Why Is This Mermaid Princess So Fiercely Adorable?

"This must be it!"

Luffy sniffed and said, "It smells wonderful!"

As if he had just thought of something, Luffy couldn't stop drooling.

He then rushed into the corridor of the enormous building.

"Why is there no seawater here?" Luffy asked, looking around in confusion.

After thinking for a while and realizing he couldn't figure Luffy, Luffy decisively gave up trying.

"Never mind, let's go eat Sea Beast Meat first!" Luffy, his eyes shining.

As soon as he finished speaking, Luffy prepared to charge towards the distant Hard Shell Tower.

However, before he could make a move, Xi Yan pulled him back from behind.

"Why do you always sneak away?" Xi Yan grabbed Luffy's face and said with a displeased look, "What exactly do you want?"

"Xi Yan!"

Seeing Xi Yan follow him here, Luffy looked surprised, then grabbed Xi Yan and said, "Hey, Xi Yan, I smell something nice, come with me!"

Xi Yan:...

He didn't come here to watch this jerk act cute.

"Stop talking nonsense and come back with me right now."

"I don't want to!"

Luffy turned his head away from Xi Yan and said, "I've already arrived at the banquet hall, why should I go back to that place and starve?"

Xi Yan:???

Upon hearing Luffy's words, several question marks immediately appeared above Xi Yan's head.

"What banquet hall?"

Where is it?

Even Neptune, that old man, never mentioned where the banquet hall was. How did Luffy, that bastard, find it?

etc...

As if he had just realized something, Xi Yan's eyes widened suddenly.

' Luffy's nose is incredibly sensitive to food... almost like a dog's!'

If that's the case... this guy might actually be able to find the banquet hall across the sea!

"It's right there~"

Luffy turned and pointed to the Hard Shell Tower in the distance, saying, "I smell food coming from there."

"There...?"

Looking at the strange building, a hint of surprise appeared in Xi Yan's eyes.

Isn't the layout of this banquet hall a bit too unusual?

And what about those weapons embedded in the walls?

Is this really a banquet hall?

Xi Yan expressed his doubts about this.

Just then, a Fish-Man pushed a huge table out of the Hard Shell Tower, clearly having just gone in to deliver food.

Then, the Fish-Man closed the Great Gate to the side and turned to walk in another direction.

"That's definitely a banquet hall!" Luffy, his eyes shining.

That smell is coming from inside... It smells so good!

Hearing Luffy's words, Xi Yan frowned and said, "I have a feeling that's not quite right..."

After speaking, Xi Yan glanced at the structure of the Hard Shell Tower and the weapons embedded in it, and the more he looked, the more something seemed off.

"Stop nagging and come with me to eat something delicious!" Luffy said.

Without giving Xi Yan a chance to speak further, she grabbed Xi Yan arm and started running, dragging Xi Yan wildly through the air.

Xi Yan:...

After glancing at Luffy, who was running forward with his big teeth bared, Xi Yan was immediately rendered speechless.

Is this what Zoro and his crew often experienced in the past?

Why do I suddenly feel like punching this guy?

"This must be it."

After setting Xi Yan down, Luffy looked at the enormous Great Gate in front of him and said, "Isn't this door a bit too big?"

"And it also looks very sturdy..."

"Neptune is already quite large, so it's normal that he repaired a large door," Xi Yan said.

"Is that so...?"

Thinking back to what that Curly-haired Uncle looked like, Luffy nodded in understanding; it seemed to make sense.

Given that man's size, he definitely wouldn't be able to get through a door that's too small.

Then, Luffy reached out his rubber hand and grabbed the doorknob, saying, "Let's go in and eat!"

"Hey, Luffy."

Xi Yan glanced around, then looked up at the incredibly sturdy Great Gate and said, "I have a feeling this isn't a banquet hall."

"Not the banquet hall?" Luffy looked at Xi Yan with a puzzled expression and said, "But it smelled really good here just now."

