Chapter 291: A Young Girl's Heartbeat! The Stele of the Sea Forest and the Mystery of Poseidon
In front of Queen Otohime's tomb, Shirahoshi, having finished her prayers, was in no hurry to leave.
The princess, who had been trapped in the Hard-Shell Tower for a full ten years, was now like a baby full of curiosity about the world, clinging to Victor and incessantly asking about all sorts of strange and wonderful things on the sea's surface.
From exactly what temperature the sunlight felt like on one's body.
To what shapes the myriad of strange islands on the great sea actually took.
And even asking about the various thrilling adventure experiences of the Straw Hat crew on the Blue Sea.
Facing this pure and kind Mermaid Princess, Victor showed a rare level of patience.
In a gentle tone, he selected interesting anecdotes from the great sea, answering her questions that were full of childlike innocence and a yearning for the unknown world one by one.
However, as the conversation between the two deepened, the questions Shirahoshi asked began to get stranger and stranger, deviating further and further from the normal course of exploring the world.
In her clear eyes, which were like giant water lanterns, an unusual and brilliant light flickered.
After taking several deep breaths in succession, she finally, cautiously, squeezed out an ultimate question that had been circling in her heart for a long time:
"Um... Lord Victor..."
Shirahoshi's voice was as thin as a thread, carrying a hint of an irrepressible tremble.
"Then you... what kind of person do you like?"
Hearing this sudden question, Victor was slightly stunned, and his words, which had been telling adventure stories, came to an abrupt halt.
In this quiet Sea Forest, even the most obtuse person should have understood the young girl's romantic feelings in the little princess's heart by now.
To ease this sudden ambiguous atmosphere.
Victor raised a hand to his lips and gave a light cough to hide his embarrassment, then deliberately pretended not to understand and asked back:
"Shirahoshi, why ask about things unrelated to adventure?"
Hearing this counter-question, Shirahoshi's giant cheeks instantly turned bright red.
Even her fair ears and slender neck were dyed with a charming color, like a ripe red apple.
Her huge little hands had nowhere to go and could only be nervously twisted together.
She lowered her head, stammering an explanation: "Because... because..."
After saying "because" several times, the deep-seated admiration and shyness intertwined, making it impossible for her to continue making things up.
The Mermaid Princess reached the peak of her shyness and directly covered her burning face tightly with both hands.
But those pure and flawless eyes, brimming with a pitiful misty glaze, peeked through the gaps between her giant fingers, stealing glances at him with expectation and extreme bashfulness.
Waiting for an answer that might make her heart stop.
Looking at Shirahoshi's bashful and cute appearance, Victor sighed helplessly in his heart.
In an instant, he completely understood this heavy sentiment of a young girl.
As a man, being admired by such a peerless beauty who was also Poseidon, he couldn't help but feel a surge of inexplicable satisfaction.
But immediately after, this satisfaction was replaced by a sudden wave of guilt.
After all, although Shirahoshi's body was as huge as a small mountain,
her mind, due to long-term confinement, was truly pure, like a blank sheet of paper.
Looking at Shirahoshi's exquisite and flawless face, as well as her breathtaking and extremely full giant body, Victor's mind began to wander uncontrollably.
In his mind, the secret Ninjutsu of the Akimichi clan from the Naruto world—the 'Multi-Size Technique'—involuntarily flashed by...
The system had just given him this skill blind box last night.
Encountering such a blood-pumping scene today, all these coincidences seemed as if they were deliberately arranged by the heavens.
Realizing what he was thinking, the corner of Victor's mouth twitched violently.
He harshly scolded himself in his heart for being such a bold'scumbag'.
He hurriedly shook his head, forcibly dispelling these dangerous thoughts that could easily lead one astray.
Victor composed himself, regained his gentle demeanor, and said softly:
"Alright, Shirahoshi, we've been out for a long time. Let's go find your father."
Hearing Victor change the subject, a trace of imperceptible disappointment flashed in Shirahoshi's eyes.
But she still nodded obediently and did not continue to press.
She carefully took out the pink gemstone Victor had just given her, treasuring it like a precious jewel as she tucked it into the deep cleavage of her giant chest, keeping it close.
Then, swaying her magnificent pink fish tail, she happily chased after the black figure ahead.
As long as she could be by Lord Victor's side, she felt incredibly at ease.
...
Meanwhile, deep within the Sea Forest.
In this silent land overgrown with giant coral and seagrass,
Robin was looking up intently at the giant red square stone in front of her—the 'poneglyph'.
The surrounding seawater flowed quietly as Robin's slender fingers gently brushed over the ancient and complex characters on it.
After a period of careful study and deciphering, a rare flash of irrepressible bewilderment and shock crossed her usually calm and composed face.
Robin slowly turned her head to look at King Neptune and Knight of the Sea Jinbe, who had been waiting anxiously beside her, and explained to them:
"This stele... is different from any other poneglyph I've encountered elsewhere in the world."
"It doesn't record any historical information about the Void Century, nor does it specify the whereabouts of the Three Great Ancient Weapons..."
