XX-level Hokage

She pounded on Mashiro with both hands frantically, but Mashiro seemed completely immune to her strength, remaining unmoved despite her struggles. Gradually, she lost her strength, or rather, under the influence of a strange sensation, she lost her composure, and that strange feeling spread throughout her body.

It reached her heart, penetrated her bone marrow, making her scalp tingle and nearly causing her to faint and die.

Only one thought remained in her mind: It's over.

In the end, Mashiro didn't take the final step with Perona. She likes to do the right thing at the right time, and this morning was clearly not the right time for either of them.

In the common dining room of the Mermaid Apartment, Toki, Nami, Camie, and Perona are having breakfast.

"What's wrong, Perona-chan? I feel like you're not really focused on anything," Amatsuki Toki asked softly, pushing a small cake towards Perona.

"No, it's nothing, I just didn't sleep well last night." Perona hugged Kumasi, letting it cover her face to hide her flushed cheeks.

Now, whenever she sees Amatsuki and Nami, she is reminded of the scene she spied on through the crack in the door at night, and she is also reminded of what happened in her room this morning.

Although Amatsuki still found this somewhat strange, he realized that Perona didn't want to talk about it, so he didn't press her for details.

"I wonder where Mashiro is now. Why isn't she back yet? Weren't we supposed to be back in a day? Has she taken a fancy to that mermaid princess?" Nami said, biting her straw.

“That’s quite possible, after all, she’s a princess of the mermaid clan,” Tianyue Shi replied with a smile.

“That’s impossible. I worked at the Mermaid Cafe before, and Mrs. Shirley mentioned that Princess Shirahoshi is a giant mermaid,” Cammy said while eating her bread.

"A giant fish-mermaid? What's that?" Nami asked, puzzled. "By the way, it seems you outsiders don't know much about this."

Well, you should know that we fish-men evolved from fish in the sea, but ordinary fish and sea kings are worlds apart in size.

Long ago, the fishmen were divided into large fishmen and small fishmen, similar to giants and ordinary humans. Those living on Fishman Island now are mostly small fishmen.

Then, for some reason, the large fish-men gradually disappeared during the evolutionary process. However, because the reproductive form of mermaids is oviparous, under special circumstances, the children of our small fish-men will revert to the large fish-men.

Princess Shirahoshi is a giant fish-man, a creature that has reverted to its ancestral form. "Kamy explained."

"So, Princess Shirahoshi is a giant among mermaids?" Toki asked. "That's right," Camie nodded.

Chapter 115: The Agreement

"What are you discussing?" Just then, a clear voice rang out.

"Seriously~" Hearing the incredibly familiar voice, Nami quickly stood up and leaped up to hug the nearby girl. Kanatsuki chuckled and said, "You're back?"

Mashiro held Nami's slender waist and said softly, "Yes, you're back."

"We're discussing Princess Shirahoshi. Kai said she's a very rare, atavistic giant mermaid. You must have seen her yesterday, right? What did you think? Wasn't she enormous?" Nami asked with a smile.

"It is indeed enormous, about twelve meters tall, roughly half the height of the Mermaid Apartment." After considering her words, Mashiro replied.

"Wow, I wonder if I'll ever have a chance to meet Princess Shirahoshi. I've never seen a giant before," Nami said softly. "You'll have plenty of opportunities," Mashiro replied with a smile.

"If you've lost interest in Fishman Island, then come with me this afternoon. I'll send the three of you back to my territory as a Shichibukai—Ohara. I'll return in about a week after I'm done with my work," Mashiro replied.

"Is that so? Well, I don't mind then. Nami, Perona, what do you think?" Toki thought for a moment, then asked with a smile. "I want to stay on Fishman Island. Fishman Island has so many local specialties and attractions," Nami said, waving her right hand.

“I want to leave. I don’t really like the scenery on Fishman Island. It’s too vibrant, and getting around is a real hassle. I don’t have the ability to breathe underwater like my true master,” Perona said, hugging Kumasi.

"It's a tie, then you two play rock-paper-scissors. Whoever wins gets to decide," Tian Yue Shi said with a light laugh.

Upon hearing this, Nami and Perona both agreed with Toki's idea. In this situation, rock-paper-scissors was indeed the most convenient, quick, and fair game.

"Rock, paper, scissors!"

Nami chose rock. Perona chose paper. Perona won.

