"Of course it because of you…"
Inside the Shakky Rip-Off Bar, Shakky rolled her eyes irritably after listening to Sherwin question.
"When the slave traders on the island heard that you were on your way here, they all ran off a few days ago, including some of those 'merchant who were only doing it part-time."
After rolling her eyes, Shakky still patiently explained, "Their departure meant that the auction houses on the Sabaody Archipelago have had far fewer valuable items over the past few days.
As a result, there are fewer tourists as well. On the other hand, pirates who want to head to the New World still have to come here to rest and get their ships coated."
"Tch! So that means… those bastards really have started up again, huh…"
Sherwin clicked his tongue in annoyance.
But he also knew this situation was inevitable. Even back on Earth, human trafficking had never been completely eradicated. Wanting to wipe out slave traders entirely in the world of One Piece was simply unrealistic.
"So what about the auction house next to Grove 1? Is it still there?"
"It still there," Shakky nodded. "But like the other slave traders, they shut down a few days ago. Even if you go now, you won't find anyone."
"Tch! They sure ran fast!"
Since everyone had already fled, Sherwin naturally lost any interest in going there to smash the place up. After all, it was nothing more than an empty shell now. Even if he wrecked it, it wouldn't cause Doflamingo much of a loss…
And it might even alert the enemy.
"In that case… let go to the amusement park!"
Sherwin waved at Klee Meow and the other little Felynes who were nibbling on snacks, then led them—along with Shirahoshi, who had once again been stopped outside Shakky Rip-Off Bar because of her size—toward Area 30, where the amusement park was located.
However, Sherwin suddenly realized a very important problem…
With Shirahoshi size, she probably wouldn't be able to use most of the attractions in the amusement park, would she?
"Waaahhh… This is so unfair!"
The gigantic mermaid princess collapsed into an orz (mermaid version) pose and burst into tears, pounding the ground.
Sure enough, just as Sherwin had expected, even though most of the attractions in Sabaody amusement park used bubble technology that allowed the "cabins" to be adjusted in size, Shirahoshi still couldn't experience most of them.
In fact, if it weren't for that bubble technology, she would have been completely excluded from everything.
Even so, the number of attractions she could actually try could be counted on one hand.
"It not fair! Not fair at all! This is way too unfair!"
Shirahoshi, rarely losing her temper, flailed her arms wildly. The gusts of wind created by her movements made the nearby amusement park manager turn pale, cold sweat pouring down his face.
"L-Lord Hunter… w-we really weren't trying to target Princess Shirahoshi…"
The manager wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief as he cautiously stepped forward to defend himself to Sherwin.
Of course, the amusement park couldn't possibly have been targeting Shirahoshi. Before this, there were hardly any visitors on the Sabaody Archipelago who weren't human. When other races set foot on the island, it was usually under only one identity—slaves.
So Sherwin merely waved his hand, not intending to make things difficult for him.
"Ahem… There nothing I can do about that. How about when we head back, you ask King Neptune to build an underwater amusement park near Fish-Man Island modeled after this place? Bubble technology works there too, anyway."
He had originally only meant to use this as a pretext to divert Shirahoshi attention, but as Sherwin continued speaking, he suddenly felt it might actually be a good idea.
If they could create something differentiated from Sabaody Archipelago, it might even add a new source of income to the Ryugu Kingdom. And besides…
"It should also help promote Fish-Man Island to some extent."
Of course, Sherwin had no experience in how to actually operate an amusement park. Even if one were truly built in the future, it would have to be left to King Neptune to handle. But judging from his ability to govern…
Well, it would probably be better to suggest he find a reliable manager when the time came.
Shirahoshi, who had been about to refuse the proposal on the grounds of "wasting manpower and resources," paused for a moment, then ultimately shook her head.
"Fish-Man Island probably doesn't have much energy to spare for something like that right now. But I will still bring it up to Father. If we could really build an amusement park of our own, the children on Fish-Man Island would surely be very happy, wouldn't they?"
Shirahoshi stopped fussing, her face filled with longing as she imagined it…
In any case, Sherwin original goal had been achieved.
"All right. At worst, once Suika further develops her Devil Fruit ability, I'll bring you back to play again."