"The smell of food does not necessarily indicate that it is a banquet hall."

What is that?

Well, how should I put it?

Xi Yan stroked his chin and said, "I feel like this place is... protecting or imprisoning something."

Could it be a prison?

"Is that really how it is?"

"Yes, so Luffy..."

Before Xi Yan could finish speaking, Luffy's eyes lit up as he exclaimed, "Sea Beast Meat that needs to be protected in this way... how delicious that must be!"

Thinking of this, Luffy increased the force in his hands.

Xi Yan:???

Xi Yan looked at Luffy with a face full of question marks. Was that how he was supposed to interpret his words?

"No, you bastard, you must have misunderstood, you..."

"Squeak~"

Without giving Xi Yan a chance to continue, Luffy opened the Great Gate in front of them just wide enough for them to enter.

Then, Luffy turned to Xi Yan, baring his teeth, and said, "What did you just say?"

Xi Yan:...

Seeing Luffy's complete lack of awareness, Xi Yan was utterly speechless.

What did he say?

What else could he say?

The door's already open, what can he say, you bastard!

After a moment of silence, Xi Yan said helplessly, "Fine, the door's already open, let's go in and take a look."

"That's more like it!"

Hearing Xi Yan's words, Luffy laughed even harder.

Then he turned and walked into the house, saying, "I can smell the food! Let's go eat!"

Okay~

After shaking his head helplessly, Xi Yan and Luffy entered the dark, Hard Shell Tower together.

"That's so strange."

Luffy looked around and asked, "Why aren't the lights on?"

Isn't this a banquet hall?

If it's not a banquet hall... why does it smell like food?

At that moment, Luffy's eyes were filled with confusion.

"Because..."

With his Sharinggan, Xi Yan looked at the giant mermaid lying on the bed in front of him and said with a twitch of his lips, "We've entered someone else's bedroom..."

So... this strange building and sturdy Great Gate were probably there to protect this mermaid.

It really is...

Upon hearing Xi Yan's words, Luffy was immediately filled with question marks.

"Ha?"

"Bedroom?"

Luffy and looked at Xi Yan in surprise, saying, "Are you sure this is a bedroom?"

Why is someone else's bedroom in such a strange place?

"I'm sure."

Xi Yan nodded and said, "Because right in front of us... there is a giant mermaid whose size is comparable to Neptune's."

As he watched the giant mermaid gradually rise to her feet, a startling thought began to surface in Xi Yan's mind.

That means... this girl could be the legendary Mermaid Princess!

Thinking of this, a look of surprise appeared in Xi Yan's eyes. It's really huge!

"Click~"

The next moment, the lights in the room came on, dispelling the unsettling darkness.

Then, the Mermaid Princess who turned on the lights focused her gaze on Xi Yan and Luffy.

"Who... who are you two?"

"Wow... such a big person... no, such a big mermaid!" Luffy exclaimed.

"Really..."

"You two are here to take my life too..." Shirahoshi clenched her fists, looking at Xi Yan and Luffy with her already teary eyes, trying her best to make a fierce expression as she said, "But... but I'm not afraid at all!"

Looking at Shirahoshi trying so hard to appear fierce, Xi Yan's eyelids twitched slightly. How could she be so cute and fierce?

This doesn't seem to have any deterrent effect at all.

"You..."

"I'm not afraid, I'm really not afraid at all!" Shirahoshi suddenly interrupted Xi Yan loudly, saying, "Really... I'm not afraid at all..."

"Because I am Neptune's daughter, I am not afraid!"

"I'm not scared..."

But as she spoke, Shirahoshi's tears began to flow uncontrollably.

Finally... he burst into tears.

"Wow!!!"

"Help! Father! Brother! Help Shirahoshi!"

Xi Yan:...

No, how could this person be like this?

They both cried even though they hadn't done anything, and it's like they're the bad guys who bullied people...

This is outrageous.

"Hey, don't cry." Luffy looked at Shirahoshi, somewhat dumbfounded, and said, "We didn't do anything."

