Thud!Clang!Clang!
As if to prove Shirahoshi's fears right, the sounds of metal impacting the tower's exterior suddenly rang out from outside. The collisions were relentless, a continuous, terrifying barrage.
"He's here... he's here again," Shirahoshi paled, burying her head in her chest as her massive form curled up and trembled. While the Hard Shell Tower could block Vander Decken's physical weapons, it couldn't block out the sound. Every time she heard these noises, Shirahoshi became like a frightened little rabbit, helpless and terrified.
"Hmm?" Leo's gaze turned icy. His powerful Observation Haki surged out, instantly locking onto a decrepit, ancient ship drifting in the deep sea nearby.
The grating, terrifying sounds continued for a full ten minutes before finally ceasing.
"Don't be afraid. The noise has stopped," Leo said, his voice soft as he appeared beside Shirahoshi's... formidable figure.
"Ah!!" Shirahoshi let out another startled cry. She slowly lifted her head, her sapphire-blue eyes brimming with fresh tears. "L-Lord Leo... the attacks... have they stopped?" she asked tentatively, her voice a tiny, hopeful whisper as she lowered her hands from her ears.
"They've stopped," Leo reassured her, gently stroking her cheek to comfort her.
Mmm~
A warm sensation spread from his touch. Shirahoshi's eyes widened, and she stared at Leo in a daze. "L-Lord Leo... You... you..." A deep blush spread across her face, her heart fluttering like a trapped bird in her chest.
Leo withdrew his hand and gave her a warm smile. "I'm going to go catch the bad guy. Wait here for me like a good girl, okay?"
"O-Okay," Shirahoshi nodded instinctively.
In the next second, Leo vanished from the room.
"Eh? Lord Leo?!" Looking around the now-empty room, the bewildered princess called out his name in her timid voice, her eyes searching the shadows.
The Dark, Cold Depths
A dilapidated shipwreck drifted aimlessly through the abyss. On its moss-covered deck, a four-armed fishman with a small top hat and multiple necklaces danced a manic, twisted jig.
"Pahahahaha! My beautiful Princess Shirahoshi! Please, feel the intensity of my love for you!!" he cackled. "Sooner or later, you will accept my confession! We will have a magnificent wedding! Pahahahaha!!" His depraved laughter echoed across the deck.
"Ugh, the captain's lost it again. When will this ever end?""After all these years, the captain still hasn't given up. What a devoted... freak.""Poor Princess Shirahoshi, having to endure the captain's 'attacks' every single day.""Bastard, why don't you feel sorry for us?! We're the ones about to drop dead from forging all these weapons!""Yeah, who isn't? The Ryugu Palace army uses all the equipment we make."
Behind Vander Decken IX, his fishman crew members whispered among themselves.
"YOU SCUM! What are you standing around for?! Bring the weapons over!" Decken suddenly whirled around, glaring at his crew. "The princess hasn't felt my love for a whole minute!!"
The crew shuddered, nodding their heads frantically. "Right away, Captain!" They scrambled into the ship's hold, emerging in groups while carrying large crates filled with an assortment of bizarre weapons, each one stamped with a bright rose emblem.
Decken opened a crate, his eyes burning with obsession. He picked up a giant battle-axe, rubbed his ugly face against the rose painted on it, and then hurled it with all his might into the dark water.
"Pahahahaha! Princess Shirahoshi! My love is on its way again! Be sure to catch it!" He watched as the axe, guided by his Devil Fruit power, changed direction underwater and shot off towards the palace, a lecherous grin spreading across his face.
This was the power of his Mark-Mark Fruit. Once he marked a target, any object he threw would unerringly seek them out. His "love" might be delayed, but it was never absent!
BOOM!!
At that moment, a thunderous roar echoed through the black depths. A flash of silver-white lightning split the water, and the giant battle-axe exploded into a thousand shattering fragments.
"WHO'S THERE?! WHO DARES INTERFERE WITH MY LOVE FOR THE PRINCESS?! SHOW YOURSELF, YOU COWARD!" Decken bellowed, his rage instantaneous. "DAMN YOU!!"
"It's you. You're the one who's been harassing Shirahoshi."
A crackle of electricity preceded Leo's sudden, unannounced appearance on the deck. In his hand, the demonic green blade, the Seven Star Sword, glowed with an eerie light.
"BASTARD! YOU RUINED MY MOMENT!" Decken snarled. "MEN! KILL THIS—"
"Silence!" Leo's voice cracked like a whip. A green sword beam flashed past Vander Decken's right arm.
Swish!
A bloody hand fell to the deck.
Leo's expression remained utterly indifferent as another sword beam severed Decken's remaining hand.
