With Fleet Admiral Orion backing them, King Neptune no longer had any worries in his heart.
He straightened his enormous body, standing more upright and firm than ever before, and led his ministers along with the three princes—Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi—in a grand procession to the front of the Hard Shell Tower.
Just as Neptune was about to speak, a black shadow cut through the deep seawater, whistling through with a sharp piercing sound!
Clang—
Amid the deafening metallic crash, a massive double-bladed axe slammed violently against the sturdy shell of the Hard Shell Tower, sending bright sparks flying.
Immediately after, the deranged and distorted voice of Vander Decken IX echoed from afar.
"Neptune! Open the Hard Shell Tower at once! I want to see my future wife, Princess Shirahoshi, with my own eyes! Ohohoho!"
"If you dare play tricks, my target won't just be this shabby tower anymore!"
"Ryugu Kingdom ministers, your three precious sons—their residences will become my next throwing targets! I'll turn the entire Ryugu Kingdom into my shooting range!"
The blatant threat turned the ministers pale, but Neptune merely snorted coldly.
With Fleet Admiral Orion here, this clown wouldn't be able to cause trouble for much longer.
He ignored Vander Decken IX's provocations and gestured to the guards.
"Open the Hard Shell Tower."
With a heavy groan, the massive door that had confined Princess Shirahoshi for four years slowly rose upward.
Light poured from behind the door, revealing a figure of unimaginable size before everyone.
She had dreamlike pale pink hair, soft as the finest silk, cascading freely down her back.
Her exquisitely delicate features seemed like a deity's most perfect masterpiece.
Her sapphire-blue eyes, now brimming with tears, gazed moistly toward the doorway like two pure, transparent gemstones.
Her enormous fish tail swayed gently, its scales refracting rainbow halos under the light.
This was Princess Shirahoshi.
After four years, she finally saw the outside world again.
"Father!"
Princess Shirahoshi's tearful, soft voice rang out as enormous teardrops—each as large as crystal balls—rolled uncontrollably from her eyes.
Her massive body shifted forward as she wanted to embrace her father, yet years of confinement made her appear timid and clumsy.
Just then, Vander Decken IX's nauseating voice sounded again.
"Ohohoho! My Shirahoshi! You're as beautiful as ever!"
"Quick! Come out of the tower yourself! My crew will come to fetch you! Tonight we'll hold a grand wedding aboard my ship!"
Neptune took a deep breath and, following the plan, issued that cruel command to his daughter.
"Shirahoshi, do as he says."
"Huh?"
Princess Shirahoshi's enormous body stiffened abruptly.
She stared at her father in disbelief, her sapphire eyes filled with confusion and hurt.
"F-Father? You... you want to marry me off to that terrifying man?"
She couldn't understand why, after years apart, her father's first words would push her into an abyss.
Hurt and fear instantly overwhelmed her.
Shirahoshi could no longer hold back, bursting into loud sobs as enormous teardrops fell like torrential rain upon the ground.
Seeing this, Crown Prince Manboshi swiftly swam to Shirahoshi's side, leaned close to her ear, and whispered rapidly in a hushed tone.
"Shirahoshi, don't be afraid! This is the Fleet Admiral's plan!"
"We're luring that bastard Vander Decken out! As long as he dares show himself, the Fleet Admiral will personally take action and eliminate him completely!"
"The Fleet Admiral?"
Princess Shirahoshi sobbed, looking at her eldest brother through tearful eyes.
The title was utterly unfamiliar to her as she asked softly, "Why would the Marine help us?"
"The times have changed, Shirahoshi!" Manboshi's tone was extremely solemn. "The current Marine Fleet Admiral is Orion! He's someone worthy of all our trust and faith!"
"Trust Father, trust me, and most importantly, trust the Fleet Admiral!"
Orion?
Princess Shirahoshi silently repeated the name in her heart.
Though she still trembled with fear, the resolute looks in her father's and brother's eyes kindled a faint spark of courage within her.
She wiped away her tears, her massive body slowly moving as she left the Hard Shell Tower that had imprisoned her for years.
Alone, she swam slowly toward the giant bubble film enveloping the entire Fish-Man Island.
...
Meanwhile, in the dark depths of the sea far away, aboard the ship of Vander Decken.
Vander Decken IX was staring intently through a telescope, watching every move from this side.
When he saw Princess Shirahoshi truly swimming alone and defenseless toward the bubble film, his ugly face was instantly overtaken by ecstasy and greed!
It wasn't a trap!
That old fool Neptune had truly been scared out of his wits!
"Ohohohohoho! Ohohohohoho!"
Vander Decken IX let out a mad laugh, trembling with excitement.
He was finally going to obtain Princess Shirahoshi!
And even more, he would gain the legendary mermaid princess, sought after for generations by the founding ancestors of his Vander Decken family—the one who could control the Sea Kings!
With her in his grasp, forget the insignificant Fish-Man Island, the entire world would kneel at his feet!
He could already envision himself reigning supreme, the grin on his face growing increasingly twisted.
As Princess Shirahoshi drew closer and closer to the massive bubble film, Vander Decken IX could no longer restrain himself.
He abruptly stood up from the deck, ready to charge over at top speed and seize his "treasure"!
However, the moment he made his move.
A figure appeared abruptly and without warning beside Princess Shirahoshi.
The man stood suspended in mid-air, as if stepping on invisible stairs.
He wore a fleet admiral coat emblazoned with the word "Justice," and at his waist hung a supreme grade sword radiating a terrifying aura.
He stood there quietly, his innate kingly demeanor completely unconcealed, calming the turbulent sea currents around him.
"Ah—"
Princess Shirahoshi let out a scream upon seeing Vander Decken IX charging from afar, her massive body instinctively shrinking back.
But the moment Orion appeared beside her, an inexplicable, unprecedented sense of security instantly enveloped her.
It was as if, with this man here, she need not fear even if the sky were to fall.
She instinctively turned her head, her pitifully large eyes gazing at Orion with a mix of curiosity and dependence, and timidly asked.
"Excuse me... are you... Fleet Admiral Orion, sir?"
Orion smiled and nodded at her.
That simple gesture alone completely settled Princess Shirahoshi's heart.
Orion then took a step forward, treading on empty air, his gaze sweeping toward Vander Decken IX on the opposite side.
The moment his gaze passed over him, Vander Decken IX felt as if all the blood in his body had frozen solid!
The ecstasy and greed on his face stiffened like an ice-sculpted statue.
He had been tricked!
This was an ambush set specifically for him!
And the one who had designed this trap was none other than the Fleet Admiral who shook the entire world, the man even the Gorosei had to yield to—Orion!
The moment Orion's calm gaze fell upon him, Vander Decken IX's mind went blank, leaving only the most primal instinct for survival!
Escape!
Without a moment's hesitation, not even daring to utter a single threat, he spun around and fled with all his might, desperately racing back toward his pirate ship!
With a loud "thud," Vander Decken IX crashed awkwardly onto the deck of the ship.
Scrambling to his feet, he let out a hysterical roar at the stunned crew.
"Set sail! Set sail now!!"
"Retreat! Retreat immediately! Get as far away as possible!!"
Pointing in Orion's direction, his voice grew shrill and piercing from sheer terror, his entire demeanor bordering on madness.
"Move, you fools!"
"That's Orion! Fleet Admiral Orion!!"
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