King Neptune and the princes, Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi, stared in stunned silence.
Lina spat out her food again, rice scattering everywhere — all because of one unexpected announcement. Why, of all people, was Rolan suddenly Shirahoshi's fiancé?
Nami's eyes widened in disbelief, and she froze in place. She hadn't even hinted that Rolan was her fiancé yet, so how had someone else just declared it?
Robin let out a quiet laugh, her interest piqued, watching the scene unfold.
Rolan himself did not panic. Instead, with his typical air of nonchalance, he leaned against Shirahoshi's palm and asked, "Shirahoshi, how old are you this year?"
Shirahoshi thought for a moment and replied cheerfully, "Fourteen, almost fifteen."
Rolan pursed his lips slightly. "You're still too young," he said. "Merfolk don't usually marry until they're at least sixteen."
Even he felt uncomfortable with how young she was. Though her physical age was fourteen, her emotional maturity seemed far younger. If he agreed to a marriage now, it would feel wrong — almost criminal.
"So here is the deal," Rolan continued, his voice calm and flat, "if, after you turn sixteen, you still want to marry me, then I will consider it."
Shirahoshi hesitated briefly, her face lighting up with joy. "Really? So that means I'll be marrying Rolan in just over a year?"
Without hesitation, she cupped Rolan in her huge hands and kissed him with innocent enthusiasm.
King Neptune exhaled deeply, relieved at the outcome. He wiped sweat from his brow with gratitude. This solution calmed Shirahoshi and bought everyone time to adjust.
Every father wanted his daughter to be happy. Even if she still chose Rolan a year later, Neptune could accept it.
Fukaboshi relaxed, seeing his sister's joyful expression. The reason he opposed Shirahoshi marrying Rolan now was simple: she might be acting on a childish impulse. But now they had time to think it through. Even if Rolan was cold and distant, his instincts told Fukaboshi that the captain of Ion Tempest was someone worthy of trust.
…
At the Fish-Man Café, the chief fortuneteller Shyarly stared at a crystal ball with cold blue eyes wide with shock.
This Fish-Man had short black hair, pale skin, and a revealing dark purple top. Her mouth hung open as she watched the vision.
"This can't be right," Shyarly muttered. "This person, Rolan, he destroys all of Fish-Man Island and sends every Fish-Man and merfolk to heaven!"
In her vision, the island had vanished, and the spirits of its people knelt before a figure seated on a high throne. As the image drew closer, the face of the ruler became clear: it was Rolan, wearing a wicked grin.
According to the vision and recent reports, Rolan was a fearsome pirate with a bounty well over three billion berries. It made sense that Shyarly was terrified by the vision.
Reeling backward, she knocked over a shelf full of coffee cups, the porcelain clattering to the floor.
"What is wrong, Madam Shyarly?" asked a green-haired merfolk named Caimie, rushing in with a fresh cup of coffee.
Shyarly collapsed onto the floor among spilled bottles and jars, clutching her head. "No, this cannot continue. If I don't act, Fish-Man Island will cease to exist."
Caimie stared in disbelief. "What do you mean? Who would destroy Fish-Man Island?"
Shyarly looked up desperately. "Caimie, is the Emperor, Rolan on this island?"
Caimie tilted her head. "The Killifish Quintuplets said they saw Rolan in Fish-Man Bay."
Shyarly leaped to her feet and grabbed Caimie's shoulders. "Go now. Find Rolan and make him leave. Do whatever it takes, but make him leave Fish-Man Island before it's too late."
She spoke urgently because she knew that even if all the island's forces united, they could not match someone with a bounty of three billion plus.
Caimie's jaw dropped in shock and disbelief. Then she looked at her coffee and nearly dropped it.
"Go quickly," Shyarly urged. "You have the day off. Warn him — stop him if you can."
At that moment, five nearly identical killifish merfolk approached at the door. They were the Killifish One through Five.
"Madam Shyarly, we just saw Prince Fukaboshi and the others inviting Rolan to Ryugu Castle."
"Yeah."
"Not sure if that's what I saw."
"So what if I saw it?"
Upon hearing their words, Shyarly's heart sank. She bowed her head. "Then I was too late. We must now await fate."
Caimie gently helped her up. "Madam Shyarly, if Rolan is already a guest at Ryugu Castle, isn't it too late?"
Shyarly pulled out her pipe and lit it, taking a deep drag. "I'll stay here. You must warn everyone. Tell them to flee and survive."
"But…"
Caimie hesitated, but Shyarly shook her head. Thoughts of her long-lost brother Arlong crossed her mind, and she felt strangely at peace with her choice.
"Go. Warn them now. I'll follow soon."
…
On Fish-Man Street, a tense conversation was underway.
"Big Brother Hody, should we wait for Rolan and his crew to leave Fish-Man Island before we attack Ryugu Castle?" asked Hammond with fear in his voice.
Hody Jones glared at him. "Why would I wait?"
Hammond trembled at the thought of Rolan's terrifying gaze. He had been ordered to gauge Rolan's reaction once, and Rolan's cold look had nearly knocked him unconscious.
"Just standing in front of him took all my courage," Hammond trembled.
Hody reached into a box beside him, pulling out several half-green, half-red energy capsules. "With these, I'll become the strongest in this world," he cackled as he popped one into his mouth.
The capsule slid down his throat and Hody's body trembled violently. "Even the Emperors will bow before me!"
And with that, his laughter echoed through the street.