"Fish-Man Island is spectacular no matter how many times I visit!"
Stella walked down from the cruise ship, holding Nero's arm.
"Hmm, the Sun Tree Eve is indeed an incredible miracle tree!"
Nero also nodded in agreement, expressing her fondness for Eve, the giant tree that illuminates the deep sea ten thousand meters below.
"Nero! You're finally here!" Neptune and his ministers were all waiting to greet her.
"Hmm, what's the rush, calling me over? Your Fish-Man Island still flies Whitebeard's pirate flag, you know!"
Facing Neptune's eagerness, Nero rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Well, don't say that! We're old acquaintances."
Neptune quickly bent down, patted Nero's back, and whispered in her ear, "And this time, it's really important!"
Nero pressed Neptune's face, pushing him away, and then said with a look of disgust, "Hmm, it sounds like trouble!"
"I'm also out at sea for a serious matter, and there's that thing we discussed earlier."
"Eh? What kind of matter requires you, one of the Four Emperors, to personally handle?" Neptune only heard the first half, his face full of surprise.
"Nicuss's slaves are reportedly selling very well in the Sabaody Archipelago, especially recently, a noble's descendant was even abducted. I'm here to teach those idiots a lesson!"
Nero crossed her arms, saying with displeasure, "It seems I've been too complacent these past few years. They have the guts to provoke me! We'll see if their lives are tough enough!"
"That's great! No, I mean... just come with me first!" Neptune spoke incoherently and nervously, finally pulling Nero aside.
"What is it, exactly? Hmm! All this secrecy is annoying!" Nero allowed Neptune to pull her, but she was extremely impatient.
Neptune's massive body quietly leaned close to Nero's ear: "Actually... my daughter has been born."
"Huh? So what? Stella and I will eventually..." Mid-sentence, Nero suddenly reacted, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"Hmm, is it that one?"
"Most likely, yes." Neptune nodded solemnly.
"Mwahahahaha! At this time? Interesting!" Nero burst into laughter.
Stella and Hathaway, on the other side, looked on in surprise; they hadn't seen Nero like this in a long time.
"When did this happen? Hmm, why didn't you invite me then?"
"Huh? I sent you several invitations, but you never responded. I thought you looked down on me after becoming a Four Emperors."
At this, Neptune was full of grievances.
"Nani?" Nero turned to look at Hathaway.
"Ah, the music festival..." In just three words, Hathaway spoke with a heart full of sorrowful tears.
"Hmm... Well... Then I'll forgive you this time." Nero quickly turned back to Neptune, no longer looking at Hathaway and Stella's resentful gazes.
"Ha~" Neptune looked utterly bewildered.
As they talked, the group arrived at the castle. Stella and Hathaway went to their resting place first, leaving only Nero and Neptune to walk to another area.
Just then, a tall, red Fishman approached, nodding to Neptune.
Just as the two parties were about to pass each other, Nero spoke.
"Hmm, stop!"
Nero turned to size up the red Fishman. The Fishman himself was nothing special.
It was his eyes, and a figure that Nero's Observation Haki seemed to vaguely sense, that were strikingly similar.
"Hmm, who is this fellow?"
The red Fishman didn't speak, just stood silently. Neptune quickly stepped in to mediate, introducing him to Nero.
"This is Fisher Tiger, a famous adventurer from Fish-Man Island, who just returned from outside."
Nero looked at him, her index finger lightly tapping her lower lip in thought.
"Hmm, you know who I am, right?"
Fisher Tiger was silent for a moment, then said flatly, "One of the Four Emperors, the rose emperor — Nero Claudius, should be known to everyone on the seas, right?"
"Hmm, I see!" Nero seemed not to care about his answer, her emerald eyes fixed on Fisher Tiger's, as if trying to see through him.
"Hmm, wait a moment. I'll come to see you when I'm done here. Perhaps I can even offer some help with the matter you're planning to do."
Fisher Tiger's expression finally changed, his pupils trembling violently. He was approaching the upcoming task with a readiness to die.
"Are you kidding! You... do you know what I'm going to do? Even a Four Emperors..."
Nero turned around and continued walking forward, leaving him with her back, only extending her right hand and pointing upwards.
"Nero... you..." Neptune sped up to catch her, opening his mouth hesitantly, unsure what to say.
"Hmm, I was originally thinking about how to solve the problem. This fellow might be able to give me a satisfactory solution."
Nero waved her hand dismissively, "Oh, by the way, Nicuss's Merfolk Paradise is almost finished. For those willing to live in Nicuss, I'll take them along on my return trip."
"That's no problem, but the number might be quite a bit less than you expect." Neptune patted his chest, indicating it was fine.
"Hmm, that's alright! Once I've resolved things, that number will surely increase significantly."
"I hope so!"
Neptune pushed open a door and nodded to Nero, "Here we are, it's this place."
Nero walked through the door, her eyes wide: "Hmm, Neptune! Have you done something to displease Queen Otohime?"
"Of course not! This is my and Otohime's daughter, her name is Shirahoshi."
"Hmm! You're telling me this baby, who's even bigger than you, was born to Otohime?" Nero said incredulously, "Are you taking me for an idiot?"
"Huh? Who would joke about something like this?" A cross mark appeared on Neptune's forehead; he had clearly heard this kind of remark before.
Hearing him say that, Nero stared intently at Shirahoshi, hesitating for a long while.
"Hmm... You're really not joking?"
"Of course, I'm not joking!!!"
"Hmm..."
"It's true!!!"
"I know! I know! I haven't said anything yet, have I?" Nero waved her hand dismissively, in a tone that suggested, 'I don't believe you, but I'm too lazy to argue.'
This attitude successfully made Neptune's face darken again.
"So? What do you want me to do?"
Nero spread her wings and flew directly above Shirahoshi, carefully observing the predicted existence.
"Hmm, I hope, Nero! You can protect Shirahoshi!" Neptune lowered his head in silence for a moment, then looked up at Nero with a solemn expression.
"Hmm, no problem! I'll dedicate one of my pirate flags specifically to Shirahoshi!"
"No, I mean, let Shirahoshi return to Nicuss with you!"
Nero turned back in surprise, seeing Neptune's firm gaze.
For some reason, Nero suddenly felt that this fellow seemed a bit like Livord.
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