Fish-Man Island, Port Town.
Sephiroth walked leisurely down a wide street, his hands in his pockets. His eyes scanned his surroundings. At the highest point of the island, the Whitebeard Pirates' flag fluttered, a statement that this island was under the protection of a Yonko.
The buildings on both sides of the street had strange shapes, some like conch shells, others like clams. From time to time, he saw beautiful mermaids swimming and playing in large, transparent water pipes, creating a unique and beautiful sight. Many giant, colorful corals grew along the roadside.
There were many Fish-Men and mermaids passing by, but few humans—most of them were pirates. Sephiroth felt suspicious and distrustful gazes from some of the Fish-Men. Even when he did nothing, he could feel the hostility. The discrimination and prejudice that had lasted for hundreds of years had created a deep hatred on both sides, creating a volatile relationship.
In Gyoncorde Plaza, a beautiful woman two meters tall, Princess Otohime, with long blonde hair, stood on a large wine barrel, giving a speech to the mermaids and Fish-Men. "Everyone! We will live under the sun, and the day when we and humankind understand each other will surely come!"
Behind her, a group of Neptune's soldiers protected her. But the passersby seemed indifferent. Hundreds of years of resentment could not be resolved with just a few words. Two days ago, Fisher Tiger rescued their comrades from Marijoa, and the stories of human cruelty made their hearts cold. They longed for the sun, but were afraid of the humans on the surface.
A 1.8-meter-tall Fish-Man approached Otohime with a hesitant look. "Princess Otohime, about the signature... for the emigration petition to the surface..."
"What!? You've come to sign?" Otohime was overjoyed, jumping off the barrel and handing him a form.
"No, no! I signed before. But now... can I cross my name out? I don't want to move to the surface anymore." The Fish-Man shook his head, his tone full of fear.
Otohime grabbed his hand excitedly. "Why? Don't you want to live under the sun? If not for yourself, think of the future generations!"
"But the surface is too dangerous..."
"We are only affected by discrimination and prejudice. If we are willing to work for it, the day when Fish-Men and humans live in peace will come sooner or sooner!"
Not far away, Sephiroth's eyes narrowed. He used his Observation Haki to sense the emotional changes between the two. The Fish-Man's anxiety and confusion were slowly calmed by Otohime's aura. He became convinced again of human kindness, and finally left without crossing out his name.
This "woman" is terrifying! Her talent is being wasted if she isn't in MLM, Sephiroth thought with dark humor. He knew Otohime had a special Observation Haki ability: not only could she sense emotions, but she could also transfer her own consciousness to influence the minds of others. A rare innate talent, like Conqueror's Haki.
Sephiroth could sense emotions, even lies, but he could not influence other people's consciousness like Otohime. After watching for a while, he shook his head and left. He didn't want to listen to Otohime's speech any longer, fearing that his values and ideology would be subtly influenced.
Fish-Man Island was large, but he wasn't familiar with the place. He hailed a fish taxi, stated his destination, and asked to be taken directly there.
At a house with a plaque that read "Shirley," a beautiful woman in a dark purple hooded top, Shirley, had just come out of the bathroom. Her short, wet, black hair covered her ears. She took a cigarette, took a puff, and a bubble emerged from it.
Since childhood, Shirley had the ability of prophecy. At the age of three, she predicted the birth of Princess Shirahoshi, and at four, the dawn of the Great Pirate Era. Her latest prophecy proved to be correct, causing the number of pirates on Fish-Man Island to rise drastically. Fortunately, King Neptune received help from Whitebeard to place his pirate flag on the island, which restored peace.
Shirley's ability made her famous, but it also became a burden. She often passively watched bad prophecies come true. She finally moved from Fishman Street a year ago, distancing herself from her brother Arlong, Kuroobi, and other gangsters. She opened the Mermaid Café and became its owner.
Suddenly, her left eye twitched. She felt a strange throb in her heart, a sign that a prophecy was coming. She stared into her crystal ball.
Pop!
When the image in the crystal ball appeared, a shocked expression appeared on her face. Her hand trembled, and her cigarette fell to the floor.