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"Well, I am indeed very interested in you as a mermaid," Ikki said, touching his chin. "Only..."
"It's just you are not looking for a woman because of tradition, and you don't want to be like a fishman, right?" Shyarly smiled, continuing, "Ikki, you've just said this."
"Forget it, let's talk about this topic later," Shyarly added. "Speaking of which, are we still going to practice, Ikki?"
Hearing this, Ikki shook his head. "That's it for training. I'll take you to rest. By the way, your body should be able to revert back to the mermaid state."
This was clearly written on Shyarly's personal attributes panel.
"I think it's okay," Shyarly replied. "However, I'll keep it this way for now. It's rare to be able to experience the feeling of walking down to earth."
Shyarly chuckled, stood up with her legs, and even stamped the floor with her feet curiously.
"Okay." Ikki stood up, opened the arena door, and waved to Shyarly. "Follow me, I'll take you to the bathhouse, and get to know the Marines by the way."
"I shouldn't need to tell you, but I think you understand the situation of those three people on the Explorer."
Shyarly stepped forward to follow Ikki's footsteps and muttered, "Don't worry, Ikki. I won't make any mistakes."
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"So, after all this time, you made this mermaid lady your partner?" In the pool, Hina frowned and asked Ikki.
"What's the problem?" Ikki said while standing on the shore. "I should have the right to invite my companions on this ship."
"There is no problem; after all, this is your ship. But..." Hina's eyes fell on the Hyōrinmaru that Shyarly placed on the shore after entering the red water. "This sword is probably a weapon exclusive to the members who have been on the expedition for a long time. It should also have some kind of special power."
Hina's eyes flashed with searching eyes. Not only that, Tashigi and Sadi-chan also had such a light shining in their eyes. There was a hint of envy in that light.
"It does have some special functions," Ikki replied. "As for what special function it is, you will know when Shyarly uses it. Okay, I won't participate in your ladies' party. I still have something to do."
Ikki waved his hand and quickly left the scene.
Hina smacked her mouth and looked to the side with a leisurely look on her face. "Shyarly, right? Why did you join Ikki's side?"
"I was very interested in Ikki, so I became his partner."
"Really? Didn't that man force you or threaten you?" Hina told her that that man likes women like you and me.
"Don't worry, Miss Marine. Ikki did not threaten me or force me. Just think that I came to Ikki in pursuit of power, just like you."
"But, you don't look like you are trying to get in his bed."
"Maybe I just hide it better?" Shyarly had a faint smile on her face and dealt with Hina calmly.
For a while, even if Hina wanted to get some information from Shyarly, she couldn't do it. Gradually, Hina had to give up. Instead, she showed great interest in the changes in Shyarly's tail. In this regard, Shyarly did not hide anything, and generously admitted that it was because of Ikki's power.
"Ikki, do you really want to leave here?" On the deck of the Explorer, Princess Shirahoshi was sitting cross-legged on the deck and asked Ikki sincerely.
"That's right, your matter here has been resolved, so I will naturally go to the next stop."
"But...but, we haven't thanked you properly yet."
"Didn't we already receive your gift?" Ikki chuckled lightly and glanced at the Fish-Man Island soldiers who were constantly carrying various Fish-Man Island specialties onto the deck.
"But...it's just these..." Shirahoshi pursed her lips and wanted to retain Ikki, but she couldn't think of any reason to retain Ikki.
"Ikki, why are you leaving in such a hurry?"
"We have prepared a large banquet for your Excellency."
"If you can, please come and participate." On the side, Neptune saw that Shirahoshi was speechless, and immediately stepped forward to take over the conversation.
"That's right, Ikki, why don't we choose to have a banquet." Shirahoshi's eyes flashed and he asked Ikki expectantly.
"As for the banquet, we have already attended one just now," Ikki shook his head. "This is my second time to participate in such a short period of time, so I feel like I have less expectations."
