After docking at Ryugu Palace, Karl and his crew were led before King Neptune, the great knight of Fish-Man Island.
"Welcome to Fish-Man Island, Mr. Karl!" Neptune said, striking a knight's salute. "On behalf of all the fish-men and merfolk who were freed, I thank you. Tiger told me that without you holding off the Marine Admiral and those CP0 agents, the liberation would never have succeeded."
"No need for thanks, Your Majesty," Karl replied. "I can't stand the Celestial Dragons—or the trade in slaves."
"Hahaha! Right Minister! Prepare a banquet for our honored guests!" Neptune boomed, personally leading everyone toward the grand hall.
"Much appreciated, Your Majesty! I've been craving Fish-Man Island confections for ages," Karl grinned. The island's sweets were said to make even Big Mom drool.
"Uncle, are the desserts really that good?" Ann brightened at the mention of food.
"Oh, they're famous the world over," Karl said. "We've never had the chance till now. Today we finally feast."
"Hahaha! Then be sure to eat your fill!" Neptune laughed.
As platters of sweets, unique island meats, and shellfish piled up, a metallic clang rang out outside—something striking thick iron.
Vander Decken, that mangy creep.
"Your Majesty Neptune, did something happen?" Karl asked.
"Alas… that would be the quarters where my youngest resides…" Neptune sighed, then quickly explained Vander Decken IX and his throwing-curse.
"In that case, let us check on Princess Shirahoshi first," Karl said. "We can deal with this troublemaker, then resume the banquet."
"That would be a great help, Mr. Karl!" Neptune said, visibly heartened—he knew how capable Karl was.
They arrived at a palace wrapped in sheets of heavy iron.
Karl examined a dented panel, then let his Observation Haki sweep down the trajectory of the incoming weapon. "Jerry—there, not far from Noah. Full speed. Find him, keep him away from Noah, and bring him back."
He didn't want that lunatic anywhere near the ark.
"On it, Captain!" Jerry darted off.
"Mr. Karl, will Jerry be all right?" Neptune asked, worried. He knew Jerry's old level, not the strength the shipwright now possessed.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Jerry's got this."
Sure enough, half an hour later Jerry dragged back a thoroughly battered Vander Decken—unconscious and ugly as sin.
"Wake him up."
Aderian stepped forward and put a bullet through the man's foot. The pain ripped him back to awareness.
"N-Neptune! I advise you to let me go! Or someone won't let you off!" Decken blustered, panic briefly flashing before he remembered his "ally."
"As if I would release you! Speak—who else are you working with? If you don't, I'll show you punishments you can't imagine!"
Neptune was livid. This piece of scum had forced his daughter to live in an iron can for years.
"Your Majesty, allow me," Ellie said. She produced a small pill. A guard forced it between Decken's teeth. Soon his eyes went glassy.
"You can question him now," Ellie said. "He'll tell you everything."
Under Neptune's cold interrogation, Decken confessed it all—his collaborator, and even the truth behind Queen Otohime's death.
Neptune shook with anger. His queen had been murdered—by Hody Jones.
But Fish-Man District was a thorny den the royal army rarely controlled. And with Jinbe away from the island, resolution would be tricky.
"Your Majesty, let's bring Princess Shirahoshi out," Karl said. "With Vander Decken in custody, she's no longer in danger."
"Right, right—guards! Open the doors!" The iron-clad hall groaned open.
From the shadowed interior, a gigantic mermaid girl emerged.
"Wow! Princess Shirahoshi is huge! And so pretty!" Ann squealed.
"Father!" Shirahoshi called softly, tear tracks still glistening on her cheeks.
"It's all right now, Shirahoshi. Vander Decken has been captured. You can live outside again."
"R-really, Father?"
"Truly. Look—there he is, chained and unconscious. You're safe now."
"Uuuu—!" One glance at the ghastly half-fish sent her into fresh sobs.
"Guards! Take that wretch away!" Neptune barked, seeing his daughter frightened.
"There, there, don't cry. We still have guests! This is Mr. Karl. He and his friends captured Vander Decken—come say hello."
"H-hello…" Shirahoshi whispered, inching closer.
