Chapter 286: Bonds That Transcend Prejudice! Camie's Repayment of Gratitude
Above Gyoncorde Plaza.
Princess Shirahoshi's heartbreaking cry transformed into an invisible wave within the ten-thousand-meter deep sea, one that could not be captured by the naked eye but reached straight into the depths of the soul, instantly piercing through the murky seawater.
With this call, the previously calm surrounding seawater suddenly churned violently, kicking up incomparably wild undercurrents.
Immediately following this, amidst the incredulous gazes of everyone.
Several "Colossal Sea Kings," each several times larger than the noah—which itself was the size of half an island—and each with a unique appearance, burst out of the water without warning, as if summoned by an ancient deity.
These absolute overlords, who had been sleeping in the deep sea and surviving for tens of thousands of years.
Used their incomparably massive bodies and abyss-like maws, yet their movements appeared incredibly gentle, as they steadily caught the guide ropes and the edges of the bottom of the noah.
They forcefully brought this ancient giant ship, which was plummeting at high speed with destructive momentum, to a standstill in mid-air without a single scratch.
The crisis was averted.
Watching those few Colossal Sea Kings steadily catch the noah.
Victor's heart, which had been hanging high, finally settled back down, and he tilted his head back, letting out a long sigh of relief.
As his Chakra receded, the indestructible purple Susanoo armor enveloping the Nine-Tailed began to transform into crystalline purple light particles that filled the sky, dissipating like a deep-sea meteor shower.
The Nine-Tailed Fox flicked its massive tail, baring its sharp teeth, and let out a dissatisfied huff at Victor:
"Hmph! Victor! You brat!"
"Don't go bossing me around next time. I'm going to sleep, so don't bother me if there's nothing important!"
Complaints aside.
The massive scarlet figure subsequently turned into a thick cloud of white smoke and completely vanished into the cold seawater.
With the crisis resolved, Victor's figure flashed and he instantly appeared on the dilapidated deck of the noah.
Before Luffy, exhausted and reaching his limit, could fall forward, Victor extended his strong arms and caught him securely in his embrace.
Looking at the Captain in his arms, whose arms were torn and bleeding from excessive use of power.
The cold and sharp aura in Victor's eyes vanished completely, replaced by endless respect and tenderness.
He leaned down slightly and whispered, "You've worked hard, Captain."
Hearing this familiar and reassuring voice, Luffy's taut nerves finally relaxed completely.
He struggled to pull at the corners of his mouth, forming a bright and pure smile, then closed his eyes and sank into a deep slumber.
Victor carried the unconscious Luffy and descended steadily from the high altitude down to Gyoncorde Plaza.
Chopper and the Straw Hat crew rushed over, burning with anxiety.
Looking at the terrifying wounds on Luffy's body that were deep enough to see bone and still bleeding, Chopper was so anxious that tears streamed down his face.
This furry little reindeer's hands trembled violently as he quickly opened his medical kit to perform an emergency examination on Luffy:
"This is bad! Luffy has lost too much blood, and his vital signs are dropping rapidly!"
"He needs a massive blood transfusion immediately! He has Type F blood!"
Upon hearing this terrible news, Usopp slumped powerlessly to the ground.
He turned his head and shouted in terror and anxiety to the tens of thousands of Fishman civilians on the plaza below:
"Save Luffy!"
"He became like this to protect this island!"
"I beg you, who among you has Type F blood?"
"Even just a little bit will do! Please, save our Captain!"
However, faced with Usopp's desperate pleas, the plaza below fell into a deathly silence.
Fish-Man Island's ancient iron law of "strictly prohibiting blood transfusions to humans" was like a cold and heavy shackle, firmly locking everyone's steps.
Faced with this history of hatred spanning hundreds of years, the civilians wore expressions of conflict and lowered their heads in shame.
Yet, not a single person dared to stand up and take the first step to break the taboo.
Watching the Fishmen below who were still hesitating, the hope in Nami's eyes gradually cooled, eventually turning into a raging fury.
She stepped forward, pointed at the hundred thousand civilians below, and shouted angrily:
"What exactly are you afraid of?! What are you hesitating for?!"
"Luffy was willing to give up his own life to protect your home!"
"He almost died just now under that massive broken ship for your sake!"
"Now he only needs a little bit of your blood to save his life, and you are going to cling to that ridiculous hatred and law, watching your savior die before your eyes?!"
Nami's tears streamed out, and her voice echoed across the empty plaza:
"If this is the so-called 'peace' you have been pursuing all along, then it is absolutely disgusting!"
The atmosphere in the plaza was suppressed to the freezing point, with only Nami's questioning echoing in the air.
Just then, a crisp and firm girl's voice suddenly cut through the suffocating silence.
"Me! I am willing to donate blood for Lord Luffy!!"
Camie, holding Pappag the starfish in her arms, pushed through the crowd in front of her without hesitation and stepped out.
Although her eyes were rimmed with red, her gaze showed unprecedented determination.
She looked up at everyone before her and shouted loudly:
"Lord Luffy saved my life, and to repay his kindness, I am willing to accept any punishment!"
"Please use my blood!"
Hearing this, Chopper was moved to tears.
Nami rushed forward and hugged the brave and kind Fishman girl tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
Just as Chopper was fumbling to take out the syringe and equipment to draw blood from Camie, a thick, broad, blue hand gently reached out and blocked him.
"Little girl, your constitution is too weak; let me handle this."
A tall and sturdy figure pushed through the crowd and walked out with steady steps.
