Oguro let out a quiet sigh of relief, and the atmosphere around them instantly relaxed.
Good thing she didn't mean that kind of like.
Otherwise, if word got out that he'd just arrived on Fish-Man Island and immediately set his sights on the mermaid princess, where the hell would he put his face?
Oguro smiled and said, "Haha! Shirahoshi is so cute… who in the world wouldn't like her?"
"Don't worry. I'll deal with that bastard Vander Decken for you."
Shirahoshi's face immediately lit up with joy.
In that instant, it was as if countless stars bloomed in her eyes. Every curve of her soft pink lips radiated a gentle, sweet warmth, making anyone who looked at her feel completely enveloped in sweetness.
She truly deserved the title of the perfect mermaid princess. Her charm far surpassed those gaudy beauties who only had looks.
"Your Majesty Oguro, how do you plan to deal with Vander Decken?"
Since it concerned his youngest daughter, Neptune stepped forward and asked as well.
Oguro had Shirahoshi go enjoy herself elsewhere first, then turned back to Neptune.
"It's simple. Announce publicly that Shirahoshi will be leaving the palace. Vander Decken won't be able to hold himself back."
"When that happens, we eliminate the root of the problem."
Vander Decken himself wasn't hard to deal with. The real trouble was that he'd been hiding all this time and couldn't be found.
"Will that really work?" Neptune still felt a bit uncertain.
Oguro shook his head. "Vander Decken's goal is to make Shirahoshi his. As long as there's a chance, he'll show up."
"The flying-axe attacks are mostly just him venting his frustration."
"If you're still worried, you can even release news that you're choosing a husband for Shirahoshi. If he doesn't show up, it means he's given up… but he definitely won't be able to endure that."
In the original timeline, Vander Decken's possessiveness and jealousy toward Shirahoshi were extreme. He would never allow anyone else to become her husband.
He would absolutely take the bait.
Neptune nodded, but a conflicted look soon appeared on his face, as if he wanted to say something yet didn't know how.
Oguro spoke up directly. "What is it? Is there another concern?"
Neptune gave an awkward smile. "I'm just… a little confused. Why does Vander Decken want to possess Shirahoshi so badly?"
"The last time he saw her was years ago."
Oguro glanced at him.
This old fox… was he testing him?
Did Neptune really not know why Vander Decken wanted Shirahoshi?
Back when Shirahoshi summoned the Sea Kings, Neptune had seen it with his own eyes.
Oguro didn't bother with riddles and said bluntly, "Vander Decken has his eyes on Shirahoshi's ability. Of course he wouldn't let go."
Neptune's hands trembled slightly.
So Oguro knew as well… Shirahoshi's identity as Poseidon.
In that moment, countless thoughts flashed through Neptune's mind. He even considered whether Oguro might also want to use Shirahoshi to achieve his own ambitions.
"I'm not as twisted as those people," Oguro said calmly, seeing through his thoughts at once. "With me, Shirahoshi is a person first."
"I won't force her to do anything. She just needs to grow up happily."
Oguro truly didn't want Shirahoshi to fall into someone else's hands and become a future risk.
But he would never treat her as a tool either.
He was the Soul King, and a cheat at that. If he still needed to rely on a little girl to dominate the seas, then what kind of grand ambition was that?
He might as well go home and raise pigs.
Neptune laughed awkwardly. "You're right… I was judging a gentleman by my own narrow mind."
That was what he said out loud. What he really thought, no one could know.
Oguro didn't mind.
It was only natural for a father to be overly cautious about his daughter.
As long as Neptune didn't stir up a rebellion across Fish-Man Island, everything was fine.
"Once Vander Decken is dealt with, we can set aside some land in Water 7 for Fish-Man Island," Oguro said casually. "We can even open a mermaid theme park while we're at it."
He was already envisioning Fish-Man Island returning to the surface world.
With interdimensional gates, travel between the two places would be effortless.
And in emergencies, there was still Blueno, the user of the Door-Door Fruit, as backup. It was solid and reliable.
Ignoring Neptune, who had fallen into deep contemplation, Oguro turned his attention back to the mermaid song-and-dance performance.
A mermaid with long, black, wavy hair swam toward Oguro and performed a solo dance for the palace's distinguished guest.
Oguro recognized her instantly. She was Ikaros Much's subordinate Ishalily—no, Ishilly—the mermaid who, in the original timeline, made Sanji spray blood so violently he nearly died from blood loss.
Up close, she was indeed stunningly beautiful.
It was no surprise that a pervert like Sanji couldn't withstand that kind of temptation.
The banquet continued until late into the night. Oguro and the others were then arranged into the most luxurious guest rooms in the palace.
The next day, Neptune couldn't wait to begin preparations for the trap targeting Vander Decken.
First, he announced that since Shirahoshi had not left the Shell Tower for many years, she would go pay respects to her mother, Queen Otohime, the day after tomorrow.
The two-day buffer was deliberately given so Vander Decken would have enough time to receive the news and make his way over.
Neptune even steeled himself and followed Oguro's suggestion, openly declaring that he intended to choose a husband for Shirahoshi.
He specifically emphasized that due to Vander Decken's harassment, the chosen suitor had to be strong enough to protect her.
When Oguro heard this, he could only think—damn.
This was like stabbing Vander Decken straight in the heart.
Not only choosing a husband, but openly declaring it was aimed at him.
If Vander Decken still didn't take the bait after this, the only explanation would be that he'd completely changed his obsession.
That same night, deep in the sea, within a sunken ship graveyard.
Vander Decken was passionately reciting a "love poem" he had written for Shirahoshi.
"Oh, my adorable fiancée Shirahoshi! Your enchanting eyes shine like the stars, leaving me utterly intoxicated! How I long to stay by your side every single moment!"
As he continued, his expression gradually twisted into madness.
"Shirahoshi, Shirahoshi! Why won't you respond to me?!"
"Shirahoshi! Answer my love!"
Roaring, Vander Decken grabbed a hammer from the table and hurled it away.
Guided by the power of the Mark-Mark Fruit, the hammer flew straight toward the Shell Tower where Shirahoshi lived.
In truth, Vander Decken felt no love for Shirahoshi at all.
It was nothing but a grotesque, extreme desire for possession.
At that moment, a fish-man swam over and reported, "Captain, news from our insider on Fish-Man Island."
"Princess Shirahoshi is about to leave the Shell Tower."
"And Neptune intends to choose a husband for her."
"What did you say?!"
Vander Decken seized the messenger by the throat and shook him violently.
"Shirahoshi is my fiancée! What right does that bastard Neptune have to choose a husband for her?!"
The fish-man struggled free with difficulty and hurriedly explained the details.
When Vander Decken heard that Neptune was deliberately targeting him, a vicious grin spread across his face.
"Trying to cut me off and marry Shirahoshi to someone else? Neptune, keep dreaming."
"Men! Set sail immediately!"
"I'm going to welcome my fiancée myself!"