XX-level Hokage

At this moment, Mashiro arrived in front of the Hard Shell Tower.

The Hard Shell Tower was a tall tower encased in a giant bubble, with various swords and axes stuck in its doors. After a moment's thought, Mashiro pushed open the door and went inside.

Entering the bubble, unlike other parts of Ryugu Castle, the hard-shell tower contained no seawater, but rather a large amount of air. Opening the door, they entered a pitch-black room, and Mashiro, flying through the air, suddenly bumped into something soft.

"Coral?" Mashiro patted the soft object in front of her; it was very bouncy. Continuing to land on top of the coral, Mashiro was gently bounced up.

"It's soft and bouncy, really useful," Mashiro said with a light laugh. "Hmm..."

Just then, a soft voice came from behind. Mashiro subconsciously looked around.

According to what she read in that book, the legendary mermaid princess should be in this tower. Suddenly, the lights came on.

Immediately afterward, Mashiro's feet began to shake, and then a huge humanoid figure rose up, forcing Mashiro to fly into the air again. "What's going on? What are you doing on my body? Who are you?" a very gentle voice came.

Mashiro looked up and saw a giant mermaid with flowing pink curly hair, a taiyaki-shaped hair accessory, a pair of seashell-shaped earrings, bright blue eyes, a beautiful face, a full bust, and a lower body with a pink fish tail in varying shades, who was tearfully clutching her chest.

"What a huge mermaid!" Mashiro exclaimed in rare surprise.

She originally thought the Little Mermaid would be a normal-sized mermaid like Kailai, but she found out that she was actually a giant mermaid.

"You've come to take my life too, haven't you? But I'm not afraid at all, because I'm Neptune's daughter, so I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid..." Bai Xing said with tears welling up in her eyes, and tears involuntarily fell down her cheeks.

Huge teardrops nearly hit Mashiro.

"Perhaps the power of a water-style technique used by a genin is about this great," Mashiro couldn't help but think, looking at the enormous teardrop.

Then Bai Xing burst into tears, covering her eyes with her hands. "Help! Father! Brother!..."

Shirahoshi kept crying, tears streaming down her face. Mashiro watched Shirahoshi with great interest.

This was the first time she had ever met a girl with this kind of personality.

According to the description in the novel, this should be called "soft and cute".

Inside a massive shipwreck off Mermaid Island, a man's voice asked.

"No reply yet? The Little Mermaid's reply."

“Not yet, Captain Daken,” replied a bald sea monster outside the wreck. It had a black beard, thick hair on its chest and abdomen, a bare upper body, fins on its back, webbed hands, short legs, a huge mouth, and sparse teeth.

"How many years have I waited?" the boy said, clearly dissatisfied. "Nine years, I guess, and still no reply," the bald sea monster replied.

"This must all be the work of that despicable Neptune. That guy wants to use Princess Shirahoshi for a political marriage, that must be it. The princess lives in the Hard Shell Tower..."

The years are proof. It's heartbreaking. We clearly loved each other so much. It must be true. I love you deeply, I love you, I love seeing you.

No matter how hard I search in the deep sea, I will never find a woman as noble and beautiful as you. Love is wonderful, of course, but you are absolutely...

You can't be with other men. If that happens, just die, Shirahoshi.

Your life is either about marrying me or dying!

Today I'm also giving you an axe with roses on it. Here you go, White Star, this is proof of our marriage.

A four-legged fishman wearing a top hat, with spiky hair and a beard, and adorned with multiple necklaces, came to the deck of the sunken ship, raised a huge axe printed with red roses, and threw it in one direction.

“On the ship, it seems we’re completely on the wrong track again,” a fishman wearing a hat said from the ship.

“Idiot, I wouldn’t miss, it must be.” Deakin said, and the huge axe suddenly turned and flew in another direction.

Have you forgotten? The captain is a user of the "Target Curse." Once an opponent is targeted, any object he throws will automatically track him to the ends of the earth, unless it is shot down or blocked by an obstacle along the way.

However, as a price, the captain lost his ability to swim in the sea. "A fish-man wielding a knife said."

Meanwhile, inside the hard-shell tower, Shirahoshi gradually stopped crying, but her cries still attracted the guards.

A large number of armored fishmen rushed towards the Hard-Shelled Tower. "It's Princess Shirahoshi crying, coming from the direction of the Hard-Shelled Tower." "What are the guards inside the tower doing?"

