XX-level Hokage

"If you want, Shirahoshi." Mashiro looked at Shirahoshi and said with utmost gentleness.

[Bai Xing's approval rating +30][Name: Bai Xing]

Gender: Female Age: 15

Race: Mermaid; Affiliation: Fish-Man Island; Haki: None; Devil Fruit: None; Special Ability: "Sea King"; Height: 11.87m; Luck Value: 100; Agreement: 50

["Aquaman" can summon Sea Kings to become his allies and hear their voices.]

Chapter 101: The Mermaid King

"I guess I still can't do it." After hearing Mashiro's words, Shirahoshi wrapped herself in the blanket, leaving only her huge pink fishtail exposed. "Shirahoshi, is there anywhere you want to go right now? Not the mainland, just Fishman Island." Mashiro asked with a light laugh, floating down onto Shirahoshi's fishtail.

Slippery, cool, and with a faint milky scent... Hmm? Why would a mermaid smell like milk? Of course, there are many reasons, but... "Zi Xing quietly peeked out from under the covers, her huge fish tail gently swaying.

Mashiro sat on the fish tail. Due to the attraction of chakra, she did not slide down due to the electric shock of the fish tail. Instead, she swayed along with the fish tail.

“Is that so? Then let’s go out.” Mashiro said seriously. “Huh?”

Shirahoshi turned to look at Mashiro.

"Let's go for a walk." Mashiro floated in front of Shirahoshi, sat on her nose, and said with a smile. "Wait, this won't do." Shirahoshi hurriedly waved her hand in refusal.

"Why? Are you worried about King Neptune or Vander Decken?" Mashiro asked softly. "Um..." Shirahoshi didn't know what to say.

"Don't worry, if Vander Decken really shows up, I'll take care of him for you. As for King Neptune, I'll talk to him, and he'll agree." Mashiro bent down and gently touched Shirahoshi's cheek, speaking softly.

Shirahoshi's large, teary pink eyes met Mashiro's milky white eyes, as if she could see the determination and tenderness in Mashiro's gaze. Shirahoshi softly hummed in agreement.

When Mashiro returned to Camie's mermaid apartment, it was already evening. Toki, Nami, Perona, and Camie were already in the apartment.

Upon seeing Mashiro, Nami proudly showed her the jewelry and clothes she had acquired at a bargain price. Toki also got a new hairstyle, and even Perona had acquired a very ugly octopus sea monster doll.

Perona's aesthetic sense has always been like this.

"Want to go out for dinner tonight? There's a mermaid restaurant in Mermaid Street that looks pretty good," Amatsuki said to Mashiro. "No need for that. We'll have a big meal at Ryugu Castle tonight," Mashiro said with a smile, putting her arm around Amatsuki's waist.

"Ryugu Castle? Is that the name of the restaurant?" Amatsuki asked, somewhat puzzled. "I think I've heard that name before," Nami said thoughtfully.

"Dragon, Dragon Palace?! Could it be the Dragon Palace where Lord Neptune resides?!" Cammy exclaimed in astonishment.

“That’s right, I’ve already sent a visiting card to the Mermaid King. If all goes well, I should be able to have a big meal tonight,” Mashiro said softly. Although she wasn’t particularly fond of food, she hadn’t had much of a gourmet meal since leaving Mary Geoise, so she had to treat herself. “Camy should come along too,” Mashiro said softly.

"!!!, is it really possible?" Dragon Palace, Sea God Temple.

A merman wearing a crown, with light blue eyes and a red nose, is looking at a letter in his hand.

This merman was more robust than the average merman, with thick, bushy orange-red curly hair and a beard, flame-like tattoos on his arms, dense body hair, and metal gauntlets inlaid with gemstones on his wrists.

He was none other than Neptune, the ruler of the Dragon Palace Kingdom on Fish-Man Island, known as the "Great Knight of the Sea."

[I've stumbled upon Fishman Island by chance, and having long admired the name of King Neptune of the Mermaid Kingdom, I'll pay him a visit tonight. —The Sorcerer]

Neptune frowned as he put the letter away. "The sorcerer, that new Shichibukai?" Neptune muttered to himself.

"Inform Minister Seahorse to tell Jinbe that he needs to speak with him," Neptune said to the guard at the door as he opened it. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, the guards hurriedly ran away.