Why are you crying?

"You two humans must have come here to take my life," Shirahoshi cried.

"Ah?"

"No, we're not here to take your life, we're just here to eat." Luffy quickly waved his hands and said, "We're not here to take your life, we're just here to eat."

Unfortunately, these words had no effect on Shirahoshi, because she simply didn't believe anyone would come here for such a reason.

Seeing that Shirahoshi was still crying without any change in her expression, Luffy looked at Xi Yan behind him with a headache and said, "Xi Yan, do you have any ideas?"

"What can I do?" Xi Yan said helplessly.

He's quite good at coaxing Merry, but the problem is... Merry is just a little girl who's only a few years old!

But the woman in front of him was a Mermaid Princess had lived for who knows how many years; how could he possibly know how to coax her?

To Xi Yan's surprise, Shirahoshi miraculously stopped crying after he said those words.

Then, she looked down at Xi Yan in surprise and said, "You... you are Lord Xi Yan?"

"Ah, yes, it's me."

Xi Yan glared at Luffy first, then looked up at Shirahoshi and said, "I am the Blood-Eyed Ninja caused chaos in Mary Geoise two years ago, Xi Yan."

"So... could you please stop crying?"

As he spoke, Xi Yan took off his Sunglasses and showed Shirahoshi his Sharinggan.

"So it really was you!"

Shirahoshi was so surprised that she covered her mouth, and immediately held back her tears.

"She's actually stopped crying..." Luffy looked at Shirahoshi in surprise, then turned to Xi Yan and said, "I didn't expect your name to have this effect."

"Amazing!"

Xi Yan:...

No, isn't there something really off about what you're exclaiming about, you jerk!

They talk as if he's some terrifying being who can stop a child from crying.

"You..."

"Um?"

Before Xi Yan could finish speaking, he noticed a huge axe flying towards him from behind.

And this axe... was aimed straight at Shirahoshi's heart!

"Where did these weapons come from?" Xi Yan asked, frowning.

As he spoke, he activated Susanoo and grabbed the enormous Plum Blossom Axe with tremendous kinetic energy!

Then, with a burst of force, it shattered completely!

Where did this axe come from?

Looking at the fragments of the Plum Blossom Axe that Xi Yan had casually tossed on the ground, Luffy asked in surprise, "Why did they fly here?"

"I don't know," Xi Yan said, frowning.

He also couldn't tell from where the axe had come from by looking at it.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside, along with the anxious voice of the Right Minister.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" the Right Minister asked anxiously.

"Someone's coming," Luffy said.

Xi Yan, who was also looking outside, slowly narrowed his eyes and said, "Yes, I heard you."

I wonder what would happen if they found out here...

After thinking for a moment, Xi Yan reached out and grabbed Luffy, then jumped onto the wall and quickly reached the roof, finally hanging upside down and looking down at Shirahoshi.

Luffy was grabbed by Xi Yan and his mouth was covered to prevent him from making a sound and ruining things.

After finishing this task, Xi Yan said to Shirahoshi, "It's not appropriate for me to reveal my identity right now, so... I'm counting on you, Mermaid Princess."

Shirahoshi, who was staring at Xi Yan in surprise, paused for a moment upon hearing this, then nodded and said, "I... I understand."

Although she didn't quite understand why Lord Xi Yan wanted to do this, since this hero who had been kind to Fish-Man Island had said so, she agreed without hesitation.

Seeing this, Xi Yan chuckled, then turned and glared at Luffy, saying, "You idiot, stop struggling! We'll talk about it later!"

If this bastard struggles recklessly at a time like this, the other party might notice something amiss, so he had to warn the guy beforehand.

'oh...'

Luffy, who had been glared at by Xi Yan, suddenly looked a little aggrieved, but he stopped struggling and obediently stayed in Xi Yan's hand.

After all... Xi Yan had already unleashed a fist brimming with Haki.

