New World, behind New Marineford, lay a Marine town. Of course, today's Marine town had lost a great number of people. The war had claimed countless lives, and the streets had become far more desolate. When night fell, inside the residence, Gion was cooking while Tsuru sat drinking tea in the living room.
The Marshal's office that once housed Garp, Sengoku, and others had long since become empty, and Tsuru rarely stayed there anymore. For an old woman like her, that place carried far too many memories. Although she hated Elior deeply in her heart, Tsuru could only sigh inwardly. She was completely powerless against him, especially considering that he was now openly toying with her little sister.
Now, Tsuru could only come to Gion's place. Even so, it had taken her several days to recover from the last time Elior had appeared. It was utterly ridiculous. Her younger sister, Gion, had gone mad: calling Elior husband, master, and lord, only to then call him by his name again and again. It was far too much to accept. Before the war had even begun, Gion had already become Elior's forbidden lover. What was even more terrifying was that Gion had done all of this voluntarily. She allowed that devil Elior to do whatever he pleased, not only enjoying it but loving him deeply. Her status as a senior Marine officer alone made this completely unacceptable.
Tsuru found it almost impossible to accept. Still, Gion was the child she had personally watched grow up, no different from a daughter to her. She was the most important person to Tsuru. At this moment, Tsuru was sipping hot tea when the space in front of her rippled slightly. It wasn't violent, but it immediately caught her attention. In the next instant, a spatial door opened, and Elior stepped out followed by Shirahoshi.
"You!" Tsuru stood up instinctively. She hadn't expected to see Elior again today and was genuinely shocked. He was here again. And the girl behind him: wait. The presence Shirahoshi gave off struck Tsuru deeply. Not only was she breathtakingly beautiful, but she also carried a vague yet terrifying power. Tsuru instantly understood that this girl was absolutely not ordinary.
"Old lady, I didn't expect we'd meet again." Elior smiled faintly.
"Hmph! I didn't expect to see you again either, you devil!" Tsuru snapped angrily, then sat back down in frustration. The most terrifying man in the New World was standing right here in New Marineford, and Tsuru had no choice but to endure it.
Meanwhile, Gion, who had been in the kitchen, froze when she heard Elior's voice. At first, she thought she was hallucinating. But when she rushed to the doorway and looked out, she realized Elior was really here. With a cry of surprise, Gion rushed over and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly without caring about Tsuru or Shirahoshi watching. Unlike Elior, a man who treated emotions casually, Gion truly regarded him as her everything.
"Elior… I thought you wouldn't come." Gion looked mature and beautiful, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
"Didn't I say I'd come? I'm staying the night." Elior looked at her. At this moment, she didn't resemble a Marine general at all; she looked like a woman deeply in love. Tsuru finally sighed helplessly, a trace of sorrow in her heart.
"Husband… who is she?" Only then did Gion finally notice Shirahoshi.
Gion's heart tightened. Shirahoshi was dazzling, far younger and more energetic than her. Youth and vitality were fatal weaknesses to Gion. Compared to Shirahoshi, she suddenly felt old. She was afraid that one day Elior would abandon her for someone younger. So, Gion became nervous. That was why she deliberately called Elior husband, a clear declaration of ownership. That single word was an unmistakable warning to Shirahoshi: Elior belongs to me.
When Shirahoshi saw a woman overflowing with mature feminine charm like Gion, she couldn't help but frown. A strong sense of hostility rose within her. Her brother was being hugged by this woman who called him husband. Shirahoshi felt uneasy. She was at the age where love had just begun to bloom, and she harbored feelings for Elior as well. She was jealous.
"Her name is Shirahoshi. You can get to know each other. She is the Mermaid Princess of Fish-Man Island." Elior ignored the silent rivalry between the women. He noticed it but didn't care. Tonight, he would let them understand exactly what they were meant to do. Elior always acted on his desires and never concerned himself with a woman's feelings.
Tsuru witnessed all of this. While feeling helpless, her attention remained fixed on Shirahoshi. As a powerful individual, Tsuru could clearly sense the terrifying power within her. This was not something that could be obtained through training. Once Elior mentioned Fish-Man Island, Tsuru pondered deeply and finally understood. Shirahoshi was the Mermaid Princess. She didn't know why Shirahoshi lacked a mermaid tail and instead appeared human, but that wasn't the key point.
The key was that Shirahoshi was a princess who possessed terrifying power.
"Could she be… Poseidon?" Tsuru's heart trembled. Poseidon, the Ancient Weapon, was said to be reborn every few hundred years as a mermaid princess. Such power, capable of commanding all Sea Kings, was beyond human comprehension.
More than an hour later, dinner was finally served. At the dining table, Tsuru sat directly opposite Elior. At that moment, Elior looked at her calmly. He wanted to know exactly what this woman was thinking.