Chapter 296: An Enchanting Night in the Deep Sea! Victor's Pie in the Sky
Under the dark deep sea, time had unknowingly slipped away, arriving at the dead of night.
However, within this grand Hard-Shell Tower, which had witnessed a decade of solitude, there was no sign of peace returning.
The massive and sturdy luxurious bed, originally built to accommodate the Mermaid Princess, continued to vibrate violently, emitting a blush-inducing swaying sound.
In the dim corner of the Hard-Shell Tower, Shirahoshi's loyal pet shark, Megalo, was utterly miserable.
It couldn't sleep at all due to the continuous, earth-shattering commotion.
This once ferocious deep-sea beast was now covering its eyes tightly with its two large fins, pitifully shrinking its enormous body into a huge discarded seashell.
It trembled rhythmically with the bed, not daring to make even the slightest sound.
Returning to the messy bed, the battle had unknowingly reversed.
Shirahoshi was now above Victor.
This Mermaid Princess, who was usually timid and weak, now had an unprecedented excitement and a heart-pounding fervor in her expression, her large hands tightly wrapped around Victor's strong neck.
Her beautiful, long, massive fishtail, covered in dazzling pink scales, was like a possessive, soft giant python, tightly coiling around Victor's lower body, firmly imprisoning him in the tender cage she had woven.
Victor's mood at this moment could be described as a mix of emotions.
Not only did he have to concentrate on maintaining the massive Chakra consumption of the Multi-Size Technique to keep his giant form,
but he also had to face the Mermaid Princess's high-intensity, continuous combat.
Even Victor, whose physical strength far exceeded normal human limits, was now staring blankly at the high ceiling of the Hard-Shell Tower, his eyes slightly unfocused, lost in deep self-doubt.
Shirahoshi leaned down slightly, her exquisite face close to Victor's ear.
At this moment, her face was as rosy and delicate as a ripe cherry, and her bangs were completely soaked with fine sweat.
A few damp strands of hair clung messily to her flushed cheeks, exuding an astonishing and primal allure:
"Lord Victor... why do you look like that? Are you uncomfortable?"
Her voice was soft, sweet, and carried a hint of insatiable coyness.
Hearing the girl's question, Victor snapped out of his self-doubt.
He stretched out his broad hands, embraced her full and voluptuous body, tilted his head slightly, and gently kissed her burning cheek:
"Your Fishman stamina... is truly terrifying."
Shirahoshi heard this exclamation, which was not exactly a compliment, but instead, like a playful kitten, she affectionately rubbed her burning cheek against Victor's side face.
Her breath was like orchids, her warm exhalations fanning his neck:
"Because it feels so good..."
Her voice grew softer, with a hint of shyness.
"At first, Shirahoshi thought it would be scary."
"My mother told me before she passed away that human men are very fragile and should be treated carefully..."
At this point, she irresistibly lowered her head again, precisely capturing Victor's lips, filling his entire vision.
"But Lord Victor isn't fragile at all," she mumbled indistinctly.
Her pink long hair fell, shrouding their faces in an ambiguous shadow.
"So... please hold on a little longer, Lord Victor..."
As soon as her words fell, Shirahoshi irresistibly lowered her head again, accurately capturing Victor's lips, filling his vision and breath.
The large bed began to vibrate violently once more.
The entire Hard-Shell Tower seemed to tremble before this power.
The seashell decorations embedded in the walls made a faint clattering sound, and the fish swimming outside the water window were startled by the vibration and scattered.
After a moment of frantic thrusting, accompanied by Shirahoshi arching her slender neck and letting out a sweet, long moan,
this protracted deep-sea storm finally subsided.
Shirahoshi was completely exhausted, her entire massive body slumping softly onto Victor's broad and firm chest.
Her full chest heaved violently, and she gasped greedily for oxygen with her red lips parted.
Her pure and flawless eyes were now veiled with a hazy, shimmering mist.
She lay half-prone, staring intently at Victor beneath her, her gaze still lingering with an unfulfilled aftertaste.