Knight of the Sea Jinbe walked calmly to the front of Chopper amidst the shocked, ashamed, and deeply awe-struck gazes of the island's civilians.
He did not look at the dumbfounded Neptune Army guards around him, nor did he pay attention to the so-called iron law.
Jinbe simply and calmly rolled up the sleeves of his large kimono, revealing an arm covered in battle scars but filled with immense power.
His gaze swept across the entire scene, his tone as firm as a rock:
"My blood type happens to be Type F as well, and I have thick skin and flesh, so take as much as you need."
"Take mine."
The people in the plaza watched as this former Seven Warlords of the Sea, the absolute hero of Fish-Man Island, voluntarily broke that insurmountable red line, and everyone's hearts were struck with an unprecedented shock.
Under the bated breath and focused gaze of the hundred thousand citizens of Fish-Man Island, Chopper carefully inserted a thin, transparent transfusion tube into Jinbe's arm.
The other end of the tube was connected to the Captain who had just saved the nation.
Bright red blood flowed along the transparent tube wall, carrying a scalding temperature, slowly into Luffy's body.
Under the illumination of the warm sunlight filtering through the bubbles in the deep sea, this dazzling yet vibrant red connected the Fishmen and the humans.
The dawn of peace finally descended upon Fish-Man Island.Chapter 287: The Hero's Carnival! A Shy Invitation and a Tsundere Fortune Teller
Silence fell over Gyoncorde Plaza.
As the blood transfusion continued, the slender, transparent tube seemed to become a bridge spanning the chasm between races.
The once glaring radiance of the "Sunlight Tree Eve" gradually softened at this moment, like a sacred golden veil, quietly draped over the two figures still connected by the transfusion tube.
Tens of thousands of Fishmen and merfolk in the square held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
All eyes were fixed intently on that gaunt figure, waiting quietly for the hero who had saved their nation to awaken.
In the deathly silence,
Luffy's complexion, which had been deathly pale from excessive blood loss, finally began to regain its rosy color, visible to the naked eye.
"It's served! This is a specially prepared, super-sized portion of Sea Kings nutritious rib soup!"
Just as Sanji brought out a platter of the specially prepared meal, still steaming hot and emitting a rich, meaty aroma, and walked quickly to the front,
Lying on the ground, Luffy's extraordinary nose twitched violently in the air twice.
The next second, Luffy snapped his eyes open.
His clear black eyes were once again filled with infinite vitality. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was not the platter of roasted meat within arm's reach, but Jinbe, who was sitting quietly beside him, silently donating blood.
Luffy looked at the Fishman before him, grinned, and revealed that iconic smile: "Hehe, Jinbe... thank you, your blood is really powerful! I feel filled with strength all over!"
Amidst Chopper's joyful cheers, Luffy yanked the needle from his arm and sat up, full of vigor.
He raised his hand, firmly pressing down on the Straw Hat he treasured above all else, and looked straight into Jinbe's surprised eyes: "Hey, Jinbe! Come be my crewmate! Let's go to the New World and raise some hell together!"
This impromptu invitation was like a bombshell, throwing the already breathless citizens of Fish-Man Island into unparalleled shock once again.
A human Captain who had led his crew to defeat an army of one hundred thousand rebels had, in front of all the island's citizens, so sincerely invited a Fishman hero to join his crew!
There was no condescending charity, no calculation of benefits, only the purest camaraderie.
Jinbe's eyes widened slightly. He quietly felt the blood flowing through his veins, as if it were now infused with the inextinguishable, warm passion of the Straw Hat in front of him.
He looked deeply at Luffy, remaining silent for a long time.
As a man who carried the heavy title of "Knight of the Sea" in the deep ocean and had spent his life striving for the greater good of his race, Jinbe had, deep down, long been completely won over by Luffy's fearless charisma during the Marineford War and this incident.
But he could not accept.
Jinbe slowly lowered his head. His tone carried a hint of undisguisable regret, but more importantly, an unshakable firmness: "Luffy, my friend... thank you for your regard; I am truly honored. But for now... I still have a duty of honor I must fulfill."
Jinbe took a deep breath and confessed his current situation to Luffy.
He mentioned the complex relationship of dependency he had with the "BIG MOM" Pirates, one of the Four Emperors.
For the future safety of the one hundred thousand citizens of Fish-Man Island, he had to go and personally sever these dangerous chains and settle all grievances.
Upon being rejected, Luffy showed no sign of disappointment; instead, he threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh.
He reached out with his powerful hand and slapped Jinbe's broad shoulder heavily: "Alright! Then it's a promise! When you've finished dealing with all those troublesome matters, you must come find us somewhere on the sea! Remember, there will always be a place for you, Jinbe, on our ship!"
King Neptune, not far away, watched this group of incredibly sincere heroes who had saved the entire nation. His aged eyes were filled with an indelible gratitude and deep respect.
The ruler of the deep sea took a deep breath and swung the golden trident in his hand, a symbol of royal power, high into the air.
His powerful voice, amplified by a special snail, clearly reached every corner of Gyoncorde Plaza: "Everyone! Do not let the hatred of the past blind you any longer! Thank them, show your gratitude! The Straw Hat are the true heroes of our Fish-Man Island!"
Following the King's resonant proclamation, the Fishman civilians in the plaza who had previously harbored grudges against humans finally let go of all their defenses and shackles.
"Thank you! Straw Hat Pirates!"
"Heroes! Lord Luffy is our hero!"