"What is carved on it is actually an 'apology letter'."
Hearing the words 'apology letter', King Neptune's tall body jolted, and he let out a deep sigh.
His heavy voice, saturated with the vicissitudes of time, slowly echoed in the Sea Forest, revealing the ultimate secret passed down through generations of the Fish-Man Island royal family:
"So that's how it is..."
"What is recorded here is indeed a letter of apology written eight hundred years ago by a human named 'Joy Boy' to the Mermaid Princess of that time."
"In the letter, he apologizes for being unable to fulfill his promise to Fish-Man Island."
"As for that massive noah, it was built so that one day, that unfulfilled promise could be kept."
Hearing this shocking secret,
Robin quickly connected the poneglyph information about 'Poseidon' she had seen on the Golden Bell of Sky Island with the letter of apology before her.
"To be treated so solemnly by a key historical figure like Joy Boy,
"and to be a Mermaid Princess with the ability to communicate with super-large Sea Kings..."
Robin's gaze turned to King Neptune:
"Combined with the ability to summon Sea Kings that Princess Shirahoshi unintentionally displayed earlier at Gyoncorde Plaza..."
"In other words, the Ancient Weapon Poseidon, which has always existed in myths and legends and possesses the terrifying power to destroy the world..."
"is Princess Shirahoshi herself, isn't it?"
King Neptune was instantly struck with terror, his face turning deathly pale.
His tall body swayed, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.
If even a hint of this secret were to leak out, it would absolutely attract the frantic pursuit of the World Government and countless greedy pirates on the sea, and the entire Fish-Man Island would face total destruction.
Just as the atmosphere at the scene reached a peak of solemnity,
the coral thicket ahead was pushed aside, and Victor and Shirahoshi happened to swim over from the direction of Queen Otohime's tomb.
On Shirahoshi's exquisite and giant face, there still hung a moving blush that had not yet completely faded from the earlier ambiguous probing.
She noticed the abnormality in the surrounding atmosphere, especially the expressions of her father and Jinbe, which looked very grim and stiff.
Shirahoshi blinked her large, star-like eyes and asked softly in confusion:
"What's wrong, Father? Has something happened?"
Hearing his daughter's voice, King Neptune shuddered all over.
He came to his senses as if waking from a dream and hurriedly let out a forced laugh, producing a few dry chuckles to desperately hide the turbulent waves in his heart:
"Hahahaha! It's nothing, it's nothing! Nothing happened at all!
"By the way, Shirahoshi, have you finished paying respects to your mother in the Sea Forest?"
Although Shirahoshi was still a bit puzzled, she nodded obediently. "Yes, I've finished the prayers."
Neptune took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the intense unease about the future in his heart, and said with feigned ease:
"Good, in that case, let us head back."Chapter 292: A Fatal Misjudgment! Balloon Luffy and the Devoured Tribute for the Four Emperors
After yesterday's unprecedented, grand banquet, the entire Fish-Man Island was immersed in the joy of victory and peace.
The morning sunlight filtered through the massive bubble shield, gently bathing the magnificent Ryugu Palace.
The guest wing was silent, as the members of the Straw Hat Pirates, having endured days of intense combat and last night's all-night revelry, were still fast asleep.
Everyone was sprawled out in their respective rooms, fast asleep, with snores rising and falling in succession.
However, this tranquility did not last long.
"Grumble, grumble—"
Accompanied by a deafening protest from his stomach, Luffy bolted upright from his soft bed.
Although he had single-handedly polished off a mountain of grilled meat at the banquet in the plaza yesterday,
after a whole night of rapid digestion, the bottomless pit that was the Captain's Gum-Gum stomach sounded a loud alarm once again.
"So hungry... Meat... I need meat..."
Luffy's eyes were half-open, like a soulless zombie.
Rubbing his completely empty belly, he followed his internal foodie radar and instinctively walked out of the guest room.
He wandered through the intricate corridors of Ryugu Palace like a traveler in the desert searching for an oasis, hunting for prey to fill his stomach.
Driven by his obsession with food, Luffy unconsciously found his way to the "Royal Kitchen" he had visited the day before.
However, when he pushed open the kitchen doors with high expectations, the scene before him left him sorely disappointed.
The kitchen was empty; all the pots and pans were washed clean and neatly stacked on the shelves.
The usual mountains of top-tier Sea Kings ingredients and staple foods had long since been completely consumed during last night's massive banquet.
After searching high and low in the spacious kitchen to no avail, Luffy walked out, dejected.
Just then, he happened to run into the Minister of the Right, who was in the hallway taking inventory of the remaining supplies.
Upon seeing this high-ranking official of Ryugu Palace, Luffy's dull eyes instantly shot out two beams of green light.
He lunged forward, latched onto the Minister of the Right's leg, and wailed loudly, looking up at him:
"Old man! I'm so hungry! I'm starving to death!
"Why is there nothing left in the kitchen?
"Do you have any meat? Any kind of meat will do!"
The Minister of the Right was startled by being suddenly grabbed by the leg.
