Chapter 123 A Mermaid Appears! Crisis Surges on Bubble IslandHe was limp as a puddle of mud, his face plastered with his signature infatuated smile.
"It's alright, it's completely alright. But miss, did you twist your ankle?"
Zoro rolled his eyes, uttering two words: "Idiot."
Only then did everyone's gaze finally shift from the farce to Camie's lower body.
Nami's beautiful eyes widened, staring incredulously at the large fish tail thrashing in the air.
The scales shimmered with an eerie luster in the sunlight.
Everyone exclaimed in unison: "Mermaid?!"
Hearing this, Camie jerked her head, meeting a pair of eyes that shone like searchlights.
She was so terrified that her composure crumbled, her body stiffening like a stone.
On this vast ocean, female mermaids were practically synonymous with beauty.
That's someone even Boa Hancock, the pirate empress hailed as the world's most beautiful woman, would be ashamed of.
And the mermaid princess is a legend standing at the pinnacle of beauty.
Actually, mermaids and humans don't have much reproductive isolation; both are viviparous mammals.
Once a female mermaid passes the age of thirty, her fishtail miraculously differentiates into legs.
Therefore, many mature female mermaids choose to come ashore, even forming families with human men.
But male mermaids are less fortunate; they are destined to live with only a tail for their entire lives.
Genetics is like a lottery for mermaids.
Whether it's inbreeding or hybridization with a fish-man, the offspring have four possibilities.
That is, random combinations of male and female mermaids and male and female fish-men.
However, if a female mermaid marries a human man, the child will definitely be human, just with superhuman swimming talent.
Seeing the lively, bouncy mermaid before him, Sanji jumped and leaped across the deck with the excitement of a monkey in heat.
It was a legendary mermaid!
The ultimate dream of every human male!
I've actually seen a living one in my life!
Usopp suddenly interjected: "Doesn't Kokoro count?"
This was a fatal blow; Sanji froze instantly.
A furious table-flipping sound followed.
Sanji slumped into a corner, utterly dejected, trying to heal his shattered dream in the shadows.
Luffy seized the opportunity to approach Camie, blinking his big eyes and asking:
"Camie, we want to go to Sabaody Archipelago, can you show us the way?"
Camie readily nodded, holding up five fingers: "No problem, guide fee 500 Berries!"
Papago, enraged, slammed his body into Camie's forehead.
"What kind of time is this to be thinking about business, you idiot!"
Kami clutched her head and exclaimed, "Ah! I messed it up! I forgot again!"
Everyone was speechless: Is this girl just naturally dense...?
Kami hopped over to the ship's railing and emitted a series of strange sound waves towards the shimmering sea.
Soon afterward, the once calm sea began to boil.
A dense school of fish gathered beneath the Going Merry, leaping joyfully out of the water.
Zoro, leaning on the railing, watched this spectacular scene with awe.
"That's a great skill. I won't even need bait for fishing anymore."
Sanji instantly teleported over, glaring at Zoro's moss-like hair.
"Damn it! That's the mermaid's friend! Can't you think of anything other than food?!"
Under Cammy's command, the school of fish quickly changed formation, forming a giant arrow on the sea surface, pointing westward.
This scene left everyone speechless, utterly amazed.
Following the fish's guidance, a dreamlike island soon appeared on the horizon.
It was a miraculous place formed by the intertwined roots of enormous mangrove trees—Bubble Island.
Looking at the giant bubbles rising from the ground and floating in the rainbow sunlight, everyone's faces were filled with awe.
This is magnificent!
Usopp, excited like a child, was the first to jump onto the root-covered ground.
Chopper, not to be outdone, followed closely behind with his short legs.
The others gradually disembarked.
Robin crouched down, her fingers gently tracing the grass, picking up some of the resinous sap.
She casually wiped her hands on Zoro's clothes.
Zorro's temple throbbed: "Hey! Are you using me as a rag?!"
Meanwhile, Camie and Papago hadn't come ashore; instead, they jumped into the sea, only their heads above water.
Camie explained regretfully to everyone.
There were over a dozen gangs specializing in kidnapping operating in this area.
In the Sabaody Archipelago, human trafficking was a well-established industry.
Young female mermaids like me were highly sought-after commodities on the black market.
To avoid trouble, we won't accompany you on your island stroll.
Sanji frowned, took out a lighter, lit a cigarette, and took a deep breath.
Selling people as commodities? What a disgusting custom.
Nami was also shocked and angry: "Isn't this illegal? Doesn't the Navy care?"
Camie lowered her head, her expression somber, and even the usually talkative Papago fell silent.
Just then, Kalifa adjusted her glasses and strode forward with elegant steps.
Where there's demand, there's supply; the waters behind this are incredibly deep.
The World Nobles, led by the Celestial Dragons, are the biggest financiers behind this black market industry.
The largest human auction house on the island is rumored to be owned by Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Hearing this, everyone's faces turned grim.
Vivi looked at Kalifa in disbelief, her voice trembling.
How could this be! This place is so close to the Marine Headquarters, the symbol of justice!
How could they tolerate such evil happening right under their noses!
Luffy crossed his arms, his expression unusually calm, even cold.
This was the stark reality.
The Navy, at its core, is just a violent law enforcement agency; without money, it can't even afford food.
If the funding for the Celestial Dragons and the World Government were cut off, their enormous military expenditures wouldn't last a single day.
To maintain this so-called superficial peace, this dirty compromise is the inevitable price.
After all, without the Navy to suppress pirates, ordinary people's lives would only become worse.
These words weighed heavily on everyone's hearts, making it hard to breathe.
What kind of bullshit peace is this, bought with sacrifice…?
Nami clenched her fists in anger, gritting her teeth as she cursed, "Damn world nobles! Their money all comes from exploiting the people!"
After cursing, she remembered Vivi standing beside her and quickly gave an awkward laugh.
Vivi, however, shook her head nonchalantly, her eyes clear.
"It's alright. Our Nefertari family couldn't stand their ways, which is why we voluntarily gave up our divine status to establish Alabasta."
Sanji immediately transformed into a sycophant: "Long live Princess Viv