The square, suppressed for so long, instantly erupted, exploding with deafening cheers and cries of gratitude.
This wave of sound was like a raging tidal wave, rushing straight to the dome of Ryugu Palace, completely sweeping away the despair and fear of the past period.
Watching the square fully immersed in the carnival, the members of the Straw Hat Pirates looked at each other and finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
The fatigue accumulated from days of continuous fighting and running around was perfectly released at this moment.
On the deck of the thousand sunny, Robin, Nami, Sanji, and Chopper were gathered together, "diligently tending" to their newly awakened, severely injured Captain.
However, this so-called "tending" scene looked exceptionally intense.
In reality, Sanji was cooking frantically in the kitchen like an octopus.
Robin smiled elegantly, using the Hana Hana no Mi ability to manifest countless arms, passing stacks of plates like an assembly line.
Nami and Chopper were on the side, waving their fists and loudly cheering for Luffy's eating speed.
Luffy himself had completely transformed into a bottomless pit. Opening his abyssal mouth, he could swallow a plate several times larger than his face in one bite.
As for the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates, Zoro, Usopp, Franky, and Brook had completely cast aside their burdens as wanted criminals and pirates.
Holding huge mugs of ale and various musical instruments, they excitedly jumped off the deck and joined the ocean of joy among the Fishman civilians below.
They linked arms and danced with everyone, enjoying this hard-won victory celebration.
On the edge of the commotion, Princess Shirahoshi had already wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand.
Under the gentle and encouraging gaze of Victor, this princess, who had been trapped in the Hard-Shell Tower for ten whole years, for the first time took the initiative to flick her beautiful pink fish tail and swam bravely toward the civilians in the plaza.
She smiled, accepting the heartfelt cheers and adoration of the people with an awkward yet sincere demeanor.
Watching Shirahoshi's transformation, Victor looked at her with a smile and said softly: "See, Shirahoshi. The outside world really isn't that scary, right?"
Hearing Victor's words, Shirahoshi turned her head, her huge, beautiful eyes filled with excitement and gratitude as she looked at him.
Then, as if she had suddenly thought of something extremely important, Shirahoshi lowered her huge head, her two massive index fingers twisting together rapidly in front of her chest, appearing restless.
A charming blush instantly flew across her formerly fair cheeks. Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's buzz, filled with endless shyness, as she gathered her courage to extend an invitation: "Um... Lord Victor... If you have time later... could you, could you go to the Sea Forest with Shirahoshi... and accompany me to pay respects to my mother?"
Facing this cautious anticipation, Victor looked at the massive yet incredibly pure and kind-hearted girl before him, and a small smile slowly curled at the corners of his mouth.
Without any hesitation, he smiled and agreed immediately: "Sure, it would be my honor."
Receiving this affirmative reply, Shirahoshi snapped her head up, the shyness on her face instantly turning into endless joy.
She blossomed with a beautiful smile, like sunshine, capable of healing everything.
At this moment, on a very high ridge above Gyoncorde Plaza, the number one fortune teller of Fish-Man Island—Madam Shyarly, was standing quietly alone on a protruding, massive coral reef.
She looked down, overlooking the incredible scene below.
Humans and Fishmen, who were originally like water and fire, had now set aside all prejudices, linking arms and mingling joyfully together.
She brought her long pipe to her lips, took a deep puff, and then slowly exhaled a wisp of curling blue smoke.
Who would have thought... her own fortune-telling, which had always been hailed as "absolutely accurate" on Fish-Man Island and had never made a single mistake, had actually been wrong this time.
That crystal ball, which had predicted that "Fish-Man Island would surely be destroyed by a human wearing a Straw Hat," was broken, and so be it.
Just as that unreasonable Straw Hat had said, the future is not something that should be boxed in by a piece of broken rock.
Recalling the unmasked, bold words Luffy had spoken in the cafe earlier, and the soul-shaking Conqueror's Haki he displayed on the battlefield, Madam Shyarly whispered softly: "Pirate King?"
This fortune teller, who had always watched the world with a cold eye, suddenly found herself feeling very curious.
Her long-dormant heart even began to faintly look forward to this group of miracle-filled young people.
Where would their future lead, and what kind of storm would they stir up on this great sea?
Unconsciously, a heartfelt smile curled at the corners of Madam Shyarly's mouth.
Just as Madam Shyarly was rarely immersed in such soft thoughts, a carefree, crisp voice suddenly came from below.
"Madam Shyarly! So you're here!"
Camie, holding the starfish Pappag who was wearing sunglasses, happily flicked her fish tail and swam up from below.
"Didn't you say in the shop earlier that you absolutely wouldn't come to join in this kind of excitement?"
Caught red-handed by her subordinate, Madam Shyarly's body stiffened slightly.
She immediately retracted the smile from her lips and, within a second, returned to her usual cold, lazy proprietress persona.
She averted her gaze and looked elsewhere: "Ah... it's nothing. I was just bored staying in the shop, came out for a walk, and accidentally ended up here. Don't overthink it."
However, the naive Camie did not understand the proprietress's clumsy cover-up at all.
Instead, she covered her mouth and giggled on the side, and even dared to reach out and point at Madam Shyarly's mouth: "Madam Shyarly, stop trying to fool me! I saw it very clearly just now, you were smiling very happily!"
The air suddenly quieted down at this moment.
Madam Shyarly glanced at Camie with her eyes slanted.