When he looked down and realized that the boy yelling and clinging to him was none other than the great benefactor who had saved the entire Fish-Man Island and was honored as a guest of the King,
a fine layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on the Minister of the Right's forehead.
He was sweating profusely with anxiety.
The meat and various staples in Ryugu Palace had truly been eaten clean by everyone during last night's revelry.
Right now, the palace's logistics warehouse was completely depleted.
But, he couldn't let the number one hero who saved the country run around Ryugu Palace on an empty stomach, could he?
If word got out, where would Ryugu Palace's reputation be?
The Minister of the Right had a sudden flash of inspiration.
He suddenly remembered those top-tier desserts that were prepared to be offered as tribute to one of the Four Emperors of the New World, "BIG MOM"!
As tribute for one of the Four Emperors, those desserts were not only numerous but also made from the rarest and highest-quality ingredients from the deep sea; they were definitely presentable.
The Minister of the Right stroked his long beard and quickly did the math in his head:
"Straw Hat Luffy has already eaten so much high-calorie grilled meat at the banquet yesterday; his stomach can't have much room left.
"Besides, pastries are very sweet and greasy, and they make you feel full very quickly. A normal person would feel stuffed after just a few bites."
"In that case, I'll have someone quietly send a little bit over to treat him and fill his stomach.
Anyway, the envoys only do a rough inspection of the tribute; they won't notice if a few pounds are missing, right?"
Feeling smug about his own cleverness, the Minister of the Right immediately put on a gentle smile.
He smiled and suggested to Luffy that he treat him with Ryugu Palace's special desserts.
Hearing that there was food, and special top-tier desserts at that, Luffy didn't care about anything else.
Upon hearing this, his eyes lit up immediately, and he laughed, clapping his hands repeatedly in thanks:
"Awesome! As long as there's food! You're a good guy, old man!"
Having received the hero's permission, the Minister of the Right took action immediately.
Soon, escorted by guards, cart after cart of exquisite, beautifully crafted, and mouth-wateringly fragrant deep-sea special desserts were continuously transported into the spacious and bright hall of Ryugu Palace.
Rich dark chocolate, golden and tempting caramel pudding, giant cream cakes piled high with fresh fruit...
A dazzling array of desserts filled the entire hall with their aroma.
The Minister of the Right sat on an exquisite high chair nearby, holding a cup of steaming black tea.
He was originally maintaining an elegant posture, smiling as he watched Luffy.
However, just a second later, the elegant smile on his face froze completely.
Luffy, sitting in the pile of desserts, wasn't using any utensils at all.
His hands became blurs that were impossible to track with the naked eye.
He even skipped the step of cutting the cake and buried his entire face directly into a giant cream cake that was a size larger than he was.
"Nom! Nom! Nom!"
One cart... two carts... three carts...
Those exquisite desserts, piled up like mountains, were rapidly disappearing at a terrifying speed visible to the naked eye.
The empty carts and the licked-clean packaging boxes were casually tossed aside.
While frantically stuffing chocolate into his mouth, Luffy waved his hands and cheered loudly, his words slurred:
"So good! So sweet!
"This fluffy one is delicious too!
"More! Old man, I want more!"
"Clatter—"
The exquisite teacup in the Minister of the Right's hand began to tremble uncontrollably.
Looking at the shocking scene before him, which resembled a black hole consuming everything, the Minister of the Right's pupils constricted sharply.
He suddenly realized that he seemed to have made a fatal mistake just now—
He had actually tried to measure the stomach of a Gum-Gum human using the logic and appetite of an ordinary person!
Just over ten minutes later.
In the spacious Ryugu Palace hall, those tempting desserts from just moments ago had vanished into thin air.
A full ten tons!
That was the dessert Fish-Man Island used as tribute to the Four Emperors "BIG MOM" to save their own lives!
At this moment, not even a crumb was left; it had all been packed into Luffy's stomach.
"Thud—"
The Minister of the Right's legs went weak, and he fell heavily to his knees on the cold floor.
Tears and snot gushed out like a broken dam, covering his desperate old face.
"It's over! It's all over! Now it's truly all over!"
"That was the tribute that must be handed over on time every month to the Four Emperors BIG MOM to protect Fish-Man Island!"
"Luffy! Great Hero! My ancestor!"
"Please, stop eating, hurry up and spit it out!"
"If we can't deliver the tribute, that crazy woman will destroy Fish-Man Island, and we'll all be dead!"
However, despite the Minister of the Right wailing and grieving uncontrollably on the side,
in the center of the mountain of empty boxes, the culprit, Luffy, had completely eaten himself into a gigantic "flesh-colored balloon."
His originally slender body, now stuffed with ten tons of desserts, had expanded like a massive hot air balloon.
His limbs had become short, and he floated in mid-air with nothing to push against, only able to sway helplessly on the floor along with his round, swollen belly.
Luffy was leisurely holding a toothpick he had found from somewhere in his mouth.
He stroked his enormous, round belly with great satisfaction, an indescribable look of contentment on his face.
"Burp—"
Luffy opened his mouth and let out a long, loud, and massive burp.