"What?! Why is no one there?" Minister Seahorse shouted.

"I'm terribly sorry, it was a mistake during the handover between the guards," the captain of the guard team hurriedly explained. "Anyway! Get there quickly," Minister Seahorse urged.

"You human came to this room to take my life." Shirahoshi wiped away her tears, on the verge of crying again.

"Alright, stop crying. If I really wanted to take your life, you'd be dead by now," Mashiro said softly, looking at Shirahoshi in front of her. Just then, a huge axe spun through the door and cleaved towards Shirahoshi.

Seeing this, Shirahoshi remembered Deakin and froze instantly. Mashiro turned to look at the axe.

The black flames instantly reduced the axe to nothing.

"Now you can prove my sincerity, right?" Mashiro said with a smile.

Seeing this, Shirahoshi became even more puzzled. Just then, the guards arrived.

Shirahoshi quickly reached out and grabbed Mashiro, hiding her behind her back.

Seemingly sensing that Shirahoshi meant no harm, Mashiro did not put up any resistance.

"My lord, we think we just heard you crying. What happened?" Minister Seahorse asked with concern.

"Really? Really? It must be just my imagination?" Bai Xing asked nervously. "But it definitely is..."

"No, it's your imagination," Bai Xing said, puffing out her cheeks.

"Your Highness, you seem a little strange." Minister Seahorse was about to say something when a guard approached with a clock.

"Lord Kaiba, it's almost time."

Five minutes have passed, so we'll take our leave now. If Your Highness has any questions, please inform the guards immediately. With that, Minister Seahorse left with the guards.

Neptune had a rule that no one other than members of the royal family could stay in the Hard Shell Tower for more than five minutes.

Seeing everyone leave, Shirahoshi finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Can you let go of me now?" Mashiro whispered.

"Okay, okay," Bai Xing said nervously, quickly releasing Zhen Bai.

"Thank you so much. I was really rude just now. I hope you can forgive me." Shirahoshi held Mashiro in her hands and said apologetically.

Chapter 100: The Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi

"You're welcome, it was nothing." Mashiro looked at the incredibly innocent Shirahoshi and said softly. "Who are you? Are you a bad person?" Shirahoshi asked timidly.

My given name is Mashiro. Whether I'm a bad person or not, well, that's for you to decide. In some people's eyes, I'm a good person, and in others' eyes...

"Whether I'm a bad person or not, it's up to you to decide," Mashiro replied.

“Okay, okay,” Bai Xing replied softly.

"Oh, right, you must be Princess Shirahoshi, the daughter of the legendary Mermaid King Neptune. In the news, you and Boa Hancock are hailed as the most beautiful women in the world. You truly live up to the reputation." Mashiro said with a light laugh.

Oh my god! Is this how people on land see me? I'm so embarrassed. Bai Xing's face flushed crimson, and she kept shaking herself.

A pink fishtail.

“No need to be modest, beauty can’t lie,” Masashi said with a smile.

“But I think you are more beautiful than me, Lady Mashiro,” Shirahoshi said sweetly.

"Looks come in different styles, and it's obvious I'm not as pleasing to the eye as you, Zixing," Zhenzi replied.

In terms of appearance alone, Mashiro is even more exquisite than Hancock and Shirahoshi, but in addition to appearance, temperament, demeanor, and style are also important factors in determining one's looks.

Mashiro's temperament and demeanor determined that she would never be as popular as Shirahoshi and Hancock.

Actually, Hancock's personality is quite wicked, but the power of the Gate-Gate Fruit offsets that wickedness. "I see." Shirahoshi nodded, seemingly understanding.

"By the way, what happened with the case just now? Who threw it from where?" Mashiro suddenly asked. Hearing this, Shirahoshi's emotions, which had calmed down, became agitated again.

"I know who the culprit is. It's a man named Vander Deiken. I rejected his marriage proposal, so he's always hated me. That man possesses a target."

The Devil Fruit's Devil Fruit power seems to make me a target for his boots, no matter when or where I am.

"So, it's dangerous outside. I can only stay in this hard shell and can't go out even once," Bai Xing said with a very sad tone.

"Being rejected by a woman and still clinging on relentlessly, it seems this Vander Deiken is really not a gentleman," Mashiro said calmly.

"Besides, he wanted to marry you, yet he wanted to kill you. He's really a strange person," Mashiro continued. "It's been almost ten years, more than nine years." Shirahoshi said softly.