Victor's chest rose and fell slightly. He smiled and raised his hand, gently stroking her pink hair, which was damp with sweat.
He then naturally pulled her soft, hot body tightly into his embrace, closed his eyes, and quietly enjoyed the peace and warmth after the storm.
For a long time, only their intertwined breathing could be heard in the tower.
Shirahoshi obediently pressed her face against Victor's left chest, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat.
An unprecedented sense of security enveloped her, but it was accompanied by a hint of sorrow at the impending separation.
"Lord Victor..."
Shirahoshi's voice became very soft, filled with deep attachment and reluctance.
"Can you... not leave?"
She looked up slightly, her huge eyes brimming with anticipation:
"And Shirahoshi... in Fish-Man Island... can we stay together forever?"
Hearing Shirahoshi's heartfelt plea, Victor's hand, which was stroking her smooth back, paused slightly.
He opened his eyes, looked at Shirahoshi's expectant face, and finally shook his head silently.
"I'm sorry, Shirahoshi."
"On that vast ocean, we still have unfulfilled dreams and things we must do."
"My companions are still waiting for me; I can't just stop here."
Seeing the disappointment and tears about to well up in Shirahoshi's eyes, Victor's lips curved into a gentle smile:
"But I will take responsibility for you to the very end."
He extended a finger, gently wiping away the tear that was about to fall from the corner of her eye, and solemnly made a promise:
"After we fulfill our dream of sailing, reach the end of this sea, and witness all the sights..."
"At that time, I will personally return to Fish-Man Island and propose to your father, King Neptune."
"And then, marry you."
Hearing this sudden marriage proposal, Shirahoshi was stunned.
She blinked her huge eyes, forgetting to shed tears, and just stared blankly at the man before her.
A few seconds later, when she had fully processed the meaning of his words,
the curve of her lips began to widen uncontrollably, blooming into an exquisitely beautiful and radiant smile.
She nodded heavily, her voice clear and firm:
"Okay! Shirahoshi will wait for you! No matter how long, Shirahoshi will always wait for you!"
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Just as Victor let out a long sigh of relief, thinking he could finally get some good rest and recover his nearly depleted Chakra and overdrawn physical strength,
Shirahoshi, who had been obediently lying on his chest, suddenly propped herself up with her hands on his chest, straightening her proud body again.
She looked down at Victor, her once pure and innocent eyes now containing a hint of slyness and strong possessiveness—the gleam of a predator locking onto its prey.
Shirahoshi leaned down slightly, her red lips slightly parted, and extended her tongue, seductively licking her luscious red lips.
She looked at Victor, her voice soft but insistent:
"Since Lord Victor will be at sea for so long in the future..."
"There will be a very long time when we won't see each other..."
She paused, her gaze growing even more fervent: "Then, it would be best if we did all those future times in advance, right here and now."
The moment her words fell, the beautiful fishtail covered in pink scales coiled tightly around him again.
The scales slightly bristled, each one seeming to kiss Victor's skin.
Feeling the irresistible embrace of the fishtail and the renewed warm sensation,
Victor's handsome face, which had just held a loving and gentle smile, instantly froze at that moment...Chapter 297: Aftermath of Declaring War on a Four Emperors! Emergency Meeting and the Sleepless Hard-Shell Tower
After Big Mom's envoys scurried away with the treasures meant as compensation.
Inside a spacious and luxurious guest room in Ryugu Palace, the Straw Hat Pirates were all gathered in a circle.
Because their single-minded Captain had just caused a monstrous disaster that would shock the world, the atmosphere in the room was a bit strange.
Nami sat on a chair, propping her chin with a worried expression, sighing repeatedly.
Usopp and Chopper, on the other hand, looked like wilted eggplants, their eyes vacant and their faces filled with despair and loss for the future.
Zoro sat cross-legged on the clean floor, meticulously wiping his three swords with a soft white cloth.
He frowned and scanned the people present:
"Why is everyone so unmotivated?"
