...
Marco and Namur exchanged a glance and nodded with a bitter smile:
"In that case, we shall accept graciously."
Although the original plan was to come quietly, get cured, and leave, King Neptune was someone who had helped the old man before, and personally came to greet the juniors with such grand gestures; it was truly hard to decline.
Shano also smiled: "Since His Majesty the King has extended such a warm invitation, we'd be honored to oblige."
Who would dislike free benefits?
Neptune finally smiled with satisfaction and stepped aside to clear a path: "Please follow me."
The group stepped out of the tavern, and the Fishman and Merfolk on the streets bowed, watching them leave with envious eyes.
...
Before long.
Dragon Palace City, with Neptune personally leading, a group of figures entered.
The majestic and ancient palace exuded a sense of historical vicissitudes, complemented by the dazzling schools of fish swimming by and the roof adorned with lifelike statues of the Eastern Divine Dragon.
This familiar déjà vu...
Made Shano involuntarily look up.
Hmm, no sign of the Stabilizing Needle.
But inadvertently, he noticed something rushing from afar.
At first, it was just a small black dot, but its speed made it incredibly clear in an instant—
Whoosh!
It turned out to be a massive ax, blade facing forward, piercing through the bubble protection film instantly, then plummeting down, winding through the corridors and aiming straight at a certain rear hall.
That direction is…
Shano's brow furrowed, his form flickered, and he appeared in mid-air, his right leg moving slightly, delivering a kick.
Crash!
The originally high-speed flying ax halted for an instant, then shattered into countless fragments, falling to the ground.
"..." Neptune turned around in astonishment, and realizing the remnants of the ax on the ground, his expression turned extremely grim.
"What is going on, Your Majesty?" Marco asked.
"..." Neptune was silent for a few seconds, then forced a smile: "Apologies for the embarrassment... just some minor trouble within the palace, no need to worry."
Then he bowed to Shano, "Thank you for your assistance, sir. I'm not sure which soldier made this mistake during training to cause this trouble..."
"I'll accept the thanks, but spare me the clumsy lies, King Neptune?"
Shano clapped the dust off his hands, saying with a grin, "If the truth isn't told, I don't have much connection to Fishman Island, so it doesn't matter, but these few won't leave easily, right, Marco?"
"That's right!" Marco understood and immediately followed suit.
"Indeed, if there's difficulty, just say so. What's with the cover-up!"
"With the relationship between the old man and you, do you still consider us outsiders?"
The others also voiced their dissatisfaction, determined not to leave without knowing the truth.
"This..."
Neptune hesitated for a long time, finally sighing:
"It's a long story, please come and join the feast first, so I can narrate slowly while we dine."
...
Inside the grand hall.
The banquet table was piled high with various delicacies, but Marco and the others had no heart to enjoy them. After listening to Neptune, they couldn't hold back their anger and were all excited.
"That Vander Decken began harassing Princess Shirahoshi with love letters using the Mark-Mark Fruit since she was six, and when she didn't respond, resorted to throwing weapons?"
"Forcing the poor little princess to hide in the tower all year round, such a pervert exists?"
"Your Majesty Neptune, why didn't you inform us earlier, we would've dealt with him long ago!"
"I couldn't bring myself to."
Neptune rubbed his forehead, his smile wry, "The Whitebeard Pirates have been gracious to the Dragon Palace Kingdom, yet I have nothing to repay your kindness, and troubling you with this matter is just..."
He shook his head, "Moreover, that guy isn't easy to deal with; he's been hiding deep in the sea, never appearing easily. Jinbe once volunteered to help, specifically searching for half a month near the area without finding him."
"Despicable scoundrel!"
"But, even Jinbe..."
Marco and the others exchanged troubled glances; this problem was indeed difficult to solve.
Shano tossed a grape into his mouth, reminiscing thoughtfully.
He recalled that in the original timeline, Vander Decken's ambition escalated, leading him to Fishman Island to collaborate with Hody Jones before being dealt with.
If he continued hiding in the deep sea without appearing, he'd be invincible with no way to handle him.
He might know the Deep Sea Breathing Technique, but could his sea activity capabilities compare with the Blue Fatty?
The Blue Fatty was more familiar with the seas around Fishman Island, spending a dozen days searching without finding him.
Shano didn't think he had such luck, to go out and catch him...
He glanced at Namur, who likely intended to stay a few more days to help but was scratching his head in frustration after hearing about Jinbe, unsure what to do.
"Actually, there's another way."
Shano suddenly spoke up.
"Hmm?"
At these words, everyone at the banquet turned their gaze toward him.
"If solving it from that end is difficult, then tackle it from another side."
Shano said leisurely, "Give Shirahoshi a Devil Fruit; I mean a Logia-type. This way, she'd naturally be immune to such attacks, not needing to concern herself with them anymore."
Sounds plausible!
Neptune's eyes lit up; how did he never think of that solution?
Did Vander Decken know Haki? Most likely not, even if he learned Haki, he couldn't throw weapons so far and have Haki attached!
If Shirahoshi could automatically elementalize to evade, what would she have to fear!
Though this would make Shirahoshi lose the Merfolk's prized swimming ability.
But compared to being cooped up like a prisoner in a tower, unable to contact the outside world, what does it matter?
"Thank you for the reminder, sir!!"
Neptune first thanked Shano, then looked toward Marco earnestly, "Captain Marco, I may need to rely on you for this. If you find any trace of a Logia-type fruit, please contact me immediately. I'd be willing to purchase it regardless of the cost!"
"Rest assured, we'll keep our eyes open." Marco nodded, "It's just that Logia-type Devil Fruits are indeed rare and may take some time..."
"No need to bother with that."
Shano's voice came again, drawing everyone's attention.
"I have a Logia-type fruit right here."
He said with a smile, pulling out a bag and giving it a shake.
Three Devil Fruits rolled out, stopping on the table; first, the Sand-Sand Fruit, followed by...
Followed by...
Followed by?!
Teach's initially curious expression froze instantly on his face.
Thud.
His lips quivered slightly, staring dumbfounded at the Devil Fruit, obsessively focused, in this desolate silence, everything else lost color, only the swirling purple fruit grew increasingly vivid in his sight, magnified, magnified, more, and more...
Thud, thud.
Is it really?
Seems like it, should be, no mistake, right?
Comparing it to the photo he saw before, everything matches except for a slight, insignificant difference in its pattern, but what does such a minuscule difference mean?
What does it mean!!!
There are no other fruits similar to the Dark-Dark Fruit, right? Moreover, it's an old memory sure to blur a bit, isn't it?
It must be the one!
It must be!
It absolutely has to be!!!
Thud, thud, thud...
The surrounding chaos seemed to recede at this moment, and he could hear only the increasingly rapid and intense drumbeat of his own heart!
Thud, thud thud! Thud thud thud! Thud thud thud thud! Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud!!!!