Fish-Man Island, Mermaid Cove.
The water shimmered with a glass-like luster as sunlight pierced through the bubble dome, casting a scattering of golden flecks across the sea's surface. In the distance, coral clusters bloomed in vibrant hues, swaying like countless underwater flowers. Tropical fish darted through the water, their scales glinting, while translucent jellyfish drifted lazily, their trailing tentacles resembling flowing crystal.
The warm, cream-colored sand of the shallows cradled the playful mermaids. A pink-tailed mermaid reached for the dangling sea grapes, her caudal fin stirring gentle ripples. A blue-haired mermaid splashed water at her companions, droplets bursting into starlight under the sun.
Some wore seaweed shawls, others adorned with shell necklaces, their laughter ringing like silver bells across the waves. Their fish tails gleamed with mother-of-pearl iridescence, and their long hair fanned out like floating seaweed.
Bahr stood atop a rocky outcrop at the cove's edge, momentarily stunned by the living tableau before him.
Earlier, he had followed Melo here without issue, guided by her directions. He had seen similar scenes in paintings, but witnessing it firsthand made him realize those depictions barely scratched the surface—the real Mermaid Cove was far more breathtaking than he had imagined.
It was like something out of a fairy tale!
"Tch…" Bahr chuckled under his breath, stroking his chin in admiration. "She wasn't lying. This place really is a man's paradise."
Even someone as worldly as him was dazzled by such untainted beauty. No wonder so many flocked to Fish-Man Island—just this cove alone was enough to make anyone forget their troubles.
As soon as Melo led Bahr to the shallows, the mermaids, like startled fish, swarmed around him, their curious gazes fixed on the rare sight of a lone human man in Mermaid Cove.
"Melo, who's this?" Kailen was the first to speak, her wavy green hair swaying with her movements. The shell ornaments on her hairpin glimmered, and the two necklaces around her neck clinked softly.
Her flounder tail slapped against the sandy bottom, kicking up tiny grains, while the bells around her neck jingled incessantly. Her amber eyes sparkled with excitement.
Melo quickly flashed a bright smile, her pale pink caudal fin flicking gently. "This is Mr. Bahr, a friend of Boss Jimbei!"
"Boss Jimbei's friend?" Kailen's eyes lit up, and the other mermaids' expressions instantly warmed.
Melo giggled before adding, "Earlier, I was almost captured by pirates, but Mr. Bahr chased them off and saved me!"
"Ah, it was nothing," Bahr waved a hand dismissively, his tone light. "Faced with such beautiful mermaids, how could I just stand by?"
The mermaids burst into laughter at his words, their tails splashing the water and sending up sprays of silver droplets.
Serra swam closer, her wine-red hair damp against her shoulders. The metal rings on her ear cuffs gleamed, giving her a stylish edge.
She eyed Bahr up and down, a playful smirk curling her lips. "Chased off pirates, huh? How wild. I like that."
Yixili slowly swam over as well. Among the Fishmen, her figure was particularly striking. Her lower half was a rockfish tail, its black-and-white scales glistening under the sunlight with a glaze-like sheen. With each flick of her caudal fin, she carved graceful arcs across the water's surface.
Her jet-black hair fanned out in the water, adorned with a few pink sea flowers that trembled lightly with her movements, exuding even more liveliness than real petals.
When she tilted her face up, a scattering of light brown freckles became visible across her cheeks. Her eyes were astonishingly bright, and when she smiled, the corners of her eyes lifted slightly, radiating an unrestrained vivacity. Those freckles only added to her playful charm.
"Thank you for saving Melo, Mr. Bahr," she said, swimming a couple of steps closer. Her tail traced a half-circle in the shallow water, sending up a splash that landed right at Bahr's feet. "We rarely get human visitors here, so my sisters are burning with curiosity. Hope you don't mind."
Kailen could hardly contain herself any longer. She reached out to tug at Bahr's arm, her caudal fin slapping the sandy bottom even more excitedly. "Since you're Melo's savior, come play in the water with us! We'll show you the coral reefs—there are glowing fish inside that look like scattered stars at night!"
Bahr looked at Kailen's outstretched hand and chuckled, waving her off. "I don't mind playing in the water, but I'm a Devil Fruit Ability User. I can't handle deep water."
