Chapter 342: Fish-Man Island - Departure from the Palace

Though Kaku had little expectation for what Enel had to say, he couldn't help but ask, "So, what did you figure out?"

Enel, with an expression suggesting he had it all figured out, chuckled lightly, "If he's not planning to sell this princess, then he's definitely planning to recruit her for our crew!"

Kaku looked at Enel as if he were an idiot. "Are you stupid? Did you forget what that fortune-telling mermaid said? She said the next member of our crew wouldn't join for another two years. Besides, even if the captain did want to recruit this mermaid princess, do you think our ship's cabin could accommodate her? Would she just be stuck on the deck forever?"

Enel was left speechless.

"Fine, then." Enel waved dismissively. "In that case, even I don't know what he's planning."

Meanwhile, Shirahoshi, upon hearing Takumi mention "Sea Forest," looked surprised. "Sir, did you just say Sea Forest?"

Takumi nodded casually.

The Sea Forest was a beautiful area filled with corals, despite being littered with shipwrecks.

However, none of that mattered to Shirahoshi. The reason she wished to visit the Sea Forest was because it was where her mother, Queen Otohime, was buried.

"Sir, have you... been to the Sea Forest?" Shirahoshi asked, her cheeks flushed. She seemed fine, but there was a slight tremor in her voice.

"No," Takumi said indifferently. "But as long as you know the way, it's fine."

The moment Takumi finished speaking, Enel couldn't help but snort. "Captain, are you serious? You're forcing this big crybaby to come out, and then you're expecting her to lead the way? I can't understand your logic here."

Takumi gave Enel a look that said, "Say another word, and see what happens."

Enel understood immediately, quickly raising a hand to cover his mouth.

Shirahoshi really wanted to go to the Sea Forest, but due to all the potential dangers, she hesitated. "Thank you for your offer, sir, but I think I shouldn't go. It's too dangerous outside, and I don't want my father and brothers to worry."

"What are you scared of?" Takumi stared directly into her eyes, his face emotionless. "As long as I'm here, no one can hurt you. Even if Vander Decken himself shows up, taking care of him will be easy."

"But..."

Takumi wasn't interested in arguing. "Get ready. We're leaving now."

"Wait, but, sir, I..."

"What's with the hesitation?" Enel said irritably. "Who do you think we are? If my captain says he'll protect you, then there's no one in this world who could lay a finger on you under his watch."

Kaku nodded. "Though this big guy is being blunt, our captain can indeed keep his promises, Princess Shirahoshi. Please trust us."

Shirahoshi clenched her fists, her thoughts racing. She really wanted to go. Moreover, Takumi and the others were guests invited by her brother, and they had just saved her twice. This gave her a bit of confidence that they might indeed be capable of protecting her.

After a moment of hesitation, she asked quietly, "Will we be able to return before dinner?"

Takumi didn't hesitate. "Of course."

"In that case, I'll go!" Shirahoshi mustered her courage, both excited and fearful. "Please, sir, I'm counting on you."

Suddenly, she realized a problem. "Uh, but how do we leave the palace? If I just leave like this, Father will notice before we even make it out."

"Simple." Takumi had already thought of a solution. "Don't you have a pet?"

Shirahoshi was taken aback, nodding timidly. "Are you referring to Megalo? He's probably out playing right now... Why?"

Megalo was a shark. He was also the key "tool" Luffy would later use to help Shirahoshi leave.

Just as she finished speaking, a large shark squeezed its way through the door.

Upon seeing three strangers in the room, it bared its teeth menacingly, assuming they were enemies.

Shirahoshi saw Megalo and smiled warmly, waving at him. "Megalo, you're back. These gentlemen aren't bad people, so don't hurt them, okay?"

Hearing this, Megalo relaxed and obediently swam over to Shirahoshi's side.

"Sir, do you have a plan to get me out without my father noticing?" Shirahoshi asked.

Takumi nodded, shifting his gaze toward Megalo. With the benefit of hindsight, he intended to use this scenario to his advantage.

A few minutes later...

Takumi, Enel, and Kaku easily jumped onto Megalo, who was now slightly larger.

Shirahoshi was tucked comfortably in Megalo's mouth.

"Sir, are you sure this will work?" she asked nervously.

"It will be fine," Takumi said casually. "Let's go."

Clinging to Megalo's teeth, Shirahoshi apologized to him. "Sorry for the trouble, Megalo. When we get back, I'll ask Father to give you lots of treats as a reward."

With sweat dripping from his forehead, Megalo made a swift dash through the doorway, heading in the direction of the Sea Forest.

Meanwhile, Kaku produced the bubble coral he had gotten from Fukaboshi, creating a bubble to envelop himself, Takumi, and Enel.

As Megalo swam away from Shirahoshi's room, the seahorse guard, accompanied by a group of merfolk soldiers, rushed over. It was too late; all they saw was Megalo's retreating figure. The distance was too great for them to notice Takumi and the others atop Megalo.

Seeing the wide-open door to Shirahoshi's room, the seahorse guard rushed inside. Seeing that Shirahoshi was nowhere to be found, his face turned pale. "Oh no! The princess is gone! Takumi must have taken her away! Hurry, go inform His Majesty!"

Megalo swam quickly, soon bringing them to Fish-Man Island beneath the palace. Shirahoshi was excited yet fearful, seeing the outside world for the first time in five years.

Meanwhile, in a certain sea area outside Fish-Man Island, Vander Decken IX was playing with a large axe he'd looted from a pirate ship he'd destroyed. "I'll carve my love for Princess Shirahoshi into this axe. She'll be so touched when she sees it. Bahaha, just thinking about it makes me excited."

But as he said this, Vander Decken "accidentally" dropped the axe. Just before it hit the ground, it shot off toward Fish-Man Island.

"What a headache. I wanted to carve my name alongside the princess's on that axe," he said regretfully.

"Captain, it's heading in the wrong direction," one of his men pointed out. "It seems like it's headed toward Fish-Man Island."

"Huh?" Vander Decken was shocked. "What? It's headed to Fish-Man Island?"

His crew member nodded. "Yes, Captain."

Vander Decken picked up a piece of wood and threw it again. Seeing it also fly toward Fish-Man Island, he burst into laughter. "Bahaha! It must be because the princess escaped from the palace to come see me! This time, no one can stop us from being together!"

"Captain, what are you planning?" asked one of his men, worried.

Vander Decken cracked his knuckles, sneering. "No one can stop me from meeting the princess. I'm going to throw myself over there! Bahaha!"

Back at Fish-Man Island...

Megalo continued swimming toward the Sea Forest.

Suddenly, a large axe came flying from the left.

Takumi didn't even need to move. Enel struck it down with a lightning bolt.

Then a piece of wood flew over.

Enel used another lightning strike, reducing it to ashes.

A few minutes later, accompanied by a loud, obnoxious laugh, Vander Decken "flew" in.

Enel groaned. "Why does all this random stuff keep flying at us?"

"Get rid of him," Takumi ordered.

Enel cracked his knuckles. "Got it!"

He pulled out his staff and struck the drum on his back.

A lightning dragon surged forth, frying the bewildered Vander Decken to a crisp.

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