"Where's that red-eyed bastard? Where did he run off to at a time like this?"
Robin, sitting on the sofa, elegantly held a steaming cup of black tea. Hearing Zoro's question, she took a small sip of tea and gently shook her head:
"I haven't seen him since those Big Mom envoys left."
As soon as she finished speaking, Luffy, who had been sitting on the ground in a daze, suddenly slapped his thigh and raised his hand high.
He shouted with certainty and excitement:
"I know!"
"Victor must have gone to chase those two envoys! He definitely wants to snatch those treasures back!"
Luffy put his hands on his hips, shook his head seriously, and added:
"That idiot Victor, I already told him he didn't need to chase them!"
With a dull thud, Nami unceremoniously slammed an enraged iron fist onto Luffy's Straw Hat.
Luffy, who had just been so certain, was instantly smashed, half his head sinking into the floor.
Nami, at this moment, seemed to transform into a fanged demon, roaring madly at the Captain on the ground:
"You're the bigger idiot!! Who would do something so pointless!"
"Victor isn't as single-minded as you!"
Then, Nami took a deep breath, helplessly rubbed her throbbing temples, and sighed:
"Well, anyway, he knows what just happened."
Nami slapped the table, her expression instantly turning serious:
"Never mind that bad guy running around, we are now officially holding an emergency meeting for the Straw Hat Pirates!"
As Nami announced, everyone in the room turned their gaze to her.
Nami stood in the center of the room, explaining how Luffy, due to his gluttony, had eaten all ten tons of tribute sweets by himself.
And how he audaciously snatched the Den Den Mushi and officially declared war on "BIG MOM," one of the Four Emperors of the New World.
She recounted the entire story to Zoro, Sanji, and Franky, who had just been catching up on sleep.
After hearing the cause and effect, the expressions of those who had just woken up varied.
But before they could digest this bombshell news, Nami immediately dropped an even more fatal one:
"Not only that! Listen up, idiot Luffy gave all the treasures Ryugu Palace gave us to Big Mom's envoys to compensate for the sweets he ate!"
Nami's voice began to tremble, her eyes filled with terror:
"But just now... the Minister of the Right secretly came to tell me."
"Among that pile of treasures, the 'Tamatebako,' a national treasure of Fish-Man Island that will cause a massive explosion upon opening, was accidentally mixed in!"
"In other words... we gave a powerful bomb as a gift to a Four Emperors!!!"
Upon hearing the phrase "bomb given to a Four Emperors," the room erupted into chaos.
Usopp and Chopper instantly collapsed, clinging to each other, tears streaming like waterfalls as they wailed inconsolably:
"It's over, it's over, it's over! This time we're really dead!"
"The Four Emperors will definitely hunt us to the ends of the earth!"
Brook also raised his violin at the opportune moment, playing a trembling and desolate melody, sighing in harmony with the atmosphere:
"Ah... hearing this news, it truly scared my heart into stopping..."
"Though I'm just a skeleton, and I don't actually have a heart, yohohohoho!"
Zoro slowly stopped wiping his sword and returned wado ichimonji to its sheath.
His eyes showed no fear; instead, they burned with fanatical fighting spirit, and a sharp, cold smile played on his lips:
"A Four Emperors? Sounds like a pretty good warm-up for the New World."
Sanji leaned quietly against the wall, slowly exhaling a swirling smoke ring.
This time, he uncharacteristically didn't retort Zoro's arrogant remark; his eyes, hidden by his golden hair, were slightly downcast, pondering something unknown.
Franky, meanwhile, forcefully clapped his arms together, striking his classic perverted pose, shouting passionately:
"No worries! The thousand sunny is already coated, all mechanical equipment is SUPER—ready!"
"Ready to face any storm at any time!"
Robin chuckled softly, covering her red lips, as she observed her companions' varied reactions.
Then, in her gentlest tone, she stated the cruelest reality of the moment:
"It seems we've already been placed on the kill list of the New World's true ruler before officially entering its waters.
