XX-level Hokage

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.

Pluton is the most ferocious warship in shipbuilding history. It was once a super warship built by Water 7 and could destroy an island with a single shot. Its blueprints are being actively sought by the World Government.

Aquaman is a mermaid princess who appears only once every few centuries and possesses the ability to communicate with sea kings. She is the queen of the sea kings and has the ability to converse with and command them.

The gatekeeper is incredibly mysterious and possesses the powerful ability to reverse everything.

The current mermaid princess is Princess Shirahoshi, and she is also the new Sea King. "Mashiro said with a light laugh. "How do you know all this?" Neptune's face paled slightly.

When his wife, Queen Otohime, passed away, Shirahoshi's cries attracted a giant sea king. The birth of the mermaid princess caused a sea king uprising.

Neptune believed that the power of his daughter, who was born with immense strength, would have different effects depending on how it was used.

Especially now that the World Government is actively searching for the three Ancient Weapons, Neptune is terrified that Shirahoshi's abilities will bring disaster to him and the entire Fish-Man Island.

Therefore, he rarely allowed Shirahoshi to appear in public. Since Shirahoshi lived in the Hard Shell Tower for nine years, this was not entirely due to Vander Deikun. You see, Neptune could have easily asked Jinbe to take care of Vander Deikun.

If it weren't for Shirahoshi's special circumstances, what father would want his daughter to stay in a tower for nine whole years?

Chapter 103: Performing in Person

"I had a dream, a very long dream, in which I heard a giant mermaid girl with pink hair."

Then a voice of indistinct gender told me that the pink-haired mermaid girl was the new Sea King, and also the Mermaid King Neptune.

My daughter now lives on Fishman Island, and she awaits my guidance.

"That voice also told me that the Lord of the Seven Waters exists in Water Seven, while the Lord of the Gate exists in Mary Geoise," Mashiro replied. "A dream?" Neptune's expression was somewhat strange.

Logically, he shouldn't have believed such an incredibly unrealistic answer, but 25 years ago he met someone who said something similar to him.

Twenty-five years ago, the Roger Pirates arrived at Fish-Man Island seeking the truth about Poseidon, an ancient weapon recorded in the Skypiea Poneglyphs. Upon arriving at Fish-Man Island, they discovered Neptune guarding the island's gates alongside the soldiers.

At this time, Neptune had only been the king of the Ryugu Kingdom for a few months. Neptune said that the mermaid fortune teller Shirley had recently predicted that "the gate to Fishman Island will be destroyed", so he led his troops to guard it.

However, shortly after Roger and Neptune entered Fish-Man Island, the gate was destroyed by the Sea Lords.

After Roger met Shirley, Shirley told everyone that the reason the sea kings were causing such a ruckus was because they were waiting for the birth of the mermaid princess.

Roger then asked Neptune, "Is your daughter a weapon that will destroy the world?" Neptune replied, "The outcome depends on how power is used."

Roger asked Shirley when the mermaid princess would likely be born, and Shirley replied that it would be in 10 years. As the Roger Pirates departed, Roger told Neptune a few words.

“We’re ten years too late. After the Little Mermaid is born, someone will take our place to guide her.” “How do you know that?” Neptune asked.

Roger smiled and replied, "Perhaps it's because of a dream."

"Could she be the guide Roger spoke of for the mermaid princess?" Neptune wondered, looking at the original copy.

"So what are you telling me all this for?" Neptune asked. "Didn't I say I wanted to see Princess Shirahoshi?" Mashiro said with a smile.

"I understand. I'll take you there once Jinbe arrives," Neptune said, finally giving up.

"Alright, we've said our piece. Let's go back," Mashiro said with a light laugh. The two returned to the banquet hall.

Two more fishmen appeared in the banquet hall at this moment.

A fish-man with whirlwind-like eyebrows and horns, a frizzy hairstyle, a thick, short black beard on his chin, a lightning bolt-shaped scar at the corner of his left eye, a large body, two large teeth on his lower jaw, and a sunspot tattooed on the center of his chest.

The other had long, curly black hair, with a tuft falling on his left cheek. He possessed sharp teeth and wore a flat cap emblazoned with a trident.

He was wearing a wolf skin cloak and had a large dragon tattoo on his left arm.

“Your Majesty, I’ve arrived. Also, this is the new leader of Fishman Street. I heard he’s been a bit restless while I was away, so I brought him here to see you,” Jinbe said.

“I see. This is the sorcerer who is also one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea,” Neptune said, turning around to reveal Mashiro behind him. Jinbe was completely stunned the moment he saw Mashiro.

He seemed somewhat incredulous, his eyes flashing with doubt and confusion. "Izumi-sama?!"

Mashiro smiled at Jinbe and put her index finger to her lips in a "shh" gesture. Jinbe snapped out of his daze and said, "I've heard so much about you, sorcerer. I am Jinbe."

"I've long admired the name of the Sea Knight, just call me Mashiro," Mashiro said with a smile.

Then he glanced at the two of them. [Name: Jinbe]

Gender: Male Age: 43

Race: Mermaid; Faction: Pirate

Three types of Haki: Armament Haki, Observation Haki

Devil Fruit: None Height: 305cm Luck Value: 85 Approval Rating: 0