She slowly brought her pipe to her lips, took a deep puff, and then exhaled a thick cloud of white smoke toward Camie's face, speaking in a flat, emotionless voice: "Camie."
"Yes! Here!" Camie immediately stood at attention like a reflex, her expression serious.
Madam Shyarly looked at her, her red lips parted slightly, pronouncing the death sentence: "Your bonus for next month is gone."
"Eh?!?!?"
Accompanied by Camie's miserable scream, as if struck by a bolt of lightning.
This great incident of Fish-Man Island, which shook the entire deep sea and nearly overturned the nation, finally came to a most perfect conclusion in an atmosphere of joy and harmony.Chapter 288: A Feast Celebrating the Whole Nation! A Haven of Gentleness Amidst the Uproar and Dreams of the Future
King Neptune, in order to express his heartfelt gratitude to the Straw Hat Pirates for saving Fish-Man Island, issued a supreme directive, generously opening the royal storehouse of Ryugu Palace, which was filled with delicacies.
Under the concerted efforts of the Neptune Army and the citizens, the entire Gyoncorde Plaza was quickly transformed into an incredibly vast open-air banquet hall.
Countless exquisite coral tables and chairs were neatly arranged across the plaza.
Thousands of colorful deep-sea pearls hung in mid-air, emitting brilliant halos of light, illuminating the plaza—once filled with despair—as brightly as day.
At this moment, Sanji had completely transformed into a radiant "God of Chefs."
Not only did he swaggeringly direct the hundreds of royal chefs of Ryugu Palace, but he also personally took to the kitchen to process the top-tier Sea Kings ingredients that had just been salvaged.
Accompanied by the scorching flames of "Diable Jambe" and his dazzling, superb knife skills, one after another, fragrant, top-tier deep-sea delicacies were served onto the tables in the plaza like a flowing stream.
Looking at the pretty mermaid ladies surrounding him, holding fine wine and looking at him with star-filled eyes, Sanji took a deep breath of the fragrant air, feeling that this place was simply the "ALL BLUE" he had dreamed of.
He was so happy that his whole body melted into wavy noodles, two streams of nosebleed surging in his nasal cavity, standing on the verge of a fanatical eruption at any moment.
In the very center of the banquet, Luffy sat cross-legged in front of a mountain-high pile of roasted meat.
His hands grabbed the food in front of him like phantoms; not only was his mouth stuffed full, but he could even hold up a meat bone and cheer excitedly while chewing indistinctly.
That terrifying appetite, like a bottomless pit, made the jaws of the surrounding Fishman civilians almost drop to the ground.
In a corner of the plaza, Zoro was surrounded by a large group of enthusiastic Fishman swordsmen and Neptune Army officers.
Facing the barrels of aged deep-sea wine offered by everyone, this Marimo swordsman did not refuse any of it, tilting his head back and shouting that it was satisfying.
He even directly competed with these burly Neptune Army soldiers in drinking capacity.
Before long, a large area of drunks lay scattered around him, while he remained unchanged, merely letting out a satisfied burp.
As the wine and food were consumed, the atmosphere of the banquet gradually reached its climax.
The "traditional skills" of the Straw Hat Pirates were performed on cue.
Usopp, Chopper, and Luffy were seen jumping onto the long table with their arms around each other's shoulders.
With ties comically tied around their heads and chopsticks absurdly stuck in their nostrils and mouths, they danced the "Loach Dance," which had absolutely no dignity to speak of.
This funny and ridiculous appearance immediately made the surrounding mermaid children burst into laughter, their laughter merging into one.
Brook straightened his suit, took his violin, and stood on the highest platform.
Accompanied by the drawing of the bowstrings, he played that soul song belonging to all men of the sea—"Binks' Sake".
The melodious and cheerful rhythm instantly infected everyone in the venue.
At this moment, whether it was the humans from the blue sea or the fishmen and merfolk from the seabed, everyone cast aside their past barriers and prejudices.
Everyone held hands, singing loudly and dancing gracefully under this deep-sea dome that looked like a starry sky.
Just as the center of the plaza was bustling with noise and excitement, turning into an ocean of joy, there was a quiet spot in a corner of the plaza, covered with soft and comfortable coral velvet, where few people came to disturb.
This place formed a small world of its own, isolated from the noise outside, filled with a unique atmosphere of warmth and intimacy.
At this moment, Victor was lazily leaning against a soft cushion, but his eyes appeared somewhat hollow and dull.
Because at this moment, his consciousness was completely immersed in the depths of his mind, carefully checking the generous hidden rewards for this "Save Fish-Man Island" mission just issued by the System.
This mission directly and generously gave a full 100,000 Ninja Points.
And after the core rewards were distributed, the System unexpectedly issued a rare, somewhat "humanized," playful notification sound:
[Ding! System special friendly gift—one special skill library blind box.]
Victor raised his eyebrows in surprise, and with a thought, he casually clicked on this blind box.
A dazzling golden light flashed in his mind, followed by a few large characters:
[Acquired Skill: Enhanced · Multi-Size Technique].
Victor looked at this Ninjutsu lying quietly in his skill bar, and his handsome brows immediately furrowed tightly.
"Multi-Size Technique? Isn't that the Ninjutsu the Akimichi clan uses to make themselves bigger?"
Victor complained silently in his heart, "System, are you short-circuited?"
"I have big killers like the Complete Body Susanoo and the Nine-Tailed now, why would I need this low-level physical enlargement Ninjutsu?"
"Is it because you think the target isn't big enough, so I should specifically make myself bigger to be a sandbag and get beaten up?"