"For our upcoming voyage, we might encounter unimaginable terror and retaliation, so everyone should be mentally prepared."
"Four Emperors Big Mom's influence spans the New World; her intelligence network, her pirate crew, and her own overwhelming power..."
"All of these will become obstacles on our path forward."
At this moment, Luffy finally pulled his head out of the cracked floor.
He rubbed the large, smoking bump on his head and carelessly sat cross-legged.
His black eyes sparkled with incredibly pure light, and pressing down on his Straw Hat, he grinned:
"Who cares!"
"Whether it's Big Mom or anyone else, if they dare to block the sea we want to sail, we'll just punch them all away!"
"New World, I've been looking forward to it for a long time!"
"Hehehehehe!"
Watching Luffy's fearless eyes, the tension and unease that had permeated the room instantly dissipated.
Everyone exchanged smiles, and even Usopp and Chopper, who were still crying, wiped away their tears.
All fear and worry, at this moment, transformed into intense anticipation for that unknown adventure.
Nami looked at her troublesome companions, a smile unconsciously curving her lips.
"Alright! Since the Captain has spoken, we'll rest for one night."
"Tomorrow morning, we'll immediately set sail from Fish-Man Island and head towards the New World!"
"Oh—!!!"
Accompanied by everyone's unanimous cheer, this emergency meeting concerning the future fate of the Straw Hat Pirates concluded successfully.
Everyone dispersed, returning to their rooms to rest, preparing to recuperate in the safe Ryugu Palace to face the unknown and perilous new voyage tomorrow.
Night fell deep, and Ryugu Palace, ten thousand meters beneath the sea, gradually quieted down.
The lights in the various guest rooms extinguished one by one, and all the noise seemed to subside into tranquility, leaving only the faint sound of ocean currents echoing around.
However, in this stillness, within the enormous and sturdy Hard-Shell Tower, astonishing and exaggerated commotions were still occurring.
The huge and sturdy luxury bed continued to vibrate violently, emitting heart-pounding swaying sounds and irrepressible moans.
Those sounds intertwined, echoing within the empty Hard-Shell Tower, like never-ending waves.
Megalo, the pet shark originally hiding in a corner shell, was completely driven to a nervous breakdown by the earth-shattering commotion.
It couldn't bear it any longer, poked its head out of the shell, and glanced resentfully in the direction of the bed.
Then it wagged its tail and ran out of the Hard-Shell Tower without looking back, to find a quiet place to sleep outside.
This dark and deep underwater night seemed to be ignited by the tireless fervor within the tower, unable to calm down for a long time..Chapter 298: Dawn of the Deep Sea! The Sound-Transmitting Conch and Robin's Letter
Morning sunlight pierced through ten thousand meters of deep seawater, quietly spilling into the Hard-Shell Tower.
Dappled light and shadows fell upon the giant, luxurious bed in the center, where Victor and Princess Shirahoshi were sleeping peacefully in each other's arms.
After a whole night of baptism like a violent storm, the Mermaid Princess seemed to have completely transformed.
The cowardice and panic that used to linger in her eyes were now gone without a trace.
In its place was a heart-stoppingly beautiful elegance.
Her complexion was as rosy as March peach blossoms, and her entire body radiated the confidence and charming glow of a mature woman.
It was a dazzling light that bloomed after being thoroughly nourished by love and shattering all self-doubt, a beauty beyond words.
Shirahoshi pressed her cheek tightly against Victor's broad chest, listening to that steady and powerful heartbeat, and slightly raised her head.
Her voice carried a hint of post-coital languor and an inseparable attachment as she whispered:
"Lord Victor... don't forget our promise."
Hearing this soft, delicate call, Victor opened his deep eyes.
He reached out his broad palm and gently stroked her pink hair, which cascaded down like a waterfall, his fingertips sliding along her tender and delicate cheek:
"Mm, don't worry, I won't forget, Shirahoshi."
With that, he lowered his head slightly and once again kissed Shirahoshi's charming red lips with extreme tenderness.
