Checking In at Fish-Man Island, Inviting Shirahoshi

[Ding!]

[Main chain quest completed: Demon King's Grand Fleet III: Check in at Impel Down, invite Sadi to set sail]

[Quest reward: Heavenly Demonic Qi - Complete Edition]

Ye Zhuo smiled with satisfaction. The Demon King was about to sink into the sea, thanks to the coating Rayleigh had applied at Sabaody Archipelago.

[Main quest activated: Demon King's Grand Fleet IV: Check in at Fish-Man Island, invite the mermaid princess Shirahoshi to set sail]

[Quest reward: Strength-Strength Fruit]

... The Strength-Strength Fruit. This reward was not bad at all. It would be best if given to the helmsman to eat. Ye Zhuo looked casually toward the seabed. The Sunlight Tree Eve brought sunlight down to the ocean floor via bubbles. Ye Zhuo immersed himself in the sight, feeling for the first time that the scenery under the sea was quite nice. All kinds of Sea Kings swam back and forth around them, looking quite impressive indeed. "Can the Shadowkhan fight in seawater?" Ye Zhuo thought for a moment and flicked his finger. The various Shadowkhan under his command promptly dove into the seawater. Each of them even realistically held a bamboo tube in their mouth. This was the ocean floor, after all; having a bamboo tube wasn't going to help them breathe any oxygen. Ye Zhuo was torn between laughter and tears, though this was purely for show anyway. What kind of oxygen did shadows even need? "Such a waste of heavenly treasures." Vivi watched as Ye Zhuo casually tossed the shadows into the sea. She thought to herself that if outsiders ever acquired this ability, there was no telling what terrifying power they might unleash. Yet, the moment she remembered how powerful Ye Zhuo himself was, she dismissed the thought. "Go on, find that fellow who uses the Target-Target Fruit." Ye Zhuo walked toward the cabin while speaking and laughing. Fish-Man Island was the first stop on the way to the New World. Located on the ocean floor, it harbored countless secrets. Because Whitebeard Newgate was still alive, Fish-Man Island was doing reasonably well. Glug, glug... Bubbles floated past one after another. The Demon King finally arrived at Fish-Man Island on the seabed. There was an even larger bubble here. Though it remained unclear how such bubbles resisted the immense water pressure. If one knew how to utilize them properly, they should be able to unleash even more terrifying power. "With Fish-Man Island on the seabed, do corpses sink down here?" Robin's single remark made Perona's face turn ashen. "I heard there's a really nice café here." Nami blinked, and Vivi happily stretched her back. Their captain walked out from the cabin. It immediately drew everyone's gaze. "Little ones, I need to go find a helmsman first. Contact me via Den Den Mushi if anything comes up." Ye Zhuo leaped up, jumping down from the cabin. Empress Hancock and Vivi chose to follow him, while the others had their own separate matters to attend to. Each of them intended to purchase the items they wanted. Unlike Sabaody Archipelago, Fish-Man Island offered a great many specialty products. Only Tashigi and a fraction of the combatants were left behind on the Demon King. She continuously swung her sword, reviewing the techniques Kalifa and the others had taught her. "Have we arrived?" Just as Ye Zhuo had walked halfway and approached the royal palace of Fish-Man Island. A single figure blocked his path. "Demon King, ahead lies the most vital territory of our Ryugu Kingdom on Fish-Man Island. Please halt your steps." Knight of the Sea Jinbe, current captain of the Sun Pirates and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. "I'm going to invite a helmsman." How could Ye Zhuo possibly stop here? "From what this old man understands, the crew members you seek are all beauties. Regardless of whether they are nobles or commoners, marines or pirates, you select them all. Could it be that your arrival this time is for our Fish-Man Island's princess!" Jinbe cautiously assumed a Fish-Man Karate stance. The Empress was known as the most beautiful woman in the world. If there was anyone left in this world whose looks could rival hers, it could only be Princess