Half a month later.
Fish-Man Island, Ryugu Palace.
Along a wide corridor, Sephiroth, wrapped in a round bubble that kept the seawater out, followed behind Neptune at an unhurried pace.
"How is Queen Otohime's recovery?"
"Thanks to Lord Sephiroth's surgery, Otohime can already get out of bed.
I will always remember this great kindness of yours...
If there is ever anything you need from me, just say the word. I'll do everything in my power to help!"
If I wanted your daughter Shirahoshi, would you give her to me too? Sephiroth muttered inwardly before speaking in a half-joking, half-serious tone.
"Really?
Then when I truly need your help someday, you can't go back on your word!"
"Hahaha! No problem. Just ask when the time comes..."
The two chatted as they walked and soon arrived at the entrance of a tall tower. It was called Hard Shell Tower, the sturdiest building in all of Ryugu Palace. Even continuous cannon fire would be unable to breach it.
Suddenly!
A massive axe flew in from outside Ryugu Palace, cutting through layer upon layer of seawater. With a bang, it struck the enormous wooden door of the tower, its blade sinking deep into the wood and pinning itself there.
Feigning ignorance, Sephiroth asked in surprise:
"What's going on...?"
"It was an attack on my daughter Shirahoshi by a pirate named Vander Decken IX...
Ever since the incident at the plaza, he suddenly began proposing to my daughter.
How could I possibly marry my daughter to a pirate? So I sent people to capture him.
Unexpectedly, he declared that if he could not have my daughter, he would destroy her!
Since then, he has launched terrifying attacks on my daughter every day...
For Shirahoshi's safety, I had no choice but to let her stay in