At Ryugu Palace,
In the Shell Tower, the massive and beautiful Princess Shirahoshi was buzzing with questions like a curious child.
"Really? Is there a moon in the sky outside, besides the sun?"
"Master Adrian, are the forests outside all green?"
"You must have been to so many places, right?"
Having never been to the surface, she was full of endless curiosity about the outside world. Adrian wore a gentle smile, patiently answering every one of Shirahoshi's questions, no matter how simple or silly they seemed. Although they had just met, he had a great impression of this innocent and sweet girl.
They were about the same age, so they got along well. After Shirahoshi learned from Neptune that Adrian had personally beheaded the culprit, Hody Jones, her affection for him exploded instantly. At this point, she probably would have smiled and counted the money if Adrian had sold her.
Of course, Adrian would never be willing to sell such a pure and beautiful little Poseidon. Naturally, he planned to nurture her until she was an adult and enjoy her company to the fullest.
Neptune watched the intimacy between Shirahoshi and Adrian and felt a sudden pang of jealousy. He hadn't been treated so warmly by her in years. His beautiful daughter, whom he had raised for fourteen years, was being "taken" by some kid in a single day. Wouldn't that make any man angry?
But as he looked at the genuine smile on Shirahoshi's face, Neptune finally chose to compromise. Besides, Adrian hadn't left him any other options. Now, Neptune could only bet the future of both Fish-Man Island and Shirahoshi on Adrian. He didn't know the full risk, but at the very least, Adrian's demonstrated strength was something he could never match.
Maybe this black-haired teenager could truly succeed Whitebeard and continue to protect Fish-Man Island. Whoever took over the island would expect protection money anyway, so why not choose someone who would also care for Shirahoshi? After all, he already owed her so much.
Years later, when Adrian had swept the seas and became the ruler of the world, a gray-haired Neptune would get drunk and boast about how he knew a hero when he saw one, and how he took the initiative to betroth his little girl to him.
Of course, that was a story for another time.
"Shirahoshi, do you want to see everything on land for yourself?" Adrian asked, stroking her silky, pink hair with a smile.
He had already factored the fate of Fish-Man Island and Shirahoshi into his plans. That's why he had taken the time to seek out the Golden Lion's location in the East Blue. He planned to use the Float-Float Fruit's ability to take the Fish-Man Island with him.
However, this was only one part of his plan. The Float-Float Fruit's strategic value was far greater than its use in combat. After the Summit War, he intended to build an unprecedented landmass with his own hands, bringing together Fish-Man Island, Amazon Lily, Sky Island, and other territories under his rule. He would then create a superpower that would eventually dominate the world.
But all of this could only begin once the Summit War he had so carefully planned reached a perfect conclusion. He was in no rush. The road had to be walked step by step, and the meal had to be eaten bite by bite. His plans were all interconnected, and so far, there hadn't been a single flaw.
"Really?!"
"I can really go to the land to see the sun and the forests?!"
Shirahoshi excitedly embraced Adrian. Her immense, soft body wrapped around him like being trapped inside a three-dimensional squishy ball. After a long moment, she noticed Neptune's horrified stare and her face flushed red as she released Adrian.
Adrian took a long, relieved breath. Phew! Luckily, he could hold his breath for a long time! Otherwise, he would've suffocated! If word got out that the future king of the world was killed by being hugged, he'd be the laughingstock of all transmigrators.
"Of course, and I'll also bring the entire Fish-Man Island to the surface so that all mermen can live a life no different from humans, and they'll never be discriminated against or trafficked again... What do you think?"
After hearing Adrian's words, both Shirahoshi and Neptune's eyes welled up. They seemed to see Princess Otohime's spirit in Adrian. That strong and determined woman, even in her last moments, had been thinking about how to move their kingdom to a land that shared the same sun as humans. This was Princess Otohime's ultimate dream.
"Mother, your wish will finally be coming true..." Shirahoshi murmured, weeping with joy.
Even Neptune, with tears in his eyes, said, "Otohime, did you hear that? Our son-in-law said he can bring Fish-Man Island to the surface. The dream you held on to your entire life will soon come true..."
Adrian: ...'This old guy can change his attitude faster than a flip-book'.
Bang!
A giant axe flew from a distance and slammed into the wall of the hard shell tower, making a loud, dull sound that shook the ground.
"Ah!" Shirahoshi screamed and instinctively threw herself into Adrian's arms... or rather, "threw" Adrian into her arms.
" %#￥@*..." Adrian mumbled for a long time before she finally released him again. So close! He almost had a nosebleed!
"Shirahoshi, don't be afraid. I'll take you out to play after I deal with that trash, Vander Decken IX."