The Ever-Changing Future #117

I found myself standing amidst the grandeur of the banquet hall, surrounded by the shimmering lights and the gentle melodies of underwater music. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and joy, the celebration in full swing.

As I looked around, I caught a glimpse of Princess Shirahoshi making her way towards me, her eyes brimming with curiosity. "H-hello!" she greeted me with a warm, albeit a timid smile. "I hope you're enjoying the celebration."

I returned her smile and nodded. "Absolutely, Princess Shirahoshi. The party is a bit timid for my taste, but it's still great..."

"Timid...?" Shirahoshi asked remarked, tilting her head. "W-what do you mean?" She asked, her voice carrying a hint of confusion and curiosity.

"Well, no women and not nearly enough booze. Not the ones with a strong enough kick anyway...." I replied with a chuckle.

"Booz? Do you mean wine...?" Shirahoshi asked, seemingly still puzzled by my words, to which I merely nodded with a smile. "W-well, my father always told me that too much wine is never good, but I understand that pirates love it..." She added with an understanding nod.

"B-but what about women? What do you mean by that...?" Shirahoshi asked, to which I momentarily froze, realizing the weird direction of the conversation.

"I don't think it would be my place to explain it to you, princess..." I said, awkwardly clearing my throat. "What don't you try asking your father sometime later... preferably when I'm long gone..." I added, and my words only seemed to innocent mermaid further.

"Anyway... like I said, the banquet is really great..." I concluded, trying to change the subject.

Shirahoshi's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "I'm glad you're having a good time! I have so many questions about the surface world. C-could you tell me more about it, please?"

I chuckled softly, knowing that her sheltered life in Fishman Island had left her with little knowledge of the world beyond, and relieved at the change of topic. "Of course, Princess Shirahoshi. I'll do my best to answer your questions."

I was ready to answer her questions when I noticed a commotion near the hall's entrance, causing me to raise an eyebrow. Royal guards were approaching, accompanied by none other than Duval, Baby Five, and the others from our crew. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the guards trying to pry Baby Five away from the door frame.

One of the guards whispered something to another, and they both nodded with determination. Slowly, they approached Baby Five, who stood with arms crossed, refusing to let go.

The guards exchanged glances, seemingly devising a new strategy. Finally, with synchronized effort, they managed to pry Baby Five from the door frame, much to her displeasure. Her protests filled the air, her voice echoing through the banquet hall.

"Wait! I have customers to serve back in the cafe! I can't leave them hanging! I must help them!" Baby Five exclaimed, her voice a mix of frustration and determination.

Undeterred by her resistance, the guards continued their mission to bring her to the banquet hall. "Like I said, it's not your job! You can't suddenly show up and take over--" Said one guard, only to freeze as Baby Five freed herself.

Several more guards lunged at Baby Five, their faces contorting with effort as they attempted to stop her. It was as if she had become an immovable object, firmly rooted to the spot. Her protests grew louder, reaching new heights of determination.

Princess Shirahoshi watched the scene unfold with a mixture of surprise and concern. "O-oh my! They seem to be having quite a difficult time. I w-wonder what's that all about?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. "The guards certainly have their work cut out for them, princess. But you don't need to worry about it. That's just Baby Five being Baby Five. She loves helping people, unreasonably so..."

The commotion near the entrance continued, drawing the attention of other guests at the banquet. Murmurs filled the air as they watched the guards and Baby Five struggle against each other in a comical tug-of-war.

Princess Shirahoshi's eyes widened in curiosity. "Is she a part of your c-crew, Cedric? She seems quite dedicated..."

Just as I was about to answer Shirahoshi's next question about Baby Five's role on the crew, she interrupted me with another inquiry, her eyes lighting up as she seemed to remember why she approached me.

"By the way, how long have you been a pirate? And why did you become one? And what's the surface world like?" She asked, shooting her questions like a machine gun without stammering once.

"Well, that's a lot of questions..." I said with a chuckle of amusement. "But yeah, Baby Five is a part of my crew, and I guess I've been a pirate for a day or two now? I'm not really sure since I was unconscious after my ship got wrecked..."

"R-really? But I heard only people who've been pirates for a long time get high bounties..." Shirahoshi said, giving me a strange look. "B-brother Fukaboshi also told me you were a powerful pirate with a bounty of 575 million..."

"Oh? So I already got a bounty and such a high one to boot...?" I muttered to no one in particular before shaking my head. "It's true, but I've been a marine soldier before becoming a pirate, so they probably knew how strong I am..." I explained with a chuckle.

"O-oh... so you were a marine soldier..." Shrahoshi said, tilting her head and resting her index on her cheek, and I merely shrugged. "Then why did you become a pirate? Aren't pirates and marines enemies...?" She asked.

I sighed, unbothered by the complexity of my situation. "It's a complicated story, Princess. Being a marine soldier wasn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I believe in many of the things they breach, and I enjoyed my time there. But being a marine also meant always following orders without question, never being able to say no to my superiors."

I paused for a moment, gathering my thoughts. "I wanted the freedom to make my own choices and to explore the world on my own terms. Becoming a pirate allowed me to do that..."

"B-but aren't pirates bad people...?" Shirahoshi asked with a frown. "You saved me from Decekns' cur-- I mean power, and you look like a good person to me...."

"I wouldn't call myself a good person... only people like you could claim that..." I said, my tone genuine as I smiled at the giant mermaid.

"A-are you teasing me...?" Shrahoshi said, seemingly misunderstanding my words as mockery as she pouted.

"Not at all..." I replied, firmly shaking my head. "For example... if someone hit you, what would you do?"

"W-well, I'd wait for them to calm down and ask them why they did it... they might have had a good reason, after all..." Shirahoshi replied after a moment of consideration, her tone dead serious.

"And that's what makes you a good person... you see the good in others because you reflect your own nature on others..." I replied. "As for me, I'd probably punch them in the face repeatedly until they stopped moving and then I'd kick them while they were down for good measure, even if they had a good reason," I added with a chuckle.

"Th-thats horrible..." Shriahoshi said with a shocked expression, covering her face. "B-but you really don't seem like a bad person to me..." She added after a momentary pause, vehemently and stubbornly shaking her head.

I chuckled at Shirahoshi's innocence and genuine belief in me. "Princess, it's not as simple as being a good or bad person. We all have our own shades of gray. The world isn't black and white. People make choices based on their circumstances and experiences."

"I became a pirate because I wanted to be free and make my own choices. But that doesn't mean I do bad things for the sake of it. I try to do what I believe is right, even if it means going against the norm or hurting others," I explained, hoping to convey my perspective to the young princess.

Shirahoshi looked at me, her eyes filled with curiosity and a desire to understand. "So, pirates can be good too?"

I nodded. "Absolutely, but only a few are, so err, do me a favor and call for help if you encounter any other pirate..." I said with a chuckle. "Same with the Marines, there are the good and the bad... as you meet more people and interact with others, you'll be able to distinguish who's who on your own..."

She pondered my words for a moment before speaking again. "And what about the surface world? Is it as dangerous and chaotic as they say?"

I chuckled softly. "The surface world is vast and diverse, just like the ocean. It has its fair share of dangers and chaos but also filled with wonders, adventures, and incredible people. It's a place where you can find both good and bad, just like anywhere else."

Shirahoshi's eyes lit up with fascination. "I would love to see it someday. There's so much I don't know."

I smiled warmly at her. "You know what? I think you might do one day. Maybe you'd even get to live in a city on the surface. The world is full of surprises, and it's always changing. You never know what awaits you in the future."

...

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