Shirahoshi closed her eyes and gently wrapped her arms around Victor's neck, responding to this farewell kiss.
After a moment of deep kissing, the two slowly separated.
Under the morning light, a glistening silvery strand quietly broke between their lips and teeth, pushing the morning's ambiguous atmosphere to its peak.
While this romantic atmosphere had yet to dissipate, Shirahoshi seemed to remember something.
She straightened up slightly and slowly spread her large, fair palm.
In the center of her palm lay a pink conch with a beautiful spiral texture.
The surface of this conch shimmered with a lustrous glow, seemingly containing some mysterious deep-sea power.
"Lord Victor, this is for you."
Shirahoshi's voice was soft, filled with anticipation and a hint of shyness.
Victor looked at the conch, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes.
Seeing this, Shirahoshi explained softly, "This is a Sound-Transmitting Conch I made."
"In the future, as long as you fill it with seawater, no matter how far away on the ocean you are, Shirahoshi can hear your voice through it and talk to you...
"This way, even if you go out to the very distant New World, Shirahoshi won't feel like you've gone too far."
Hearing these words, Victor was slightly surprised.
An extraordinary item that could communicate across thousands of miles and ignore radio interference was rare on the high seas.
Even the highest-grade Den Den Mushis rely on weak bio-electric signals and are easily affected by extreme weather.
But on second thought, Victor remembered Shirahoshi's true identity hidden beneath her appearance.
As a supreme existence capable of commanding all Sea Kings in the world and connected to the will of the ocean, it was only reasonable that she could create and use such a unique deep-sea treasure.
He reached out his broad hand, solemnly took the pink conch that still carried the young girl's body heat, and tucked it away in his robe.
Seeing Victor accept her carefully prepared gift, Shirahoshi's beautiful face bloomed with radiance once again.
The smile was as gentle as ever, but in the depths of her lowered eyes, a dark glint quietly flashed.
However, that light was gone in an instant, and she returned to her usual pure and moving princess-like appearance.
Victor gently patted Shirahoshi's back and reminded her softly with some helplessness:
"Alright, Shirahoshi, you can let go of your tail now."
"It's getting late, and I should get ready to leave."
Shirahoshi then seemed to remember, shyly releasing the giant fish tail that had been tightly wrapped around Victor.
The pink scales loosened bit by bit, shimmering with a soft light in the morning glow.
The moment he was freed from the restraint, Victor secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Regaining his freedom, Victor sat up from the bed. He looked down at his clothes, which had been burst by the use of Ninjutsu, and sighed helplessly.
He leaned over, picked up the giant Shell Bra scattered on the carpet, and handed it to Shirahoshi.
However, Shirahoshi didn't reach out shyly to take it as she usually would.
She straightened her full body, the morning light flowing over her smooth skin, outlining a graceful silhouette that would make all the women in the world jealous.
She looked at Victor with a smile, her gaze carrying a hint of coquettishness and anticipation.
The meaning was obvious—she wanted him to dress her personally.
Victor was stunned for a moment, then shook his head helplessly and stepped forward.
Holding the Shell Bra, he carefully covered that full scenery.
While adjusting the shells, his fingertips inevitably slid across her skin, which was as warm and smooth as cream, feeling the incredible softness and warmth.
His movements were very light, as if he were handling a precious treasure.
The shell's straps were delicate white ribbons. He reached around Shirahoshi's back, his fingers moving gently over her smooth spine, carefully tying the ribbons.
Once dressed, the two shells just barely covered the most crucial parts, yet they still couldn't hide her breathtaking curves.
After doing all this, Victor quickly formed hand seals in front of his chest and gave a low shout, releasing the Multi-Size Technique he had maintained all night.
"Bang!"
Accompanied by a thick white smoke spreading through the tower, Victor's giant body rapidly shrank, returning to his original tall and upright normal physique in the blink of an eye.
Shirahoshi looked down at Victor, who had instantly become as pocket-sized as a doll at her feet.