However, just as he was about to throw this skill into a corner to gather dust, his brain operated rapidly.
Size difference... huge body size...
Suddenly, Princess Shirahoshi's huge, mountain-like yet incredibly soft body, as well as that peerlessly beautiful face, flashed across his mind like lightning.
Victor recalled the scene of Shirahoshi blushing and shyly inviting him to the Sea Forest on the plaza today...
If he were a human of normal size, there would indeed be an insurmountable "physical gap" in many things when interacting with such a giant beauty.
But if he had this enhanced Multi-Size Technique...
Thinking of this, after a long time, the corners of Victor's mouth twitched slightly.
He gritted his teeth in his heart, with a subtle emotion that could not be refuted, and secretly cursed:
"... System. You're really a thoughtful little genius, aren't you."
Just as Victor was still "pitting his wits" against the System, in reality, Robin and Nami were snuggling into his broad embrace, one on the left and one on the right.
The two peerless beauties each held a cup of sweet and mellow deep-sea fruit wine, sipping it while chatting and giggling.
As they chatted, the topic naturally fell on Victor and the Nine-Tailed giant fox he had summoned that shocked the whole audience.
Just then, the two finally noticed Victor's state of being dazed for several minutes.
Robin was slightly puzzled. She stretched out her fair and slender jade hand, waved it gently in front of Victor's eyes, and found that this man had no reaction at all.
Seeing this, Nami, who was on the side, had a flash of mischief in her watery eyes.
She stretched out her slender fingers and unceremoniously pinched Victor's high-bridged nose.
Just as Victor's brows furrowed slightly from being unable to breathe, Robin raised her head slightly.
This intellectual Archaeologist had a touch of craftiness belonging to a mature woman in her eyes, and her luscious red lips pressed directly onto Victor's mouth.
"Ah! Robin! You're too cunning!"
Seeing this scene, Nami, who was on the side, immediately let out a dissatisfied coquettish cry like a kitten protecting its food.
Feeling the pinching force on the tip of his nose and the charming warmth on the corner of his lips, Victor's consciousness instantly returned from the system space.
As soon as he lowered his head, he met Robin's beautiful face close at hand, and those deep eyes full of smiles.
Victor chuckled, not only did he not let her go, but he domineeringly took the initiative, cupped the back of Robin's head, and kissed her back deeply, tasting the fragrance of the fruit wine remaining between her lips and teeth.
After the kiss, Robin panted slightly with a flushed face.
Under Nami's pouting, resentful gaze, Victor turned his head with a smile.
Upholding the excellent principle of "treating everyone equally," he accurately kissed Nami's alluring red lips, blocking all the Cat Burglar's dissatisfaction, turning it into strands of sweet, low moans.
After the lingering affection, Victor stretched out his strong arms and pulled his two red-faced, panting confidantes tightly into his embrace.
Robin and Nami were like two docile kittens, obediently leaning against his broad and exceptionally warm chest.
They listened quietly to Victor's steady and powerful heartbeat, feeling an unprecedented sense of security.
The three of them snuggled in this peaceful little world, continuing the unfinished topic just now.
From the mysterious origin of that Nine-Tailed fox to the long-lost peace that Fish-Man Island had finally ushered in.
Finally, the topic inevitably turned to the distant and hopeful future.
"When Luffy really fulfills his dream and becomes the Pirate King on this sea."
"When we have traveled to every corner of the world and drawn a complete world sea chart."
"When we find the truth about that erased hundred years of blank history..."
Nami lay on Victor's chest, her eyes flashing with longing.
The three whispered and outlined the peaceful years after those dreams were completed.
They seriously discussed where to go to build a big house with a Tangerine Grove and a library once everything settled down.
There, they would be together forever and spend the rest of their lives.
The hourglass of time flowed slowly in the bottomless seawater.
The grand banquet in the center of the plaza was still brightly lit and noisy, with songs and laughter resounding through the clouds.
And in that unnoticed, dim corner, those beautiful fantasies about the future gradually turned into fragmented and ambiguous giggles as the atmosphere heated up.
Then, these sounds intertwined and merged, turning into slightly rapid, hot breathing.
In this charming deep-sea night, another moving movement was played.Chapter 289: Hidden Intoxication! The Misty Bathroom and the Princess Who Missed Her Mark
At the edge of the noisy ocean of joy.
In a hidden corner perfectly concealed by lush coral thickets and giant seaweed,
Victor's broad and powerful palms were steadily supporting Nami's slender waist, which was trembling slightly due to excessive excitement and unavoidable fatigue.
He leaned back, his body reclining against a soft and comfortable coral fleece backrest.
On that handsome face, his brows were slightly furrowed due to an indescribable sense of comfort.
Beside him, Robin's face was slightly flushed, her fair skin tinged with a moving shade of crimson.
This "devil child," who was usually elegant and intellectual on the sea, appeared somewhat nervous at this moment.
Her beautiful eyes, like autumn waters, were warily scanning the surroundings.
She was afraid that in this grand carnival, some drunk, sightless fellow might suddenly stumble into this private territory belonging only to the three of them.
After the storm had passed.
Aided by the sweet fruit wine she had drunk earlier, Miss Navigator, who was already in high spirits, finally exhausted all the stamina in her body at this moment.
She was like a kitten drained of its strength, limply collapsing in exhaustion onto Victor's broad chest.
Her orange hair was slightly damp with fine sweat, clinging to her cheeks, and a sweet smile that was tired yet incredibly satisfied hung on the corners of her mouth.