However, after seeing Shirahoshi's slightly disappointed expression, Ikki waved his hand and drew a portrait of himself and Shirahoshi very quickly, and handed it to Shirahoshi.
"Don't worry, Princess Shirahoshi."
"I also want to see a beautiful mermaid lady like you from time to time."
"So I will come to Fish-Man Island again in the future."
"This painting is given to you as a testimony of our fate of knowing each other. After I come to this island again, let me paint you," Ikki said.
"Of course, Ikki." Shirahoshi nodded heavily, took the very petite drawing paper handed over by Ikki, and held it tightly in his hand.
"Ikki, do you want to leave Fish-Man Island because you have something important to deal with?"
"If there's anything we need help with, please ask." Prince Fukaboshi came to Ikki and said with great solemnity.
Fukaboshi has great respect for Ikki who helped him. Naturally, he was more than happy to help Ikki.
"Well, there is indeed something going on." The war between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Marine Headquarters is just around the corner.
After the war ends, the pattern of the sea will become extremely chaotic. The already dangerous New World waters will become even more dangerous.
In order for himself and his partners to gain a foothold in the New World, Ikki knew that he had to make his partners stronger. For this purpose, continuing to collect famous swords is the most important choice.
Therefore, he is eager to leave Fish-Man Island and try his luck in the New World waters. If nothing else, he'll go to Wano Country while the Beasts Pirates leave Wano Country and take away the famous sword there.
He who is familiar with the plot of One Piece knows that that country has many famous swords.
Ikki was thinking, and his eyes unconsciously fell on the pirate flag of the Whitebeard Pirates hanging on a roof in the distance.
"King Neptune, do you know about the recent major events involving the Whitebeard Pirates?" Ikki looked at Neptune curiously.
"Whitebeard Pirates? You mean...that thing?!" Neptune's eyes opened slightly and his brows furrowed tightly.
As the king of a country, and as a good friend of Whitebeard, how could Neptune not know about Ace?
"Now that you know it, it's easy to explain."
"King Neptune, your country is protected by the Whitebeard Pirates, right?"
"I advise you to prepare your own countermeasures."
"What if the Whitebeard Pirates lose the next war?"
"Those flags flying the Whitebeard Pirates on this island are of no use." Hearing Ikki's words, Neptune frowned tightly. This is also what worries him.
Although he knows the power of the Whitebeard Pirates, he also hopes that his friend Whitebeard can win in the next war. But he understands that fighting the Marine Headquarters, even if it is as powerful as the Whitebeard Pirates, is very likely to lose.
Thinking of what this country might face after the Whitebeard Pirates lose, Neptune felt deeply anxious.
"How about I give you a suggestion?" Suddenly, Ikki spoke to Neptune.
"Suggestions? Ikki, do you have any good suggestions?"
"It's nothing, but if the Whitebeard Pirates' flag doesn't work in the future, why not use my Explorer's flag?"
"Use your flag?" Neptune blinked and glanced at the flag on the mast of the Explorer.
"That's right." Ikki nodded slightly. "Although I am not a pirate, and my Explorer is not very famous now."
"But my partner and I cannot remain anonymous forever. Perhaps soon, my flag will become quite well known."
"If you hang my flag, it may be of some use to your country." Hearing this, Neptune couldn't help thinking.
"Indeed, Ikki, your power is powerful."
"If you are really a pirate, you must be a powerful pirate with a bounty of hundreds of millions."
"It's just that I don't understand, Ikki, why would you want to help us?" Neptune asked.
"Well, of course there is a reason." Ikki smiled and briefly told Neptune about Shyarly joining the Explorer.
"So it turns out that Shyarly has actually become your partner?"
"That's right. That's why I want to leave something to this country. Presumably this way Shyarly can follow me to sea with peace of mind."
There are many mermaid employees in the Mermaid Cafe, and if Fish-Man Island loses its shelter, the most dangerous ones will be the beautiful mermaids.