The massive contrast made her unable to resist covering her small mouth with both hands, letting out a string of bell-like giggles:
"So small, little Lord Victor."
There was no longer the previous awe in her tone, but instead, it was filled with the intimacy of lovers and a bit of deliberate teasing.
Seeing Victor's somewhat helpless gaze, in order to safely return him to the guest room without being discovered by the patrolling Neptune Army guards, Shirahoshi very thoughtfully leaned down.
She gently extended her giant hands, picking Victor up softly as if holding the world's most precious treasure.
Then, with a perfectly natural movement, she placed Victor into that warm, soft, and deep "Absolute Restricted Zone" of her chest.
Concealed by the Shell Bra, nothing unusual could be seen from the outside, making it an excellent hiding spot.
Trapped in this cloud-like sweet softness and fragrance, Victor's vision was completely occupied by warm skin and a faint scent.
Last night, he not only had to maintain high-level Ninjutsu but also had to deal with the mermaid's exaggerated stamina.
Victor, whose Chakra and physical strength were almost completely exhausted, finally let out a long sigh of relief at this moment.
In this unprecedented sense of being perfectly enveloped, secure, and intoxicatingly warm, Victor's tensed nerves completely relaxed.
He actually closed his eyes comfortably just like that, falling into a deep sleep accompanied by Shirahoshi's steady heartbeat.
If the men of the outside sea knew that Victor was currently lying comfortably in the soft depths of the Mermaid Princess to catch up on sleep...
...perhaps all the men in the world would be so jealous that they'd shed two lines of bloody tears.
Carrying Victor, Shirahoshi relied on her familiarity with Ryugu Palace's terrain to quietly avoid all the changing of the guard and patrolling sentries.
Returning safely all the way, she arrived at the door of the luxurious guest room prepared by Ryugu Palace for the Straw Hat crew.
She cautiously pushed the door open slightly and peeked inside, finding the spacious room completely empty; everyone seemed to have already left.
After confirming it was safe, Shirahoshi then extended a large, fair finger and gently poked Victor, who was still buried in her bosom sleeping soundly, calling softly:
"Lord Victor, wake up quickly, we've arrived."
Victor woke up from that intoxicating land of tenderness.
He jumped down from Shirahoshi's hands and landed steadily on the guest room floor.
As he walked toward the wardrobe, he quickly changed into a spare set of clean black outerwear.
At the same time, his sharp gaze noticed a neatly folded note on the round table in the center of the room, held down by a teacup.
Victor stepped forward, picked up the note, and glanced at it.
On the paper, Robin's characteristically elegant handwriting leaped out:
"Victor, I don't know where you went last night."
"When everyone woke up this morning and couldn't find you anywhere, that guy Luffy clamored to set off, so we went to the Fish-Man Island Harbor to prepare first. We'll wait for you there."
"Friendly tip: because of your unannounced departure, Nami is a bit angry right now, so remember to hurry over~"
"Love, Robin~"
Looking at Robin's writing, which was filled with deep doting and love, a gentle smile involuntarily appeared at the corners of Victor's mouth.
But recalling his absurd behavior in the Hard-Shell Tower last night, a sense of guilt belonging to a playboy suddenly welled up in his heart.
He lightened his throat, carefully folded the note that carried Robin's faint fragrance and tucked it into his robe, then turned to Shirahoshi, who had been waiting at the door, and said:
"Shirahoshi, they're already waiting for me at the harbor. Let's go."
Shirahoshi looked at his capable appearance after changing into new clothes, her eyes full of reluctance and attachment.
But she knew Lord Victor had his own vast sky, so she nodded obediently.
She swayed her beautiful fish tail and followed closely behind Victor, heading toward the Fish-Man Island Harbor.Chapter 299: The Princess Who Doesn't Cry! The Baptism and Mystery of the New World
The port of Fish-Man Island was packed with people, bustling with noise and activity.
The Straw Hat crew had already assembled, waiting by the Thousand Sunny for their final departure.
From a distance, Victor and Shirahoshi could be seen walking side by side from the direction of Ryugu Palace.
