Sharly and the Prophecy

Coral Hill, located in the southeast of Fish-Man Island, is a gathering place for numerous shops and one of the most prosperous areas in the country.

A little over a year ago, a new cafe opened in Coral Hill, and it quickly gained fame, becoming a well-known landmark shop throughout Fish-Man Island.

The reason is quite simple: this cafe, named Mermaid Cafe, is just as its name suggests. All the waitresses inside are young and beautiful mermaids. This alone has brought the cafe extraordinary popularity.

By the time Bright arrived outside the cafe, it was already very late. The cafe's doors were closed, but light still shone from within, indicating someone was likely still inside.

He raised his hand and knocked on the cafe door.

Soon, a familiar voice came from inside the cafe, "We're already closed for the day. Please come back tomorrow."

Bright felt his troubled mood calm down. He smiled and said, "Sharly, it's me."

There was a moment of silence behind the door, then the voice from inside said, "I'm sorry, customer, I don't know anyone called 'me.' If you don't leave, I'll call the guards."

Bright's eye twitched. "It's me, Bright. I'm back, Sharly."

"If you continue to pester me, I'll really call the guards. The Bright I know is an arrogant, conceited, disobedient, and big-mouthed jerk who's disappeared to some corner of the sea."

Does she really have to be so harsh?

Bright felt a bit helpless. Had their parting four years ago still bothered her this much?

"Yes, but the big-mouthed jerk is back now. So, Miss Sharly, can you open the door?"

Finally, after another period of silence, with a creak, the cafe door was opened.

The beautiful girl's gaze swept over Bright from head to toe. She had pale skin similar to Bright's, short black hair, and a delicate yet cold and stunning face. From her slender waist down was a deep blue fish tail.

The girl's name was Sharly, Bright's true childhood friend.

She was Arlong's sister, so she had grown up playing with Bright.

"I thought you had died out there."

Sharly's voice was sharp.

She floated in mid-air.

It wasn't that Sharly could fly, but rather that it was difficult for mermaids to move on land as conveniently as fishmen.

They usually moved by placing a bubble around themselves to float in the air.

Sharly now had a bubble swimming ring around her waist.

"Close," Bright said with a smile, "but my luck was good."

Facing Kizaru back then and the escape from Punk Hazard could only be described as perilous.

"Hmph."

Sharly snorted lightly, but her sharp gaze softened slightly. She turned and floated back into the cafe.

Bright followed her, closing the door behind him.

Inside the cafe, the tables and chairs were neatly arranged, placed with deliberate care. The not-too-spacious area didn't feel crowded, and with some exquisite decorations, it exuded an elegant atmosphere at first glance.

"This is really nice."

Bright casually pulled out a chair and sat down, looking around.

Sharly went behind the counter and soon returned with a steaming cup of coffee, placing it in front of Bright.

"So, Bright," she said, sitting opposite him, her slender, long index finger tapping lightly on the table, "how does it feel to set out on an adventure without a second thought and then get thrown in prison?"

Bright picked up the coffee and took a sip. It was rich, fragrant, and tasted excellent.

Putting the coffee down, he corrected her, "Not prison, a Marine research base."

Sharly rolled her eyes.

The girl was clearly not as indifferent as she appeared.

"But speaking of this trip," Bright said with a sigh, "I lost a lot, and I gained a lot."

"Sharly," he looked at the girl, "do you want to hear it? The story of the past four years."

The girl leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and propping her chin with her hand. "The night is still long."

And so, Bright began to tell Sharly the story of his adventures after setting sail with Brother Tiger four years ago, against her wishes.

Their adventures at sea, the scenery they saw, the people they met.

From the moment they set sail, to meeting a girl named Koala, to Tiger's death, then Bright's capture and transport to Punk Hazard, followed by the escape and a deal with Vegapunk, and finally killing a Marine and returning to Fish-Man Island.

All the laughter and tears were shared with the girl before him.

By the time the story ended, it was already past midnight.

Bright yawned. He turned his head and saw that Sharly's eyes were a little teary.

"Sharly..."

"Idiot, I told you long ago that the human world is dangerous," Sharly said, casually wiping her eyes.

This idiot, did she go through so much pain and fear?

Bright smiled and said, "So I won't be leaving again for a while this time. Miss Sharly, the boss, please take care of me."

"Coincidentally, the kitchen is still short one person to wash dishes. You should be able to handle that," Sharly said with a smile.

When the usually stoic girl smiled, it was even more captivating.

Bright couldn't help but laugh, "That's too much! I thought I'd get free room and board, but oh well."