Although he had already called for Jinbe, Neptune's furrowed brows remained furrowed.

"Sorcerer, why would this newly appointed Shichibukai come to Ryugu Castle? And why did he even send a formal invitation?"

It's important to know that for most great pirates, although their journey to the New World involves passing through Fishman Island, they generally have no contact with royalty.

To most of the fish-men and mermaids on Fish-Man Island, Neptune was a brave, responsible, and loving king, deeply loved by his people, and also a devoted father.

Not long after Neptune ascended to the throne, he had already heard about his wife, Otohime, who had begun to advocate for the ideal of peaceful coexistence between fish-men and humans. At the time, he believed that Otohime's dream of a world where fish-men and humans could coexist was just a dream that his ancestors had destroyed. Although he did not agree with Otohime's actions, he could not stop her.

After Otohime's death, Neptune inherited her ideals and became a peace advocate on Fish-Man Island, believing that "fish-men and mermaids should coexist peacefully with humans." He single-handedly raised his four children to become outstanding members of the Dragon Clan and deeply loved his daughter, Princess Zixing.

Due to the discrimination against merfolk and fishmen by humans on land, Neptune began to refuse contact with the surface in order to protect his people, and tacitly allowed Fishman Island to enter Whitebeard's protected zone.

Neptune could be considered a near-perfect kingdom for fish-men and mermaids. But he also had a weakness: his daughter, Princess Shirahoshi.

"I hope this visit by the Shichibukai is purely for show and has nothing to do with Shirahoshi," Neptune said earnestly.

That night, Mashiro, along with Toki, Nami, and Perona, arrived at the Ryugu Palace. At the palace gates, many guards were gathered.

Mashiro and Toki remained calm and unfazed by the scene.

Needless to say, Mashiro has also witnessed many grand occasions with Toki Amatsuki, and has even encountered most of the world's strongest individuals. Nami and Perona are not particularly nervous.

Nami had been a pirate and thief for many years, and Perona was also a subordinate of Gecko Moria, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. They didn't care much about these guards. Only Camie was very nervous, looking at the guards around her. You should know that these were guards protecting the royal family.

Led by the guards, the group entered the Dragon Palace. Five fishmen stood atop it.

A burly mermaid with orange curly hair, wearing a crown, holding a trident.

A fat mermaid with brown hair, a plump figure, and a rather pleasing appearance, wielding a long knife.

A tall fish-man with long, wavy blue hair, a dignified appearance, light-colored round spots on his fishtail, and holding a golden trident.

A slender fishman with a long tuft of red hair. And a middle-aged fishman who looks like a seahorse.

"Are you Neptune, the Lord of Mermaids? It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Mashiro," Mashiro said with a smile.

Chapter 102: Neptune's Taboo

"Your visit, Sorcerer, may I ask what brings you to interview Ryugu Castle?" Neptune asked calmly. "Nothing much, just a sudden whim," Shinji replied with a light laugh.

“Well then, on behalf of Fish-Man Island, I welcome you. A banquet has been prepared in the reception room, and Jinbe, another Shichibukai, will be arriving later.” Neptune said to Mashiro with utmost seriousness.

"Jinbe? It's been a long time," Mashiro said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Neptune didn't suspect anything; he simply assumed that Shinpachi and Jinbe were both Shichibukai and had met before.

Moreover, seeing Mashiro's familiar attitude towards Jinbe, Neptune breathed a slight sigh of relief; at least this Shichibukai had a decent relationship with Jinbe. "Please follow me," Neptune's tone softened somewhat.

Neptune, along with Mashiro and the others, boarded a giant flounder covered in enormous foam inside the Ryugu Palace and arrived at the banquet hall.

There was an incredibly luxurious hall with a shell-shaped stage in the center, where singers and musicians were performing. Below the stage, a huge table was filled with all sorts of delicious food.

A fish-man in charge of the banquet led Mashiro and the others to their seats at the table. "Please enjoy your meal," Neptune said.

The seating arrangement was very orderly, with Neptune seated at the head of the table. Mashiro, as the most distinguished guest, sat to his right.

Toki, Nami, Perona, and Camie, as Mashiro's companions, sat down in order of Mashiro's seat.

To Neptune's left sat his eldest prince, Shark Star, followed by his second prince, Emperor Star, his third prince, Overturning Star, and Minister Seahorse.

