"First you say I'll leave this world, then you say I'll die. What's going on?"
"I don't know. Last night, I had a sudden urge to check your future, but I couldn't see anything. That's never happened before. So I looked deeper… and saw you dying from eating something."
"Die from eating something?" Roy was puzzled. 'Choke to death?'
"Yes. You ate something, and then you died."
"What was it?"
"It looked like… an apple."
"An apple?"
Roy's eye twitched. Shyarly's prophecies weren't always accurate, but most of the time, they were dead-on.
'I die from eating an apple?'
'What kind of death is that?'
Then it hit him.
'An apple…'
A suspicion formed, but he couldn't be sure.
"I get it. Thanks," Roy said.
"You're welcome~ Just a few more years, and I'll be thirty~"
"Rest assured, I've never loved you."
"You heartless bastard! How can words so cold come from lips so warm? Don't you want to… explore the mysteries of mermaids?"
"Kid, I'm not interested in you." Roy flicked her on the forehead.
"Ow!" Shyarly rubbed her head, eyes watering.
"Some things can't be changed. Your appearance is a variable. What I used to see in my visions has changed since you started interfering."
"So many threads of the future are tangled now. I can't see much anymore, especially anything about you. Before, your life path was fixed, unchanging."
"Even in the next 30 years… you still looked the same. But this time, I saw you... dead. Please don't do anything reckless. You really will die."
"People die. Living is just a slow march toward death. If I can go out in a blaze of glory, what's there to regret?"
Roy smirked.
"Sometimes, I really envy Roger. He left behind a massive mess for the world."
"You know, Newgate still curses me for ruining his grand exit? He wanted a legendary death, but I changed his fate. Now he mopes around like life's lost all meaning."
"People are selfish, especially children. They never want to see their parents die. You only realize that when it's too late."
"Sometimes, kindness isn't about doing good for them, it's letting them go. So yeah, I get how Newgate feels. If I were in his shoes, I'd want to go out with a bang too." Roy chuckled.
"But your death is so lame. You die after eating an apple," Shyarly said flatly.
"Fine, fine. I'll make sure my death is spectacular. No lame exits."
"Just remember to come back and marry me."
"Keep dreaming. Never happening."
"Ugh! After all I've done for you!"
"Stop acting cute. It doesn't suit you."
"Get out of here, you stinky man!"
Roy waved goodbye and left the café, walking away with a cool, laid-back aura.
"Big bro, you went to see Shyarly again, didn't you?" Namur crept up to him with a mischievous grin.
"Here." Roy tossed him a gold coin. These days, he was still collecting a coin per day from his sign-in system.
Namur caught it, grinning ear to ear.
"Thanks, big bro. I won't tell a soul." He stashed it quickly.
"When are we setting out?"
"Everything's ready."
"Then let's go. By the way, where's he?"
"He seems to really like Fish-Man Island. Wants to stay a little longer."
"Go ask him if he's coming. If not, we're off."
"Got it!"
Soon after, Namur brought Kuzan over.
"You're really in a rush to leave? I haven't even seen everything yet," Kuzan said.
"We're just passing through, won't be staying long," Roy replied.
"Can't we stay a few more days? It's such a beautiful place. It would be nice to enjoy the scenery."
"Oh, come on. If you want to stay, stay. The World Government probably can't find you here. It's the safest place you've got."
"Probably? On second thought… let's head to the New World," Kuzan said.
"Let's go."
.....
Den, Tom's younger brother, was a master of ship-coating. Under Neptune's guidance, the group left Fish-Man Island.
At the same time, as they departed, a soldier quietly snuck into the royal prison beneath Ryugu Palace.
"You are…"
"I can get you out of here."
"Great! As long as you let me go, I agree to your earlier conditions."
"Good."
The cell was unlocked. Vander Decken IX was released.
"I'm finally free! Those fools had no idea. They never even changed my target, Shirahoshi, I'm coming!!" Vander Decken IX exclaimed excitedly.
"Move fast. The guards will be back any second."
"hehehe, thanks! I'll stick to the agreement. We'll work together."
"Betray me, and I'll make sure you die in agony."
"Understood! Looks like that damned Whitebeard Pirates crew has already left."
The two left quietly, one behind the other. After seeing Roy and company off, Neptune and his sons returned to Ryugu Palace.
"Father, brothers, does this mean I can go out freely now?" Shirahoshi asked happily.
"Of course! You can go wherever you want, just not outside Fish-Man Island," said Ryuboshi with a smile.
"That's right, that's right! Anywhere on Fish-Man Island is fine, just not outside," Manboshi clapped.
"Wherever you want to go, big bro will come with you," Fukaboshi said gently.
"Thank you, big brothers!" Shirahoshi said, wiping her tears.
"You're safe now," Neptune said kindly.
Shirahoshi swam up and hugged her father tightly on the throne.
Boom!
Suddenly, something flew in from outside. At the last second, it veered and crashed into the palace gates.
"What was that?!" Neptune exclaimed.
The guards stationed at the gate rushed in, faces pale.
The three princes dashed out and saw a giant axe embedded in the entrance, engraved with ominous writing. They immediately understood.
"Damn it… don't tell me…"
"Wasn't he locked in the dungeon?!"
Seeing the axe, the brothers knew instantly. They bolted to the prison, only to find it empty. Vander Decken IX was gone, along with all the other inmates.
"He escaped while we were away… someone must've helped him. Someone who knows this place well. It must've been an inside job," Fukaboshi said angrily.
"What now? He's still targeting little sister," Ryuboshi asked.
"Should I call Mr. Roy back? Let Namur take him down again?" Manboshi suggested.
"It won't be that easy now. Shirahoshi has to hide… until we kill that bastard." Fukaboshi growled, eyes full of fury.
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
p@treon.com/DaoistJinzu