Usopp immediately jumped onto a wooden crate, waving his arms vigorously and shouting:
"Hey—! Victor! Over here, over here!"
Chopper was also jumping excitedly, holding his two small hooves high and calling Victor's name in a babyish voice.
Zoro leaned against the ship's railing with his arms crossed, one hand resting on the hilt of a sword at his waist.
He glanced at the late-arriving Victor and gave a displeased cold snort: "You're late."
Meanwhile, Sanji didn't notice the lingering, ambiguous atmosphere between the two at all.
The blonde chef's eyes instantly turned into giant pink hearts, and his body squirmed wildly like cooked noodles as he held his heart in his hands, exclaiming with exaggeration:
"Ohhh! Princess Shirahoshi is so beautiful and dazzling today~~"
"She's like the most brilliant pearl in the deep sea!"
Luffy stood with hands on his hips, his clear black eyes scanning back and forth between Victor and Shirahoshi, before suddenly blurting out something nonsensical:
"Ah, you have great stamina, Victor."
However, in the next second, Luffy rubbed his chin, looking at Victor's normal human height and then looking up high at Shirahoshi, who was as massive as a small mountain.
Countless large question marks instantly popped up over his head, as he was clearly stuck in some deep confusion regarding physical logic, unable to figure it out.
Nami walked forward angrily in her high heels, her beautiful eyes glaring at Victor as she pouted and complained:
"Where did you go! We've been looking for you all morning!"
Looking at the Navigator who was like a bristling kitten, Victor chuckled and reached out a large palm, gently patting her short orange hair:
"I went to the Sea Forest with Princess Shirahoshi and got delayed for a bit."
"Alright, I'm back now, aren't I?"
After soothing Nami, Victor tilted his head slightly and winked at Robin, saying softly:
"I saw the letter."
Hearing this, Robin bloomed an elegant smile toward him.
She made no effort to hide from the gaze of everyone around, naturally walking to his side and hooking her arm through his, her every movement showing rapport and intimacy.
After a simple exchange of pleasantries, King Neptune and the Left Minister stepped forward with solemn expressions.
The Left Minister took out a strangely shaped 'New World Log Pose' with three needles from his robes and carefully placed it on Nami's fair wrist.
With a grave face, the Left Minister explained earnestly to the young Navigator:
"The magnetic fields of the New World are exceptionally chaotic and dangerous; the magnetic lines between islands can change at any time, and common sense cannot be used to judge them."
"These three needles point to three different islands."
"The more violently a needle shakes, the more turbulent that island's magnetic field is, and the more dangerous the environment and beasts on that island will be."
He looked at the Straw Hat crew and gave repeated warnings:
"Benefactors, for the safety of everyone on the ship, you must choose the route where the needle is most stable after you set sail!"
However, as soon as the Left Minister's worried words fell, Luffy's eyes were already shining as he leaned in toward Nami's wrist.
Without hesitation, he reached out and pointed directly at the compass needle shaking most violently, announcing with a loud laugh:
"Alright! It's decided! We're going to this most dangerous island!"
"Are you even listening to people?!"
Veins popped on Nami's forehead in anger, and she gave Luffy a sharp smack on the head.
But looking at her Captain's face full of anticipation and excitement, she eventually sighed helplessly, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she accepted the Captain's choice.
The moment of departure finally arrived.
This time, Shirahoshi did not cry like she had for the past ten years.
She stood firmly at the edge of the port, her exquisite face wearing a gentle and beautiful smile, like a famous flower blooming after a storm.
King Neptune stood beside his daughter, stunned as he looked at Shirahoshi's composed demeanor.
Overnight, his daughter seemed to have been completely transformed.
The little princess who used to hide behind him shivering was now smiling as she saw off the benefactors of Fish-Man Island.
He naturally didn't know everything that had happened in the Hard-Shell Tower, assuming only that his daughter had finally grown up.
His eyes were slightly red, feeling both relieved and somewhat bewildered.
