Chapter 348: The Forced Retreat of Shirahoshi into the Hard Shell Tower
Rayleigh sat facing the sea, gazing silently at the rippling surface of the ocean.
"It's been so quick... they've disappeared without a trace." Shaki stood behind Rayleigh, lighting a cigarette. "When I heard that from little Eric, my heart skipped several beats."
"Oh?" Rayleigh slightly turned his head. "Did Eric-kun's words impact you so strongly?"
"Of course." Shaki closed his eyes, a nostalgic expression appearing on his face.
"Are you recalling something, Shaki?"
"Yes..." Shaki's cigarette smoke drifted up slowly.
Rayleigh took out a flask from his chest, unscrewed the cap, and took a large swig of alcohol. "I hope they don't follow in the footsteps of the Rocks Pirates."
"They won't," Shaki smiled faintly. "Even if they lose their way for a while, little Kurumi and little Akame will look out for little Eric."
"Is that so? Well, that's good." Rayleigh put down the flask. "Eric-kun has recruited many strong partners. What kind of changes will he bring to the New World? It's really something to look forward to."
"However, I feel like you're actually a bit disappointed?" Shaki raised a question. "Am I mistaken?"
"Disappointed?" Rayleigh froze for a moment. "Did I express that so obviously?"
"Quite obviously~" Shaki chuckled lightly. "Little Eric probably noticed too, though he didn't mind."
"Oh?"
"It's a look in his eyes with a clear goal," Shaki squinted. "He doesn't care what others think of him. He just wants to be himself and won't play the role of anyone else."
"Is that so..." Rayleigh looked off into the distance thoughtfully:
"Do you want to join me in overturning this world?"
"Overturn the world? Hahaha... who are you, kid? Go play somewhere else."
"Will you be the one Roger was waiting for?" Rayleigh answered his own question. "Although the answer may be different, the goal of overturning the world is the same. Eric-kun, can you accomplish what Roger could not?"
A few days ago, Robin absentmindedly recalled her conversation with Rayleigh:
"Rayleigh-."
"Mm?"
"I have a question. What does the 'D' mean? I saw Roger's name carved in ancient script in the history text of Skypiea. Why did he use that kind of writing?"
"Do you know what happened in the world during the Void Century, starting 900 years ago?"
"Yes, we know. We know all the history."
"But, miss, don't rush it. Take your time, step by step, getting closer to the truth with your ship. The history I tell you now may not match what you'll find after traveling the world."
"Even so, if you still want to know..."
'Why did I refuse the answer back then?' Robin tugged at her hair. 'I could have learned the history of the Void Century right away...'
Looking up at the sky, the sunlight refracted into a beautiful, colorful scene in the ocean. At this depth, there was no turning back. Eric wouldn't order a return. This was a one-way path forward.
'It's fine. It's better to confirm history with my own eyes.' Robin encouraged herself. 'Besides, Captain Eric promised me long ago.'
After experiencing the downward currents, underwater waterfalls, and volcanic groups, the soft sunlight of the Yggdrasil tree was now before them.
Princess Otohime had already led her sons to the port to welcome the Dawn Pirates.
"Welcome, Dawn Pirates!" Otohime elegantly stepped forward.
Eric complimented her, "It's been a while, Your Highness. You look even better than before."
Otohime theatrically flexed her flabby biceps. "Thanks to Dr. Da Vinci's surgery, I can now take on ten bad guys at once without any problem."
"..."
Her three royal sons all looked like they had something to say but quickly shut their mouths as Otohime was in high spirits.
"We're important wanted criminals of the World Government. Your lavish welcome is sure to upset them, and it could affect the cause you're working on," Eric remarked.
"Of course I'll give a grand welcome to important guests!" Otohime replied seriously. "If it weren't for Sir Eric's ideas, I'd still be holding meaningless signing events."
"The livelihood of Fish-Man Island is improving. The quality of life for the citizens is continuously rising, and the Fish-Man Street, once a gathering place for criminals, has now rebuilt a large orphanage. I go there to teach the children every few days."