He licked the frosting from the corner of his mouth and grinned at the desperate Minister of the Right, complimenting him:
"So full! Old man, your snacks taste great! This is the best dessert I've ever had!"
"Tap, tap, tap..."
Just as the atmosphere in the hall fell into despair,
a steady sound of footsteps suddenly came from the red-carpeted corridor outside the hall doors.
At the same time,
King Neptune and his party, having just finished handling the poneglyph and the memorial service for the Queen at the Sea Forest, were walking down the corridor, exhausted.
King Neptune let out a long sigh.
Recalling the series of thrilling events that had occurred over the past few days, his tensed nerves still felt a lingering fear.
However, he thought to himself, fortunately, the country had ultimately been saved with the help of the Straw Hat, and everything was moving in a good direction.
"As long as I go back and see these energetic, carefree young people of the Straw Hat, and catch some of their vitality, my tensed nerves should be able to relax a little."
King Neptune comforted himself in his heart, and his originally heavy footsteps became a bit lighter.
With this expectation, the old King walked to the hall door and reached out with his large palm.
"Creak—"
King Neptune pushed open the heavy, magnificent, carved double doors of the hall.
The doors swung open, and bright light shone into the hall.
What met King Neptune's eyes was not the vibrant, beautiful scene he had imagined.
But rather—a mountain of empty tribute boxes, ruins piled up in one continuous expanse.
The Minister of the Right on the floor, beating his chest, crying uncontrollably, with tears and snot streaming down his face.
And... in the center of the ruins, Straw Hat Luffy, who had turned into a gigantic flesh-colored balloon, his limbs suspended in the air, leisurely picking his teeth.
"..."
Looking at this scene, which resembled a disaster zone,
King Neptune's anticipation and exhaustion instantly froze.293 Responsibility and Bitterness! The Forlorn Princess and a Powerful Enemy Appear.
King Neptune's large hands were trembling uncontrollably at this moment.
He pointed at the mountain of empty boxes in the center of the hall, then his finger wobbled toward the round "Balloon Luffy" on the floor:
"What... what on earth is going on here?!"
"Minister of the Right! Explain this to me clearly!"
Minister of the Right fell to his knees on the cold floor with a thud, crying with snot and tears, completely lacking the dignity of a royal minister.
He sobbed, stuttering through his explanation of the fatal logic he had used to misjudge the situation to the King.
After hearing this absurd explanation, Neptune felt his vision go dark, almost spitting out a mouthful of blood.
He roared frantically:
"You fool! Is that the kind of human you can judge with common sense?!"
"Look clearly, when Luffy eats meat, he doesn't even spit out the bones! You actually expected him to be full after eating two snacks?"
Just as the monarch and his subject were in despair, "Balloon Luffy" on the floor was still digesting, expanding and contracting with his rhythmic breathing.
He had no sense of the impending disaster, even lifting his arm with effort to give a casual greeting:
"Yo, Victor, Robin."
"Uncle Neptune, you're back."
"Thanks for the treat, that chocolate tasted really good, I ate it all!"
The massive commotion in the hall naturally woke up the other members of the Straw Hat Pirates who were still sleeping in the guest rooms.
Nami, Usopp, and Chopper rubbed their sleepy eyes and yawned as they arrived in the hall.
When they saw the mess of packaging boxes and their own Captain turned into a ball, they were stunned, as if struck by lightning.
King Neptune looked ashen, listlessly explaining to the Straw Hat Pirates the terror of one of the Four Emperors of the New World, "Big Mom" Charlotte Linlin.
She was a monster who ruled the New World!
A madwoman who would unhesitatingly send troops to completely destroy an entire nation and bring suffering to countless lives just because she couldn't eat her favorite dessert!
And these ten tons of sweets, eaten without a trace, were the "protection fee" used to keep Fish-Man Island safe!
Hearing the spine-chilling words "Four Emperors" and "destruction," Nami, who had just been sleepy, instantly woke up.
Her hair danced wildly like Medusa's snakes, and she instantly transformed into a devil with sharp fangs.
"Luffy—!"
Nami roared, charging forward without mercy and unleashing a brutal "Barrage of Fists" on "Balloon Luffy's" head.
Under Nami's physical assault, several large bumps instantly rose on Luffy's head.
"You hopeless idiot Captain!"
"We just saved this country from the rebels, and you're immediately going to bring the Four Emperors' destructive wrath down upon it?!"
Nami grabbed Luffy by the collar and shook him frantically.
Usopp and Chopper clung to each other on the side, tears streaming down their faces, sobbing in despair:
"It's over, it's over, we're really going to die this time! The Four Emperors are coming to kill us!"
Luffy was grimacing from the beating, rubbing the bumps on his head while sitting cross-legged in the middle of the pile of empty snack boxes.
He completely ignored the terrifying atmosphere that had almost frozen over, instead thumping his chest righteously and shouting:
"Since it was me who ate the snacks, I'll take responsibility for it!"
"When that 'Big Mom' person comes, I'll just puff out my chest and tell them it was me who ate them, and that'll be fine!"
