Chapter 203
Chapter 203
"Waaah~~~~ So this is the sun."
Shirahoshi’s expression was filled with excitement. She raised one hand to shield her forehead as she tried to look directly at the sun. However, because the sunlight was too bright, she could only stare for a few seconds before lowering her head again.
Even so, she looked incredibly happy and moved.
This was the first time she had ever come into direct contact with the sun. In the past, she could only feel sunlight through the roots of the Sun Tree Eve.
"You shouldn’t stare directly at the sun for too long. It’ll hurt your eyes."
Rorschach stood with one hand on his waist, looking both amused and somewhat helpless.
She was already this excited just from seeing the sun. If she were to go out and experience more islands, he couldn’t even imagine how she would react.
The islands in the One Piece world were so bizarre they almost felt unreal — islands with perpetual natural elemental environments, or islands and seas made entirely of food. Even Rorschach found them fascinating, so this mermaid princess would probably be too excited to sleep at night.
"Yes! Lord Rorschach!"
Hearing Rorschach’s reminder, Shirahoshi happily turned around and replied.
"Haah... I really don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing."
Jinbe, on the other hand, had a somewhat melancholic expression.
Earlier, when Rorschach suddenly decided on a whim to take Shirahoshi up to the surface, Jinbe had strongly opposed it. However, after Rorschach’s persuasive words, he had wavered and eventually agreed to secretly bring Shirahoshi to the surface without telling King Neptune.
The girls had no interest in the surface or the sea, so they left Rorschach to take Shirahoshi out while they went to find Camie and the others.
After Madam Shyarly agreed to join Rorschach’s crew, the staff at the Mermaid Café had also changed their minds. Longing for the mysterious and fantastical things on the surface, they decided to accept Rorschach’s previous invitation.
As a result, the Mermaid Café officially closed down. Shyarly transferred the shop to one of the employees who didn’t want to leave.
Nami and the others also planned to go to the Mermaid Café to help recruit new staff and reopen it.
In the end, only Rorschach, Jinbe, and Shirahoshi boarded the fully unsealed Tenma Dragon and quickly flew up to the surface.
Both Shirahoshi and Jinbe were extremely surprised that Rorschach could breathe underwater despite being a Devil Fruit user. They couldn’t understand why the sea didn’t affect him.
Jinbe was the most shocked. He wasn’t some ignorant small-time pirate or civilian — he had already reached the upper echelons of power in this world and understood most of its rules.
To this, Rorschach could only explain that it was due to his unique physique and asked Jinbe to keep it a secret.
Jinbe agreed very seriously. Rorschach trusted the character of this "Sea Knight."
"Is it good or bad... Who cares? Just look at Shirahoshi right now. There’s nothing more important than seeing her this happy."
"Besides, with Shirahoshi’s personality, she would eventually come to the surface for her dream anyway. Letting her experience it a little earlier isn’t a bad thing."
Rorschach shrugged and walked over to pat Jinbe on the shoulder, signaling him to relax.
Jinbe and Neptune had protected Shirahoshi far too well. They had barely let her come into contact with anything from the outside world. She only knew about events happening on Fish-Man Island through her three brothers. She knew almost nothing about the outside world.
"Rorschach... You want to invite Princess Shirahoshi to join your crew, don’t you?"
"Hm? Why do you ask?"
Jinbe’s sudden question caught Rorschach off guard.
Jinbe wasn’t a fool. Of course he could see through some of Rorschach’s intentions.
This would actually be a good thing for Fish-Man Island. Moreover, as long as Princess Shirahoshi herself didn’t object, he wouldn’t stop her.
"Well, your intentions are pretty obvious after all. Of course, I have no objections to this matter. It all depends on Princess Shirahoshi’s own wishes. If she wants to join, I won’t interfere. But I can’t say the same for King Neptune."
Jinbe shook his head and spoke somewhat helplessly.
"Ha, were my intentions that obvious? Hahaha... So you figured it out after all."
Rorschach scratched the back of his head but didn’t bother hiding it. He laughed and admitted it directly.
"Well, it’s not hard to tell. I’m very grateful that you didn’t force Princess Shirahoshi to join your crew. It shows that you respect her."
"What I want to say is... if Princess Shirahoshi really decides to accept your invitation, please treat her well."
Jinbe spoke with a very serious expression.
Seeing how solemn Jinbe was, Rorschach also nodded seriously at him.
"Don’t worry. You know what kind of person I am. I take my crew members very seriously."
