The Princess's Secret

"Yes, Neptune, Gawain is right. Where is your youngest daughter?"

Mjosgard, standing nearby, grew interested as well. He spoke with deep nostalgia.

"I remember when Queen Otohime personally shielded me from a bullet and saved my life.

At first, I hadn't turned over a new leaf yet!

Back then, I actually pointed a gun at Otohime and shouted that I wanted to kill her.

Then... haha, that big little girl was so frightened by me that she started crying.

Wow, just thinking about it is unbelievable. That child was incredible. The moment she cried, so many enormous Sea Kings came charging over!"

As he spoke, Mjosgard felt both ashamed and nostalgic. He rubbed his starfish-like hair and said softly.

"Though I was quite brave, those Sea Kings were even bigger. Shameful, shameful—I was so scared by those giant Sea Kings that I fainted on the spot.

Still, it was lucky that I passed out. Otherwise, I might have done something I would regret for the rest of my life!"

Having said that, Mjosgard naturally looked toward Neptune and continued asking.

"Five years have passed now. That big little girl should have grown up too, right? How old was she back then, six?

I wonder whether she looks like... huh?

You... what's wrong with all of you?"

Before Mjosgard could finish speaking, he saw Fukaboshi and his two brothers, along with the Ministers of the Left and Right, all staring wide-eyed in utter shock!

While Mjosgard was still confused, the seahorse Merfolk Minister of the Right gripped his Steel Fork and rushed toward Neptune.

"Your Majesty, this is terrible!!!"

The Minister of the Right was frantic.

"Princess Shirahoshi's secret has been discovered by outsiders!!!"

"Ahem!"

Watching the panicked Minister of the Right, Neptune speechlessly raised his right hand and smacked his own forehead.

Behind him, his three sons also slapped their foreheads in unison.

The elderly Minister of the Left raised his hand too. He wanted to slap his forehead as well, but his health was too poor, and he was a beat too slow.

In the end, he gave up and instead said to the Minister of the Right with a bitter smile.

"If your voice got any louder, even Reverse Mountain would hear you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain could not hold it in any longer. He let out half a snort of laughter.

That was only because he was professional enough. Otherwise, he would have laughed the whole thing out loud.

What was Reverse Mountain? It was the starting point of the Grand Line. As for its geographical relationship with Fish-Man Island, it was like the relationship between the South Pole and the North Pole!

When he watched the anime, he had only thought these simple-minded people were a little amusing. But after arriving in the real world of pirates...

These people were not merely a little amusing. They were absolutely hilarious!

Gion, seated upright beside Gawain, had been pondering Mjosgard's words a moment ago, trying to understand why the Fish-Men were so shocked.

The next moment, Gion sucked in a breath and repeatedly raised her brows at Gawain.

Seeing Gawain look at her in response to her meaningful glances, Gion leaned closer and asked in an extremely low voice.

"That princess can actually summon Sea Kings. Then, according to the legends all this time, isn't she Posei..."

At that point, Gawain lightly patted Gion's thigh, patting down the words she was about to say.

After stopping Gion, Gawain looked naturally toward Neptune.

"Guys, why are you all so surprised? Does Queen Otohime's daughter have some kind of secret?"

"Uh..."

Facing Gawain's question, Neptune hesitated somewhat. But after thinking carefully, Mjosgard had already revealed that his daughter had summoned Sea Kings when she was six!

Mjosgard had experienced it personally. What secret could possibly be hidden from an eyewitness?

If they refused to explain anything and merely kept concealing it, causing these two Celestial Dragons to keep speculating...

That might be even more dangerous!

Thus, Neptune shook his head helplessly.

"Sigh, I won't hide it from you. Like her mother, my daughter possessed a special gift from a young age.

Just as Otohime's Observation Haki could sense other people's emotions and share her own emotions with others.

My daughter Shirahoshi got along very well with Sea Kings and fish.

That itself isn't a big deal, but..."

At that point, Neptune looked around. There were only a few people present.

Other than his sons and the Ministers of the Left and Right, there were the Celestial Dragons who already knew Shirahoshi could summon Sea Kings, as well as their subordinate, Gion.

If his sons and the Ministers of the Left and Right were going to betray him, then this secret would have stopped being a secret long ago.

As for the Celestial Dragons... they already knew!

Thus, Neptune let out a breath and muttered.

"However, Fish-Man Island has always had a prophecy, while the human world also has a legend.

It says that a Fish-Man princess capable of communicating with Sea Kings will appear on Fish-Man Island, and that person is connected to Poseidon, one of the three Ancient Weapons.