Nami was so angry her face turned red, roaring into Luffy's ear:
"You single-celled idiot! It's precisely because you'll tell them it was you that it's the most dangerous part!"
"The opponent is one of the Four Emperors! The Four Emperors!"
Luffy nodded, completely unconcerned.
He raised his head, his clear eyes filled with unparalleled determination, and smiled at the frantic Nami:
"The Four Emperors, huh?"
"It's okay, Nami, I'm the man who will become the Pirate King!"
Looking at Luffy's expression, Nami took a deep breath, and with a "bang," she punched him heavily on his Straw Hat again.
Just as the hall was filled with endless noise, Victor was sitting leisurely on a coral chair to the side.
He smiled and nodded, chiming in with a gentle tone:
"I also think Luffy is right. Since he ate them, he should just bear the consequences."
Hearing Victor follow Luffy's "nonsense" at such a critical moment, Nami couldn't help but pout.
She turned around angrily and walked toward Victor with heavy steps.
Victor chuckled, not giving her a chance to lash out.
He reached out and pulled, naturally pulling the pouting Nami into his broad, warm embrace.
Seeing this, Robin also stepped forward, smiling and gently persuading her not to get angry, as they needed to find a solution now.
In the corner of the hall, Princess Shirahoshi was quietly watching this scene.
Watching Victor naturally hold Nami in his arms, watching the profound bond and intimacy between Robin, Nami, and Victor that no one else could break into.
The joy she had felt from her mother's blessing instantly vanished.
It felt as if a seasoning jar had been overturned in her heart, and a strong sense of bitterness welled up.
Shirahoshi's huge, beautiful eyes looked at the petite and lovely Nami, then at the intellectual and elegant Robin.
Finally, she slowly lowered her head and looked at her own mountain-like body.
Two...
Beside Victor, there were already two such excellent, beautiful, and compatible human women.
And what about her?
No matter how hard she tried, the difference in size was an insurmountable chasm.
With this massive body of hers, she probably couldn't even do the simplest thing, like being gently held in his arms...
"As expected... is it impossible?"
A sharp pain pierced Shirahoshi's heart, and crystalline tears began to shimmer in her eyes.
She silently lowered her head, her huge hands hanging powerlessly at her sides, looking as lonely as an abandoned orphan.
Just as the atmosphere fell into a brief, strange state, Knight of the Sea Jinbe, having learned of the snack crisis, hurried to the hall in his wooden sandals.
After listening to the Minister of the Right's tearful account and the sequence of events, this Fishman hero, who had seen his fair share of storms, was now sweating profusely, his back chilled:
"Luffy, my friend, you've really made a huge mess this time...", "That is Charlotte Linlin, a name that even the New World fears!"
Jinbe knew just how terrifying the Four Emperors' methods were; he had no time to blame anyone, immediately turning to look at the despairing Minister of the Right and suggesting urgently:
"Minister of the Right, can you immediately order the snack factory to stop all other work and spare no cost to rush out a batch of sweets?", "Even if time is tight and we can only scrape together a portion, adding our sincerity to apologize might just be enough to get through the current crisis!"
Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in the Minister of the Right's eyes, but before he could answer:
"Bang!"
A Neptune Army soldier crawled and tumbled into the hall, covered in wounds.
He was terrified, shouting with a desperate, tearful voice:
"Report... Report! Your Majesty! Lords!", "It's bad! The envoys... the envoys of the Big Mom Pirates have already started causing trouble at the factory!", "They discovered the sweets were gone and were furious to the extreme. Now they are coming toward the palace, murderous and aggressive!"
Hearing this news, which struck like a bolt of lightning, Jinbe's face instantly sank to the bottom.
This meant that their last shred of buffer and recovery time had completely vanished.
King Neptune leaned powerlessly against his throne, and the entire hall instantly fell into a deathly silence.
"Boom—!"
A deafening roar broke the silence.
The sturdy, thick, and magnificent gate of Ryugu Palace was forcibly smashed into pieces from the outside by a brutal, immense force.
Amidst the splashing wood splinters and choking dust, several Neptune Army soldiers responsible for guarding the gate screamed as they flew into the hall, crashing heavily to the ground and vomiting blood.
Under the gaze of terrified eyes, two strange figures, radiating terrifying pressure, appeared at the entrance.
Pekoms and Baron Tamago walked slowly into the Ryugu Palace hall, carrying biting murderous intent and monstrous fury.
Pekoms, the Lion Mink Tribe, pushed up the small round sunglasses on his face, opened his bloody mouth, and revealed bloodthirsty fangs flashing with a cold light:
"Gao—! I heard someone had the guts to eat all of Mama's favorite snacks?"
His fierce gaze swept over everyone in the hall:
"Which one of you has grown tired of living? Get out here and die right now!!!"Chapter 294: Facing a Four Emperors! Fish-Man Island is Straw Hat Territory!
Pekoms and Baron Tamago stepped over the mess of empty dessert boxes on the floor, fuming with rage.
Pekoms' lion-like face was full of ferocity, while Baron Tamago kept tapping the ground with his Cane.
