Atlan Island, once a bustling black market, now lay in ruins.
At the island's second dock, numerous empty pirate ships were moored, enveloped in utter silence.
The sea breeze carried a salty fishiness and the lingering scent of blood. The clamor of battle had faded, replaced only by the monotonous sound of waves crashing against the reefs.
"Search carefully, leave no corner unchecked."
Tiger Girl's voice was hoarse from excessive roaring, her golden pupils scanning the chaotic dock area.
Behind her were Sheep Girl and Dog Girl.
The three of them hadn't stopped after the battle ended. Though victory was absolute, a thorough cleanup was necessary.
They could also gather the spoils from the many pirate crews on the island—nothing should go to waste.
This place had been a prosperous black market; there were bound to be significant gains.
Cunning rabbits have three burrows—who could guarantee all members of the Chinjao Pirates were dead?
Dog Girl Ling nodded, sniffing repeatedly as she darted between the rows of pirate ships.
Sniff~
Sniff~
Suddenly, she halted, staring at the space below the deck she stood on.
"Sister Yin, there are people... people down below."
"Based on the aura, about ten or so, four of them slightly stronger."
"Wait, there's another aura that's strange... a bit salty, like the scent of the sea."
"Oh? Did we really find some little rats?"
Yin instantly appeared beside Ling, looking down at the deck beneath her feet as she extended her Observation Haki.
After a long moment, she slowly spoke.
"So they used Sea Stone to block most of their aura. No wonder we didn't detect them immediately earlier."
"Good thing we have your nose, Ling, or these rats might have really gotten away."
"Hehe~"
Dog Girl Ling rubbed her nose, pleased at the praise.
Yin then gestured for Ling to step aside, raised her right claw, and unleashed a burst of force.
Boom~
Most of the deck beneath them was torn away by her claw, revealing the few little rats hiding inside.
"Well, well, if it isn't the stragglers of the Happo Navy."
The last ten or so members of the Happo Navy huddled in the ship's hold, staring nervously at the three Beast Girls.
Behind them, a massive object covered with a cloth stood out conspicuously.
"Looks like you lot were trying to smuggle out some good stuff. Your leader's dead, you know."
Tiger Girl's words struck the remaining Happo Navy members like a thunderbolt.
Such an outrageous statement was no different from telling a normal person, "Your mom's dead, by the way!"
"Damn woman, what are you saying?!"
"How dare you curse our great leader! I'll kill you!"
Whoosh~
One of the Happo Navy members indeed lost his composure. Deep down, they all knew their leader was likely dead, as were most of their comrades.
Even though they were below the rank of Rear Admiral in strength, they could sense the shift in these people's auras.
Still, trapped in the ship's hold for so long under immense pressure, it was only natural for someone to crack.
Swoosh~
He charged forward.
Crack~
With a single swipe of her claw, Tiger Girl left him dead on the spot, head separated from his body.
Tiger Girl had no patience for playing games with these fools. Her attention had long been fixed on the valuable item wrapped in cloth.
"You're all the same - worthless trash."
She glanced up at the remaining group, her interest completely absent.
"Tiger Claw Cross Slash!"
Two cross-shaped slashes cut through the remaining men, slicing them apart amidst their terrified gazes.
Ssshh~
Ssshh~
Plop, plop~
Heads scattered across the ground, complete annihilation.
The Happo Navy had thus become history.
"Begin inventorying the spoils," Tiger Girl commanded.
Mian, standing at the rear, nodded and went out to summon the maids who had been waiting for some time. They quickly entered the area.
All the maids dispersed and began collecting the treasures the Happo Navy had valued so highly.
Exquisite porcelain from Kano Country, crates of gemstones, and some ores containing peculiar energy.
Gold piled up like small mountains, numerous small yet exquisite boxes, and countless other items.
These were the accumulated treasures the Chinjao Pirates hadn't yet sent back to Kano Country, plus the original wealth of this Black Market.
Additionally, all the wealth from the other completely annihilated pirate crews was being continuously collected by them.
"Now, let me see what this thing really is?"
After delegating the remaining tasks, Tiger Girl looked up at the enormous object in the ship's cabin covered by a large cloth.
Swish~
With a lift of her hand, the large cloth was removed, revealing its true form.
"Master! There's a discovery here!" Dog Girl's voice carried a note of surprise as she pushed open an extremely concealed hidden door deep within the wreckage of Chinjao's distinctive treasure ship.
Soft padding covered the floor, with faintly glowing pearls adorning the surroundings. The air carried a fresh, moist scent that starkly contrasted with the bloodshed nearby.
In the center of the cabin stood a massive fish tank as tall as two people.
The tank was filled with seawater, along with numerous shells, seaweed, and other items settled at the bottom.
At the very bottom of the tank, curled up within the fleshy part of a giant clam shell, was a small figure.
It was a little girl who appeared to be only six or seven years old, with dense golden hair like seaweed and pale skin that seemed to glow with a pearlescent luster.
Most striking was the dreamy red-and-yellow scaled fish tail that extended from her waist downward.
"A mermaid————" Sheep Girl and Dog Girl simultaneously covered their mouths, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Tiger Girl looked at this scene, equally astonished.
If Brian saw this little girl, he would probably exclaim in surprise too.
"Isn't that Princess Otohime?"
Yes, this little mermaid who caused the complete destruction of the Chinjao Pirates was the seven-year-old Princess Otohime.
The future wife of Neptune, the next king of Fish-Man Island, and mother of Sea King Shirahoshi.
Fate seemed to have played no small joke, steering Otohime's destiny in a completely different direction.
After her initial amazement, Tiger Girl quickly realized this was Chinjao's prized possession.
Tiger Girl Yin frowned deeply: "That old fool Chinjao actually hid such a young mermaid on his ship? What was he planning?"
Noticing that the mermaid girl remained in deep sleep, showing no signs of waking up.
Their previous battles and the spoils collection activities had been quite noisy.
Normally, she should have been woken up by the noise.
Yet this mermaid remained in deep slumber.
If not for sensing her steady breathing and confirming she was genuinely asleep, Tiger Girl would have considered pouring milk down her throat.
After a moment's thought, she turned to Dog Girl and Sheep Girl standing nearby.
"Ling, Mian, I'll take this mermaid to our master first to decide how to handle her."
"You two stay here and lead the Maid Corps to collect all the treasures."
"We'll meet afterward at the pier where we arrived."
"Understood, Sister Yin."
"Don't worry, Sister Yin, we'll handle things here."
Tiger Girl nodded, lifted the enormous fish tank, and soared outward using Moonwalk.
The fierce and formidable Tiger Girl appeared remarkably petite before this massive fish tank——
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