New World, Peach Garden.
"Mr. Issho, have you grown accustomed to life here in Peach Garden?" Rolan asked, walking slowly down the main street beside Issho.
He looked out at the thriving city, feeling a rare sense of pride. This power, this order, had been built with his own hands. In a strange way, it felt like playing a simulation game in a past life.
Issho smiled, nodding. "There's no place in this world that can compare to Peach Garden."
When he first arrived, he had thought the city's prosperity might be fleeting. But years of guidance as Peach Garden's chief instructor proved otherwise. Happiness and stability weren't illusions. Over time, the living standards of the people had risen steadily.
In the early days, Peach Garden had been a patchwork of islands and nations with varied cultures. Now, every race, every nation, even those with differing beliefs, coexisted harmoniously. More islands joined, expanding Peach Garden's reach, and yet, no wars broke out.
Rolan had expected Issho's answer.
"Mr. Rolan, when do you plan to act?" Issho asked quietly.
Rolan glanced at the sky, calm and calculating. "Soon." He hadn't focused much on Ace chasing Teach, knowing Ace wouldn't truly be in mortal danger. If the Marineford War happened, it only made Rolan's plans easier, providing cover. If not, it was one less distraction.
Issho glanced at him sideways, understanding his motives. He had never dealt directly with the World Government, but its power, built over nearly a century, was undeniable. As chief instructor of Peach Garden, the weight on his shoulders felt heavier than ever.
---
Later, in Rolan's room:
"Husband."
Rolan looked up to see Shirahoshi sitting neatly on the cloud sofa. He raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled. "Shirahoshi?"
Her heart raced as she caught sight of him. Her breathing quickened, skin flushed crimson, and her tail swayed restlessly.
"Shirahoshi, what's wrong?" Rolan asked, noting her nervousness.
She lifted her eyes briefly, then lowered her head. "Shirahoshi… wants… to sleep with Husband."
Her face was as red as a ripe tomato, and though Rolan wore nothing but a T-shirt and shorts, her words sent a surprising warmth through him. Clearly, this was more than a simple request.
"Shirahoshi, you're still young," Rolan said evenly.
Shirahoshi shook her head. "I'm already an adult."
Rolan blinked. "But Shirahoshi, you're only fifteen…"
It seemed she had noticed his closeness with others and feared being ignored. Now she tried to secure her place in his eyes. Her hands twisted nervously, thumbs circling as she insisted, "Shirahoshi really is an adult."
"Merfolk adults… at fifteen?" Rolan murmured, moving to sit beside her on the soft cloud sofa. As he did, Shirahoshi tumbled gently into his arms. Her body trembled, her skin flushed as if fevered.
They had embraced and kissed before, but this felt different — charged, new. Her scent, subtle and intoxicating, drifted into his senses like a stimulant, quickening his pulse.
"Shi… Shirahoshi, you're really an adult?" he asked, voice low.
"Mm…" she whispered, her voice soft but tinged with a seductive edge, learned from Robin-jie. "After the pill you gave me, Shirahoshi's body matured… two extra years."
Rolan nodded slowly, processing it. The transformation had indeed accelerated her growth. This was no lie; she was truly an adult now, capable of wielding her Sea King powers responsibly.
Shirahoshi's body pressed closer, her shy expression clashing with the boldness of her words. Her face buried into Rolan's chest, lips trembling, heartbeat erratic.
Rolan's fingers grazed her soft skin, detecting a faint coolness beneath her warmth. His touch sent shivers through her, making her tremble even more.
Snap.
A faint Electromagnetic Barrier flickered into life around them, a subtle charge in the air. Rolan lowered his head, pressing his lips to hers.
"Mmm~"
Shirahoshi froze initially, then wrapped her arms around his neck, responding with the growing heat of desire. Her body relaxed, fully trusting him as he carried her in a princess lift to the bedroom.
Yet, reality struck — her upper body was human, lower body a mermaid's tail. How could their intimacy continue naturally?
She sensed his hesitation. "Um… Husband…" she whispered, her face flushing crimson, almost bleeding color. Slowly, her scales shifted aside, separating gently to accommodate him.
Rolan's breath caught. He watched her shyly yet provocatively reveal herself, the delicate body in his embrace radiating a new kind of maturity.
His fingertip brushed against her skin, tracing a hint of coolness along the soft curves of her tail. Her trembling intensified.
Gulp.
Rolan swallowed, heart pounding. The soft pink hue of her skin, her trembling form, and her trusting eyes made it nearly impossible to resist.
The moment stretched, charged with the undeniable tension of desire and trust, as Rolan held Shirahoshi
close, fully aware of the dangerous edge between restraint and surrender.
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Powerstones?? (´ε｀ )
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