Seeing this, Xi Yan nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, a Haki fist was more convincing.

A moment later...

"Princess Shirahoshi, are you alright?!" The Right Minister, looking anxious, rushed in, weapon in hand, and asked, "Are you injured?"

"No."

"That's good..."

The Right Minister breathed a sigh of relief and then said, "We heard your unusual crying just now, and we thought something terrible had happened."

"Nothing happened to me, I just had a nightmare."

"It was just a nightmare, that's good..." The Right Minister breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as it's not an attack by someone else, it's fine.

Then, the Right Minister glanced at the opened steel Great Gate and said, "Princess Shirahoshi, could you tell me why this Great Gate was opened?"

Did the Taxi Soldiers delivered food forget to close the door?

At this point, his expression became extremely serious.

If that bastard really neglected his duty... he'll definitely twist that guy's head off!

Seeing the Right Minister's increasingly dangerous gaze, Shirahoshi was startled and immediately said, "No, I secretly opened a rift myself; it has nothing to do with anyone else."

Clearly, kind-hearted Shirahoshi doesn't want anyone to get hurt because of her.

"It wasn't done by intruders?"

"What intruder?"

Shirahoshi blinked her innocent big eyes, trying her best to act as if she knew nothing, which made the Right Minister frown.

"Princess Shirahoshi, you seem a little off today." The Right Minister frowned and glanced around, saying, "Has someone threatened you?"

Upon hearing this, the Fish-Man Soldier inside the room immediately sharpened their gazes.

If anyone dares to threaten their Mermaid Princess... they will risk their lives to kill them!

No.

Shirahoshi shook her head and said, "No one threatened me."

The two men hadn't laid a hand on her or been rude to her since they came in; at most, they had just asked her for a favor.

So... she wasn't exactly threatened.

"Is that so? That's good." The Right Minister said with a sigh of relief.

As long as Her Highness is not being threatened, it means there is no danger.

Just then, Megalo swam in from outside, making a low 'shark' sound.

"Intruders!"

"Puff!"

"Shark!"

Megalo, who had been stabbed with a harpoon by these men, immediately jumped up in pain and howled around the house.

"It's not an intruder, it's Megalo!" Shirahoshi exclaimed immediately.

"So it's Megalo..."

Upon seeing that it was Megalo, the Right Minister's eyes showed a hint of embarrassment, but he was relieved to see that Megalo was alright.

"By the way, Princess Shirahoshi, there's something I'd like to tell you."

Shirahoshi reached out and patted Megalo's head, then looked curiously at the Right Minister and asked, "What is it?"

"It's about the Straw Hat Crew saved Megalo."

"The Straw Hat Crew?"

Upon hearing that it involved the Straw Hat Crew, Shirahoshi stopped comforting Megalo and turned to the Right Minister, asking, "What happened to them?"

Xi Yan and Luffy frowned at this moment, clearly not expecting the other party to say such a thing.

Could something have happened on the other side?

"Not long ago, a number of young female mermaids went missing here," the Right Minister said. "Some suspect they were responsible."

"Moreover, according to Madame Shyarly's prediction, they are dangerous elements that could destroy Fish-Man Island!"

"Therefore... we've decided to temporarily detain the Straw Hat Crew until we've thoroughly investigated these matters before deciding on their fate."

"Is there really such a thing?" Shirahoshi asked in surprise.

"Yes." The Right Minister nodded and said, "So... to avoid any unforeseen circumstances, we had our soldiers capture the Three Sword Style swordsman and the Ghost Girl who arrived earlier."

"And those people who just arrived... should have been captured by now."

After speaking, the Right Minister paused for a moment, then continued, "However... for some reason, Straw Hat Luffy and another unidentified Sunglasses Man who came here with us are nowhere to be found."

"We suspect they may have sensed something and that's why they slipped away beforehand."

"These two people are probably hiding somewhere in the city, so... please be very careful!"

