_________________
As readers continued to delve into the chapter, the inhabitants of Fish-Man Island were consumed by a furious indignation upon witnessing the sheer malevolence with which Hody Jones treated their beloved King and the esteemed Royal Army.
"He was even a part of Neptune's army in the past?! This revelation is truly shocking!"
"Indeed! He is inherently wicked, a villain by nature; even Arlong, in all his notoriety, never descended to such depths of depravity!"
"This scoundrel brazenly claims he joined the Royal Army merely to hone his combat skills… He possesses not a single shred of loyalty to our glorious kingdom or our noble race."
"Hah! Does he genuinely believe he is serving our race with such a despicable character and reprehensible actions?!"
"What an utterly insignificant wretch! He must be eradicated before his influence grows and he becomes an even greater menace!"
"Look closely! He is shamelessly using his own comrade, a member of his race, as a human shield! What an act of cowardice and betrayal!"
"And that villainous Vander Decken as well! His actions are equally contemptible!"
"What an utterly conscienceless scoundrel. His lack of moral fiber is truly appalling."
Upon hearing these scathing remarks, the young Hody Jones clenched his fists with such force that his fingernails dug painfully into his own flesh… He felt an overwhelming and immediate threat to his very existence in that harrowing moment.
In this moment of extreme tension and palpable anxiety, Arlong, with a calming demeanor, placed a reassuring hand on Hody Jones's shoulder, uttering simply, "Calm yourself."
Hody Jones cast a look of profound gratitude towards Arlong, who had so readily offered his unwavering support in this critical juncture.
Nevertheless, he continued to tremble internally, a tremor born of intense fear and resentment. The mere thought that there were those who wished to eliminate him due to the actions of his manga counterpart filled him with an intense and bitter hatred.
However, this did not imply that he condoned or approved of his counterpart's actions; quite the contrary, he detested them.
At this precise moment, King Neptune, with an air of regal authority, rose and addressed the enraged multitude of readers.
"My beloved people, let us cease this baseless and unproductive nonsense… The current Hody Jones is in no way culpable for these fictional transgressions. If you seek to direct your anger and animosity towards someone, let it be towards his malevolent counterpart within the pages of the manga."
"Please, I implore you, do not cross this line of distinction."
"But Your Majesty, even Whitebeard and Roger, renowned for their immense tolerance and magnanimity, targeted Teach and Akainu after the deplorable actions of their respective manga counterparts!" At this moment, the unexpected words of a random individual rendered Neptune utterly speechless and momentarily at a loss for a suitable response.
Until this very moment, Neptune had remained blissfully unaware that, in the not-too-distant future, he himself would harbor an intense desire to tear Hody Jones limb from limb.
…
"Even the King himself failed to pacify their fervent anger. Perhaps it would be prudent for you to consider departing, Hody, nyuuu~…" Hachi remarked, directing his gaze towards Hody Jones with a hint of concern.
"And is there any place in this vast world safer than the art store, you fool?!" Hody Jones retorted, his voice laced with a mixture of exasperation and defiance.
"Let them speak their minds; no one would dare to make a move against you, whether you are within the confines of this store or outside its protective walls." At this moment, Fisher Tiger, who had maintained a stoic silence for a considerable period, finally spoke, his voice resonating with authority and conviction.
Upon hearing Fisher Tiger himself guarantee his safety, Hody Jones's taut muscles, which had been rigid with tension, finally relaxed, a wave of relief washing over him.
"However, I cannot vouch for the safety of Vander Decken; that madman's counterpart appears to have already crossed an unforgivable line…"
"But… Pfft! Hahahahahaha!!!" he laughed.
Jinbe, who stood beside him, was utterly taken aback by Tiger's sudden outburst of laughter, a reaction that no one present had anticipated.
Since the very inception of this arc, this was the inaugural instance of Fisher Tiger laughing in such an unbridled and uproarious manner.
