Under Brook's questioning, the mermaid Ariel thought carefully. Now that he mentioned it… there had been a four-legged, greasy-looking creep who kept staring at her with obsession in his eyes—like he'd spotted a walking treasure chest. At the time, she thought he was just an overly enthusiastic fan. But then the pervert had publicly proposed to her—right there on the spot—before getting promptly tossed out by the palace guards.
Soon after, a series of strange attacks began. Now that she looked back on it, the guy did glare at her with venom in his eyes as he was dragged away.
"So it was him! Ugh! I can't believe I shook hands with that sleazeball! Next time I see him, I'm punching him straight in the jaw!"
Ariel pouted furiously, her cheeks puffed up as she clenched her fists and threw a few practice jabs at the air. Her dainty arms didn't pack much power, but the fire in her eyes said she meant every word.
Just then—whiiizz!—another axe came hurtling toward her from outside.
"KYAA!"
She yelped and leapt into Brook's arms in sheer panic, latching onto his neck and clinging to him like a terrified koala.
Tsk~
Before Brook could react, Kaido shot into the air like a cannonball and shattered the incoming axe with a single swing of his kanabo. Splinters rained down like confetti.
"This level of attack is just pathetic," Kaido muttered, landing with a dull thud that cracked the stone beneath his feet.
Ariel slid off Brook with a blush, trying to recover her dignity.
"Hmph! Brother Brook, when are we catching that bastard? I swear I'll turn him into fish paste!"
Brook chuckled as they stepped into the Ryugu Palace's grand reception hall, escorted by King Mars. Kaido remained stationed at the palace gates, keeping an eye out for any more aerial threats.
"Relax," Brook said with a calm smile. "Redfield and Tom are already hunting him down. He won't get far."
King Mars bowed respectfully.
"Lord Brook, we've located the Poneglyph you requested. I was planning to transport it during the next visit from the Underworld Caravan… but if it's convenient now, you may take it with you."
Brook's eyes sparkled with interest.
"Excellent. And what about the rewards? Don't lie—I don't care much for Berries, but if there are any potential talents on this island, I'll gladly take them aboard and train them."
Though he wasn't obsessed with ancient texts, Brook had developed a habit of collecting Poneglyphs. Each one was unique—like a rare instrument in an eternal symphony.
"Of course, everything has been arranged," King Mars said quickly. "The tribute has been prepared—especially the Mermaid Wine that Lord Redfield requested and the special coral cakes for Madam Linlin."
Brook nodded, satisfied. With the Hell Pirates as their backers, Fishman Island would enjoy a rare window of peace—at least until Brook's inevitable clash with fate.
Outside the gates, Kaido looked up at the towering palace, waiting boredly for another chance to intercept a flying weapon. But after knocking down a few, the attacks had stopped. Maybe Redfield and the others had already taken care of it?
He glanced up at the ornate dragon statue above the palace.
Someday… I'll be the one soaring through the skies in dragon form. And when that day comes, I'll carry Brother Brook through the heavens himself.
His eyes burned with ambition.
He wasn't just guarding a palace—he was preparing for war. Two pirate crews, the Diger Pirates and the Rocks, still stood in their path. Once they were eliminated, the Hell Pirates would stand alone as sovereign rulers of the New World.
Suddenly, Kaido caught sight of familiar figures in the distance—Redfield and the others, returning from the hunt. They carried a blackened, charred fishman, his fins still smoking from a powerful electric strike.
"Oi! Brother Redfield, that was fast!" Kaido grinned.
The hulking warrior was still impressed by the might of the senior officers. Redfield and Charlotte Linlin especially had shown no mercy when they'd trained him—Redfield with his precise swordsmanship and Linlin with her monstrous strength. He remembered getting zapped into unconsciousness more than once.
Whitebeard Newgate had been different—more of a mentor. He'd taught Kaido the fundamentals of Armament and Observation Haki with patient guidance. Much of Kaido's mastery came from those painful, unforgettable lessons.
"Haha~ of course it was fast," Redfield smirked, hoisting the unconscious fishman over his shoulder like a sack of seaweed. "The fool was hiding just outside the island. Thought he could escape us."
Fisher Tiger puffed out his chest. "I helped too, y'know. My directions were flawless!"
"You yelled 'go left' and then pointed right," Tom muttered, shaking his head.
"Details, details," Tiger huffed.
Redfield's expression darkened slightly as he led the group back into the palace.