"Great!" Perona exclaimed excitedly, floating up in her arms with Kumashi in her arms. "Hmph, we lost." Nami looked at her fists, looking somewhat dejected.

"It's alright, there will be many more opportunities to come to Fishman Island in the future, if you want. Besides, there's a floating island right now above Ohara, with many local specialties and unique scenery. You can go up and take a look then." Mashiro gently stroked Nami's orange hair and said softly.

Unlike Toki and Perona, Nami's hair is incredibly fine, and because it's short, touching it feels like touching a fluffy ball.

"Mmm." Nami's face flushed slightly as Mashiro affectionately stroked her head, and she nodded obediently.

Seeing this, Perona felt a pang of sadness for no apparent reason, and involuntarily tightened her grip on Kumasi's arm.

"Alright, you guys can wander around some more now. I'm going to Ryugu Castle to see King Neptune, and I'll be back this afternoon. Then we'll leave Fishman Island together," Mashiro said softly, withdrawing her hand from Nami's head.

Then Mashiro turned to Toki and said, "Toki, I'm leaving those two to you."

“Okay.” Tengetsu nodded with a light laugh. Dragon Palace Castle.

The President's Office.

Neptune was talking to Shirley.

"You mean you want me to use my divination abilities to confirm one last time whether this sorcerer is indeed Princess Shirahoshi's guide?" Shirley interjected after Neptune finished speaking.

“That’s right. Although it’s almost certain, I still want to put my mind at ease. After all, once Shirahoshi’s guide appears, I won’t have to keep Shirahoshi under control like before,” Neptune said with a slight sigh.

“I understand.” Shirley nodded, then took out her crystal ball.

Looking at the crystal ball, Xia Li's gaze began to lengthen, and fragmented images began to surface in her mind.

She saw a boy wearing a straw hat, a boy who would cause Noah, who had been silent for hundreds of years, to rise from the sea again.

Just as Shirley was about to continue watching, suddenly, a pair of pale green eyes with patterns and magatama appeared, and then all the scenes vanished into nothingness.

"Haa haa..."

Shirley removed her hand from the crystal ball, panting. "How are you, Shirley?" Neptune asked.

Shirley remained silent. If what she saw was true, Shirahoshi's guide should be the boy with the straw hat, but she had already made a promise with Mashiro, so...

"That's right, I saw a woman with milky-white eyes leading Princess Shirahoshi to land. If I'm not mistaken, she should be you."

"The sorcerer she just described to me will also be the guide for the new mermaid princess," Shirley said.

Upon hearing this, Neptune was completely relieved. Just then, a guard approached.

"Your Majesty, the sorcerer has arrived."

“Help me welcome her over,” Neptune said with a smile, now completely accepting Mashiro as one of his own. Two minutes later, Mashiro walked into the office.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Mashiro said softly.

“You too, greetings, Sorcerer.” Neptune replied with a smile. “And this is?” Mashiro asked, looking at Shirley beside her.

"Madam Shirley is the foremost diviner on Mermaid Island. She has been gifted since childhood with the ability to briefly foresee the future," Neptune introduced.

"I'm amazed that you have such power. Hello, Mrs. Shirley, my name is Mashiro Izumi, you can call me Mashiro." Mashiro said with a "surprise", and then extended her hand to Shirley.

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Mashiro." Shirley avoided Mashiro's gaze and extended her hand.

He clasped his hands together, and his fair fingers gently stroked Xia Li's palms a few times, causing Xia Li's face to inexplicably flush.

Then Mashiro gave Shirley a look, and Shirley nodded very slightly. Seeing this, Mashiro withdrew her hand.

"Mashiro, is there something you need that you came all this way today?" Neptune asked, completely oblivious to their subtle interaction.

“I have a favor to ask. I made a promise with Shirahoshi to take her to see the land. It’s a bit difficult, but I hope you can agree,” Mashiro said softly.

Upon hearing this, Neptune fell silent.

Chapter 116: Artificial Devil Fruits (Part 1)

If Neptune were to follow his usual character, he would absolutely never agree to Mashiro's request.

But after being confirmed by Zixing and Xia Li, he believed that the true Zixing was the one who guided Zixing, so he couldn't refuse.

“If this is a promise between you and Shirahoshi, I can’t say for sure, but given Shirahoshi’s size and appearance, once she sets foot on land, it will inevitably bring a lot of unnecessary trouble,” Neptune said worriedly.