He then turned serious, "Let's talk about Brother Arlong next."

"..."

Sharly fell silent for a moment when her half-brother was mentioned. She had lived with Arlong since she was three. "You know about it too? That idiot is going to form a pirate crew to get revenge on humans."

Bright nodded. "Big Brother Jinbe wants me to dissuade him, but—"

"Words won't work on him anymore."

Sharly said coldly, "You can use more drastic measures, Bright."

Bright raised an eyebrow.

Is this how a sister should talk?

"If Arlong is allowed to do as he pleases, many innocent humans will die because of him," Sharly said. "While the lives of humans are none of our concern, won't that idiot eventually bring ruin upon himself?"

If anyone else had said this, Bright would have been surprised, because Arlong's fate in the original story was indeed like that.

But Sharly was different.

"Is it a prophecy?"

Bright asked.

Sharly was a famous seer on Fish-Man Island, and her predictions were always accurate.

Fifteen years ago, when she was only three, she had already prophesied the birth of the Fish-woman Princess to the Pirate King.

Bright, who was two at the time, had happened to witness that scene.

"There's no need for a prophecy for something like this; anyone could guess it. Arlong, that fool, is more radical than ever," Sharly stated with certainty. "What good can he possibly do in the human world? And what kind of good end will humans give him once his actions are exposed?"

"Go ahead, Bright. You're saving him. He's my brother, after all. I don't want to see him suffer misfortune."

Bright chuckled softly.

It suddenly felt much more justifiable.

"I'll stop him."

He nodded.

Then, Bright hesitated. Finally, he spoke, "There's another question, Sharly. I'm a bit unsure."

"I understand."

Sharly nodded knowingly. "Let's do a fortune-telling, it's been a while."

"Fortune-telling?"

Bright blinked in surprise, then nodded. "Alright."

Sharly floated up, retrieved her crystal ball from behind the counter, and placed it on the table.

The girl took a deep breath and cradled the crystal ball with her hands.

Her eyes became distant.

Bright knew she had entered her divination state.

Although he couldn't see anything in the crystal ball, Sharly must have been seeing visions of the future.

Bright noticed a smile appear on Sharly's face.

Did she see something interesting in the future?

Bright wondered.

Sharly's eyes regained their focus. She sat back down in her chair, her captivating gaze lifting to meet Bright's directly.

She said, "There's no need to agonize or hesitate. Just do what you intend to do, Bright. I saw a beautiful future." She emphasized, "A beautiful future brought about by you."

Bright was taken aback for a moment, then a smile began to bloom on his face. "Is that so?"

Sharly's prophecies couldn't specify a precise time, but the future she saw was bound to happen.

If she said there was a beautiful future, there would definitely be a beautiful future.

Although the future Sharly saw was just a fragment, and the beautiful future would arrive, what came after was unclear.

But at least, it meant his actions would lead to a positive development, right?

In that case, there really was no need to overthink it.

Just like Sharly said, he should do what he intended to do without fear.

What is it that I want to do?

It's probably about getting stronger.

As long as I can possess the strength of an Emperor of the Sea, all problems will cease to be problems.

Almost no one will be able to threaten my safety, Fish-Man Island can be protected, and even the Marines who killed Brother Tiger won't be difficult to get revenge on.

And for me right now, obtaining that kind of strength isn't difficult at all.

Bright was very confident.

As long as I become stronger than anyone else, even if the future truly develops in a bad direction, I'll have the power to turn everything around, right?

To make that beautiful future truly arrive, and not vanish in an instant.

Bright made up his mind.

Next, I need to work hard to become stronger.

No longer just enough to save my life, I need to strive for the strongest.

As for everything else, I'll adapt as I go; I don't know what else to do for now.

"It seems you have no worries."

Sharly floated up, yawning slightly. "It's very late. Let's rest here tonight; there's a vacant guest room upstairs."

"Mm."

Bright nodded.

He didn't have any particular reaction.

He followed Sharly to the second floor of the cafe, and she opened the door to the guest room. "Everything is provided. The waitresses occasionally rest here."

She turned to look at Bright. "Don't do anything strange."

Bright rolled his eyes. "Who would?"

"Hmph."

The girl snorted and floated to the other end of the hallway, to her bedroom.

As she gripped the doorknob, she heard Bright's voice from behind her, "No matter what, I'm back, Sharly."

Sharly paused and turned around. Under the hallway lights, Bright could clearly see the gentle smile on the girl's face.

"Welcome back, Bright."