"This fishman's name is Vander Decken VII," he said grimly. "And he's not just a stalker. He believes Ariel might be the reincarnation of Poseidon—the legendary mermaid princess who can control Sea Kings."
Even for someone like Redfield, who had seen the world's depths and horrors, that possibility made him pause.
He didn't believe it—but he couldn't ignore it either. Ariel did have a strange aura… perhaps a sliver of natural Observation Haki, even if she didn't realize it.
Still, she was far too timid to be Poseidon… right?
In any case, Brook had to know. Redfield would leave the final judgment to his captain's wisdom.
Inside the grand hall, Ariel was finally eating properly for the first time in days. The stress, fear, and sleepless nights had taken their toll—but now, with Brook and the crew beside her, food had never tasted better.
She had just finished licking coral cream off her fingers when Redfield walked in, carrying a fried fishman like he was delivering groceries.
Her eyes widened.
"That's him! Finally! I've been waiting for this moment!"
Ariel didn't care about her image anymore. She launched herself like a missile, grabbing the nearest weapon—which turned out to be a decorative black Seastone baton tossed over by Brook's parrot, Uju.
Without hesitation, she began smacking Vander Decken with full mermaid fury.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
"Serves you right, you slimy perv! You scared me half to death!"
Tom and Tiger stepped aside, watching the beatdown unfold with mildly concerned expressions. Redfield raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
Brook, meanwhile, was on the verge of stepping in. "Ariel, maybe don't kill him—we still need that Devil Fruit…"
But Ariel had already rolled up her sleeves and resumed her righteous fury. Even Prince Neptune flinched at the brutality.
"Alright, alright, enough," Brook finally said, walking over with a chuckle. "Save your strength. We're taking this guy back with us. You stay safe here on Fishman Island, alright? And if anything happens—anything—you let us know immediately."
Ariel pouted, seastone baton still in hand.
"You're leaving again? But you just got here! We haven't even had tea!"
Brook smiled gently. "The seas don't wait, Ariel. But we'll be back. Promise."
She sighed, watching as they prepared to depart.
That creepy fishman had brought nothing but trouble… but at least he also brought Brook back to her. In a strange way, she almost felt thankful.
Almost.
With a final glare at the unconscious Vander Decken, Ariel gave him one last smack—just for good measure.
-----------------------
As Brook and the others prepared to depart once more, Ariel's earlier excitement about punching people vanished instantly. Her gaze lingered on the golden ship, her heart full of longing—she desperately wanted to go with the captain and the crew!
But I'm still such a rookie… she sighed inwardly. For now, all I can do is stay on Fishman Island and continue training my special Observation Haki. Maybe one day, when I reach the level of a national leader, I can truly be of help to Brother Brook!
Despite her youthful energy, Ariel wasn't delusional—she was remarkably grounded for her age. Life on Fishman Island hadn't been kind. From a young age, she'd been harassed by pirates and slave-hunters. Whether fishmen or mermaids, everyone there grew up fast. Ariel herself had been kidnapped and sold more than once, forcing her to mature far too early.
Now, she stood beside Brook as they watched the Sea King's army carefully transport historical poneglyphs and lavish tributes aboard the golden ship. Among the cargo were over a dozen young mermaid and fishman boys and girls—boarding this dream vessel with eyes full of hope.
This was the start of something new.
They would see the sun—the real sun—bask in the sky above the sea, and live freely in the territory ruled by the Hell Pirates! All they had to do was train hard, grow strong, and earn their place in the crew. One day, they would return home like legends, just like Uncle Tom, and walk Fishman Island with pride!
Before departing, Brook handed Ariel a silver Den Den Mushi—an emergency one, preset for single-button contact.
"In case of danger, just press this. It'll reach us instantly," Brook said warmly.
"For regular reports, just use the anti-wiretap Den Den Mushi like usual," he added with a gentle nod.
Ariel clutched the gift tightly, her eyes gleaming.
As the coated golden ship lifted off once more, it carried not only the young recruits but also Ariel's hopes and dreams. She stood on the dock, waving goodbye with reluctant tears shining in her eyes.
"Phew~! Time to start my revolution speech tour!" Ariel suddenly declared, eyes blazing with purpose. "This time, I'll begin at the Royal Beer Hall!"
She posed dramatically. "Should I open with 'One fishman slave sells for 1 million berries!' Or go classic with 'I have a dream!' Or maybe just hit them with 'Down with the disgusting Celestial Dragons!'?"