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Right now, he truly wished he weren't an ability user—otherwise, he could frolic freely in the water with these beautiful Fishman ladies, enjoying the real "harmony between fish and water."
"No problem!" Kailen blinked and immediately flicked her tail, sending up a small wave with her caudal fin. "I'll swim with you! My tail's super strong—I promise I'll hold you steady!"
"If you're afraid of the water, I can carry you too," Serra chimed in, her shark tail leaving a shallow groove in the sand as she shook droplets from her wine-red hair.
"Carry…?" Bahr's heart skipped a beat, and the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably. "Isn't that… a bit inappropriate? I'd feel bad."
Before he could finish, a figure suddenly closed in. Yixili had somehow swum right in front of him, her dazzlingly bright eyes glinting with mischief. Without giving Bahr time to react, she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"What's there to feel bad about?" Her voice was laced with laughter, her warm breath brushing against Bahr's ear. "Come play with us!"
No sooner had she spoken than Yixili pulled him into the water with her.
Bahr felt his body go weightless as he was instantly enveloped in a soft embrace—like being wrapped in fluffy cotton candy, infused with the crispness of seawater and an indescribable floral scent that rushed straight from his nose to his heart.
He could have broken free in an instant, but he wisely chose not to resist. Only a fool would fight back at a time like this.
Splash!
Amid the spray, Yixili was already floating on her back, holding Bahr securely against her. He could clearly feel the rise and fall of her breathing.
Sunlight filtered through the water, casting dappled light across Yixili's freckled cheeks. Her obsidian-like eyes sparkled as she gazed at Bahr with a playful smile.
"So? Comfy?"
Bahr savored the softness beneath him, the floral fragrance mingling with the crisp sea air filling his nose. He couldn't help but take a deep breath. "Definitely comfy. Even better than lying in a hammock on a ship."
The intimate softness, this unreserved passion, was enough to melt one's rationality in the water.
Yixili giggled at his movements, her caudal fin giving a gentle flick that sent them drifting sideways. "Of course," she said, "We mermaids always entertain our guests with the utmost sincerity."
She suddenly leaned closer, her lake-green eyes sparkling with mischief. "Especially guests like you—both formidable and eloquent. Such treatment isn't for just anyone."
Bahr looked at her smiling face so close to his, the freckles appearing and disappearing in the shifting light, more vivid than any fine makeup could be. He reached out and poked one of the freckles on her cheek. "Then I'll have to savor this privilege properly."
"By all means, enjoy it," Yixili laughed, tilting her head back. "If you like, you could stay longer on Fish-Man Island. Kailen's grilled fish, Serra's Seaweed Wine, and my Pearl Jelly—I guarantee you won't want to leave."
"Yixili! You cheat!" Melo's voice suddenly rang out from the shore, her pink-white tail slapping the water indignantly. "I was the one who brought Mr. Bahr here first!"
"Yeah! We agreed I'd be the one to carry him!" Kailen chimed in, her flatfish tail flapping anxiously in the shallows, the bells on it jingling like a protest.
Serra floated nearby with her arms crossed, her shark tail disdainfully sweeping a wave. "Taking shortcuts—what kind of skill is that?"
Yixili only laughed harder, deliberately carrying Bahr further into the deep, her caudal fin tracing graceful arcs in the water. "Finders keepers!"
Bahr chuckled at their squabble, letting Yixili drift with him in the water.
The warm sunlight spilled over his body, the crisp laughter of the mermaid girls ringing in his ears, the alluring scent—a mix of fresh seaweed and an unknown floral fragrance—lingering at the tip of his nose.
He finally understood completely why everyone said Mermaid Cove was a man's paradise. The mermaids' openness and passion far surpassed the rumors; their unguarded liveliness and candor relaxed him to the bone.
The only drawback was their vastly different physiques—especially their tailless fish tails—which left him feeling somewhat restrained.
But then again, the mermaid girls weren't without mouths. Couldn't they talk things out properly? Such lively, spirited scenes were meant to be enjoyed without unnecessary reservations.
All in all, this trip to Fish-Man Island was absolutely the right decision.
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