12

At Coral Hill, the port town in the Ryugu Kingdom,

Soldier: The Straw Hat Pirates?! They have kidnapped girls from the Mermaid Cove?

One of the mermaids said. "No, that's not what I mean. They were all pretty nice. And they're also Camie's friends.

Soldier: Who knows... Humans have a good reason to kidnap Mermaids. Young Mermaid girls have been traded at high places in their world.

A Merfolk said. "But you can't suspect them blindly

Soldier: Don't you know that there were a lot of pirates who got close to Mermaids... Pretending they were nice only to kidnap them?

Fukaboshi: "... And Madam Shyarly, did you really see the future that you mentioned a while ago? That the pirate, Straw Hat Luffy will destroy the Fish-Men Island?!

Shyarly calmed down and said. "Yes, I saw the future. It's true that I saw it.

Fukaboshi: Even the people at the Ryugu Palace like us know how accurate your pre-visions are. It's no good. I was going to treat them nicely since they saved my sister's pet, but... Although everything remains uncertain, we can't let them be at large. We have no choice but to take them into custody.

---

At the high-class district of the Ryugu Kingdom, Fishverly Hills.

The fish-men and merfolk were shocked by what King Neptune said, Even Camie and Pappag were in disbelief. Cero just stayed quiet. Luffy asked what Ryugu Palace is.

Cero: Luffy, it is the place where King Neptune, the three princes, and lastly the mermaid princess live. The royal palace of the Ryugu Kingdom.

Luffy unimpressed just asked King Neptune. "Is there a lot of good food at the Ryugu Palace?" King Neptune replied. "Of course. We are prepared to have a banquet-jamon." Luffy became happy because of the coming banquet.

King Neptune: Cero-kun, what are you doing here-jamon

Cero: I am showing the Fish-Man Island to the Straw Hats. Neptune-sama

King Neptune: Is that so... Why don't you come with them to the Ryugu Palace, Cero-kun

Cero nodded and turned to Camie and Pappag then asked King Neptune. "Neptune-sama, can you let these two also come to the Palace? They're also the friends of Straw Hats."

King Neptune: Of course, it's no problem all-jamon.

Cero: You have my thanks, Neptune-sama.

The people around who have heard our conversation were beyond shocked. A human asks the King to invite Straw Hat's friend casually and the King agreed on it. People are starting to identify what is Cero to King Neptune. Camie and Pappag just stood there trying to process what happened. Straw Hats deeply stared at Cero.

Cero just smiled at them."Why don't we go now? I'll answer your questions later."

Luffy: Alright, let's go! To the Ryugu Palace!

Currently, the Straw Hats with Camie and Pappag, As well as Cero are currently En route to the Ryugu Palace. Nami asked Cero.

Nami: Cero, what are you to King Neptune. You seem to know each other.

Cero: I have been to the Palace a few times. Well, In fact, I am an esteemed guest there.

Nami looks at Cero in belief. Camie and Pappag were surprised that Cero is an esteemed guest. Nami then looks at Cero and came to his ear and asked. "Do you know where their treasury is?" Cero just knitted his brows before he could answer her.

Camie/Pappag: Ei!!!

Camie: When did become an esteemed guest Cero-chin!

King Neptune answered on my behalf. "Cero-kun become an esteemed guest 2 years ago. I guess he didn't tell you about it." he then laughs

Pappag: Why didn't tell us Cero!

Cero: It's bothersome to tell you. If I told you before that I was an esteemed guest. You would just say that I'm lying.

Usopp: Then how did you become an esteemed guest?

Cero: No comment.

Usopp: "..."

King Neptune: Oh, I almost forgot. I already invited one of your friends. He is a swordsman. He started drinking on his before the banquet. It's more fun to have a banquet with everyone, he is so selfish. I think his name was...

Usopp/Nami thought. "Is it Zoro?/Must be Zoro."

King Neptune: Zori!

Usopp/Nami: It's ZORO!

King Neptune: My soldiers will find the rest of your friends and bring them to the palace, so don't worry-jamon.

Luffy: Nami don't you know where they went?

---

Before Nami, Franky and Robin split up

Nami: About Luffy and the others?

Franky: But what I wanna know the most is the whereabouts of my shipwright master, Tom-san's relatives. This is where he came from. If his family is here, I have to tell them the way he lived. We just got back together but let me do this on my own.

Nami: It doesn't seem like there is any stopping you.

Robin: I wanna check on something too.

Nami: You too, Robin?

Robin: There are a lot of ancient traditions on Fish-Man Island. So there must be some important pieces of history that haven't been revealed yet.

Nami: Important pieces of history...?

---

Nami: So we got separated again.

Nami then asked King Neptune why there is light around the island. He answered. " The reason for that is the roots of a giant tree called the Sun Tree Eve that transfers sunlight from the surface to the deep sea." Nami then nodded.

Currently, they are now at the entrance of the palace. King Neptune gives the Straw Hats and Cero a bubbly coral that can create a bubble. As the palace is mostly filled by seawater. Finished inflating the bubble they went inside of the Palace. As they arrived, Straw Hats, Camie, and Pappag starts to admire the view of the Ryugu Palace. Cero just took a glance then closed his eyes as he has seen this a few times when he visited Shirahoshi. As they went inside, 2 long lines of soldiers can be seen greeting their King.

King Neptune was suddenly been scolded by his Ministers as he went down without his guards. Neptune bowing down saying sorry. The Straw Hats who saw this, starts to doubt whether this is a King or not.

Then the Ministers started to tell King Neptune about a serious matter. While they were discussing. Luffy then goes somewhere by himself. Cero, who noticed him lets him be. As he knows Luffy will meet Shirahoshi.

---

At Hard-Shell Tower

In a dark room

Luffy currently was bouncing on Shirahoshi's body. Falls as Shirahoshi moves her body.

Shirahoshi turned on the lights.

Shirahoshi starts to tear up. "What's wrong with you? What are you doing on my body?" she then covers her chest with her arms. "Who are you, Sir?!"

Luffy: What?! It was a big person... I mean a Mermaid!

Shirahoshi said with tears on her eyes. "You came here to kill me like the others, didn't you? But I'm not scared! Because I am Neptune's daughter! So I'm not scared... Not scared..." she then start to cry. "Somebody! Father-sama! Brother-sama! Cero-sama!"

Luffy started to calm down Shirahoshi. "Whoa, whoa! I didn't do anything to you. did I?" she didn't stop crying. Luffy grabbed his head."Oh, damn! What's with you?!