The two were throwing a fit in the hall, sternly demanding to know who had eaten the tribute intended for Mama.
Faced with the overwhelming wrath of the Four Emperors' messengers, King Neptune and the Minister of the Right trembled with fear, cold sweat pouring down their foreheads like waterfalls.
Their brains were racing, racking their wits to think of how to fabricate a plausible excuse to buy time and appease the other party's anger.
However, before they could stammer out a word—
"Hey! You guys!"
A voice full of vigor and a hint of dissatisfaction suddenly exploded in the center of the hall.
Luffy, who had already returned to his normal size, jumped straight out of the pile of empty box ruins.
He landed steadily in front of the two messengers, pressing his Straw Hat onto his head with one hand, and announced loudly and righteously:
"I ate it! It has nothing to do with them!"
"All ten tons of sweets are in my stomach."
"If you want to know about the taste, it was actually pretty good. I'm very satisfied!"
Hearing this arrogant declaration, Pekoms and Baron Tamago were momentarily stunned.
Immediately after, the fire of rage in their eyes was completely ignited.
"Straw Hat! Are you challenging us?!"
Baron Tamago's face instantly darkened to the extreme, his entire body radiating a dangerous aura.
Pekoms went as far as to take off his small round sunglasses, opening his bloody maw to reveal sharp, bloodthirsty fangs:
"Gao—! You ignorant rookie pirate, how dare you snatch away Mama's most beloved anticipation!
"Fish-Man Island will surely be destroyed today, and you will sink into the deep sea along with it!"
Just as both sides were at daggers drawn and ready to fight at any moment—
"Bulu bulu bulu..." The exclusive visual Den Den Mushi in Baron Tamago's arms suddenly rang urgently.
The moment the Den Den Mushi was connected, its appearance immediately changed, perfectly mimicking a huge face wearing heavy lipstick, full of pressure and greed.
Seeing this face, Pekoms and Baron Tamago immediately retracted their arrogant and domineering attitudes.
Sweating profusely, like elementary school students who had made a mistake, they reported respectfully to the Den Den Mushi:
"Mama... I'm very sorry."
"The sweets of Fish-Man Island... were all eaten by the Straw Hat crew, not a single crumb is left."
The other end of the line instantly fell into a suffocating silence.
Then, Charlotte Linlin's hair-raising roar erupted:
"Ma-ma-ma-ma! You didn't get the snacks?"
"Give the phone to that guy called Straw Hat!"
"I don't care who it is. If I don't get my snacks, I'll sink Fish-Man Island to the bottom of the sea today!"
Luffy showed no fear, snatching the Den Den Mushi from Baron Tamago's hand and shouting into the receiver with imposing momentum:
"Hey! Big Mom!"
"I am Monkey D. Luffy! The man who will become the Pirate King!"
Facing the destructive threat of a Four Emperors that would make any rookie's legs go soft, Luffy turned around and pointed at the three large carts of glittering treasures the Minister of the Right had originally prepared in the corner of the hall, saying loudly:
"I ate your sweets, so I'll compensate you with these treasures from Ryugu Palace!"
"I'll give all of this to you! But I will never allow you to make a move on Fish-Man Island!"
Far away in the New World, Charlotte Linlin was completely infuriated by Luffy's arrogance.
She let out a cold, murderous laugh, agreeing to take the treasures as compensation, but at the same time, she swore viciously that if the Straw Hat kid dared to step into the New World, she would personally tear him to pieces.
Facing this death warrant, Luffy took a deep breath, his eyes becoming incredibly sharp.
In front of everyone, he announced a wild statement that would shock the entire world:
"Leaving Fish-Man Island to a dangerous person like you is just too annoying!"
"When I get to the New World, the first thing I'll do is send you flying!
"From today on, Fish-Man Island is our Straw Hat Pirates' territory!!!"
The domineering declaration echoed through the hall.
Then, under the gaze of the Den Den Mushi's eyes, which were filled with a mixture of shock and anger, Luffy decisively hung up the phone with a 'clack'.
Pekoms and Baron Tamago were frozen on the spot, their minds blank.
What are you doing?!
That's Mama! One of the Four Emperors who reigns over the New World!
This Straw Hat brat actually dared to take the initiative to declare war on her!
Recovering from their shock, the two glared at Luffy viciously, then turned back and commanded their subordinates to push the three carts of treasure, preparing to leave.
However, when they turned around, they suddenly discovered that Victor had silently moved to the hall's entrance at some point, standing like a black mountain, completely blocking their way.
Victor had his hands in his pockets and was watching them with a smile.
When Pekoms and Baron Tamago met his strange, slowly swirling red and purple pupils, they instantly felt a massive murderous intent, as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.
That cold pressure seemed to materialize, locking tightly onto their throats.
The two broke into a cold sweat, their bodies stiffening uncontrollably.
Baron Tamago swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he took half a step back:
"What... you... are you going to make a move on us?"
Just at this tense moment—
"Victor." Luffy called out calmly, pressing his hand on the Straw Hat on his head.
Hearing his Captain's words, the cold light in Victor's eyes instantly vanished.