Seeing that Shirahoshi was somewhat stunned, the Right Minister assumed that the princess was frightened, so he reassured her, "Please rest assured, we will arrest those two people as soon as possible."

While we don't know how strong the Sunglasses Man is, the Straw Hat is definitely not weak.

Therefore... we must capture them as soon as possible to prevent Her Highness from being in danger.

Shirahoshi paused for a moment upon hearing this, then said, "But aren't they Megalo's saviors, and Lord Xi Yan's companions? Why would they..."

"We know this might be unfair to the Straw Hat Crew, but for the sake of Fish-Man Island, we have no choice but to do this," the Right Minister said helplessly. "But please rest assured, we will not harm their lives."

"As long as they cooperate with our investigation honestly, we will not make things difficult for them."

"Once their innocence is confirmed... we will release them and apologize."

Normally, they would need to treat the Straw Hat Crew with a very high level of hospitality, after all... they not only saved Megalo, but are also comrades of the Blood-Eyed Ninja!

Unfortunately, the current situation is too special, so... we can only ask them to make do for now.

"I see..."

"Yes."

The Right Minister nodded, then said somewhat helplessly, "Princess Shirahoshi, we know you are kind, but please cooperate with us at this time..."

They had to do this for the sake of Fish-Man Island.

"I see..."

"Um."

The Right Minister nodded, then glanced at the untouched food on the table and said, "Why aren't you eating? Do you have no appetite?"

"Or is it that these foods don't suit your taste?"

"No, I just didn't have time to eat," Shirahoshi said, shaking her head.

"I see, then..."

"Right Minister, the time has come."

A Fish-Man Soldier approached the Right Minister with a clock and said, "It's been five minutes."

To protect Princess Shirahoshi's safety, King Neptune stipulated that others could only stay here for five minutes, so he had to remind the lady.

"Ah, sorry, sorry, people tend to nag as they get older." The Right Minister smiled helplessly, then looked at Shirahoshi and said, "Well then... Princess Shirahoshi, we'll take our leave now."

Okay~

After watching the other person leave, Shirahoshi breathed a sigh of relief.

However, she didn't speak immediately. Instead, she waited until the Right Minister and the others had been gone for a while before looking up at Xi Yan and saying, "Lord Xi Yan, you may come down now."

Megalo:???

Megalo looked up at the sky with a question mark on his face, and then he was dumbfounded.

"Shark?"

"Shark!!!"

No, why are these two humans here?

They are not...

Huh?

wrong...

What did Princess Shirahoshi call that human just now?

Xi Yan?

"Shark?!!!"

Megalo's eyes bulged in shock as he watched the Sunglasses Man jump down from the sky.

"Shark!!!"

"Shark!!!"

"Um?"

Looking at Megalo, who was gesturing wildly, Xi Yan asked in confusion, "What's wrong with this guy?"

Why are you so excited?

"He's surprised that you are Lord Xi Yan," Shirahoshi translated.

"Shark!"

"Shark!!!"

Megalo nodded affirmatively, as if to say: That's exactly what I meant.

Seeing this, Xi Yan smiled. What an interesting shark!

Then, Xi Yan said, "Your name is Shirahoshi, right?"

"Yes, Lord Xi Yan!"

Xi Yan felt somewhat helpless upon hearing this. Why did this person always have to include "adult" when calling someone by their name?

After shaking his head, Xi Yan said, "Anyway... Shirahoshi, remember to keep this a secret for me, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Shirahoshi tilted her head slightly and looked at Xi Yan, saying, "Are you referring to the fact that you are still alive?"

"Yes."

Upon hearing this, Shirahoshi lowered her head and thought for a moment, then looked up and said, "Then how should I address you in front of others?"

"How should I address you?"

Xi Yan stroked his chin and thought for a moment, then Shirahoshi a thumbs up and said, "Just call me Big Brother!"

Several question marks immediately appeared above Shirahoshi's head. What kind of strange name is this?

However... since this is what Lord Xi Yan requested, let's call it that then.