Shirahoshi—or so the people of the world claimed. "You seem to have misunderstood. How could I possibly be that kind of person?" Ye Zhuo waved his hand, and trails of shadows emerged behind him. The Shadow Ninjas and Samurai held a corpse between their hands. It was none other than the user of the Target-Target Fruit. He hadn't expected that thousands of shadows would actually manage to track this fellow down amidst the boundless ocean. "How did Your Excellency come to know about this?" Jinbe swallowed hard, his gaze toward Ye Zhuo involuntary growing respectful. "Are you still not moving aside? Do you want this concubine to kill you, Jinbe!" The Empress was already boiling with anger. "I'd also like to meet that princess of Fish-Man Island. I heard she has long pink hair." Vivi looked at Jinbe and said with a smile. Faced with a queen and a princess. Jinbe spoke with exceptional solemnity: "Lord Demon King, I must ask Your Excellency to let this old man go ahead and have a word with King Neptune." "As you wish." Ye Zhuo waved his hand, and a Shadow Samurai promptly fetched a chair. "Many thanks!" Jinbe departed swiftly, heading toward the royal palace. Inside the grand hall. King and Great Knight Neptune had already been waiting anxiously for quite some time alongside several princes and ministers. The moment he heard that traces of the Demon King had been spotted, worry had gripped him. The infamous reputation of the Demon King Ye Zhuo was known to all, young and old alike! He lived in constant fear that Princess Shirahoshi might become a target. Only when Jinbe stepped into the hall did his heart settle somewhat. "How is it, Jinbe?" "The Demon King Ye Zhuo has brought the corpse of the Target-Target Fruit user." With that said by Jinbe. Neptune helplessly tossed a copy of the latest newspaper aside. Ever since the battle at Twin Cape and the Florian Triangle, the incidents at Sabaody Archipelago and Impel Down had once again stirred up the terror of the Grand Line. The Demon King Ye Zhuo truly lived up to his name! His bounty had also skyrocketed all the way to three billion Beli. Meanwhile, the bounties of the Empress and the others on his ship increased accordingly. Ever since the Great Age of Pirates began, he was the very first monster whose bounty reached three billion before even heading to the New World! "Everyone, it seems I am not very welcome here." Just as their thoughts were stirred. Eight Shadow Samurai carried a sedan chair and escorted Ye Zhuo directly inside. "Wine!" He flicked his hand, and a Shadow Ninja immediately brought forward a bottle of potent liquor from West Blue. Seeing this scene, Neptune and the various princes plunged even deeper into despair. "Lord Demon King, I beg you to allow this old man and King Neptune to speak further!" Jinbe had no wish to see matters reach an irreconcilable point. "There's no need. I have only a single purpose in coming here: I need to find a helmsman for my pirate ship." "If you don't mind, this old man can do it as well." Jinbe stepped forward, volunteering himself. "Ah, I feel like Princess Shirahoshi's height and stature seem much more suited to be a helmsman." Ye Zhuo's words made Neptune's face turn ashen. Clutching his long spear, he had already resolved himself to fight. "Then Your Excellency means to make an enemy of my Fish-Man Island!" As a king and a father, how could Neptune possibly fail to protect his daughter? "Then I suppose there's nothing left to discuss." While speaking, Ye Zhuo melted entirely into the shadows. Having mastered the Shadow Empire, he could naturally slip right into the realm of shadows. "What kind of Devil Fruit is this?" Neptune stood up nervously. "I don't know. Word has it that the Demon King Ye Zhuo is a clone who ate the Copy-Copy Fruit!" Jinbe hurried out of the palace with a worried expression, and the group rapidly made their way toward the tall tower. ... Inside a towering structure. Ye Zhuo quietly manifested, sliding down the banister and startling Shirahoshi awake from her slumber. "Who is it?" Shirahoshi's voice was tearful and sobbing. The lights flickered on. Ye Zhuo looked up and smiled. "Shirahoshi, come out to sea with me and become my helmsman!"