"More and more citizens are supporting me. Even without collecting signatures, they're submitting them to me, and the number of signatures far exceeds previous amounts!"
The eldest son, Fukaboshi , stepped forward. "Yes, thanks to Sir Eric, Mother's dream is now coming true."
"Don't get too excited just yet." Eric dampened the mood with a cold splash of water. "The centuries-old hatred between the two fish-man races won't be easy to erase."
"Ay, how can I let such an important guest stand for so long?" Otohime clapped her hands and invited them. "Please, come to Ryugu Palace, dinner is ready."
"Then we'll be happy to comply, Your Highness." Eric nodded a smile , his eyes scanning the crowd for a familiar blue figure—"Merman" Jinbeii.
"I've never eaten in the sea before," Erza said, poking a transparent bubble with her finger. She quickly pulled her hand back when it touched the cold seawater.
Futino seemed unsure whether to poke it or not, while FuAkame encouraged her to stretch out her finger bravely.
Eric smiled at the new comers' antics, chatting with Otohime and King Neptune while waiting for the banquet to begin.
Delicious dishes were served one by one, and transparent liquor poured into glasses as the crew eagerly began to feast.
After indulging in the food and wine, everyone put down their utensils, and Eric spoke, "King Neptune, Your Highness Otohime, I assume you're facing some difficulties now. Is there anything we can help with?"
King Neptune and Otohime exchanged glances, and Otohime spoke up with a guilty look, "Dawn Pirates, you've already helped us so much. We really can't ask for more..."
"Your Highness Otohime," Eric interrupted, "What's really going on? Is it something related to Princess Shirahoshi?"
"How did you know, Sir Eric?" King Neptune asked, surprised.
"Because Princess Shirahoshi hasn't appeared," Eric said. "We saw her last time, but this time she neither came to the port nor attended the banquet at Ryugu Palace. Something must have happened to her."
Kurumi glanced at Eric with a half-smile.
'I don't have any thoughts about her!' Eric shot a glare back. 'Besides, our body types are so different!'
Otohime hesitated before Speaking. "Actually, about a year ago, I encountered danger, and in the heat of the moment, Shirahoshi cried out..."
"That's when someone discovered that Shirahoshi has special abilities?" Eric finished her sentence.
"Y-you knew about that?" Otohime asked, shocked.
"And then?" Eric urged, "What happened next?"
"...Then, a man appeared and started proposing to Shirahoshi," King Neptune gritted his teeth.
"Huh... How old is Princess Shirahoshi?"
"Seven years old." King Neptune, filled with disgust for the man, continued, "At first, that bastard sent love letters once a week, but it escalated to packages, and then even threatening marriage proposals."
"Isn't that a freakish pedophile?!" Perona complained. "Worse than our captain!"
Eric fumed, "What did you say?!"
"And I don't know how, but he kept throwing lethal weapons at Shirahoshi. We had no choice but to make her stay in the Hard Shell Tower to avoid his attacks."
Vander Decken IX, a user of the Target-Target Fruit, could mark a target with his palm, ensuring that any object thrown at it would always hit.
'I didn't expect him to learn about Shirahoshi's identity as a Sea King. Could this be a change in history?'
'No!' Eric clenched his fist inwardly. 'I don't believe in fate! If it exists, I'll break it myself!'
"Shirahoshi hasn't come to meet you all because of this, I'm really sorry," Otohime wiped her tears with a handkerchief. "My poor Shirahoshi... She won't have to stay in the Hard Shell Tower forever, will she?"
"Hmph!" Erza stood up, "I'll definitely catch this scoundrel!"
"Then this task is up to you."
"Of course!" Erza slapped her armor loudly.
"You forgot this is the sea, right?" Eric shot a sideways glance at Erza . "You're a Devil Fruit user now..."
Erza 's eyes turned into cat eyes in an instant.
"We were going to ask Jinbeii to catch Vander Decken, but we couldn't find his exact location. The only thing we could track were the weapons he threw, which always flew straight to the Hard Shell Tower," King Neptune sighed.
"I can find that guy, no problem."
"That's right, even Sir Eric couldn't easily find him out here... What did you say?" King Neptune was stunned. "You can find Vander Decken?"