Sigh, that is the so-called secret surrounding my daughter."

As his words fell, Neptune cautiously looked at Mjosgard and Gawain. When he found that neither of them had any unusual reaction, he immediately relaxed.

And the two men he had looked toward...

Mjosgard tilted his head. "What is Poseidon?"

During the five years since Queen Otohime's death, Mjosgard, having turned over a new leaf, had indeed learned a great deal. But honestly, everything he had learned was related to Merfolk.

He had merely gone from an ignorant fool to a pure Merfolk expert!

Otherwise, as the first person to witness Shirahoshi summon Sea Kings, how could he have failed to make any connection over the past five years?

As for Gawain, he lightly waved his hand.

"Another rumor about an Ancient Weapon?"

As he spoke, Gawain gently shook his head.

"Some say that Tom, the shipwright who died in Water 7, possessed the blueprints to build Pluton, the Dark King.

Others say that the Kingdom of Alabasta—the family descended from the Twenty Kings who alone moved out of Mary Geoise and gave up their Celestial Dragon status.

Many believe that they too have clues about Pluton, the Dark King.

Others say that Sky Island contains information about Uranus, the Ancient Weapon.

So down here beneath the sea, people also say that Fish-Man Island holds information related to Poseidon, the Sea King?"

At that, Gawain smiled teasingly.

"Neptune, Tom the Fish-Man was one of your people too. By that logic, doesn't Fish-Man Island hold two of the three Ancient Weapons all by itself?

If you really had two Ancient Weapons, how could Fish-Man Island fail to deal with even passing pirates? Hahaha!

Never mind that. There are simply too many rumors in this world. Just treat them as entertainment!"

After Gawain finished speaking, everyone in the hall except Mjosgard let out a long breath.

Neptune and the others were completely relieved. Saint Gawain's attitude was clear—he did not believe rumors, nor did he spread them.

Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea, relaxed as well. His gaze toward Gawain was filled with admiration.

But why admiration?

Behind Gawain, Gion saw Gawain's figure grow ever taller in her eyes.

So the reason her lord had come to Fish-Man Island was not merely for Jinbe, the Shichibukai!

From the seat of honor, Gawain watched everyone's differing expressions and mannerisms. He lightly clapped his hands, drawing their attention.

"All right, put those unimportant matters aside. You still haven't answered my question, my friend Neptune.

Our little Princess Shirahoshi is already eleven, right? Why hasn't she been acting together with your sons?

Haha, stop hiding the adorable little princess. Call her out and have her join the banquet."

Facing Gawain's question, Neptune pondered for a moment. His gaze drifted between Gion and Jinbe.

Gion had already regained her composure, while Jinbe kept nodding.

Seeing Jinbe's response, Neptune let out a breath, then readily agreed.

"All right, Saint Gawain. I'll have my sons bring their sister over.

Ho ho ho ho, today really is a fine day. The children who had been separated from us have returned home, I have made friends like you two, and my daughter can finally leave that tower!

Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, Manboshi, go to Hard-Shell Tower and bring your sister to the hall."

"By your command, Father."

Fukaboshi immediately nodded in agreement. Manboshi beside him seemed to want to say something, but before he could open his mouth, Fukaboshi smacked him back with his tail.

Immediately afterward, the three princes of the Fish-Man Kingdom swayed their tails and swam out of the hall.

After leaving the hall, Manboshi finally could not hold it in any longer. He said unhappily to Fukaboshi.

"Big Brother, what is Father doing? Why is he telling outsiders everything? He even plans to bring out our sister, Red Opah!

Without Hard-Shell Tower protecting her, what will happen to our sister's safety, Red Opah!!!"

"All right, Third Brother. We only need to obey Father's orders.

As for our sister's secret, hasn't Father already joined hands with Saint Gawain to smooth it over?

And as for Shirahoshi's safety, Candidate Admiral Gion and Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea, are still in the hall.

With them there, Shirahoshi will be safe!"

After saying that, Fukaboshi led his now-silent brothers toward Hard-Shell Tower. Together with the guards, they pulled open the great doors of Hard-Shell Tower, then turned on the lights inside.

The instant the lights came on, a huge bulge suddenly rose beneath the enormous bed's covers.

"W-Who is it?"

Accompanied by a delicate question, a corner of the quilt covering the bulge on the bed was lifted.

Shirahoshi's rosy little face peeked out from beneath the blanket. Blinking her large eyes, already brimming with frightened tears, she looked toward her brothers.