He chuckled, stepped to the side, and cleared the wide doorway.
Pekoms and Baron Tamago felt like they had been granted a general amnesty. Without even bothering to leave a harsh word, they hurriedly directed their subordinates to push the heavy treasure carts and fled Ryugu Palace in a panic.
The crisis was temporarily resolved, but the air in the hall remained heavy.
King Neptune was like a deflated ball, slumped powerlessly on his throne.
Looking at Luffy's still cheerful back, he gave a smile full of complex bitterness.
Their territory?
This declaration was certainly moving, but what they were about to face was one of the Four Emperors who ruled the world.
The old King sighed heavily. Since things had come to this and the die was cast, there was nothing else to be done.
Jinbe, who was standing nearby, stepped forward and comforted him in a low voice with a determined look, expressing his willingness to face the future storms together.
The Straw Hat crew was also helpless against their Captain, who always pushed things in unpredictable directions.
Nami helplessly held her forehead and let out a long sigh.
Then she told Chopper and Usopp to quickly go to the guest rooms and wake up the rest of their companions to tell them the bombshell news that they were "about to go to war with a Four Emperors."
While the hall was in chaos, Princess Shirahoshi silently stepped forward.
She stood to the side, watching the Straw Hat crew's close-knit bond of life and death.
She felt a sense of distance that she could never integrate into, as well as a deep inferiority complex brought about by her massive size.
No matter how hard she tried, she could not naturally snuggle up to Lord Victor's side like Nami and Robin, and even a simple hug had become a luxury.
A flash of deep bitterness crossed her eyes. She forced back the tears that were swirling in her eyes and lowered her head deeply.
She didn't dare look into Victor's eyes, her voice tinged with a bit of sobbing and loneliness:
"Lord Victor... I'll take my leave first."
After saying that, without waiting for Victor's response, Shirahoshi turned around and swung her large pink fishtail, leaving the hall dejectedly.
Victor stood quietly where he was, watching her back, which was filled with grievance and loneliness.
He turned his head and said something softly to Nami.
Then, Victor's figure flickered, turning into a black afterimage as he chased after the direction in which Shirahoshi had left...Chapter 295: Multi-Size Technique! The Mermaid Princess's Transformation
Inside the Hard-Shell Tower on Fish-Man Island, which had witnessed ten years of loneliness, it felt exceptionally dark and cold at this moment.
Princess Shirahoshi curled her mountain-like, massive body tightly onto the giant bed deep within the room.
She buried her head in the crook of her arm, her giant palm tightly clutching that pink gemstone emitting a soft glow, as if it were the only life-saving straw she could grasp in this world.
Scalding tears, like pearls from a broken string, fell uncontrollably from her beautiful eyes, staining the soft bedsheets with patches of dark water.
"I'm not greedy... I'm really not greedy..."
Shirahoshi choked back sobs, her voice filled with endless grievance and loneliness as she muttered to herself in the empty room.
"But... I'm so envious, so envious of Miss Nami and Miss Robin..."
Just thinking about her massive body, and how she might never be held in that warm embrace that gave her an infinite sense of security.
The cruel chasm known as the "size difference" made her feel deep despair and an unspeakable sense of inferiority.
She was like an ugly duckling hiding in a dark corner, looking up at the starry sky, without even the right to touch that light.
While the young girl was grieving alone, a tall, slender black figure silently passed through the tower door and entered the dim interior.
Victor stopped and stood quietly by the edge of the giant bed.
He watched as Shirahoshi wept bitterly while tightly clutching the ordinary stone he had picked up casually in front of the mausoleum.
A flash of insight struck him, and he instantly understood the complex thoughts of this young girl in love.
He couldn't help but feel a bit stunned, sighing inwardly:
"What kind of ridiculous coincidence is this... This girl doesn't think this stone is some kind of token of love, does she?"
However, Victor quickly hid the shock in his eyes.
Looking at the giant girl before him crying like a pear blossom in the rain, a trace of pity rose in his heart.
"Hiding alone in a dark, cold place like this and secretly crying isn't something a brave princess should do."
Hearing that familiar voice, Shirahoshi raised her head in panic like a startled fawn.
Through her blurry, tear-filled eyes, she saw clearly that Victor was standing by her bedside, gazing at her quietly with those deep eyes.
Usually, Shirahoshi would have obediently wiped her tears away immediately.
But now, thinking of her grievances and the insurmountable inferiority, she uncharacteristically threw a bit of a girlish tantrum.
She turned her head away, avoiding Victor's gaze, and muttered with a heavy sob and a hint of pettiness:
"Shirahoshi... Shirahoshi was always a crybaby..."
"If Lord Victor finds Shirahoshi annoying or hates her, please leave now..."
Hearing these words clearly tinged with resentment, Victor didn't get angry; instead, he raised an eyebrow and a playful curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He made a move to turn around and walk away, drawling out his words:
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Since Her Highness the Princess has issued an order to leave, then I really am going."
"Don't go!"
