Outside Fish-Man Island, the vast sea churned with rolling waves.
The Moby Dick cut through the water like a moving fortress, sailing steadily across the sea's surface.
On the deck, Whitebeard's towering figure stood silently, almost like a statue carved from stone.
The sea wind howled around him, rustling his iconic white beard and stirring the heavy thoughts within his heart.
Mike's words echoed relentlessly in his mind, feeling like an inescapable nightmare.
"Recall... Ace."
"Recall him..."
Whitebeard's brow furrowed tightly into a deep frown.
If it had been anyone else who said it, he wouldn't have paid any attention.
But this was Mike personally speaking to him, and it concerned the well-being of his own son.
This fact made it impossible for him to ignore.
An overwhelming sense of unease surged through him like a great tidal wave, leaving Whitebeard feeling suffocated.
"I need to contact Ace immediately!" Whitebeard clenched his fist abruptly as a sudden flash of resolve appearing in his eyes.
He pulled out a small Den Den Mushi from his pocket—the specific one that could reach Ace.
"Brrrring~ Brrrring~"
The Den Den Mushi rang urgently, its sound piercing the otherwise quiet deck.
One ring, two rings, three rings... time ticked by slowly, yet the ringing showed no sign of stopping.
With each unanswered call, Whitebeard's heavy heart sank even deeper.
His expression grew increasingly grim.
"Damn it! Why isn't Ace answering?!" Whitebeard muttered under his breath, his voice thick with a mixture of anxiety and worry.
He dialed the number again, but the result remained exactly the same.
"Brrrring~ Brrrring~"
There was still no answer.
"Something's wrong...!"
...
Fish-Man Island, Mermaid Café.
"Ding-ling—"
The crisp chime of a bell rang once again as Kuzan strode in, beaming with an energy that was a stark contrast to his usual lazy demeanor.
He walked briskly over to Mike's table and sat down, casually grabbing an exquisite pastry from the tabletop and popping it into his mouth.
Mike, observing Kuzan's radiant expression and chuckled.
"Had a good haul, Kuzan? You can barely keep that grin off your face."
"Good? It's more than good," he replied.
"This time, Neptune and I led the operation personally, and the results far exceeded our expectations! We managed to rake in over a billion Berries in wealth from this one trip alone."
"Oh? Calling him 'Neptune' now?" Mike teased with a smirk.
"It seems you two really hit it off."
"Hah! After talking with him more, I realized—he's a responsible and dependable king. The man is worth befriending." Kuzan swallowed the pastry and took a sip of coffee, his joy still completely unmistakable.
"Indeed."
"By the way, Kuzan," Mike shifted the topic, "I'm planning to head back to headquarters."
"You're not going to Dressrosa?" Kuzan looked at him in surprise.
"No. If my deductions are correct, something's about to happen."
A sharp glint flashed in Mike's eyes. "I need to return and see it for myself."
"Alright," Kuzan nodded.
"Then we'll head back first."
Mike's deductions had never been wrong before—following his lead was always the best way to go.
"I've been away long enough anyway. Fleet Admiral Sengoku has been pressing me to return for a while now."
"But..." Kuzan suddenly remembered something.
"Mike, what about Borsalino and the New Navy? What's your plan there?"
Mike's lips curled slightly, revealing a confident smile.
"Simple. I plan to recruit him to join us."
"That old fox isn't so easy to persuade," Kuzan warned.
"Don't worry. I've prepared two whole chests of Berries for the Old Man," Mike said with a sly grin.
"As long as he joins the New Navy, he'll receive this amount as his monthly salary."
"Two chests?" Kuzan counted on his fingers.
"That's roughly... around a billion Berries." He gave Mike a thumbs up.
"You've got guts, kid!"
"With an offer like this," Mike continued, "Borsalino won't be able to resist. My strategy—financial persuasion—hits the Old Man right where it hurts."
"Haha, then your roles will be reversed," Kuzan laughed heartily, already picturing the amusing scenario.
It was going to be hilarious: Kizaru, the employee, and Mike, the boss.
Just imagining Mike, lounging with his legs crossed and said to Kizaru, 'Old Man, clipping your nails in the office will cost you your paycheck' was thrilling.
"I'm full. It's time to set sail again," Kuzan said, standing up and nodding to Mike and the others.
A single voyage could earn him over a billion Berries—how could he possibly sit still?
Though the first haul had exceeded expectations, that was thanks to Neptune and him personally escorting the shipment.
"Alright," Mike nodded, watching as Kuzan hurried off.
"That guy really can't stay idle for a second," Smoker exhaled a smoke ring, his tone teasing.
After their satisfying meal, Mike lit a cigar and leaned back comfortably in his chair, smoke curling around him.
After arranging to meet a few of the enthusiastic mermaid ladies after their work shifts, Mike led his team out of the Mermaid Café, planning to explore the area and enjoy Fish-Man Island's unique culture.
....
Soon, night fell.
Fish-Man Island at night was even more enchanting than it was during the day.
Under the moonlight, Coral Hill shimmered beautifully, and the sea's surface glistened as if it were scattered with silver.
Mike lay on a coral bed, surrounded by several beautiful mermaid ladies.
They gently massaged him, fed him fresh undersea fruits, and occasionally let out bell-like laughter.
The air was filled with a faint, soothing fragrance.
"Captain, do you like the scenery here?" asked a mermaid with vibrant pink hair, nestling close to him, her voice sweet.
"Of course," Mike replied with a smile, running his fingers through her silky hair.
"It's just like paradise."
"If the scenery is paradise..." another mermaid, this one with wavy blue hair, leaned in playfully, blinking her eyes.
"Then what does that make us?"
Mike pulled her into his arms. "You're all angels."
"Hehehe, then what is the Captain?" asked a mermaid who had transformed her tail into legs, sidling up to him with a sultry gaze.
Mike smirked mischievously, lifting her onto his lap and teasing her delicate feet.
"Me? I am the demon responsible for punishing angels."
The mermaid ladies let out melodious laughter, the atmosphere growing thick with ambiguity.
[Ding!]
[Pleasure~]