"The Straw Hat Pirates, we should treat them with courtesy. Lia and Robin are both on that ship."
A small goldfish Merfolk chattered incessantly to the figure on the throne.
"Then waive their entrance fees, and the others will pay whatever is due. If they don't have money, they can stay in the black prison."
"This is Her Highness Lia, how can you be like this? Shirahoshi!" The goldfish Merfolk, Otohime, looked at Shirahoshi on the throne in disbelief.
"It's a good opportunity to return to Nicuss this time and mix with those foolish pirates. His Majesty Nero, I don't know why she let Lia..." Shirahoshi, wearing a crown, pouted.
"How can you say that?"
"During work hours, address me by my title, Your Majesty, Mama!"
"Your... Majesty, this is also His Majesty Nero's arrangement. If you act so stubbornly, you will surely regret it!"
"I am the Sea Empress personally appointed by His Majesty Nero! I haven't received any request from His Majesty Nero to go easy, which means I am also part of Her Highness Lia's trial."
Shirahoshi lifted her head: "Mama is tired. Someone, take her to rest!"
Otohime: "..."
My once adorable crybaby daughter, why has she become like this? Is this the rebellious phase His Majesty Nero spoke of?
Just then, Fukaboshi, in a suit and smoking a cigar, walked in from outside the hall. He nodded to Otohime as a greeting, then looked at Shirahoshi.
"Shirahoshi, Van der Decken IX has been found. He is a user of the Mark-Mark Fruit. He was the one who threw trash at you a few days ago."
"Van der Decken? I don't remember him. And he's a Fishman? How could someone like him possibly touch me?" Shirahoshi frowned, feeling she was being brushed off.
"According to him, he touched you when you were five years old..."
Fukaboshi took off his cigar, exhaled a puff of smoke, and his eyes were fierce.
Shirahoshi also lowered her head and fell silent upon hearing this. After a while, she waved her hand: "...Bring out my guillotine! Cut him into eight pieces tomorrow!!"
Otohime, who hadn't gone far: "..."
Seriously, what happened during all those years I was unconscious?
...Entrance to the Merfolk Special Zone.
"Straw Hat Pirates, the entrance fee is eighty million Berries." The Merfolk soldier meticulously handed Luffy a receipt: "After clearing it at the counter over there, you can enjoy the Merfolk Special Zone for one month. Please read the laws carefully after entering and do not overstay."
"Eight... eighty million Berries?" Luffy tremblingly took the receipt. He had only seen so many zeros on wanted posters.
"Wait!" The Straw Hat Pirates' purse spoke up.
Nami picked up Artoria, who was eating cake, holding her like a kitten, and placed her in front of the Merfolk soldier.
"Look closely at who this adult is! The Princess of Nicuss has come to inspect the Merfolk Special Zone, and you still dare to charge her?"
Artoria's ahoge swayed, and cream still clung to the corner of her mouth. She was a bit confused by Nami's mention of 'inspection.'
But she knew now was her moment to shine. She couldn't drop the ball at a critical juncture, so she tried her best to make her expression serious and nodded.
"Mhm!"
"Greetings, Princess Artoria. His Majesty Nero issued relevant orders to the entire territory of Nicuss and its affiliated forces when you and Princess Mordred went to sea."
The Merfolk soldier nodded, not bowing: "No bowing, no offering money, no offering help. Treat them as you would any outsider!"
Artoria was defeated... Nami's eyes then turned to Robin: "What about this one? This is..."
"Even the Princess is treated the same!" The Merfolk soldier interrupted.
"Damn it! But rules are dead, people are alive..."
"Anyone who dares to break the rules in Nicuss will not be alive."
...Nami was choked into silence. With malice rising, her gaze swept towards Luffy and the others.
Why should pirates pay a toll?
Today, I'll show you how the Worst Generation does things!
"Luffy, Zoro, Sanji..."
"It's best not to. If you fail to force your way through, you'll have to pay ten times the amount. Even the World Government and the Four Emperors have to pay a toll to pass through here."
Seeing Nami's thoughts, Robin promptly spoke up to stop her bold idea.
"You three, stand back a bit, so people don't misunderstand..." Nami, in despair, bent forward and knelt on the ground, letting out a wail. Where would a bunch of paupers on the ship get money?
"My Berries!!"
"You all remember, thirty percent profit..." Nami looked at everyone. If everyone gave her thirty percent profit, then she would still make a profit.
"Thirty percent profit? You're too greedy, aren't you?" xN
Zoro and the others rolled their eyes in annoyance. This woman was truly greedy.
Artoria, having finished her cake, finally began to pay attention to the issue at hand. After all, she was new here, and this small matter could still be resolved.
Moreover, in the future, she would travel with the Straw Hat Pirates to Raftel, and they would spend a long time together. It really wouldn't be appropriate if they had to pay to enter her home.
It's not a lot of money... "In that case, the entrance fee will be deducted from my account." Artoria pulled out a red card with gold trim.
This was a unique type of bank card within Nicuss, exclusive to the royal family, allowing a maximum loan of ten billion Berries. It contained Artoria's New Year's money.
"Lia?" xN
Luffy and the others' eyes sparkled, looking at her as if she were a savior. Nami had the same look, though the sparkle in her eyes was in the shape of Berries.
Under Artoria's money power, the group finally successfully entered the Merfolk Special Zone.
As for Artoria's bank card, His Majesty Nero, of course, had restrictions; it couldn't be used for loans.
Plus, these two daughters usually spent lavishly, so there wasn't much money in the bank card... perhaps around two billion.
His Majesty Nero felt that if she didn't even leave them that much money, she would be too heartless.
What's that amount of money good for? Only carrying twenty when going out is like a survival challenge!
The Straw Hat Pirates, whose combined bounties didn't even reach two billion, were still basking in the glow of the little rich girl's wealth.
After parking their ship in the designated area, Luffy and the others truly witnessed the prosperity of the Merfolk Special Zone.
"Sugoi!!" Luffy's eyes lit up as he looked at the city, which resembled a fairy tale kingdom.
"Bubble cotton candy, it looks so delicious!" Chopper stared at a candy store, drooling.
"Oh? Siren Colosseum, the stage for powerhouses of the New World... I definitely have to go see it." Zoro smirked and walked in the opposite direction.
...Sanji said nothing, looking at the bikini-clad Merfolk ladies, and silently fainted, a puddle of nosebleed forming at his feet.
"Sanji? Hey! Sanji, don't die! Chopper, hurry and save him!!" Usopp shouted at Chopper while holding Sanji.
Nami planned to go shopping, Brook signed up for the Singing King Contest, Franky, Chopper, and Usopp went together... "Then I'm going to browse the library. Lia, do you want to come with me?" Robin, accustomed to everyone's liveliness, turned to ask Artoria.
"Since I'm already here, I should first pay a visit to Big Sister Shirahoshi." Artoria nodded, not planning to go with Robin.
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