Pursue

"I've been wanting to go to the Sea Forest for ten years, but everybody is kind enough to tell me that it's too dangerous outside the tower. And I'm scared of going out too!" Shirahoshi said as she looked at Imai with hopeful eyes. "Imai-sama, are you really going to take me out of here?"

Imai nodded her head. "Of course, I won't go back on my words."

"Are you really going to protect me?"

"I swear on this blade that I'll protect you. So for now, view me as your knight in shining armor."

"But how are we going to get out of here?" Luffy asked. "She's going to be immediately recognized if she leaves this tower."

Imai smiled and pointed at the shark that was lurking besides Shirahoshi.

"We're going to stuff the princess in that shark."

"..."

"Oi, are you sure this will work?" Luffy asked. "The shark looks like it's about to explode."

"Hopefully it works."

Due to the princess being stuffed inside the shark, the shark had almost grown three times in size.

"Let's not waste any more time, let's go!" Imai exclaimed as she hopped on the shark with Luffy following behind. "Go!"

The shark charged through the gate causing a few of the awakened guards to be knocked out once again.

Slowly, they made their way to the Sea Forest as the shark swam through the water. Shirahoshi, who was inside the shark, glanced at the town and couldn't help but admire the view.

"So, how do you like it out here after ten years?" Imai asked.

"It's really nice…my heart is racing too. This is very bad." Shirahoshi replied.

"How can it be bad? You just got out of the tower after ten years." Luffy said. "You're weird."

Imai chuckled and admired the view as well. Although she wasn't as excited as Shirahoshi, she still felt joy seeing the change of the world after three years. Perhaps this field trip wasn't that bad.

As for Shirahoshi, her eyes were nonstop looking around. She gazed at the fish-man and mermaids below, then the buildings, and basically everything that was there.

"Wow…" Shirahoshi muttered with glittering eyes. "So this is what they call an adventure."

"This is just a part of the whole journey, you're going to be on a lot more adventures once you can freely roam the world." Imai said.

"We're going to the Sea Forest right? What is that place like?" Luffy asked.

"It's a graveyard. A graveyard I haven't been to since they built it." Shirahoshi replied. "I've been wanting to go there for ten years."

"I see, then something must be very important to you there." Imai said.

"Un, there is." Shirahoshi said while smiling. "Can I ask you a question, Imai-sama?"

"Just call me Imai, It's weird hearing Imai-sama from a princess." Imai replied. "So? What is it?"

"Why are you so strong?"

Imai was surprised by the question and started to put some thought into it.

"Why am I so strong…" Imai said to herself. "Maybe it's because I want to rule the world someday."

"Oi, I'm going to be the King of Pirates! You're not getting it!" Luffy exclaimed.

Imai chuckled. "You can have that title, what we want is different. You see, I want to rule the entire world with power. I'm going to destroy this world and recreate it to be filled with peace."

Imai formed a small bubble that was imperfect and crushed it before forming a perfect one. There was a strange glint in her eyes.

"Just like that, the world will be reborn by my hand." Imai said with a wide smile. "My ideal world."

"That's not going to happen." Luffy said as he stood up. "Recreating the world? That's not possible."

Imai laughed. "Nothing is impossible. Let me tell you something Luffy, if you have absolute power, no one can defy you. I will rule over everyone."

"If that ever happens, I will stop you." Luffy said with a serious face. "The people in this world are meant to be free, not being controlled by someone."

By this point, Imai had stopped smiling, and had a serious expression on too.

"Oh? Are you declaring war against me? It's still too early for you." Imai said with a sigh. "But still, if the day comes where you'll have to fight me, I hope you win."

"Hah?!"

Luffy was confused, he's never heard someone that pursued their ideology so dedicatedly yet wanted someone to defeat them if their ideology ever becomes real.

"I don't understand."

"Well, you'll understand one day." Imai said as she glanced at the shark. "The shark has been increasing in size, is it okay?"

"Oi! Look!" Luffy said as he pointed below. "I see Sanji and Chopper! Oi, Sharky! Let me go down for a bit."

Imai sighed as she felt a new sign of trouble coming. The shark seemed as if it was going to explode any second now. She felt a sense of deja vu, the shark started flying down, and had coughed up Shirahoshi once they landed.

Imai stealthily jumped onto the rooftop and watched the scene below her unfold. Sanji had suddenly turned to stone after seeing the mermaid princess, the fish-man were angry, and the Straw Hat Crew had somehow been tied up by a bunch of weaklings.

Suddenly, in the corner of her eye, Imai saw a large coral with someone riding on top of it. It was heading towards the place where the princess was.

"It's Vander Decken!"

"You tried to kill her for ten years, now you want to marry her?!"

"We'll kill you if you try to propose!"

However, the threats didn't seem to faze Vander decken at all until Shirahoshi spoke up…

"You're not my type!" Shirahoshi shouted.

The world seemed to start for a moment as the hearts around Vander Decken shattered into pieces.

"You trampled on my feelings for ten years and now who will you marry?!" Vander Decken yelled with killing intent. "If you don't love me, your very existence irritates me!"

"If she doesn't have anyone to marry, I'll personally volunteer."

Vander Decken and the others below gazed into the sky. An unknown pirate had appeared out of nowhere and declared something ridiculous. However, Shirahoshi covered her blushing face with her hands.

"Hah?! Who are you?!" Vander Decken shouted.

Imai smiled and said, "I'm Miss Steal Your Girl."

With that said, Imai cut down Vander Decken causing him to crash onto the ground.

"Don't worry, you'll live." Imai said. "You're going to face your punishments for the ten years you harassed the princess. Are you guys going to take him away?"

Finally, the fish-man snapped out of their trance, and processed everything that was happening.

"She really beat Vander Decken…"

"She's strong…"

"Amazing…"

"Now then, we have to get going Luffy." Imai said as she hopped on the shark. "Hurry up!"

Shirashoshi grabbed onto the shark and yelled, "Everyone! I'll be back before dinner!"

Imai couldn't help but chuckle. The princess sounded like a kid who still had curfew.

However, Vander Decken wasn't done yet.

"Wadatsumi! Don't let them get away!" Vander yelled.

Suddenly, a familiar pinkish creature emerges from the sea.

"He's the Sea Bronze who attacked Sunny! He works for Decken!" Chopper said. He was on the shark along with Luffy and another pirate.

"Stop them!" Vander Decken yelled. Wadatsumi replied, "Got it!"

However, Imai wasn't going to let them interrupt.

"Bow before the emperor." Imai said as she flared her Conqueror's Haki. Wadatsumi's eyes rolled back and fell onto the surface.

"Now then! Hurry to the Sea Forest!"