Fueled by righteous anger and the ideals of the Hell Pirates, Ariel had so many things she wanted to say—so many truths to shout into the world. The hypocrisy of the Celestial Dragons, the injustice, the oppression—it all boiled within her, ready to explode in a fiery speech.
---
Meanwhile, the golden ship burst out of the sea, rose high into the clouds, and soared toward its rendezvous point. Not long after, it successfully reunited with Golden Lion Shiki and the others. The vessel landed smoothly on Melvi-Secret Island.
Inside the captain's office…
"Brother Brook," Redfield said seriously, "do you think… it's possible Ariel is Poseidon, the Sea King?"
He had just shared everything he learned from Vander Decken VII's memories—and the possibility of Ariel being Poseidon would massively tip the scales in their fight against the Celestial Dragons.
Brook shook his head. "No, Redfield. Ariel's not Poseidon, the Sea King. But…"
He leaned back in his chair.
"Poseidon will be born—in about thirty years. Possibly from King Neptune's line… or even Ariel's."
Brook wasn't entirely sure how Poseidon would manifest now that history had been altered. But Madame Shyarly's prophecy was precise, and the poneglyphs also predicted that the mermaid princess who commands Sea Kings would be born on Fishman Island.
Even the original Vander Decken hadn't known where he got the information—but the identity of Poseidon was clear: a mermaid princess with the power to summon the Sea Kings themselves.
"Thirty years?" Redfield blinked. "Wait… if she's born that far in the future, that would make Ariel… her ancestor?"
His gaze slid sideways to Brook.
"Could you be the grandfather of Poseidon? Or maybe… great-grandfather? Heh!"
"Oi! Don't give me that look!" Brook snapped. "I see Ariel like my daughter, you hear me?! Take that filthy thought out of your twisted brain!"
Brook's fury flared instantly. Redfield—normally stoic and reserved—had dared give him a sleazy smirk. As if he were the kind of man who'd even look at a child that way?
"Brother Brook, come on… Stussy and Lingling are only eighteen or nineteen. And Ariel's almost seventeen now. That's practically—"
Before Redfield could finish, Brook's boot launched him clean out of the office window.
Crash!!
Crew members outside gawked in horror, jaws dropping. Did… did the Captain and the Red Earl just have a serious fight?
Charlotte Linlin, Shakky, and Stussy all frowned sharply. If Redfield had upset Brook, they were more than ready to make him pay.
"Ahaha~ don't worry, it's fine! Just a little misunderstanding!" Redfield suddenly reappeared in a flash of lightning, already patching up the broken window with practiced ease. "Brother Brook was just, ah, trying out a new kick move. All good!"
But his icy, elegant image had taken a massive hit.
"Hmph," Stussy muttered, folding her arms. "What did you say to make our sweet Brother Brook so angry, huh?"
"To think even the gentle Brother Brook would lose his temper…" Linlin's brows twitched. "Redfield must've really crossed the line. Maybe we should punish him."
"Yes! Let's make him drink all the Mermaid-brand red wine himself!" Stussy declared.
"Or dump it on his head!" Linlin added, fired up.
"Tch. Amateurs." Shakky exhaled a puff of smoke. "If you really wanna make him pay, we stain his precious noble suits, toss 'em in the toilet, cut off his funds, hide dead rats in his bed, feed him nothing but laxatives…"
Her ideas quickly escalated into cartoonish, chaotic horror.
Redfield—listening from inside the office with top-tier Observation Haki—turned pale as snow. Dear Sea Kings… these women are terrifying.
"Brook, please! You have to clarify things before they kill me!" Redfield whispered urgently. "If they think I made you mad, I'm finished! Not the wine… or the suits!"
Brook chuckled.
"I heard all of that, Redfield. Don't worry—I'll protect your precious wardrobe and wine collection."
It felt good to have women who'd go nuclear on your behalf. Very good, in fact.
With a sigh, Brook flung open the office door just as Shakky's next idea involved hiding itching powder in Redfield's underwear drawer.
"Oi! Enough!" Brook barked. "Redfield and I were just testing some new moves. No drama, no conflict. Now scatter!"
He practically chased them out like a grumpy older brother, putting an end to the gossip-fueled chaos that threatened to burn down the ship from the inside out.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Check my Pâtreon for (40) advanced chapters
Pâtreon .com/Fanficlord03
Change (â) to (a)
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9