Thinking of this, Shirahoshi nodded and said, "Yes, I understand, Big Brother!"

Xi Yan:...

There's no need to include the word "adult".

"No, that won't work."

Shirahoshi shook her head, clearly possessing her own stubbornness.

"Whatever you want."

Seeing that Xi Yan did not force her to change her form of address, Shirahoshi smiled.

Then she said, "Yes, sir!"

Xi Yan didn't say anything more, just smiled helplessly.

"And who are you?" Shirahoshi asked Luffy curiously.

"My name is Luffy, and I'm going to be the Pirate King!"

"Luffy..."

Shirahoshi blinked, then exclaimed in surprise, "You must be Captain Luffy, the Straw Hat Luffy of Lord Xi Yan's ship!"

"Yes, it's me."

"I never expected you to be Luffy..." Shirahoshi said with some emotion, "You're not quite what I imagined."

After speaking, she paused for a moment, then glanced cautiously at Xi Yan and said, "You are the same..."

Xi Yan:???

What does it mean to be "not quite what I imagined"?

Could it be that in Shirahoshi's imagination, those two are some terrifying beings with blue faces and fangs?

After shaking his head to dismiss the strange thought, Xi Yan said, "Haven't you seen the Straw Hat Crew's Wanted Order?"

Although his Wanted Order was revoked because he was 'killed' by the World Government.

But... Luffy has Wanted Order his head!

Haven't you seen Shirahoshi before?

"No."

Shirahoshi shook his head and said, "I've only heard about you two from Megalo or others, but I haven't seen Wanted Order."

She hadn't left this Hard Shell Tower for ten years, so... she could only hear about the outside world from Megalo or others.

"You haven't been living here all this time, have you?" Xi Yan asked in surprise.

"Yes."

These words immediately silenced Xi Yan.

Isn't this Mermaid Princess a little too pitiful?

The Mermaid Princess inside the Hard Shell Tower?

this...

"By the way, aren't you two in a hurry?" Shirahoshi asked anxiously, as if she had just remembered something. "The Right Minister just said he wanted to capture your companion."

These two should have heard about this, so why aren't they worried at all?

Hearing Shirahoshi's words, Xi Yan and Luffy exchanged a glance, then burst into laughter together.

He looked as if he had heard a funny joke.

Shirahoshi:???

"What do you two mean by this?" Shirahoshi asked, puzzled. "Why are you laughing?"

Your companions are about to be caught, and you're still laughing?

This doesn't make sense...

"You guys have no chance of catching them," Luffy grinned, showing his teeth.

He was quite confident in his partner's abilities.

Is that so?

"Yes," Xi Yan nodded, "Our companions are all very strong!"

"But didn't the Right Minister just say that two of your companions have already been arrested?" Shirahoshi said.

As she spoke, Shirahoshi recalled what the Right Minister had said.

The other party did indeed say that they had captured a Three Sword Style swordsman and a Ghost Girl.

"Zoro and Perona, huh?"

Xi Yan stroked his chin and said, "Although I don't know what happened, I think they probably gave up resisting on their own."

Perona, who ate the Spirit-Spirit Fruit, is incredibly strong!

Unless one possesses an incredibly powerful Haki, it's impossible to remain calm in front of this girl.

Would someone like that be captured by those guys from Fish-Man Island?

Stop joking, okay?!

What's more, there's Zoro, the incredibly powerful swordsman, among them!

So... if they hadn't given up resisting, those seemingly insignificant Fish-Man Soldier would have had absolutely no chance of capturing them.

'Speaking of which... those two guys probably just want to find a place to Awakening up, right?' Xi Yan muttered to himself. 'And maybe they're waiting for us to come along...'

While Perona might not necessarily do that, Zoro is highly likely to.

Thinking of this, Xi Yan fell into deep thought.

After hearing Xi Yan's words, Luffy nodded firmly and said, "That's right!"

"Those two are very strong!"

"Huh?"

Are you really that confident in their abilities?

