XX-level Hokage

"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.

"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.