Hearing Victor's receding footsteps, the small tantrum in Shirahoshi's heart was instantly replaced by massive panic. She lost her composure completely and hurriedly cried out to make him stay.
She whipped her head around, watching Victor stop and turn back. The emotions she had suppressed for so long could no longer be held back.
Shirahoshi cried, her voice full of pitiful grievance and despair as she shook her giant head frantically:
"I'm sorry... Lord Victor..."
"I know I shouldn't have such extravagant thoughts, I shouldn't be jealous of Miss Nami and the others!"
"But... but Shirahoshi's body is too big!
"I can't even get a normal embrace, I'll never be able to lean into your arms like they do!"
"I simply... I simply don't deserve you..."
By the end, the Mermaid Princess was sobbing uncontrollably, her hands covering her face in pain.
Victor stood still, quietly watching the giant girl crying her heart out.
That exquisitely beautiful and pure face, the full body trembling from heavy sobbing, and that innocent love humbled to the dust.
Facing such unreserved emotion, Victor sighed deeply in his heart.
He looked at Shirahoshi, recalled the blind box skill the system had given him, gritted his teeth, and ruthlessly roasted himself in his mind:
"If I'm a scumbag, then so be it!"
"She's already said all this; why pretend to be a virtuous gentleman who remains unmoved at this point!"
Victor's eyes narrowed, his hands coming together in front of his chest to form a complex seal.
"Multi-Size Technique!"
"Poof—!!!"
With a deafening thud, a massive burst of white smoke exploded within the Hard-Shell Tower, instantly swallowing his figure.
Then, before Shirahoshi's stunned eyes, a massive, expanding shadow appeared within the white mist.
Victor's body began to swell at an incredible speed!
The white smoke gradually cleared.
Victor, whose size had previously been no bigger than one of Shirahoshi's fingers.
Now, he had unexpectedly transformed into a tall giant over ten meters high, with a strong and well-proportioned build, radiating a powerful masculine aura!
Victor stood tall, his body as majestic and towering as a god's.
Under Shirahoshi's stunned gaze, as she completely forgot to breathe, he strode to the bedside, extended his broad arms full of absolute power, and pulled this delicate "pink mountain" firmly into his embrace!
"Thump-thump... thump-thump..."
Feeling the broad chest truly enveloping her and hearing the powerful heartbeat in her ear.
Shirahoshi's mind went completely blank at this moment.
She never imagined this scene would actually happen.
A massive wave of happiness overwhelmed her like a tsunami, and tears of joy burst forth, instantly wetting the front of Victor's clothes.
"Lord Victor..."
Trembling all over, she slowly extended her giant arms and cautiously yet greedily hugged Victor's firm back in return.
At this moment, all the inferiority and bitterness dissolved completely in this warm and powerful embrace, turning into endless sweetness.
Victor lowered his head slightly, looking at the girl in his arms whose eyes were filled only with him.
Inside the silent Hard-Shell Tower, without any hesitation, he passionately kissed the soft, charming red lips of this Poseidon Princess.
It was a long and gentle kiss, filled with comfort and infinite tenderness.
As the kiss ended, Shirahoshi had gone completely limp in Victor's giant yet warm embrace.
Her exquisitely beautiful, giant face was now so red it looked like it might bleed, and her rapid breathing made her chest heave violently.
Victor's gaze turned deep and burning in the dim light.
He extended a giant palm, his fingertips with their rough texture gently brushing across Shirahoshi's burning cheek.
He lowered his head slightly, leaning close to Shirahoshi's pointed ear, and whispered softly:
"Then..."
"My beautiful Princess, would you mind if I... took a good look at the body structure of a Fishman tonight?"
Hearing these words full of strong suggestion, Shirahoshi's sensitive body suddenly shuddered.
A layer of misty confusion instantly rose in her eyes, which were as pure as water.
Her giant hands nervously gripped the corner of Victor's black clothes.
The shyness deep in her heart and her infinite love for the man before her clashed fiercely.
Finally, under Victor's burning gaze, she closed her eyes shyly, like an offering.
Her long Eyelashes trembled slightly as she nodded in obedience, letting out a whisper of consent from deep in her throat, as faint as the buzzing of a mosquito.
With a thought from Victor.
The giant pearl chandelier on the dome of the Hard-Shell Tower, which emitted a dazzling light, was instantly extinguished.
The entire vast room fell into an ambiguous dimness, with only a few large Night Pearls in the corners still emitting a soft, yellowish glow, adding a touch of romance to this private world.
A massive and magnificent pink fish tail thrashed and curled weakly on the wide, soft bed.
Those beautiful, smooth scales shimmered with a charming and soul-stirring luster in the dim, interlaced light and shadow.
Inside the empty Hard-Shell Tower, the clamor of the outside world was completely cut off.
Echoing in the room were the girl's cries, from her initial panic and confusion.
But under Victor's patient and gentle guidance, they gradually transformed into uncontrollable, blood-pumping, delicate whimpers.
This Mermaid Princess, as pure and flawless as a blank sheet of paper, completely let down all her guards and gradually sank with Victor into the endless gentle embrace of the deep sea.