"Yes." Eric nodded. "Let's bring Jinbeii along. The sea is his domain."
"Oh, by the way." Eric raised a request. "We have a historian on board. She wants to see the historical records of Fish-Man Island. Could you fulfill her wish?"
"Historical records?" King Neptune paused, then nodded in agreement. "No problem, the historical records are in the Sea Forest."
"Please take Robin there," Eric stood up. "We'll take care of the pervert disturbing Princess Shirahoshi's life."
Fukaboshi stepped forward. "I'll guide you."
Robin stood up, "Thank you."
"Eric, do you have a way to find Vander Decken?" Jinbeii awkwardly adjusted his neck, not really used to the situation. After all, he was now part of another Yonko's crew and a member of the Seven Warlord Killer pirate crew.
"Don't worry, we'll find him soon..." Eric nodded towards the horizon. "Look over there."
A giant fish-man, over 80 meters tall, slowly appeared from the depths, dragging an old, decrepit wooden ship behind him.
This giant fish-man was named MiinKing, Vander Decken's ship-puller. Despite his massive size, his personality was like a child's, making him more of a harmless brute.
Jinbeii frowned. "So Vander Decken is hiding here."
"What are you doing?" Eric grabbed Jinbeii's left arm. "We'll talk once we get closer."
'My body... won't move.' Jinbeii tried to break free, but his left arm remained immovable. 'This guy... is really strong...' He stopped struggling.
As the two ships gradually got closer, everyone saw the fish-man on the old ship:
He was a fish-man but had a waterproof bubble membrane around him, with a hideous appearance, thin body, four legs, a yellow top hat, and a hunchback taller than his neck.
"Eh?" MiinKing froze for a moment when he saw the approaching ship, letting out a childish sound.
MiinKing loudly reported, "Captain Vander Decken! A ship is coming towards us."
"I see..." Vander Decken showed a row of sharp teeth. "That ship looks pretty good. It must be filled with treasures."
"Sea King, sink them."
"I know." MiinKing turned his massive body, raising his disproportionately large left arm, about to throw a punch.
"Thanks, Jinbeii," Eric let go of Jinbeii's right arm, pointing at MiinKing. "Defeat this guy for me."
"Old man, I'm not your subordinate!" Jinbeii retorted, rushing out from the coated ship with a "Fish-Man Karate – 5,000 Tile Punch!"
Jinbeii's punch, capable of shattering 5,000 tiles, collided with MiinKing's enormous fist. When their punches met, MiinKing's massive body shook, and his punch suddenly stopped.
A visible shockwave exploded from Jinbeii's fist, creating ripples in the deep sea, shaking MiinKing's round belly, sending waves of fat rolling.
"Ah!" MiinKing cried out in pain, clutching his swollen left fist and howling, "It hurts! It hurts!"
"Tch, I thought your huge size would make you tough." Esdeath lost interest in MiinKing and turned her attention to Jinbeii.
"It's you who's been throwing weapons at Princess Shirahoshi!" Jinbeii stood in the sea, pointing at Vander Decken. "Surrender!"
"Ha ha ha, that's right, it's me." Vander Decken extended his fish-fin middle finger. "And I am Princess Shirahoshi's fiancé!"
Jinbeii struck a pose for Fish-Man Karate: "Stop joking!"
"Boom! Boom!" Two cannon shots rang out, sending conical cannonballs spinning through the water, directly hitting Vander Decken.
"Wh..." Vander Decken didn't even finish his sentence before the tail-finned cannonballs hit him.
"..."
The cannonballs exploded in the water, creating two white splashes, immediately covering Vander Decken's body. The shockwaves spread throughout the sea.
By the way, the old, decrepit Flying Dutchman ship became a pile of broken wood under the two cannonballs.
MiinKing shouted desperately, "Captain Vander Decken!"
"What are you talking to that guy about?" Eric ordered again, "Jinbeii, bring Vander Decken and that big fish-man over."
"..." Jinbeii fell silent, then with another "Shark Tile Punch," knocked MiinKing unconscious.
(END CHAPTER)
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