"Camie? Didn't you say you were locked up by your family?" Zhang Da Ye asked.
"Yes, but today Boss Jinbei returned to Fishman Island! Many people can go home and don't have to be pirates anymore, everyone is celebrating! I snuck out while I could," Camie replied.
Not everyone in the Sun Pirates had become pirates willingly. A considerable number had been branded with the "Heavenly Dragon's Hoof," a mark of slavery, and had to cover it with a new sun-shaped brand. They were forced into piracy and couldn't return home.
After Jinbei became a Shichibukai, many former slaves could return home openly without being hunted. For them, Jinbei truly deserved the title "Sea Hero."
The Shichibukai title also intimidated many pirates, which was a good thing for ordinary residents of Fishman Island. So it was natural that many people were celebrating.
"So why didn't you join the celebration and had to sneak out to play?" Zhang Da Ye rubbed his forehead, thinking she was just a brat.
"Because it's more fun outside. The celebrations on Fishman Island are always the same," Camie said.
Even if he refused, she would sneak out to play anyway. Zhang Da Ye sighed, "Alright, alright. Be careful on your way. Go to that bay we visited last time. Do you remember the route?"
"No problem. Even if I get lost, I can ask the fish!" Camie replied confidently.
Camie was a mermaid of the kissing-fish type and could summon a school of kissing fish to guide her or carry out simple commands—a very convenient ability in the sea.
Jinbei had demonstrated a similar ability. As a whale shark fishman, he could summon a school of whale sharks for rescue or transport.
Zhang Da Ye felt that mermaids' and fishmen's abilities were like a weakened version of Poseidon, one of the ancient weapons.
Mermaid princess Shirahoshi, as a "Sea King," could summon Sea Kings, while ordinary mermaids and fishmen could summon their corresponding fish species. If many types of mermaids gathered and used this ability together, the effects might be unexpected.
After hanging up, Zhang Da Ye said, "Let's rest for a bit. With Camie's speed, she shouldn't take long to get here."
"I'll check on Tom's catch," Artoria said, hurrying over and crouching beside the bucket.
Inside were several palm-sized fish. Curious, Artoria poked the water surface, and the fish scattered like they had seen a lion.
As usual, these fish would become small snacks for her and Tom before heading back.
Zhang Da Ye and Rui Meng Meng only ate some when they needed extra energy. If that wasn't enough, Zhang Da Ye carried a large refrigerator.
A few days ago, he obtained the Tohsaka family wardrobe, so he didn't lack containers for money. Tom's large fridge could finally return to storing food.
The wardrobe was likely from the Fifth Holy Grail War and full of Tohsaka Rin's clothes, seemingly matching Artoria's size. Zhang Da Ye left nothing else behind and let her handle all the clothes.
Rui Meng Meng collected some firewood, and Tom lit a fire with a single match. The flames grew instantly to a perfect level for grilling fish.
This fire-starting skill wasn't easy to learn, but she was used to it. She worried, "Is Camie really okay alone? Last time she got eaten by a sea beast."
Zhang Da Ye said, "As long as she's not dawdling in the deep sea, she'll be fine. She probably got distracted staring at that Ferris wheel before."
"Feels pitiful that her dream was just to ride a Ferris wheel," Rui Meng Meng said, feeling sympathy for Camie. She hadn't experienced it either, but hers was out of reluctance, not inability.
"Maybe we can take her once, with a little disguise," Zhang Da Ye said. It wasn't a problem—unlike Luffy, he didn't leave Camie alone to give the traffickers a chance.
Moreover, Tom's disguise skills were impressive—he could even cross species and pretend to be an eagle in women's clothing.
Zhang Da Ye wondered about the eggs Tom knitted while making a sweater—whose were they?
He stared at Tom. Even though Tom was a male cat, if he laid an egg one day, maybe it wouldn't be completely unacceptable.
Tom shivered, fur standing on end from head to tail, seeing Zhang Da Ye's curious gaze. He blinked and handed him a grilled fish.
"Thanks?" Zhang Da Ye took the small fish and bit into it. Not much meat, but fragrant.
Turning to spit out the bones, Zhang Da Ye noticed a small hand sneaking into Tom's tackle box.
"Artoria," he warned, "that's bait."
Artoria absentmindedly held a small piece of bait. "Oh."
Zhang Da Ye stared at her. "Even though Tom's bait smells good, shouldn't we eat normal food? Or I can give you this fish."
Artoria blushed slightly and reluctantly put back the bait. "I wonder if Camie would like the taste of bait."
"???" Zhang Da Ye was shocked. What kind of thought was that? He thought, "Hehe, I'm thinking the same thing! Let's ask later."
Rui Meng Meng tried to lower her presence, vowing not to anger their boss or Artoria, unsure what punishment might follow.
Today, Tom's catch wasn't much and was eaten quickly.
Zhang Da Ye checked the time. "Why isn't she here yet? Could she have really been eaten by a sea beast again? I'll call her."
Blur blur bloop, blur blur bloop… crack!
A strange sound no one had heard before came from the den-den mushi. Everyone looked at it curiously.
Zhang Da Ye's face changed. He tried to redial, but it wouldn't connect.
This meant the first sound wasn't the normal dial tone after picking up, but that Camie's den-den mushi had been intercepted and destroyed by someone.
Artoria asked, "Did something happen to Camie?"
"Probably. Most likely she was captured by traffickers," Zhang Da Ye frowned. "This shouldn't happen."
Camie wouldn't dare go ashore alone. Did she get captured immediately upon surfacing? Jinbei had just become a Shichibukai, and someone already kidnapped a mermaid? That was disrespectful.