And just like that, accompanied by Victor's steady and powerful heartbeat, she fell fast asleep.
Seeing Nami already deep in sleep, Robin hurried forward.
Blushing, she gently helped Nami tidy up her messy clothes and cleaned up the aftermath in this hidden corner.
Recalling just now, Nami, emboldened by that slight tipsiness, had actually dared to propose an idea that even she found utterly shameful.
And what made her feel even more ashamed and indignant was...
Victor, that bad guy, hadn't hesitated at all; he had agreed with a laugh on the spot and put it directly into action.
At the thought of those bold scenes just now, Robin's heart was still beating abnormally fast, like a deer racing, unable to settle for a long time.
After tidying everything up, Robin finally couldn't help herself.
She turned around and gave Victor a coquettish, reproachful look.
That look was seven parts shyness and three parts blame.
With a myriad of charms flowing in her eyes, she seemed to be silently accusing the two of them of being far too reckless just now.
Faced with Robin's charming "reproach," Victor not only didn't restrain himself but instead let out a light laugh.
He turned his body, naturally and with infinite tenderness leaned in, and planted a kiss as light as a feather on Robin's still-flushed, delicate cheek.
Then, Victor lowered his head slightly, his thin lips approaching Robin's small earlobe.
He whispered a few sweet words specifically meant to coax Robin.
As his warm breath hit her ear, Robin quietly listened to those heart-pounding sweet words, and the trace of blame in her eyes gradually vanished into thin air.
In its place was a look of doting and tenderness that said, "I really can't do anything about you."
As the night deepened, the carnival of the banquet continued.
Victor gently carried the sleeping Nami on his broad back.
He reached out his other hand and tightly interlaced his fingers with Robin's fair and soft hand.
The three of them thus quietly avoided the banquet crowds on the plaza who were still shoulder-to-shoulder and dancing wildly.
They followed the quiet waterway towards the luxurious guest room King Neptune had specially prepared for them on the highest level of Ryugu Palace.
The path was clear, and after pushing open that heavy and magnificent shell door, they arrived at this lavishly decorated royal guest room.
Robin considerately stepped forward and took the still peacefully sleeping Nami from Victor's arms.
Looking at Nami's rosy cheeks, she said softly:
"Victor, you take a rest first."
"I'll go help Nami bathe and... clean her up."
"If she sleeps like this all night, she'll feel very uncomfortable when she wakes up tomorrow."
With that, Robin carefully held Nami and turned to walk towards the spacious and luxurious bathroom within the guest room.
However, just as Robin carried Nami into the bathroom and turned around to close the bathroom door,
A slender arm suddenly reached in from outside, unerringly and silently grabbing the bathroom doorframe, steadily preventing the door from closing.
Under Robin's slightly startled and somewhat shy gaze,
Victor's lips wore that signature lazy smile.
He squeezed through the gap in the door unhurriedly, and his tone was righteous to the extreme:
"Since bathing is so much work, how can you manage alone?
"As your boyfriend, I'll come and help you both wash too."
As soon as he finished speaking, before Robin could voice a protest,
There were several soft "rustling" sounds.
Victor's black coat, along with Robin's slim-fitting deep purple dress and Nami's clothes, were scattered in a messy pile on the smooth floor at the bathroom entrance.
The bathroom door was finally gently closed.
Outside the frosted glass door, the soft and ambiguous warm yellow light from inside the bathroom shone through.
As the water temperature in the bathtub continued to rise, the rising and diffusing white steam began to spread wantonly in the small space.
The steam seeped out along the edges of the door, condensing into a layer of fine water droplets on the glass door, making the entire glass even more hazy and inscrutable.
Through this thick layer of water mist, vaguely...
A tall, robust figure and a graceful curve could be seen tightly overlapping in the warm yellow light and shadow.
In this quiet guest room, the only thing that could be heard now was the constant sound of splashing water coming from the bathroom.
And accompanying this suggestive sound of flowing water was Robin's voice, which was usually calm and intellectual.
Only, at this moment, her voice's original composed rhythm was completely disrupted:
"Victor..."
"Stop messing around... stop it..."
"Nami is still sleeping here..."
However, the only response she got was Victor's low, husky chuckle.
Immediately following that was an even more unrestrained splashing on the water's surface.
Under such amorous movements, even the air outside the bathroom door seemed to be infected by this heatwave, gradually becoming scorching and boiling.
...
Meanwhile, down at Gyoncorde Plaza.
The grand banquet that had shaken the entire Fish-Man Island was now drawing to a close.
Most of the civilians and pirates were already dead drunk, lying scattered all over the plaza, snoring loudly.
Princess Shirahoshi had been deeply moved by the warm and joyful atmosphere at the banquet.
Under the earnest persuasion of her brothers, she couldn't resist the temptation and secretly drank a little bit of sweet deep-sea fruit wine.
For the princess, who had a massive physique but never touched alcohol, the power of this tiny bit of alcohol was still not to be underestimated.
At this moment, on her massive and exquisitely beautiful face, two cute and alluring blushes like the sunset glow were blooming, and her eyes had become watery.
Aided by this slight tipsiness, Shirahoshi kept encouraging herself in her heart.
She took a deep breath and secretly decided to go and invite Lord Victor right now to that Sea Forest, which held great significance for her.
With her hands clasped in front of her chest, filled with the anticipation of a young girl's first awakening of love, she began to search all over the broad plaza for that black figure who could make her feel incredibly at ease with just one look.
