"Princess Shirahoshi, you are mine now." Decken raised his mallet. Shirahoshi sensed something amiss and slowly began to turn her head, when suddenly a loud thud rang out. The next thing she saw was Rosen driving Decken's head into the ground with a single stomp.
"I wondered who it might be. Turns out it was just this eyesore." Compared to Hody, Decken was not as pathological, but he was far from normal either. Ever since touching Shirahoshi in his childhood, he had never washed that one hand.
After his advances were rejected, he had hurled weapons daily at Shirahoshi, who was forced to hide within the Hard-Shell Tower. As a result, Princess Shirahoshi had been unable to leave her sanctuary for years. Only by living inside the Hard-Shell Tower could she ensure her safety.
After all, a user of the Mark-Mark Fruit was indeed troublesome. No matter the time or place, once Decken had touched someone, anything he threw would automatically home in on that marked individual.
Even someone of great strength could not claim to remain vigilant twenty-four hours a day, every single moment. Aside from hiding within a fully defensive tower, there was no better solution.
"Van der Decken!" Upon seeing the man pinned beneath Rosen's foot, Shirahoshi screamed in terror. Her entire being trembled with fear, and tears threatened to burst forth at any moment. It was simply too frightening.
"Shirahoshi?" Rosen was also surprised. Shirahoshi was awake, but what was she doing here?
"I had wondered where you'd run off to when I killed that madman. Logically, you two were allies. But no matter... Running into me is simply your misfortune." As he spoke, Rosen delivered a heavy kick, crippling Decken's ability to move. He then prepared to fire a sand bullet through Decken's skull.
"Don't... don't kill me... I, I..." Decken struggled to speak, his face a mask of terror. How had he been discovered from so far away? Damn it! He did not want to die a meaningless death like that fool Hody.
"Never mind. I'll leave him to the king." Rosen had initially intended to kill him, but with Shirahoshi present, it seemed best to avoid excessively bloody scenes. She was still young, after all.
And surely King Neptune would not deal leniently with the culprit who had tormented his daughter for all these years.
"H... hello, Lord Crocodile." Shirahoshi kept her head lowered, her voice barely a whisper. Her fingers intertwined nervously, radiating a profound lack of confidence and deep unease.
"Robin, take this fellow to the king. If he becomes a nuisance along the way, deal with him directly," Rosen said to Robin, who was approaching from a distance.
"Ara, Princess Shirahoshi." Robin paused briefly, equally surprised.
"I'm going to take a walk with Princess Shirahoshi." Although Rosen had a general idea of what kind of person Shirahoshi was, he still wished to ascertain her stance on certain matters.
"Very well. I shall inform the king," Robin nodded.
Just how much did fourteen-year-old Shirahoshi truly understand? Rosen felt uncertain on this point. However, considering she had kept the secret of her mother's killer since the time of her mother's death, Shirahoshi likely possessed her own thoughts on things.
It was simply that years of minimal contact with others had left her with a childlike disposition, prone to crying easily. This stemmed mainly from a fear of interacting with people, which filled her with anxiety, combined with an excessively kind and gentle nature.
"Does Lord Crocodile have something to say to me?" Princess Shirahoshi gazed at Rosen with large, shimmering eyes full of pure innocence.
"Since you know my name, you must also understand that I am not your enemy," Rosen offered a faint smile.
"Mm, mm. I know. You saved everyone on Fishman Island and helped drive away the pirates," Shirahoshi nodded repeatedly at this point, showing a high degree of approval toward Crocodile.
"Would you like to go outside and take a walk?" Rosen asked without ulterior motive. He simply felt sympathy and pity for a princess who was confined to a tower day after day, with almost no interaction with the outside world, having never even visited many places on Fishman Island itself.
Had such circumstances befallen anyone else, they might well have given rise to many dark thoughts. And should such thoughts ever emerge, it would truly spell disaster for Fishman Island.
A dark Poseidon would bring unimaginable calamity.