Ikki didn't want to see his new partner being on tenterhooks every day, worrying about his employees.
"Then I thank you, Ikki." In the end, Neptune accepted the flag handed over by Ikki.
Neptune was naturally happy to have a deeper relationship with Ikki. Ikki smiled and continued talking to Neptune and others for a few words, then turned around and walked away with an excuse.
Neptune, Shirahoshi and others could only choose to leave with their own reluctance.
Wait until the supplies of the Explorer are replenished and Shyarly bids farewell to the Mermaid Cafe.
The Explorer set sail again and headed for the waters of the New World.
A few days later.
Warm sunlight spread to the sea and fell on the Explorer, which was moving quickly forward.
At this moment, inside the gym.
Kalifa, Perona, Vivi and Nami who have received the nutritional medicines donated by Ikki are undergoing their final exercises.
Ikki, on the other hand, continued to help Nojiko and others awaken the innate Demon Slayer Mark in the bathhouse.
"Hey, Ikki, when can I get the Explorer's seal engraved on it?"
"Obviously Shyarly, who joined the Explorer later, already has a partner seal." Sadi-chan Hancock walked up to Ikki, rubbed Ikki's arm with her arm, and complained.
"Please, Shyarly is my true partner, so it's natural to get the partner seal."
"But aren't Tashigi and Hina also your partners? Didn't you engrave them with the seal of partnership?"
"That's different. I just want to help them awaken the innate Demon Slayer Mark. As for you, don't worry, I will give you the seal when the time is right. Now, you'd better master the Breathing Style of Breath of Love."
Ikki pushed Sadi-chan little head away with his hand and said helplessly. A lot of conversations like this have happened in the past few days.
Even Ikki is running out of patience.
'Really, if I had known, I wouldn't have promised to train her well,' Ikki sighed in his heart. 'So, I can only give her the seal early and it will be enough for her to obtain the general level of swordsmanship.'
But the next moment there was a look of surprise on his face, and he turned to look at Hina and Tashigi who were leaning together.
"Hey! You two!" Ikki approached the two of them and frowned slightly.
"What's wrong? Did you approach Hina on purpose?"
Hina also frowned beautifully. Just when she wanted to continue talking, she suddenly felt a hot breath burning from her forehead, and it quickly spread throughout her body.
At the same time, Tashigi had a similar feeling. After a few minutes, the two of them felt that the strange feeling in their bodies disappeared.
"What...what happened to me just now?" Hina touched her forehead, her face full of doubts.
"Haha, congratulations to both of you, you have successfully opened the innate Demon Slayer Mark pattern," Ikki laughed. "This way, I don't have to waste time with you two here."
"I awakened it? It seems that my body feels much lighter," Nojiko felt her physical condition and said in surprise.
"It's true, Ikki, they have all awakened their Demon Slayer Marks."
"You should consider letting me possess your seal and awaken the power of the Demon Slayer Mark." Sadi-chan took Ikki's hand and shook it vigorously. This made Ikki feel a little ashamed.
At this moment, the system prompts suddenly sounded in Ikki's mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to Host's partner, Vivi's life force level has entered SS level, and the special reward is 'Intermediate Conqueror's Haki Awakening Potion'. ]
[Congratulations to Host's partners, Kalifa's life force level has entered S level. As a special reward, one 'Advanced Armament Haki Fragment' can be synthesized by collecting three of them to synthesize 'Advanced Armament Haki Awakening Potion'. ]
[Congratulations to Host's partner Perona for entering S level. Special reward is 'Intermediate Observation Haki Awakening Potion'. ]
[Congratulations to Host, your partner Nami's life force level has entered SS level. [Special reward 'Advanced Armament Haki Awakening Potion'. ]
[Congratulations to Host, your partner Nojiko has entered the SS level with high health level. The special reward is "Intermediate Conqueror's Haki Awakening Potion". ]