However, things did not go as she wished.
Shirahoshi widened her eyes and carefully searched every corner of the entire plaza.
She didn't find even a trace of Victor.
"Where did Lord Victor go?"
Shirahoshi anxiously swam her massive fish tail and came before the mountain of roasted meat.
She lowered her head to ask Luffy, who was still stuffing his face with his eyes closed, and the other members of the Straw Hat Pirates who were still fooling around nearby.
"Lord Luffy, excuse me, have you seen Lord Victor?"
However, Luffy just shook his head while chewing meat indistinctly.
Usopp, Chopper, and the others also expressed that they hadn't noticed the Vice Captain's whereabouts for a while.
Just as Shirahoshi was feeling a wave of disappointment, Zoro, who was holding a wine barrel and was half-drunk, let out a burp.
He glanced at Shirahoshi, his eyes widening slightly, and then he muttered a low reproach:
"That... red-eyed bastard... *hic*"
Then he raised his arm and used his scabbard to point towards the edge of the plaza, to a dark corner very well-hidden by giant coral thickets.
Shirahoshi looked in the direction of the scabbard and was instantly overjoyed.
She happily thanked Zoro repeatedly:
"Thank you, Mr. Swordsman!"
Then, she impatiently swished her beautiful pink fish tail and swam quickly toward that hidden direction with a heart full of joy.
"Lord Victor, Shirahoshi is coming..."
However, when she arrived with a heart beating like a racing deer and used her massive hands to carefully part the layers of lush coral thickets,
The sight before her left her completely stunned.
That soft coral fleece cushion was empty; not even a shadow of a person remained.
Only in the air did there seem to be a vague, lingering scent of a mysterious mixture of sweetness and musk.
Unwilling to give up, Shirahoshi lowered her head and looked all around, but she still found nothing.
The black figure she was longing for had long since vanished without a trace.
With her hopes dashed, her massive eyes, which were originally full of expectation and light, dimmed instantly.
Her mountain-like body also slumped slightly like a deflated balloon.
Shirahoshi propped up her somewhat hot cheeks with her hands and let out a long, helpless sigh.
In this quiet late night, her voice carried a bit of a young girl's unique coquettishness, grievance, and deep disappointment:
"It seems... I can only wait until daybreak tomorrow."
"Honestly... I finally managed to pluck up my courage tonight..."Chapter 290: The Wonderful Misunderstanding in the Sea Forest! Grandma's 'Approval'
The next morning.
Warm sunlight penetrated the giant bubble enveloping Ryugu Palace, quietly spilling into this luxurious and spacious guest room.
Victor slowly woke up from his gentle slumber.
He turned his head and looked at the two people still sleeping peacefully beside him, his eyes tender.
Miss Navigator had worked very hard last night, and she was sleeping exceptionally soundly at this moment.
Victor didn't wake Nami; instead, he leaned forward, preparing to wake Robin on the other side.
In the beautiful morning, a bit of intimate interaction between the two was naturally unavoidable.
Robin was awakened by his warm breath, a hint of laziness in her eyes that were like autumn waters.
She dissatisfactionly stretched out her fair arm, lightly hooking it around Victor's neck, coquettishly telling him not to move around.
In this quiet morning tenderness, Victor thoroughly enjoyed the unique gentle treatment of a mature older sister.
After some playfulness, Victor reached out to embrace the slightly panting, flushed-cheeked Robin, softly asking her if she wanted to go to the legendary 'Sea Forest' together later.
That place was not only a sacred land of Fish-Man Island.
It also buried many unknown pasts of this country, perhaps containing the 'history' she had always been searching for.
Hearing the word 'history', Robin, as an archaeologist, had her eyes light up instantly.
She immediately nodded in agreement, leaving the warm embrace without hesitation, and quickly got up to tidy her slightly messy purple clothes.
Before long, the two were fully dressed.
Just as Victor pushed open the heavy door of the guest room, he saw the end of the corridor not far away.
That massive and beautiful pink figure was anxiously swimming back and forth, her giant fish tail drawing arcs in mid-air.
The moment she saw Victor walk out, Shirahoshi's movements came to a sudden halt.
A moving blush instantly flew onto her gorgeous cheeks as she swam quickly toward Victor.
She took a deep breath, her giant hands nervously interlaced, her two index fingers constantly poking at each other.
Stuttering, she issued the invitation she had failed to complete in the plaza last night:
"Um... Lord Victor..."
"Today... could you accompany Shirahoshi to the Sea Forest?"
Looking at this Mermaid Princess who had gathered all her courage, Victor smiled and nodded, readily agreeing.
Receiving an affirmative answer, Shirahoshi immediately revealed a beautiful smile.
But immediately after, Victor stepped aside and pointed to Robin beside him.
He asked the Princess with a light smile if he could bring along this historian who had quite a bit of research on history.
When Shirahoshi saw Victor and Robin standing together, with an intimacy and understanding that anyone could see, she unconsciously pouted her rosy lips slightly.
She had originally been full of joy, wanting to spend time alone with Lord Victor.
At this moment, an indescribable sourness and discomfort inexplicably welled up in her heart.
But being kind by nature, she still forced a smile and nodded obediently to show her agreement.
Robin, who had been standing to the side, naturally took in all the subtle micro-expressions on Shirahoshi's face.
She raised an eyebrow imperceptibly, laughing secretly in her heart.