"C... can I? Is it really alright to go out for a walk like this? But Father..." Shirahoshi was deeply tempted. Simply stepping out of the Hard-Shell Tower had required mustering all her courage. She had not even dared to bring Megalo for fear of drawing too much attention. The thought of venturing beyond Ryugu Palace was even more daunting, yet she was also filled with anticipation...
"Rest assured. Wasn't that man just now the very culprit who has been attacking you all along? He has been captured now, so there is no danger. As for your father, my companion will inform him. I'm sure there will be no issue," Rosen continued.
"In that case... would it be possible to visit the Sea Forest?" Shirahoshi considered this and found it reasonable. This single request reminded Rosen of certain details. Because of Decken's harassment and attacks, Shirahoshi had been confined to the Hard-Shell Tower within Ryugu Palace, unable even to attend her own mother's funeral.
Her mother, Queen Otohime, was buried in the Sea Forest. Her wish was simply to pay her respects at her mother's grave. Such a humble desire.
Could she truly feel no hatred at all?
Putting himself in her place, Rosen thought that if he were subjected to Shirahoshi's circumstances and experiences, the day of his awakening would likely mark the world's destruction.
"You may go anywhere you wish. Let's go." Rosen ceased deliberating over ancient weapons. Before him stood merely a young girl who represented the brightest facets of humanity.
By now, the antidote had long been developed, and many had taken the detoxifying agent created by Law. Their bodies were gradually recovering. Rosen was no longer strictly required to remain in one place.
Besides, though he had been on Fishman Island for some time, he had initially gone straight to Ryugu Palace and later visited Fishman District. He had yet to properly explore the entirety of Fishman Island.
Although the island was still in the process of recovery, the damage was minimal once the poison gas was gone. After all, the pirates who dared to land and cause chaos amidst the toxic fumes were few in number.
Pitter-patter... Suddenly, Rosen heard the sound of raindrops hitting the ground. Instinctively, he looked toward Shirahoshi and, for a moment, was somewhat bewildered. "Why are you crying? No, I mean, why would you cry?"
Everything was fine. He hadn't scolded her. Why was she crying? She was Princess Shirahoshi. Granted, she was only fourteen... Well, Rosen could find no reason why she should not cry.
"I... I'm just so happy. I'm sorry, Lord Crocodile." Shirahoshi hastily wiped away her tears.
"There's no need for such formality." Rosen shook his head. She truly did resemble a child.
...
"What? Shirahoshi is missing?" King Neptune broke into a cold sweat upon hearing his subordinate's report.
Van der Decken's ability was far too troublesome. As long as he remained hidden, even mobilizing the entire national army might not guarantee finding him. Yet launching an attack on Shirahoshi was effortless for him, achievable anytime and anywhere, and the attacks would unerringly find their mark.
"Send everyone out to search for her immediately."
"That will not be necessary, King Neptune. Princess Shirahoshi is currently with our Boss. He asked me to deliver a gift, and there are also some matters he wishes to discuss with you..." Robin entered from outside, dragging the unconscious Decken in one hand.
"Van der Decken!! It's that scoundrel!" King Neptune immediately rose from his throne. How could he not be furious at the one who targeted his own daughter? Despite years of a nationwide manhunt, the culprit had evaded capture. To think he would be apprehended today. This was truly wonderful news...
Fishman Island, Marine Shopping Center, Fishman Cultural Hall. Passing through these areas would lead one to the Sea Forest.
The poison gas had passed, and the fishmen were anxiously awaiting the return of those recovering in Ryugu Palace. However, those whose homes had been spared had already resumed normal business. After all, matters at the top were beyond their control. One still had to eat and drink; life went on as usual.
"There's a takoyaki shop over there. It should be quite good." Rosen spotted familiar faces—Hachi the fishman and Camie the mermaid.
Luffy was currently training in the Sabaody Archipelago, and they occasionally went up to visit him.
But most of the time, they remained on Fishman Island.
(End of Chapter)