Of course.

Seeing Luffy without hesitation, Shirahoshi blinked. It seemed she didn't need to worry about his crew.

"However, something is definitely not right about this," Xi Yan said, squinting. "I suspect someone is framing us."

"Trying to frame us?"

Luffy paused for a moment, then gave a displeased look and asked, "Who is it?"

"I'm going to beat him to a pulp!"

How dare they frame the Straw Hat Pirates... They deserve a beating!

"I don't know," Xi Yan shook his head and said, "Let's investigate when we get down there."

At the very least, they need to make Neptune understand that they didn't do this, so that Fish-Man Island won't hold a grudge against Camie and the others.

This time, Luffy didn't say anything, but nodded to indicate that he understood.

Then, he glanced at the axe fragments on the ground and said, "By the way... what was that axe all about?"

"Where did it fly from?"

If Xi Yan hadn't intervened in time, this weapon would have struck this big guy squarely in the chest.

Judging by the power of that weapon... it could definitely kill her!

Shirahoshi paused for a moment upon hearing this, then said with a somewhat frightened expression, "It was thrown by a man named Vander Decken."

"Vander Decken?!"

Upon hearing this name, Xi Yan was momentarily stunned. Wasn't this the owner of that Ghost Ship?

Oh... he understands!

So it turns out this guy named Vander Decken didn't just send love letters or anything, he actually threw an axe at people!

This is probably why Neptune issued a nationwide warrant for the arrest of Vander Decken.

"That's right, it's Vander Decken," Shirahoshi said, head bowed. "I rejected his proposal, so he's held a grudge against me ever since."

"So... he would throw all sorts of things at me every day."

"That guy really is a jerk," Luffy said with a look of disgust.

Xi Yan frowned and said, "Is he some kind of Devil Fruit User?"

If we can't catch this guy, it means he's not in the Ryugu Kingdom... no, he's probably not on Fish-Man Island!

To be able to accurately throw a weapon right in front of Shirahoshi under these circumstances... that's definitely not normal!

"Yes, he's a user of the Target-Target Fruit," Shirahoshi said. "So... he can use that power to attack me with weapons anytime."

"Is this why you're staying in this tower?" Xi Yan asked.

Now he understood what those strange weapons outside were all about; they were thrown by that guy named Vander Decken!

This guy is a real scumbag...

"Yes."

Shirahoshi said, "It's dangerous outside, so I have to live in this Hard Shell Tower for the rest of my life, and I can't go out even once..."

For her own safety, and to avoid worrying her father and brother, she... had no choice but to live here.

"You really can stay still for a long time..."

"It's okay, I'm used to it," Shirahoshi said, shaking her head.

She was already content to be alive and not a burden to her family, so she didn't ask for anything more.

Just then, Luffy's stomach growled, clearly indicating that he was extremely hungry.

"Is Luffy hungry?" Shirahoshi's smile returned as she said, "Then please eat what's on the table."

"Lord Xi Yan come along too."

"Really?!" Luffy exclaimed, drooling.

"Isn't this your lunch?" Xi Yan looked up at Shirahoshi and said, "What will you do if we eat it?"

"It's alright, I'm not hungry right now," Shirahoshi shook her head and said, "Besides... even if I were hungry, I could ask Father to give me some extra food~"

Finally, the somewhat timid mermaid girl wagged her tail with a touch of pride, looking incredibly cute.

Seeing this, Xi Yan smiled and said, "Then we won't stand on ceremony~"

Please enjoy your meal.

"Profound!"

Xi Yan nodded, then turned to look at the dining table.

"Um?"

The moment Xi Yan glanced over there, he realized something was wrong. How could that bastard Luffy have already eaten so much?

Are you some kind of glutton, you bastard!

"Hey Luffy, you bastard, leave me some!"

"Hahaha, Xi Yan, let's have a contest to see who can eat the most!"

"Who wants to compare themselves to a good-for-nothing like you!"

"Hahaha."