Shirahoshi's gaze pierced through the crowd and the churning seawater, landing precisely on the black figure standing by the ship's railing.
Victor was looking at her.
Shirahoshi reached out her giant finger and gently tapped her chest over her heart.
Hidden there was a pink gemstone, and beneath the gemstone was the lingering warmth of last night's intimacy.
Her lips moved silently, mouthing three words.
Despite the barrier of the seawater, those three words were clearly transmitted to Victor's eyes.
"I'll wait for you."
A smile curled at the corners of Victor's mouth.
He nodded slightly, a movement so light it was almost invisible, yet it made the light in Shirahoshi's eyes brighten even more.
"SUPER—Set sail!"
With Franky's shout and trademark pose, the thousand sunny untied its thick mooring ropes.
The sails rose, and the ship followed the strong current, plunging headlong into the violent upward current, sprinting toward the surface at high speed.
Just as the thousand sunny left the port and began to disappear from sight,
In the dark shadows of the deep sea, several super-sized Sea Kings, their bodies comparable to giant islands, silently appeared.
Their massive bodies were like moving mountain ranges, slowly rising from the dark trenches of the deep sea.
These beasts, large enough to swallow an entire ship in one bite, now acted like loyal guards, using their mountain-like bodies to block the dangerous deep-sea undercurrents for the small thousand sunny.
The eye of one Sea King turned, looking through the coating at Victor on the ship.
Or rather, it looked at the location of the pink conch in his arms.
Then it swam silently beneath the ship, blocking all the undercurrents that could have torn the thousand sunny apart.
Only when the thousand sunny had completely entered the safe ascent channel did these behemoths slowly retreat back into the darkness of the deep sea and vanish.
"SPLASH—!!"
Accompanied by a deafening, earth-shaking roar, the tough bubble film surrounding the Thousand Sunny burst as it broke through the sea surface.
The thousand sunny was like a beast breaking free from the shackles of the deep sea, bringing with it a sky full of white spray as it leaped into the air.
However, what greeted them was not the sunny blue sky and calm sea they had imagined.
The sky was heavily covered by oppressive, pitch-black thunderclouds, as if the firmament were about to collapse.
Deafening thunder rolled through the clouds like dancing purple dragons.
On the surface of the sea, an exceptionally thick, eerie fog lingered, so dense one couldn't see their hand in front of their face.
The wind howled, whipping up terrifying waves as tall as mountains that crashed madly against the hull, causing the entire ship to pitch violently in the storm.
Encountering such a desperate situation immediately upon surfacing, the Straw Hat crew grabbed the railings, letting out cries of disbelief.
Facing this completely irrational, apocalyptic horror of a seascape, Luffy showed no fear whatsoever.
He strode onto the bow, standing firmly on the sunny-flower lion head, facing the sky full of thunderstorms and thick fog.
He opened his arms and let out his most excited laugh:
"Hahahaha! New World! Here we come!!!"
Just as the Straw Hat crew was scrambling to fight the extreme weather and stabilize the ship,
The Den Den Mushi in the cabin, specifically for monitoring emergency frequencies, suddenly let out a sharp and piercing "Bulu Bulu" sound.
Luffy immediately jumped down from the bow and ran over to pick up the call.
From the other end came a man's shrill, distorted scream of extreme terror:
"Help... Save us! Boss!"
"Where on earth is this... the fog is too thick, I can't see anything!"
"Ah! What terrifying lightning! Wait... what is that? Someone's been cut!"
"It's a samurai! A samurai is slaughtering us in the fog!!"
Accompanied by a shrill scream and the crisp sound of a blade unsheathing and tearing through flesh, the call was abruptly cut off, leaving only a hair-raising dial tone echoing in the cabin.
Hearing the words "samurai" and "island filled with lightning and fog," Luffy's adventure radar instantly went off the charts, and his excitement shot straight to his head.
He spun around, rushed out of the cabin, and pointed at the dangerous needle ahead that was still shaking wildly, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"It's decided! Our next stop—the Island of Lightning and Mist!"