Overwhelmed by an intense curiosity, Jinbe, Arlong, Hody, and the others collectively refocused their attention on the pages of the manga, eager to unravel the cause of such unexpected mirth.
After Princess Shirahoshi was finally revealed and Vander Decken made his appearance, a truly astonishing surprise unfolded before their very eyes.
"Pfft! Ahahahahaha!!!"
"Oh my goodness! Hahahahaha!! Is this truly the reason?!"
"Hahahahaha!!"
Laughter, in all its varied forms and intensities, erupted and spread throughout the art store, permeating every level and corner of the establishment.
…
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Chapter's Events:
— — — — — — — — — — — —
"Hey, you guys!! Something's flying right this way!!" Luffy, who had been restrained by the enraged Fish-Men, keenly observed something rapidly approaching them through the air.
"What?! There's no point trying to distract us with ridiculous lies and baseless fabrications!!" The Fishmen retorted, their voices filled with skepticism and annoyance.
"Huh?! There really is something undeniably flying this way!!"
"Ehh?!"
The Fishmen exclaimed, their skepticism giving way to dawning realization.
Ultimately, the civilian Fishmen finally noticed something undeniably soaring towards them, its trajectory clear and unmistakable.
"C… Could that possibly be… Vander Decken?!!!" They collectively gasped, a wave of apprehension washing over them as the identity of the approaching figure became clear.
And indeed, it was revealed to be Vander Decken, who had audaciously mounted a coral and was utilizing it as a crude but effective means to relentlessly track Shirahoshi.
"I've found you now, my dear Shirahoshi!!! I know it with absolute certainty!!! Bahohohoho!!! Shirahoshiiiii!!!!" Vander Decken's face contorted into an expression of obsessive delight as he gazed upon Shirahoshi, who now seemed to be within his grasp.
"Vander Decken-sama…!!!" It became apparent that Princess Shirahoshi, in her innocent and naive nature, had a tendency to address almost anyone with the honorific 'Sama'.
"After all this time spent in elusive hiding… He's finally revealed his true, unhinged self right here on Fish-Man Island!!!" The civilians felt a surge of both profound anger and bewildered confusion at this audacious display.
"Princess, you absolutely must flee immediately!! We, your loyal subjects, will valiantly take care of him and ensure your escape!!!"
"Answer me this, Shirahoshi, and answer truthfully!!! Say 'Yes' to my proposal, and you will not have to face the grim specter of death!!!"
"Bahohoho!! My dearest Shirahoshi!!! Merry Meeee!!!" He continued his bizarre and unsettling proposal, his laughter echoing ominously.
"The man who has relentlessly attempted to take our beloved princess's life countless times is now brazenly proposing marriage to her?!"
However, before the people could react with their righteous anger, Shirahoshi, with a voice filled with unwavering conviction and tears welling in her eyes, spoke with a clarity that silenced all.
"You're not my type…!!" Her words, though simple, carried an immense weight of finality.
The crowd was utterly stunned and profoundly shocked to hear such a blunt and unexpected rejection, internally pondering with a mixture of disbelief and amusement:
(Is that truly the primary issue here?! Is that the crux of the matter?!)
Simultaneously, Vander Decken's face, initially contorted in shock, turned a ghastly pale, then rapidly transformed into an expression of seething rage and utter disbelief.
"How dare you… How dare you so callously trample all over my ten years of unwavering longing and fervent desire…?!!!"
"You would choose another over me, after all I have endured and desired?!!!"
"If you will not reciprocate my profound love… Then your very existence is an unforgivable insult to my being!!! Die, Shirahoshi!!!"
— — — — — — — — — — — —
The laughter of the readers reverberated across the vast seas at this precise moment, as Vander Decken was subjected to such a humiliating and unequivocal rejection.
You're not my type…
These simple words transformed the perilous and tense situation into an exquisitely comedic spectacle, causing readers, including the stoic Fisher Tiger and countless others, to erupt into uproarious and unrestrained laughter.