Mashiro scanned the group, and a panel appeared. [Name: Neptune]

Gender: Male Age: 69

Race: Mermaid; Faction: Merman Island

Three-color Haki: None; Devil Fruit: None; Height: 12.2m; Luck Value: 50; Agreement: 0; Name: Shark Star

Gender: Male Age: 23

Race: Mermaid; Affiliation: Fish-Man Island; Haki: None; Devil Fruit: None; Height: 604cm; Luck Value: 45; Recognition Rate: 0; Name: Huang Xing; Gender: Male

Age: 23 years old

Race: Mermaid; Affiliation: Fish-Man Island; Haki: None; Devil Fruit: None; Height: 544cm; Luck Value: 45; Agreement: 0

[Name: Car Crash Star]

Gender: Male Age: 23

Race: Mermaid; Affiliation: Fish-Man Island; Haki: None; Devil Fruit: None; Height: 473cm; Luck Value: 45; Recognition Rate: 0; Name: Seahorse

Gender: Male Age: 68

Race: Murloc; Faction: Murloc Island

Three types of Haki: None; Devil Fruit: None; Height: 236cm; Luck Value: 40; Agreement: 0] All are quite average.

After glancing at it, Mashiro looked away and then lowered her head to begin eating.

For a moment, apart from the music and singing, there was no sound of speaking in the entire banquet hall.

The cuisine on Fishman Island is quite different from that on the mainland, featuring many unique seafood dishes.

At least according to Mashiro's taste, it was pretty good, and Toki and Nami also ate with relish. Camie, in particular, almost wolfed down her food.

Only Perona seemed uninterested; she didn't like seafood.

While eating, Neptune kept a close eye on Mashiro and the others.

"If things continue like this, that's fine. I can still afford to treat one of the Seven Warlords to a meal. I hope nothing else happens," Neptune thought to himself.

But often, the things we least want to see happen.

"I've long admired Princess Shirahoshi's name. I wonder if I'll have the honor of meeting her today?" Mashiro suddenly said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Neptune was instantly stunned, and the three princes, Shark Star, Emperor Star, and Overturn Star, also changed their expressions drastically. Minister Seahorse was even sweating profusely.

“My daughter is rather shy and doesn’t like meeting strangers, so she hasn’t been able to meet you,” Neptune said calmly. “Is that so? I have some things I’d like to discuss with you privately. I hope Your Majesty Neptune won’t refuse,” Masashi said with a smile.

Neptune hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Minister Kaiba. "Kaiba, when will Jinbe arrive?"

Minister Seahorse gave Neptune a look, indicating that they were almost there and there was no need to worry.

After receiving a look from Minister Kaiba, Neptune breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "I understand, Sorcerer, please come with me." With that, Neptune led Mashiro into the banquet hall.

"Ah Shi, what do you think Zhen Bai needs from the Fishman King?" Nami asked curiously.

"Who knows? Maybe they're discussing another Shichibukai," Guan Yueshi said after a moment's thought.

"Maybe she's taken a liking to the mermaid princess and wants to make some shady deal with the mermaid king?" Perona, who was eavesdropping, said.

"You've got your eye on the mermaid princess? Isn't Makoto a girl?" Kai asked suspiciously, having overheard Perona's words. Hearing this, Toki and Nami exchanged a glance, unsure how to respond.

Perona blushed slightly and said, "You'll find out later." (Inside the banquet hall.)

“What do you wish to discuss with me privately, Sorcerer?” Neptune asked.

"If I'm not mistaken, your daughter, the mermaid princess Shirahoshi, should be the current ruler of the sea," Mashiro said calmly. Hearing Mashiro's words, Neptune was struck dumb.

After a long pause, Neptune forced a calm expression and said, "What are you saying? Sorcerer, Lord of the Sea? Isn't Lord of the Sea one of the three ancient weapons? It should be the weapon."

"Who says a weapon has to be a weapon? If someone has a special ability that can instantly destroy an island or a country, then she should be considered a weapon too," Mashiro said with a light laugh.

“What do you know?” Neptune’s expression turned cold and tense.

Legend has it that there were three ancient weapons with the title of gods that existed since ancient times, capable of destroying the world: Pluto, Poseidon, and Uranus.