Chapter 327: Teaching Shirahoshi
Brett looked at the mermaid before him—or rather, the large mermaid—and said with some surprise, "Shirahoshi, your father says you've awakened Observation Haki?"
The little princess nodded somewhat embarrassedly. "Yes. Father says this is Observation Haki's power. Mama had it too."
Brett clicked his tongue.
Neptune said that today Princess Shirahoshi had suddenly told him she could hear many voices.
After testing briefly, Neptune discovered his daughter had already awakened Observation Haki. Moreover, her ability was just like her mother Otohime's—both possessed the power to perceive hearts.
Neptune was naturally very happy about this. After all, though many students had already awakened Haki, Shirahoshi remained among the youngest.
She was only nine years old this year.
And she'd awakened Observation Haki no less—not even ordinary Observation at that.
But Neptune still hadn't imagined Shirahoshi's Observation awakening would cause such a commotion.
"Truly remarkable."
Brett also sighed sincerely.
This child seemed to have inherited her mother's talent for Observation Haki.
This wasn't something she was born with—it was genuinely learned through her own diligent training afterward.
For a nine-year-old child to awaken Observation Haki was truly remarkable.
What was even more remarkable was that Observation's awakening had simultaneously triggered Shirahoshi's Poseidon power to begin awakening as well.
Brett had no doubts about this.
After all, he himself had gained the ability to hear others' inner emotions and communicate with sea beasts and Sea Kings after his Observation Haki awakened.
Observation Haki was essentially the power to listen, to perceive, to communicate.
So what was strange about Shirahoshi—who could previously only communicate with Sea Kings at close range—gaining the power to summon Sea Kings remotely?
"You can sense it now, can't you, Shirahoshi?"
Brett said seriously. "Why those Sea Kings came earlier."
"...Yes."
The little princess hesitated, then nodded gently. "They seem to be calling to me."
"And I feel like if I wanted to speak to them, they could hear me."
So Poseidon's power had indeed awakened.
Brett sighed inwardly.
Good.
This was naturally a good thing.
"So then, Shirahoshi, do you know what needs to be done next?"
Brett asked.
"Brett-niisan, are you going to take me to see them?"
Shirahoshi said somewhat timidly.
Though she'd been friends with Nana for several years now and had made many classmates at school, becoming much more cheerful and lively than in the original story—
Knowing Brett would take her to meet the Sea Kings still left the little princess somewhat afraid.
She didn't clearly understand her exact identity. When she was little and didn't understand anything, even appearing before the Sea Kings only made her feel happy. But now after learning so much at school, she'd grown somewhat timid instead.
"There's no need to be afraid. They absolutely, absolutely will never harm you."
Brett said seriously. "Quite the opposite—every single one of them would gladly protect you with their lives."
The little princess blinked her innocent large eyes.
"I understand! Then let's depart, Brett-niisan!"
And so Brett set out with the little princess.
Neptune also came along. He simply couldn't rest easy letting his daughter deal with those massive monsters.
Even knowing his daughter was Poseidon who controlled all Sea Kings didn't change that.
Brett brought the father and daughter into the deep sea. After leaving the light cast by the Sunlight Tree Eve, Sea Kings gradually emerged from the dark waters.
They surrounded Brett's trio, nearly encircling them completely.
Nearly every muscle in Neptune's body had tensed.
Too many. Far too many. How could there be so many Sea Kings?
Hundreds of Sea Kings had gathered here—power that could level all of Fish-Man Island in an instant! They nearly filled the cavity beneath the Red Line.
"..."
Princess Shirahoshi stood somewhat dazed.
Because without exception, all these Sea Kings were calling to her like this.
"King!!"
No matter what kind of voice, no matter what kind of tone, the content was only this one word.
The Sea Kings lowered their heads toward her, respectfully offering her authority and power.
Brett's mouth curved slightly at this scene.
"Brett-niisan, what's happening?!"
The little princess felt somewhat at a loss.
She was no longer afraid. Drawing close to these Sea Kings, she could finally sense it—not a trace of malice, only absolutely pure loyalty and worship.
These Sea Kings, just as Brett said, not only wouldn't harm her but were willing to offer her everything.
"Remember this, Shirahoshi."
Brett said seriously. "You've mastered one of the world's greatest powers. You are the king of all Sea Kings, and the ruler of these deep seas!"
"King..."
The little girl's eyes had already grown somewhat confused.
Even having attended school for several years, even being somewhat more knowledgeable than her sixteen-year-old self in the original story, she was ultimately still just a nine-year-old child.
"Your mission, what you need to do, is lead them to create a brand new era!"
"Eh?"
The little princess blinked, somewhat bewildered.
Brett pressed his lips together.
Indeed. Now was the time to try letting the little princess understand what she carried.
News of the Sea Kings' abnormal behavior at Fish-Man Island quickly spread, reaching certain ears.
Mary Geoise, the deepest depths of Pangaea Castle.
People often assumed the Room of Authority where the Five Elders worked was Pangaea Castle's most secret location.
But actually, many places within Pangaea Castle were even more hidden than the Room of Authority. One such place was here—the place called the Room of Flowers.
And at this moment in this room stood a solitary figure—a figure wrapping their body in a pitch-black robe. They held a newspaper reporting the Sea Kings' riot at Fish-Man Island.
"Poseidon has awakened as well."
Their voice was murky and low, making it impossible to determine whether they were male or female, old or young.
"Cleansing this world, extinguishing all lights—it seems this has become imperative."
Their voice gradually faded in this room. At this moment, no one knew what impact this would have on the world to come.
Brett naturally didn't know news of Shirahoshi's ability awakening had already spread—to the most troublesome person no less.
He was currently thinking about how to teach Princess Shirahoshi.
After all, this girl had not only inherited her mother's Observation Haki, but her personality was very similar to Queen Otohime's as well.