Rorschach’s straightforward promise finally put Jinbe’s mind at ease.
"Eh? Lord Rorschach, Big Brother Jinbe, what are you two talking about?"
Shirahoshi, who had been immersed in joy, finally snapped out of it. She turned her attention away from the novel things on the sea surface and looked at the two of them.
"We weren’t talking about anything important. We were just discussing which nearby islands would be fun to take you to. Unfortunately, the closest islands in the New World have pretty harsh weather and aren’t suitable for living on."
Rorschach made up an excuse to brush her off.
"Eh? Is that so? That’s a shame..."
Shirahoshi first looked at them with some doubt, then lowered her head in disappointment.
However, she quickly returned to her usual energetic self. With a hint of excitement, she slowly said,
"Lord Rorschach! I’ve decided! I want to go out to sea with you! I want to see this vast world together!"
"I also want to see for myself all those islands you mentioned — strange animals with fur, dinosaurs, giants, and all kinds of different races! I want to see them all!"
Shirahoshi looked at Rorschach with hopeful eyes.
When Rorschach first invited her, Shirahoshi had already been very tempted. However, because she was worried about how her father and brothers would feel, she hadn’t accepted immediately and was still thinking about it.
But this trip to the surface had directly opened up her inner thoughts and impulses. She had already decided that she wanted to personally experience the real "human world."
"If you want to join, Shirahoshi, I’ll always welcome you. I’m sure Nami and the others will be very happy when they find out you’re joining."
Shirahoshi’s sudden decision left both Rorschach and Jinbe somewhat stunned.
Rorschach knew that bringing Shirahoshi to the surface would increase the chances of her joining his crew, but he didn’t expect the effect to be this strong. Shirahoshi had actually decided to board his ship right away.
He immediately agreed with great joy.
Shirahoshi then looked at Jinbe somewhat embarrassedly. She fidgeted with her index fingers and spoke hesitantly.
"Um... Big Brother Jinbe... Can you not tell Father about this before I leave? Father definitely won’t agree to let me leave Fish-Man Island."
"What?! Princess, are you planning to leave without saying goodbye? That’s impossible! We must inform King Neptune about this!"
Hearing Shirahoshi’s words, Jinbe’s mouth fell open in disbelief.
Is this really the same timid and obedient princess?
She was actually saying she wanted to "elope" with Rorschach.
If she really did that, King Neptune would probably cry himself unconscious in the bathroom.
Jinbe could already imagine Neptune washing his face with tears every day while cursing Rorschach in a resentful tone for stealing his daughter.
For a moment, he was covered in cold sweat. This kind of thing absolutely could not happen.
"But... I really want to adventure on the surface with Lord Rorschach! If I tell Father, then I won’t be able to leave anymore."
Seeing that Jinbe refused, Shirahoshi became anxious.
Tears started welling up in her eyes again. She looked like she was about to cry if Jinbe didn’t agree.
Jinbe covered his face, looking extremely troubled.
"Princess Shirahoshi! I will plead with King Neptune on your behalf. Given how much he loves you, I believe he won’t refuse if you ask him properly."
Jinbe spoke helplessly. In order to make Shirahoshi give up the idea of "running away" and instead properly say goodbye to King Neptune, he was doing his best to persuade her.
"R-Really?"
Shirahoshi looked at him with pitiful eyes, half-believing and half-doubting.
"Hahaha, Shirahoshi, you don’t have to worry. I already said before — if you accept my invitation, I’ll handle things with King Neptune."
Rorschach sat on her large fish tail and patted it to reassure her.
"Yes! Lord Rorschach! Wuu wuu wuu~~ I knew Lord Rorschach treats me the best."
Shirahoshi’s trust in Rorschach was at its peak.
She directly picked him up and affectionately rubbed her large face against him, while Rorschach himself was completely buried between her massive breasts.
"You’re going to be my crew member from now on. As your captain, of course I have to treat you well."
Rorschach enjoyed Shirahoshi’s affectionate behavior and replied with a smile.
"Then should I start calling you Captain Rorschach from now on?!"
Shirahoshi said energetically. She was adapting to her new identity very quickly.
"It doesn’t matter. You can just call me Rorschach. No need to be so formal."
Rorschach smiled and patted her head. She lowered her head like a little cat enjoying the touch.
"In that case, let’s head back to Fish-Man Island first. I need to have a talk with King Neptune."
Since the goal had been achieved, Rorschach suggested they return.
