Even after Rolan and Shirahoshi had left, the shock they caused refused to fade.
The island buzzed with restless voices.
"I still can't believe that cloaked man was Godslayer."
"Kusoyaru died instantly."
"He really ran straight into the world's strongest man."
"Even Kaido of the Beasts had to lower his head to Godslayer Rolan."
"This time, Kaido can only swallow his anger."
"We're lucky we didn't offend him."
In a dark corner of the street, a buck toothed man quietly lowered his Den Den Mushi, cold sweat sliding down his temple.
"Good thing I didn't make that call," he muttered. "I thought I could make a fortune off that mermaid. Who would have guessed she belonged to Godslayer? A complete miscalculation."
By then, Rolan and Shirahoshi were already far away.
They moved swiftly toward Peach Garden, cutting through the air without resistance.
Shirahoshi's face had lost some color. The image of Kusoyaru and his men collapsing lifelessly still lingered in her mind.
Rolan noticed.
He also knew it was too much for her.
She had already witnessed death once in her childhood, when Queen Otohime was assassinated before her eyes. Seeing corpses again, especially so suddenly, reopened wounds she never had the chance to heal.
Rolan tightened his hold around her, pulling her closer.
For a rare moment, regret crept into his thoughts.
He had wanted her to understand the world as it truly was, brutal and unforgiving. What he failed to consider was whether she was ready to face it.
…
Peach Garden had expanded rapidly over the years, yet Rolan never allowed it to develop at the expense of nature.
The former A Pa Ya Duo had been preserved and reshaped into the largest urban forest park in all of Lungan.
Rolan brought Shirahoshi there first.
Given his identity, he cloaked them both in a thin electromagnetic veil, ensuring no one could perceive them.
"Husband," Shirahoshi whispered, eyes wide. "Is this a forest? It's so beautiful."
Towering trees stretched endlessly before her, their canopies overlapping like a living sea of green. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting shifting patterns across the ground.
Eight years of isolation had made her endlessly curious about everything beyond the sea.
Stars, forests, the sky, and the sun itself.
She had never seen any of them.
"Husband, is that the sun?"
Rolan nodded. "Yes. The source of light for this world."
Fish Man Island lay ten thousand meters below the surface. There, light came only through the Sun Tree Eve. The sun itself existed only in books to her.
"Husband, what's that?"
"A tiger."
"Do tigers eat people?"
"Yes."
Her face paled. "Will Shirahoshi be eaten?"
"No."
He said it without hesitation.
"If it tried, I'd capture it."
She relaxed instantly, grabbing his sleeve. "Then Husband has to protect Shirahoshi."
"I will."
No embellishment. No promises beyond what he intended to keep.
"Husband, what are those two people doing?"
Rolan followed her gaze and paused.
"…They're playing poker," he replied flatly.
Shirahoshi tilted her head. "Shirahoshi wants to play poker with Husband too."
Before he could respond, she pointed again.
"Husband, what's that bird?"
"A South South Bird."
"Why are all their heads facing the same direction?"
"They're born that way. Always facing south."
She stared in awe. "Amazing. Husband, do you want to play poker with Shirahoshi?"
Rolan exhaled slowly. "Later."
Throughout the entire walk, he answered every question she asked, never once showing irritation.
Watching her run ahead, laughing softly at discoveries that meant nothing to him, Rolan felt something unfamiliar stir.
He immediately dismissed it.
…
After touring nearly the entirety of A Pa Ya Duo, Rolan brought Shirahoshi to the capital, Shandora.
"Husband, who is she?"
Boa Hancock had already approached, abandoning her work the moment she noticed them.
Rolan spoke first. "This is Shirahoshi, Princess of Fish Man Island."
Then he turned. "This is Boa Hancock, Empress of Amazon Lily."
Hancock studied Shirahoshi carefully.
Her beauty struck instantly, without warning.
So the rumors were true.
For the first time, Hancock felt no certainty in claiming absolute supremacy.
Her gaze shifted briefly to Shirahoshi's figure, confusion flashing across her face.
"Aren't you supposed to be a giant mermaid?"
Shirahoshi hesitated. "I… I'm Shirahoshi."
Hancock smiled and linked arms with her naturally. "Welcome to Peach Garden, Little Sister."
Shirahoshi relaxed at once. "Thank you, Sister Hancock."
Rolan watched quietly.
He feared no enemy, not the World Government, not Imu.
What he feared was disharmony.
A voice interrupted them.
"Little Sister Shirahoshi, how did you get smaller?"
A flame flickered, followed by a white cloud.
Nami appeared, followed closely by Lina.
"Sister Nami, Sister Lina," Shirahoshi greeted warmly.
"You were huge before," Lina said. "What happened?"
"Husband gave me a pill," Shirahoshi replied. "I can control my size now."
Nami frowned slightly and turned to Rolan. "Did you give her a Devil Fruit?"
"It's not a Devil Fruit," Rolan replied calmly. "No side effects."
Satisfied, the women linked arms and walked away together.
"Come on, Little Sister," Hancock said. "Let's explore."
Rolan was left standing alone.
…
"King," a voice reported respectfully. "The leader of the Revolutionary Army has arrived at Peach Garden."