Seeing that Shirahoshi had calmed down, Sherwin stepped forward and gently patted her tail in comfort.
In truth, although Suika Meow still couldn't use her ability to affect any living being other than herself, it wasn't as if there were no other ways to let Shirahoshi enjoy the rides—
She couldn't transform living creatures, but she could still enlarge the amusement park facilities to a size Shirahoshi could use.
There was no need to worry about power, either. With Klee Meow and Shermie Meow around, even enlarging them tenfold would still allow them to run.
The only problem was that doing so would make the amusement park far too conspicuous, potentially attracting troublesome beings like the Celestial Dragons.
And once enlarged, it would inevitably cause damage to the grounds here. Although Sherwin wasn't short on money… that didn't mean he would waste it like that.
Besides, given Shirahoshi personality, she probably wouldn't agree to messing up the place just so she could enjoy the rides herself.
Since Shirahoshi couldn't join them, the little Felynes who had already experienced the rides didn't stay in the amusement park any longer.
As for Suika Meow and Kaido Meow, who had only been summoned in the latter half of the Grand Line, they also said they would wait and come back to play with Shirahoshi in the future…
This moved the "little" mermaid so much that she hugged the only one suited to her size, Kaido Meow, and rubbed against him enthusiastically.
One of the main reasons Sherwin and the others had landed on Sabaody Archipelago was to let Shirahoshi visit the amusement park.
Now that she could barely enjoy any of it, and all the slave traders had gone into hiding, there was naturally no need for them to remain.
Originally, Sherwin had planned to take the opportunity to spar with Rayleigh and see how much he had improved recently.
However, Shakky told him that ever since Rayleigh whereabouts had been exposed last time, he had been worried about the Marines coming to cause trouble, so he hadn't returned for quite a while…
When Shakky mentioned this, the look she gave Sherwin was full of resentment.
Sherwin: "…"
What does that have to do with me?!
With Rayleigh strength, he wasn't afraid of the Marines at all. And the Marines wouldn't be so bored as to target him anyway. Most likely that old man just wanted to go wandering around and used Sherwin as an excuse.
After bidding farewell to Shakky in exasperation, Sherwin and the others boarded the Dodo Advance and dived toward Fish-Man Island.
Although the Dodo Advance controlled the ship course, Sherwin and the others were not idle either…
"Didn't we say before that we'd give King Neptune a huge surprise?"
Right now, he was on the ship with the little Felynes, helping Shirahoshi with her styling and coaching her on what to say when she met King Neptune.
Spending time with Sherwin—the utterly unreliable Hunter—and the little Felynes, Shirahoshi had not only learned the necessity of resisting, but also picked up a taste for pranks. So instead of objecting to their plan, the "little" mermaid eagerly cooperated.
Thus, when King Neptune—who missed his daughter dearly—rushed over with his three sons to excitedly welcome Sherwin and the others, what he saw was a Shirahoshi dressed in a studded leather jacket, sporting a multicolored explosive afro, smoky eye makeup and bizarre tattoos, with several piercings (glued on), radiating a full-on heavy metal rock style.
This look had been designed by Sherwin, based on the makeup style of a friend daughter who had taken up rock music. However, the tattoos were scorned by Jinx, and the little mad Felyne redesigned them.
It did look even wilder and more unrestrained than before, yet it carried a kind of unconventional beauty.
"..."
But clearly, King Neptune and the three Shark brothers could not appreciate such an avant-garde style.
"Yo-ho~ Father King and my dear brothers! Long time no see!"
Imitating Jinx usual tone, Shirahoshi gave King Neptune and the others the Patton-style military salute Sherwin had taught her.
"Pfft—!" ×4
"Ah! Boss Sherwin! Father and Big Brother Shark Star have both fainted!"
Not expecting her prank to be so devastating, Shirahoshi immediately panicked.
Klee Meow, meanwhile, was still peeking over from the side and adding fuel to the fire. "Not only did they faint, it looks like they're even foaming at the mouth, meow…"
(=ω=)
"Hmm, maybe it because they haven't seen Shirahoshi for so long and got too excited."
Sherwin said with a completely calm expression, making it up on the spot.