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Night on Fish-Man Island held a different magic than on land. Even with the sun gone, a gentle luminescence seemed to emanate from the surrounding waters. Or perhaps it was simply the radiant glow of the Ryugu Palace…
As evening deepened, Enel, Wyper, and the others returned, each hauling a cart overflowing with Fish-Man Island treasures. They looked thoroughly pleased with their shopping spree. Kalifa and Conis, meanwhile, had transformed into elegant noblewomen, sporting their new finery.
The women had indulged in beautiful clothing and shimmering shell souvenirs. The men's purchases, however, were a different story.
Enel proudly brandished what looked like a gold-spray-painted shell scepter. "Check it out, Noir! Isn't it awesome?" He grinned, clearly expecting praise.
Noir inwardly cringed. 'He picked up that word from me, but using it for that… ' He decided to let it slide. Enel’s taste was, shall we say, *unique*. Hopefully, the others had fared better.
Wyper excitedly held up a clunky metal contraption. "Behold! My robot!"
Lucci, a sinister smile playing on his lips, cradled a human skeleton.
Even Fujitora, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a mischievous grin, held a set of oddly shaped dice.
Noir sighed. *Right. None of the Underworld Pirates are exactly what you'd call 'normal'.*
He gestured for them to put their things away, then called Reha over.
"Everyone, this is Reha, a retainer from my homeland, the kingdom of Noitem. He’s officially part of the crew now."
Confusion rippled through the group. Only Lucci, his eyes narrowed in thought, seemed to grasp the significance. "So, Captain, does this mean you're the heir to Noitem's throne?"
Reha nodded, a shadow passing over his face. "Only the First Prince's line survives. Prince Noir is likely the last of the royal family…"
Conis gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. "Captain, you're a Prince?!"
Wyper scratched his head, trying to process the information. "So, if we're with the Captain, does that make us, like, royal advisors or something?"
Fujitora sighed. "A fallen kingdom, a prince forced to wander the sea… How tragic."
The crew turned to Noir, their expressions a mixture of surprise and pity.
Noir rolled his eyes, exasperated by their sudden sympathy. "I was adopted and had a fantastic life. Besides, I'm about to reclaim my kingdom!"
Enel's face lit up. "We're taking back 'OUR' territory?! I'm all for that!"
Wyper cracked his knuckles, grinning. "Getting the Captain on that throne sounds like a pretty good gig."
Their enthusiasm was infectious. Noir smiled. "Alright then. Prepare to leave Fish-Man Island. We've got a lot to do."
"Aye, Captain!"
As dawn painted the sky, Noir and Ace made their way to the palace to bid King Neptune farewell.
Neptune’s massive frame filled the throne, the radiant Princess Shirahoshi seated beside him.
With the immediate threat to her life gone, Shirahoshi seemed content to remain by her family's side. Noir wasn't surprised to see them together.
Neptune looked at Noir with a tinge of regret. "I wish you could stay longer, but I understand you have pressing matters…"
'He's probably just relieved I'm leaving before I cause any more mayhem.' Noir thought with amusement.
He didn't comment, instead pushing Ace's wheelchair forward. "Please look after my friend. Make sure he doesn't go running off before he’s fully healed."
Neptune puffed up his chest. "You have my word."
Ace, looking bored, propped his chin on his hand. "Stuck recuperating on Fish-Man Island… Not exactly my idea of a good time."
Ignoring Ace's grumbling, Noir glanced at Shirahoshi. She sat quietly beside her father, fiddling with her fingers, a troubled expression on her face.
"Princess Shirahoshi," Noir asked gently, "is something bothering you?"
Shirahoshi jumped, as if caught off guard. Her hands tightened on her tail fin as she straightened up. "M-Mr. Noir… C-Could you… perhaps take me… to the surface? Just to see it?"
Noir's eyes lit up. He hadn't even hinted at it, and yet the princess herself had voiced the very thought he'd been entertaining.
With her innate Observation Haki and the power of Poseidon within her, Shirahoshi had the potential to become an incredibly powerful ally.
But even if Shirahoshi was willing…
"Shirahoshi! Don't be foolish!" Neptune boomed, slamming his solid gold scepter on the floor. "You're a princess, not a warrior. The surface world is far too dangerous! You can't possibly go!"
Noir sighed inwardly. This was precisely why he hadn’t dared to suggest it himself.
Fish-Man Island was rife with animosity towards humans and pirates. Even Otohime's years of effort had barely made a dent in the deeply ingrained prejudices.
Pirates still regularly raided the island, kidnapping fish-men and merfolk to sell into slavery.
Bridging that chasm of hatred seemed an impossible task. And with Shirahoshi's beauty and the secret of Poseidon, Neptune would never willingly let her go.
The risks were too great. What if she were captured and sold, or worse, if the World Government discovered her true identity and took her for their own purposes?
Noir was confident in his ability to protect her, but even Neptune's trust couldn't overcome such justifiable fears.
Shirahoshi, easily moved by her father’s harsh words, began to cry. "I just… want to see what the sun and clouds look like… on the surface…"
"And… I want to understand… why Mother… tried so hard to bring humans and fish-men together… Why she never gave up, even… even when…" Her voice choked with emotion.
A heavy silence descended upon the hall, enveloping Noir, Neptune, and Ace.
Otohime was one of the few women Noir truly respected in this world, but even he questioned her methods. He found himself more aligned with Fisher Tiger's more pragmatic approach.
In this world, strength earned respect, and respect earned a voice.
It was a lesson he'd learned the hard way, even back in his old life. Formal channels and appeals to reason didn't always work. Sometimes, the only way to protect yourself was to be strong enough to fight back.
Even if you weren’t looking for a fight, survival demanded it.
The fish-men, despite their natural advantages, had limited potential for growth and few true powerhouses among them. How could they ever hope to stand on equal footing with humanity, a race that bred warriors like weeds?
After a moment of reflection, Noir smiled gently at Shirahoshi. "Princess, you're still young. Even if you went to the surface, you might not fully grasp Queen Otohime's ideals."
Tears streamed down Shirahoshi's face. Noir continued softly, "Perhaps you should first try to understand the hearts of your people here on Fish-Man Island. Then decide if you still wish to venture to the surface."
"If, after that, you still long to see the world above, I will help you."
...
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