"Your Majesty need not worry about that. Do you only know why the Navy calls me a sorcerer? I have a way to change Shirahoshi's size to that of an ordinary mermaid," Mashiro said with a light laugh.

"How is this possible??"

Neptune was initially puzzled, but remembering that Mashiro was, after all, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and a sorcerer, as well as the guide of the mermaid princess, and might indeed possess magical powers, he continued, "If Lord Mashiro can truly do this, then I think I can be completely at ease."

“Of course, no problem. But I need to prepare some things in advance, which will take about four days. I will come to Ryugu Castle again then and change Shirahoshi’s size back to that of a normal mermaid,” Mashiro said softly.

"Four gates? Then I'll await Lord Mashiro's arrival." Neptune nodded.

“Then I’ll go back and prepare. Goodbye, Your Majesty.” With that, Mashiro turned and left. After Mashiro left, Shirley also said, “Then, Lord Neptune, I’ll also be going back now.”

"Okay, thank you for your help this time, Shirley." Neptune said. "It's nothing." Shirley nodded and left the office.

Arriving outside the Dragon Palace, and crossing a street, Shirley looked around but didn't see that familiar figure, so she breathed a slight sigh of relief. Just then, a hand wrapped around Shirley's slender waist.

"Looking for me?" Mashiro rested her chin on Shirley's shoulder and murmured. Her warm breath brushed against Shirley's earlobe, making her feel inexplicably itchy.

“Yes, Lady Mashiro.” Shirley suppressed the itch in her heart and said calmly.

"Shirley did a great job. Without you, Neptune wouldn't have been so easy to deal with," Mashiro said with a smile.

Hearing this, Shirley hesitated for a moment before asking, "Lord Mashiro clearly possesses such great power that he could easily use force to make Neptune agree, or even forcibly take Princess Shirahoshi away. Why go through all this trouble?"

"Although I am indeed very strong, extremely strong, being strong does not mean acting only in the name of violence. In a sense, I hate the arrogance of force and the meaninglessness of acting by force, don't you think?"

"Of course, the most important reason is that I really like Shiro, and it's better for her to love me than to hate me," Mashiro replied softly.

"Alright, go back and pack your things. We'll meet at the Fishman Port this afternoon." Mashiro chuckled as she patted Shirley's tail, then disappeared from the spot.

Looking in the direction Mashiro disappeared, and at the last pat she gave herself, Shirley recalled Mashiro's caresses from the previous night. "It's nice to do this sometimes," Shirley murmured.

As a mature female mermaid who has never had sex before, especially a shark mermaid, Shirley's inner desires are incredibly strong, and Mashiro makes her long-hidden desires begin to stir.

One o'clock in the afternoon.

With Camie seeing them off, Mashiro and the other three arrived at the Fishman Port. There, Shirley was waiting, carrying a huge bag. "Mrs. Shirley?!"

Upon seeing Xia Li, Kai Lai was instantly speechless, exclaiming in utter astonishment.

"I forgot to tell you, Shirley joined Miya herself, and she'll be working with me from now on," Mashiro said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Nami immediately reached out and pinched Mashiro's waist with some dissatisfaction, while Perona also pouted.

Only when Tenzuki extended his hand to Shirley in a friendly manner did he say: "You are the owner of the Mermaid Cafe, the legendary Mrs. Shirley? You are younger than I imagined."

"Hello." Shirley responded simply to Amatsuki's words. "Alright, let's go."

As Mashiro spoke, he took out a whistle, blew it, and a giant yellow octopus quickly swam to the harbor.

Kraken, a giant sea monster living on the outskirts of Fishman Island, resembles a combination of an octopus and a squid. It is an enormous creature and is a legendary sea monster, described as "a merciless killer who targets ships and roams the ocean," and "the enemy of mankind," who attacks pirate ships that enter the deep sea.

Kraken was coerced by Hody Jones into serving the New Fishman Pirates by using his family as leverage. After Mashiro defeated the New Fishman Pirates, Kraken, persuaded by Shirahoshi, regarded Mashiro as his benefactor.

Two tentacles were seen above Kurakon's head, holding a ship.

"Let's go, it will safely and quickly take us back to land," Mashiro said softly. Then, in the astonishing light, a giant tentacle reached out to the port.

Mashiro led the group to stand on the tentacles. After saying goodbye to Camie, the tentacles quickly retracted and then placed the group into the boat held by two other tentacles.