise before smiling back, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
Doll's mouth fell open in disbelief. She didn't even want to consider "that" possibility. This was Gion they were talking about—the younger sister of Vice Admiral Tsuru, who alongside Garp and Sengoku had been one of the pillars of the previous Marine generation. If this woman were to fall in love with a pirate, it would be the greatest humiliation in Marine history.
"Well then, since we're definitely not going to miss the chance to visit the island beneath the sea, we'll head to Sabaody," Allen declared confidently. "Raise the anchor and hoist the sails. We're setting off!"
'Help me!'
"...?" Allen heard a cry for help that stopped him in his tracks. It hadn't come from the surface, but from deep beneath the sea.
The girls watched Allen's expression change as he walked toward the railing.
"Is something wrong, Allen-san?" Vivi asked.
"Did you hear something?" Uta asked.
"Someone called for help beneath the sea," Allen said thoughtfully.
"It must be your imagination," Kalifa said as she adjusted her glasses.
"No," Allen replied with a frown. He expanded his Observation Haki farther, reaching thousands of meters into the depths of the sea, and then he saw it—a Sea King that looked like a giant rabbit-serpent.
Allen jumped overboard, plunged into the sea, and shot toward the depths like a torpedo.
His actions left the girls confused, but they trusted he would explain everything when he returned. Gion and Doll on deck, Kalifa at the stern, and Perona peeking out from her cabin were all left in complete shock.
"He can swim?!" Perona exclaimed.
Devil Fruit users couldn't swim. That was common knowledge, an absolute rule no one had ever been able to break. Yet Allen had done exactly that.
What did this mean?! Had Allen somehow overcome the sea's curse?! Or was he not a Devil Fruit user?!
This revelation could cause an even greater shock than anything before, because it would mean that no one truly knew the origin of Allen Walker's powers.
....
Five thousand meters beneath the sea, Allen stared at the Sea King. The moment it noticed him, it attacked.
Allen dodged the attack.
[Be careful. I think someone is still alive inside that monster!]
"I know."
Allen dodged the Sea King's charge once more, but this time he didn't let it escape. As its stomach passed by him, he drove a punch into it with such force that the sea itself exploded, creating an enormous shockwave.
The Sea King died instantly, but not before vomiting blood. Mixed in with the blood were two figures. The moment Allen saw them, his eyes widened in surprise.
Without hesitation, he grabbed them both and teleported back to the ship.
Once aboard, he gently set the smaller creature down. It was a giant orange starfish wearing an oversized hat.
He carefully laid the larger figure on the deck. It was a green-haired girl whose hair reached her shoulders. She wore a yellow shirt with pink sleeves featuring a star on the chest and carried a clam-shaped backpack on her back.
"She...!" Nojiko gasped before trailing off.
"It seems so..." Robin said with equal surprise.
"A mermaid!" Nami exclaimed.
It didn't matter if you'd spent years sailing the Grand Line or, like Vivi, had been born there. There were things you would never witness unless you traveled through the impossible waters of this absurd sea.
Allen looked at the girl. From the waist up, she was a beautiful young woman. But below that was a pink, shimmering fish tail. She was a true mermaid, unlike Fish-Men such as Arlong... She was a mermaid!
"Damn, that was dangerous. Are you okay, Camie?" the starfish asked tiredly.
"You don't seem very frightened after being eaten by a Sea King," Robin said to the starfish as though talking to one were the most natural thing in the world.
"Hm? It's fine, don't worry. It happens all the time. This is, like, the twentieth time we've been eaten," the starfish replied.
"Hey, hey, how are you two still alive?"
The starfish shrugged—or at least what could be considered shoulders. "Camie has both good luck and bad luck. She always ends up getting captured or eaten, but someone always saves us, either intentionally or by accident."
Allen laughed. "I can't tell if that's good luck or bad luck anymore."
"Right? Hahaha!"
The starfish laughed as well, but his laughter froze when he realized everyone was staring at him and that Allen was holding Camie.
"Who are you people?!" the starfish shouted, trying to act brave even though he was terrified. "Just so you know, I'm a famous fashion designer, and if you do anything to us, K-King Neptune won't stay silent!"
"That's obviously a lie," Kaya said with a smile.
"Ugh..."
The starfish felt pressured, but despite that, he had no intention of abandoning the mermaid. He desperately tried to think of a way out, and while doing so, Camie slowly opened her eyes.
The girl looked dazed. After being swallowed by a Sea King, she had awakened in the arms of a handsome young man, leaving her completely stunned.
Allen smiled faintly, as if enjoying her reaction. "Looks like you're okay!"
"Ah!" Camie's mouth fell open, and her eyes bulged comically. "Who are you?!"
Allen laughed. "Well, that's a little rude considering you're the one who called me."
Camie froze and remembered that while trapped inside the Sea King's stomach, she had cried out for help. She never expected anyone to hear her.
Allen stepped back to give the mermaid some space. After all, he knew how dangerous it was for a girl to remain too close to his perfection for too long.
"I... I..." Camie looked around and noticed all the women watching her with a variety of expressions ranging from confusion and curiosity to calmness, jealousy, and amusement.
Camie blushed and looked back at Allen before whispering so quietly it was almost inaudible.
"Thank you..."
"You're welcome," Allen replied.
"Camie, you okay?!" the starfish shouted.
"Pappag... yes, I'm okay," Camie answered, still somewhat confused.