Neither Shirahoshi nor Jinbe objected. They had already stayed on the surface for quite a while.
If they didn’t go back soon, Neptune would probably notice they had sneaked out.
In just over ten minutes, the three of them dived back into the sea from the surface aboard the Tenma Dragon.
For Little Silver, a depth of ten thousand meters was nothing. If it weren’t for having to consider Shirahoshi and Jinbe’s safety, it could have reached Fish-Man Island in an instant.
Rorschach immediately went to Ryugu Palace to find Neptune.
"Is there something important, Lord Rorschach?"
Neptune looked confused. Seeing Jinbe’s serious expression and Shirahoshi’s somewhat nervous look, he could only tentatively ask Rorschach first.
"I’ll get straight to the point."
"King Neptune, I want Shirahoshi to join my pirate crew!"
Rorschach didn’t beat around the bush and stated his intention directly.
He had his own leverage. King Neptune would never refuse this request.
"W-What?! No! This is not acceptable. Shirahoshi is still just a child. She hasn’t truly grown up yet. She can’t leave Fish-Man Island right now!"
Neptune, who had been somewhat dazed at first, rejected the idea without even thinking after hearing Rorschach’s words.
He didn’t consider what would happen after refusing Rorschach at all. He was simply acting out of a father’s protective instinct.
"Father..."
Shirahoshi looked at him with a pitiful expression. Her meaning was already very clear.
"King Neptune, with Lord Rorschach’s strength, he can definitely protect the princess’s safety. If the princess can go out and experience the human world with Lord Rorschach, it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing."
Jinbe was also fulfilling the promise he had made to help Shirahoshi persuade Neptune.
Faced with Shirahoshi’s pitiful gaze and Jinbe’s persuasion, Neptune looked extremely conflicted. In the end, he still refused to allow Shirahoshi to leave.
Shirahoshi could only sniffle and force her tears back.
"There’s no need to refuse so quickly, King Neptune."
"Shirahoshi, Jinbe, could you give us some time to talk alone?"
Rorschach first calmed Neptune’s emotions, then turned to Shirahoshi and Jinbe.
The two nodded and left the palace, leaving only Neptune and Rorschach to talk privately.
"Give it up, Lord Rorschach. I will never agree to let Shirahoshi leave Fish-Man Island. You can take as many of the other mermaid beauties as you want, as long as they agree. I won’t have any objections. But Shirahoshi is not allowed."
Neptune’s attitude was firm. He closed his eyes and pretended not to hear anything.
"Heh heh. Is it because of Shirahoshi’s identity as the Sea God ’Poseidon’? Or is it because of the secret your royal family has been guarding for generations?"
"What?! How do you know that?! Ah... It must have been that girl from Ohara on your ship who told you..."
Neptune opened his eyes and looked at Rorschach in shock. Then, as if he had realized something, he calmed down again.
He slowly sat down on the floor with a somewhat lonely expression.
"If what you said is true... and Shirahoshi has inherited ’her’ identity, meaning this generation’s ’Poseidon’ has appeared, then it’s very possible that the person who will fulfill the promise in place of ’Joy Boy’ will also appear in this generation."
"That’s why Shirahoshi has a reason to stay on Fish-Man Island. It’s not that I don’t want to let my child see a wider world."
"It’s also not that I don’t trust your strength to protect her, Lord Rorschach."
...
The room fell into silence.
"What if I told you that this generation’s Joy Boy has already appeared?"
Suddenly, Rorschach’s words broke the silence.
"What?! The person who inherited Joy Boy’s will has already appeared? How do you know that, Lord Rorschach? Could it be that you..."
Neptune looked at Rorschach in shock and asked anxiously.
Then he stared at Rorschach with an incredulous gaze.
"No. I am not the person who inherited Joy Boy’s will."
Rorschach shook his head and denied it.
"Then... who exactly is this generation’s Joy Boy?"
Seeing Rorschach deny it, Neptune asked with some confusion.
"I do know the identity of this generation’s Joy Boy. But what if I told you... that this generation’s Joy Boy will not come to fulfill the promise you made back then?"
"Impossible! The prophecy passed down through the royal family will never be wrong! The person who inherited Joy Boy’s will will definitely come to fulfill the promise made with the mermaid princess!"
Neptune immediately shook his head and rejected the idea.
"If things had gone according to the original path, Joy Boy would indeed have returned to fulfill the promise. But unfortunately, an unexpected variable appeared."
"And that variable... is me."
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