"He's been throwing axes in the same direction day after day for over nine years. He must be really bored," Mashiro said with a hint of sarcasm.

“Furthermore, my father has stipulated that soldiers can only stay here for five minutes, so usually the only one I chat with is Mecaro. By the way, Mecaro is my shark companion. It went out to play today and hasn’t come back yet. It’s my most important friend,” Bai Xing said gently.

"Do you need it? If you do, I can take care of it for you, take care of Vander Deiken." Mashiro looked at Shirahoshi and said with a light laugh. Upon hearing this, Shirahoshi burst out laughing.

"As expected, you don't seem like a bad person," Bai Xing said with a smile.

Shirahoshi didn't believe that Mashiro could defeat Vander Decken. After all, this was something that even her all-powerful father and brother couldn't do. Moreover, after so many years, Vander Decken had become her nightmare, a nightmare that no one could get rid of.

"By the way, Mashiro-sama, are you a pirate? I heard from my brother that only pirates usually come to Fish-Man Island." Shirahoshi asked curiously. "Pirate, I guess so, since I'm nominally one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea." Mashiro thought for a moment and replied.

Shirahoshi placed Mashiro on the bed, then lay down herself, looking at Mashiro. "Shichibukai? What's that?" Shirahoshi asked curiously.

Looking at the huge ditch in front of her, Mashiro felt an irresistible attraction to her gaze.

“The Seven Warlords of the Sea are a special type of pirate recognized by the Navy. You should know Jinbe, right? He’s one of the Seven Warlords,” Mashiro replied. “Lord Jinbe?! Of course I know him. My father told me he’s the guardian of Fishman Island. It’s because of him that Fishman Island is protected.”

"Just like Lord Jinbe, Lord Mashiro, you're actually that amazing?" Shirahoshi covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling as she spoke. "I'd say it's alright," Mashiro said, unusually modest.

"If you're a pirate, does that mean you'll be going on adventures?" Shirahoshi asked, resting her chin on her hand, looking very eager. "Mhm." Mashiro nodded with a light laugh.

Shirahoshi's appearance and personality make Mashiro very patient.

"By the way, by the way, have you ever seen the sun? At night, the stars rise into the sky, right? There are all kinds of flowers and animals covered in fur. Have you ever been to a place called a forest, a place full of greenery?" Bai Xing asked with a smile, her eyes sparkling with joy and longing, and even her tail wagging along with her words.

"Of course I've seen the sun. In the morning, the sun rises above the horizon, dispelling the morning chill. At noon, the sun hangs in the center of the sky, making everyone feel hot. In the evening, the sun sets in the west, burning the clouds orange-red."

There is no trace of the sun except at night, but there is the moon and stars. The moon rises into the sky along with the stars. The sunlight is different from the sun's light; the moonlight is silvery-white and has no temperature. It looks very beautiful when it shines on the sea.

Then, on different islands, there are different flowers, all kinds of colors and shapes, strange and wonderful, blooming together in a beautiful display. The male animals are all furry, and there are many different kinds: dogs, cats, sheep, and even gorillas. Each animal has its own favorite food.

Each of the western animals also has a unique call.

As for forests, most islands are covered in forests, though some are large and some are small, and the trees that make up the forests are of various kinds. Not all forests are green; there are also red forests and yellow forests. "Mashiro said with a light laugh.

"Wow~, it really is Master Shirahoshi! To be able to see so many different sights!" Shirahoshi exclaimed with immense admiration.

"Although Fishman Island is also incredibly beautiful, it is still somewhat monotonous compared to the mainland. Besides the forests, there are many other unique sights on the mainland."

Are there countries with forests full of yellow sand, or countries covered in ice and snow?

Some islands are suspended more than 5 meters in the air, while others are made up of the roots of trees that keep blowing bubbles.

"Each island has its own unique characteristics, and even I can't possibly see them all," Mashiro said with a smile. Listening to Mashiro's explanation, Shirahoshi's expression gradually shifted from envy and longing to disappointment.

"I haven't even seen the whole Fishman Island yet. I wonder when I'll be able to see so many different sights," Shirahoshi said softly. "If you want, I can take you there, Shirahoshi."

Let's start with Fishman Island. I can take you to see Alabasta, which is full of yellow sand, Drum Kingdom, which is full of ice and snow, Sky Island, which floats high in the sky, and Sabaody Archipelago, which is composed of the roots of giant trees that keep blowing bubbles.