It seemed this Mermaid Princess, who had been locked in the Hard-Shell Tower and was completely ignorant of the world, had likely developed some peculiar adolescent feelings for Victor.
She was clearly mistaking the sense of security Victor brought in her desperate situation for romantic love between a man and a woman.
But Robin looked up, sizing up Shirahoshi's exaggeratedly massive size, which was like a small pink mountain.
Then she turned her head and looked at the tall Victor beside her.
In front of Shirahoshi's massive body, Victor's height was only as big as one of her fingers!
Robin chuckled to herself: This is simply impossible!
This massive size difference, which broke physical common sense, simply could not be bridged.
Thinking of this, Robin completely set her mind at ease.
She was certain that after the Straw Hat crew finished their adventure and left Fish-Man Island...
As time passed, this Princess's delusion would naturally and slowly return to normal.
...
Victor accompanied Shirahoshi, bringing Robin along; the group passed through beautiful coral clusters and arrived at the sacred land deep within Fish-Man Island—the 'Sea Forest'.
This was a quiet and solemn area of the sea, with beautiful coral trees scattered in an orderly fashion across the seabed.
It was also a giant graveyard of ships, burying countless shipwrecks, and the resting place of Queen Otohime, who gave her life for peace.
Here, they happened to encounter Knight of the Sea Jinbe and King Neptune, who were standing before the tomb with solemn expressions.
Jinbe and the King were currently having a headache over how to decipher an ancient stone tablet deep in the forest.
Meeting Robin at this time was perfect; knowing the knowledge of this Ohara survivor, they immediately invited her with high hopes to help decipher the inscription.
Hearing that it might be a poneglyph, Robin's intellectual and elegant face immediately showed an excited expression full of anticipation.
She gave Victor a look and then followed them without hesitation into the depths of the Sea Forest to investigate.
Seeing these 'hindrances' leave one after another...
A sudden, inexplicably strong joy welled up in Shirahoshi's heart.
She had finally gotten her wish, coming alone with Lord Victor to the Queen's grave in this quiet sacred land.
Shirahoshi put away her smile, her expression becoming solemn.
She pressed her hands together, placing them piously before her full chest, closed her beautiful large eyes, and began to pay respects to the mother she missed day and night.
Her lips moved slightly, as if she were whispering some young girl's secrets to her mother.
Halfway through the prayer, she actually peeked open one eye, guiltily stealing a glance at Victor, who was standing quietly beside her.
Finding that he wasn't paying attention to her, she immediately closed her eyes and continued her low whispering.
Only this time, a clear sense of cheerfulness and sweetness that no one could hide was added to her soft voice.
Victor stood to the side, hands in his pockets.
He felt that just staring blankly while the young girl was paying her respects seemed a bit impolite.
To show his respect for this Queen, he bent down and picked up a shell with a very beautiful texture from the nearby sand.
He stepped forward, gently placed the shell before the tombstone, pressed his hands together, and pretentiously muttered a few words of blessing and peace in his heart.
Just as Victor finished muttering and was about to straighten up...
His gaze suddenly noticed something glowing in a coral crevice next to the tombstone.
He leaned in closer and saw that a very beautiful, quite large pink gemstone, emitting a soft glow, was actually stuck there.
Victor raised an eyebrow, a flash of surprise in his eyes:
"Hmm?
"Such a large gemstone?"
"And this crystal-clear quality..."
"If I take it out to sell, it should be worth quite a bit of money."
Out of curiosity, he reached out to pry it from the crevice, holding it in his hand to examine it carefully.
Shirahoshi also happened to finish her whispering at this time.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Victor holding a glowing giant pink gemstone in his hand, examining it, and she asked curiously what it was.
Victor toyed with the gemstone in his hand casually, explaining offhandedly that he had just happened to find it in front of her mother's tombstone.
However, hearing the phrase 'found in front of mother's tombstone'...
Shirahoshi's cheeks instantly became as vivid as a ripe red apple.
She blinked her large eyes, staring blankly at the pink gemstone in Victor's hand.
Shirahoshi's inner world began a tsunami-like frenzy of shouting and wild imagination:
"Could it be...
"Is it Mother's soul in heaven that heard my prayer just now?!"
"Is this gemstone the approval and blessing given by Mother?!"
"Thank you, Mother!"
"Shirahoshi will definitely be happy!"
With the power of her strong imagination, Shirahoshi took a deep breath; she, who was originally timid, now mustered the greatest courage of her life.
Blushing, with eyes full of immense expectation, she said softly to Victor:
"Lord Victor..."
"Can you... give that gemstone... to... me?"
Victor looked at Shirahoshi's expectant gaze, completely failing to 'get' the romantic thoughts swirling a thousand times in this young girl's heart.
He simply thought that since this was something from her mother's grave, returning it to its owner was only right.
Moreover, he himself had no strong desire for these worldly jewels and ornaments.
Thus, with a slight movement of his fingertips, he casually controlled a weak gravitational force to gently lift the shining pink gemstone, causing it to float steadily onto Shirahoshi's outspread giant palm.
Shirahoshi held the gemstone in both hands, her heart jumping with joy.
She examined it closely with a very gentle gaze, as if holding the most precious, priceless treasure in the world.
Then, under Victor's slightly puzzled gaze, she quietly reached out her other hand and carefully placed the gemstone on her ring finger.
She carefully compared the size of the gemstone and her finger, as if trying on a sacred token of love.
At this moment, a beautiful smile sweeter than sunlight overflowed from the corners of the Mermaid Princess's mouth.