The atmosphere was one of cheerful commotion. Over a dozen women were thoroughly enjoying the unique delicacies of Fish-Man Island, chatting animatedly, their eyes sparkling with delight. The desserts, in particular, were considered exquisite. Jewelry Bonney, the youngest of them, had completely abandoned any pretense of lady-like manners and was inhaling food at a prodigious rate, much to the amazement of the mermaid servants.
Nami, Vivi, and a few others had already left the hall to explore the island, eager to experience the local culture and sights.
Doll and Kalifa had just concluded their battle. Perospero's body had already been discreetly removed by the mermaid guards.
King Neptune was distractedly conversing with Robin, their discussion entirely centered on the Poneglyph.
Suddenly, a heavy THUD echoed through the hall as a body was unceremoniously dumped onto the floor.
Neptune and the women all jumped.
"V-Vander Decken?!" Neptune shot to his feet, his face a mask of astonishment.
The women, upon seeing it was Leo, immediately relaxed. They glanced at the ugly fishman's corpse and then promptly returned to their meals.
"It really is Vander Decken!" Prince Fukaboshi walked over and stared down at the grisly remains, his expression one of pure shock. This was the man they had hunted for eight years without success. And Leo had captured him in mere moments?
"This is wonderful! With Vander Decken dead, Shirahoshi is free!" Prince Ryuboshi exclaimed, his mood lifting immensely at the thought of his sister finally being released from her shell-like prison.
"Leo... we cannot thank you enough," Neptune said, turning to Leo with profound gratitude in his eyes. His daughter could finally live under the sun. The citizens would be overjoyed at the news.
"Lord Leo, thank you for your assistance," the Left and Right Ministers chorused, bowing deeply to him.
"No need for thanks. I had my own conditions," Leo stated matter-of-factly. "I'm going to bring Shirahoshi here now. Clean this up. I don't want her to be frightened."
After this brief reminder, he vanished again.
"Quickly, quickly! Get rid of the body!" Neptune ordered, his face beaming. Princes Fukaboshi and Ryuboshi personally took charge, hauling Vander Decken's body away and disposing of it like the trash he was. Mermaid soldiers swiftly mopped up the blood.
The Hard Shell Tower.
Shirahoshi waited anxiously.
"Megalo, do you think Lord Leo will be okay?" she asked the loyal sea-carp, who wore a red "criminal" sign around its neck. Megalo, sensing her distress, swam over and nuzzled her arm gently, offering what comfort it could.
"I hope Lord Leo is safe. Otherwise, I... I would..." Her voice trailed off.
"You would what?"
Before she could finish, Leo's voice sounded out of nowhere, making her jump.
"Ah!" Shirahoshi shrieked. Megalo bared its teeth, snarling towards the sound, but upon seeing it was Leo, it quickly closed its mouth and retreated to a corner, intimidated.
"Lord Leo! You're safe! Thank goodness!" Shirahoshi's voice was filled with relief and joy as she leaned in close, carefully examining the much smaller man before her. "I'm so glad you're not hurt." After a thorough inspection, she let out a long, relieved sigh.
Such a善良单纯 (kind and innocent) girl, Leo thought, touched by her concern even as he chuckled internally.
"Shirahoshi, what were you going to say? What would you do if something happened to me?" Leo closed the distance, a playful, teasing smirk on his face. A unique, sweet fragrance wafted from her, and he inhaled subtly, his eyes briefly dipping downwards.
So white... so... fragrant.
Stop. Must not tease any further!
Ahem. Leo cleared his throat, forcing himself to focus. "Shirahoshi, the bad man has been dealt with. Let me take you out for a walk."
"R-Really? Has Vander Decken truly been defeated by you, Lord Leo?" Her voice was a hopeful, timid whisper, laced with disbelief.
"You don't believe me?" Leo feigned a stern expression.
"N-No! I believe you, Lord Leo!" Shirahoshi frantically waved her hands, terrified that she had offended him.
"It's true. Vander Decken will never hurt you again. Your father and brothers are waiting for you in the main hall. We shouldn't keep them waiting." Leo's smile returned, warm and reassuring, careful not to frighten the delicate princess.
"Okay... I will go out with you, Lord Leo. Megalo!" Shirahoshi nodded and beckoned to her pet in the corner. Hearing her call, Megalo happily swam over.
"It's cold outside. You should put this on first." Leo retrieved a set of clothes he had prepared in advance—perfectly sized for Shirahoshi—from his system warehouse and handed them to her. The current Shirahoshi only wore a pink bra on her upper body and her natural pink tail below. His woman was not for anyone else's eyes.
Touched by his thoughtfulness, Shirahoshi didn't question it and quickly put on the clothes Leo offered.
"Let's go." Seeing Shirahoshi now bundled up snugly, Leo nodded in satisfaction. He walked to the door and pushed open the heavy iron barrier.
The gap widened, and for the first time in years, unfiltered sunlight streamed into the Hard Shell Tower, illuminating the dust motes in the air and the hopeful face of the mermaid princess.
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T/N :
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