"I see," Allen said with a sigh. "I'm not surprised you've been kidnapped so many times. Even now, after ending up on a pirate ship, it's taking you forever to activate your survival instincts."
"Huh?!" Pappag's eyes widened.
"You're pirates?!" Camie exclaimed in shock.
Allen didn't know what to say. At this point, anyone who didn't know him had to be living in isolation or under a rock.
"That's right. I'm Allen Walker, the future King of the world—"
"You're the White-Haired Demon!" Pappag interrupted before Allen could finish introducing himself, stepping protectively, "Don't touch her! I've heard about you, Allen Walker!"
"No, that's just a title the Government uses to smear my reputation. I'm not a demon," Allen replied, offended.
His presence should have inspired glory and admiration, a blessing walking the earth. But thanks to the World Government and the Marines, people thought he was some kind of dangerous lunatic.
"Actually, he's worse than a demon," Uta said with an evil grin.
"He's a very scary... and very handsome guy~," Mikita added, playing along.
"Hey, you two!" Allen scolded them before turning back to Camie and Pappag with an expression full of sincerity and justice. "Every rumor you've heard about me is false!"
Neither Pappag nor Camie could help but doubt the stories they had heard. After all, Allen had saved them, and could a demon really have such an earnest look?
Pappag looked at Allen suspiciously. "So it's not true that you're a pervert who only lets beautiful women join your crew?"
The girls immediately looked at Allen with amused, teasing smiles, waiting for his answer.
Allen took a moment before responding. "Well... yes, that's how things turned out, but there was a lot of important context that led to that result. And I'm definitely not a pervert!"
"I see?" Camie tilted her head. "Then it's not true that you go around kidnapping beautiful women to seduce them?"
Hina and Tashigi blushed, while Doll, Gion, Kalifa, and Perona stared daggers into Allen's back.
"No. Well... there's a story behind that too. Besides, I wouldn't call it seducing them. I simply want them to witness the greatness of my existence and choose to follow me of their own free will," Allen answered.
The girls were speechless. Somehow, Allen had managed to answer the most awkward questions without actually denying anything.
Ahem.
"By the way, you still haven't told us what happened to you," Allen cleared his throat, deciding to change the subject.
"Oh, sorry," Camie said. "I'm Camie, a mermaid, and this is Pappag, my pet and my teacher."
"Your pet and your teacher?" Kaya asked in confusion.
"That's right. She feeds me, but I also teach her how to become a fashion designer like me!" Pappag said proudly.
"That's right! This shirt is from the 'Criminal' brand. It's really popular on Fish-Man Island, and Pappag designed it!" Camie said happily.
"This starfish is actually a fashion designer?!" Mikita exclaimed.
"By the way, you're a starfish... so why can you talk?" Perona asked, unable to contain her curiosity. Even after living surrounded by zombies, this sea could still surprise her.
"Well, when I was little, I thought I was a human. Before I knew it, I was talking," Pappag explained.
"Is... that really how it works?" Robin asked, beginning to question her knowledge of the world.
Camie and Pappag stopped being afraid once they got to know Allen's crew. They even offered to give them a tour of Fish-Man Island as thanks.
First, however, they needed to reach Sabaody to have the ship coated... or see if Lenalee could give the Black Pearl the ability to sail underwater.
"Before that, we'd better disguise ourselves," Allen said before snapping his fingers.
The girls looked confused, but right before their eyes, the ship's distinctive jet-black color changed into white with golden decorations. Even the sails became much lighter, and the flag was replaced with another pirate flag that still bore Allen's characteristics but looked noticeably different.
Legendary Feature.
Aesthetic Alteration: Allows the ship's entire appearance to be changed without altering its structure.
The women stared in astonishment at the sudden transformation.
"Why?" Nami asked.
"Come on, Nami." Allen smiled. "I don't want everyone panicking when we arrive at Sabaody. It would make sightseeing and shopping a real pain."
Ever since Water 7, where they had been respected, they hadn't visited an ordinary island filled with normal people. They had forgotten that, together, their crew carried bounties totaling nearly four billion berries. To the rest of the world, they were monsters.
Once they realized that, they understood. Although Allen enjoyed attention, if he arrived at Sabaody openly displaying his identity, they wouldn't even be able to find a mechanic.
Doll frowned with concern. She hadn't expected the Black Pearl to be capable of something like this.
'This is very bad! Most likely the Fleet Admiral was planning to avoid a conflict with Allen and let him enter the New World peacefully. But for that to happen, the World Nobles had to be kept away from Sabaody while he was there... otherwise something terrifying could happen!'
Doll felt an urgent need to inform Sengoku. She tried to slip away toward the kitchen to use the Den Den Mushi, but the moment she turned around, she met Uta's gaze.
"Going somewhere?~" Uta asked with dangerous eyes.
"Tch. I just wanted some water," Doll replied.
"Oh, in that case I'll come too. I'm thirsty as well~," Uta laughed.
Doll cursed inwardly but couldn't do anything. She knew that among all the current hostages, she was the one the crew watched most closely. They would never allow her to do anything that might harm them.
Doll entered the kitchen, not before casting a glance toward Gion and Kalifa. The two of them had to act, or the consequences would be irreversible.
They absolutely had to prevent Allen Walker from meeting a Celestial Dragon!
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A/N: I wonder what will happen once Allen—who literally hates the world government—runs into a celestial dragon? 🍷🗿
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