This particular event, while undoubtedly heartbreaking and humiliating for Vander Decken, served as a rich and abundant source of amusement and mirth for the eager readers.
In Ohara, Sora, with a hand pressed firmly over her mouth, struggled valiantly to suppress her laughter as she observed Sanji, who had been rendered utterly motionless, transformed into a veritable stone statue by the mere sight of the Princess. However, she found herself utterly incapable of restraining her mirth when Vander Decken's audacious marriage proposal was so mercilessly and unequivocally rejected.
"Hahaha! How utterly cute she is! Her innocence is truly captivating!"
"Yes, she is indeed cute~ Of course, someone as aesthetically displeasing and visually offensive as this so-called Vander Decken would never be her type…"
Otohime chuckled softly, a gentle, melodic sound. However, her expression swiftly morphed into one of profound melancholy as she gazed upon Decken, who harbored the twisted desire to forcibly marry such a sweet and innocent princess.
"Hahahaha! Even after being explicitly informed that he is not her type, he stubbornly persists in relentlessly pursuing her! He is truly an eyesore, a persistent nuisance!"
"Come on, Luffy, Luffy! Kick that scoundrel's butt and put an end to his torment!"
…
In the profound depths of the ocean, far from the bustling Fish-Man Island, the young Vander Decken shed bitter tears, his body wracked with sobs, as he drowned his sorrows in alcohol, lamenting his cruel misfortune while poring over the pages of the manga.
"'Not your type,' you say?! Is that truly what you mean?!"
"Enough of this utter nonsense and baseless fabrication!!!"
"Why is this happening?! Am I not handsome enough to capture your affections?!"
"Aaaah, damn you, Shirahoshi!!! I wish nothing more than to see you perish!!!"
"And that bastard Luffy! You wish to engage in combat?! Aaaah?!" His voice was a raw, guttural cry of frustration and rage.
Witnessing the subsequent scene, in which Luffy intervened to thwart his attack despite being bound by ropes, filled Vander Decken with an overwhelming and intense fury, a rage that consumed him entirely.
This accursed manga had been a source of profound annoyance and vexation for him for an extended period! Who could have ever anticipated that his counterpart would one day have the dubious honor of being a part of this manga? He had always known that he would be literally humiliated and disgraced within its pages…
"But, not in this utterly humiliating manner!! Damn you, Shirahoshi! Damn you, Straw Hat!"
_________________
Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
_________________
Chapter 930: The Small Knife is No Longer Enough to Face Zoro.
Chapter 931: Please, Wear Your Sogeking Mask Again.
Chapter 932: I want to see the future where I have my daughter, Shirahoshi.
_________________
BlackStar_BH:
Join my Patreon at:
https://www.patreon.com/BlackStar_BH
To support me and unlock advanced chapters. Get ahead with up to 30 chapters in advance:
- 5 advanced chapters for $5
- 10 advanced chapters for $10
- 15 advanced chapters for $15
- 20 advanced chapters for $20
- 30 advanced chapters for $30
_______
New! With the addition of the shop feature to Patreon, you can now purchase chapters without needing a monthly subscription! For the curious individuals who like the idea of buying just one or two chapters, you can now control the number of advanced chapters you want to read. I have ensured to set the lowest permissible price on the platform for the advanced chapters! Enjoy!
_______
Hey everyone!
I'm excited to announce that I'm now on Ko-fi. If you enjoy my content and want to support my work, you can now buy me a coffee! Every contribution helps me keep creating and sharing more with you all.
Check out my Ko-fi page here:
https://ko-fi.com/blackstar_bh
There are 30 chapters available there ahead of Webnovel.
The membership tiers on Ko-fi:
- 5 advanced chapters for $5
- 10 advanced chapters for $10
- 20 advanced chapters for $20
- 30 advanced chapters for $30