Karl scratched his cheek. So this fragile girl was one of the three Ancient Weapons—Poseidon. Hard to imagine her mustering the will one day to stand against Uranus.
"Princess Shirahoshi, hi! You can come out now," Ann said brightly. "If any bad men appear, my uncle will catch them all!"
"I'm Ann. You're so beautiful! I've never seen a mermaid this lovely!"
"R-really?" Shirahoshi flushed. "Ann, you're very pretty too."
"Let them talk," Karl told Neptune, smiling. "Children befriend children fast."
"As for Hody and his men—we'll handle them."
"Mr. Karl," Neptune said, frowning, "Hody Jones has quite the pull in Fish-Man District. With Jinbe away, a misstep could stir a rebellion."
"Relax, Your Majesty. We'll quietly remove Hody and his officers. Station your troops to encircle the area. Without their leaders, the rabble won't move."
"Very well. I'll leave it to you!"
"Let's go. Enel—this one's yours. Locate the cadres, zap them, and bring them in. No noise."
"Ye-ha-ha-ha! A fight at last?"
"No fighting. Just lights-out and drag them back."
"Tch. This god understands." Enel vanished in a flash.
He returned soon after, dropping Hody and the cadres at Neptune's feet—all rolling whites and trailing smoke.
"You didn't spook anyone?"
"A trifle like this? Please."
"Good. Your Majesty, you can proceed. When Jinbe returns, Fish-Man District will be in hand."
"My deepest thanks, Mr. Karl! Come, let's resume the banquet! Right Minister! Bring out my finest vintage—I will treat Mr. Karl properly! And summon the three princes and Princess Shirahoshi!"
The feast roared back to life. Laughter filled the hall.
"Mr. Karl, this is my treasured wine. I rarely partake! Come—cheers!"
"Cheers!!" ×N
"Splendid," Bunsen smacked his lips. "How many years?"
"Hahaha! Mr. Bunsen has a keen tongue—twenty years I've kept this," Neptune said proudly.
"A rare vintage indeed."
"Your Majesty," Karine chimed in, "your desserts—do they use ingredients unique to Fish-Man Island?"
Food was always Karine's focus. She'd sampled a bite earlier and found flavors no surface ingredient could replicate.
"They do, Miss Karine," the Right Minister said—this was his domain. "Island specialties you cannot find above."
"Could you sell me some?" Karine's eyes gleamed.
"No problem at all. Right Minister, see that Miss Karine is supplied."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
…
"Shirahoshi, how did you grow so big?" Ann asked. The princess held Ann on her palm, otherwise she had to keep bending down to speak.
"I don't know… I've grown very fast since birth, and now I'm like this."
The two whispered away; in no time they'd forged a sturdy friendship.
The banquet went long. Near the end, a tipsy Neptune nearly dragged Karl into sworn brotherhood, and Karl—dizzy himself—might have agreed if the Right Minister hadn't gently intervened.
One by one they retired to rest.
"Mmm—Ellie, gimme a kiss," Karl murmured later as Ellie undressed him to wash up.
"Not yet, Karl—let me wipe your face first." She was flushed too; they'd both drunk plenty.
Clothes vanished, and the night filled with honeyed music.
Morning found Ellie curled against Karl's chest. Heat pooled low in him again. Her figure was perfection, no less than Hancock's.
"Mmh~ Karl, five more minutes…" she mumbled.
That little whine ended any restraint. The "morning workout" began anew.
…
"My waist feels… odd. Do I need goji berries already? Nah—just my imagination," Karl groaned, sprawling on a palace balcony to watch the island awaken. The ladies had gone out shopping—including Ellie.
"Hahaha! Mr. Karl's vigor knows no bounds," Neptune boomed, strolling up.
"Haha, can't complain," Karl coughed. "By the way, Your Majesty—what will you do with Hody Jones and his crew?"
He was pretty sure Neptune was teasing him, so he changed the subject fast.
"It's decided," Neptune said, eyes hard. "When Jinbe returns, we'll hold a public trial for Hody and his cadre—then execute them." Even speaking the name set his teeth on edge.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/FicHaven786