Chapter 347: Fish-Man Island - The Final Progress

The fish crowd gathered in the plaza were all confused.

Everyone knew that you couldn't see the stars on Fish-Man Island.

They just didn't understand why Shyarly would say something so obvious.

"Madam Shyarly, what do you mean by this?"

"We all know that there are no stars visible here. Why mention it again?"

"Did Madam Shyarly perhaps see something in her fortune-telling?"

Everyone looked to Shyarly, seeking answers with their eyes.

Shyarly took another drag from her cigarette, slowly exhaled a smoke ring, and continued, "I saw a scene where humans and us were gathered around a campfire under the same starry sky."

Her words sent a shock through everyone's hearts.

Shyarly's fortune-telling was seen as highly credible on Fish-Man Island.

No matter how incredible her visions might be, people believed them.

"A campfire under the same starry sky with humans?"

"Is this true? Does that mean in the future, we will really coexist peacefully with humans?"

"Uh, this… Madam Shyarly, when will the future you saw take place?"

The crowd turned to Shyarly again.

Even Neptune and his group on the fish boat looked at Shyarly in surprise.

Shyarly shook her head. "I didn't divine the exact time, but I saw Takumi and his crew in that future."

With those words, the crowd in the plaza erupted.

Vander Decken IX's men looked increasingly grim.

"Hey, what's going on here? Those three humans are the murderers of our comrade!"

"Are you saying that just because Madam Shyarly saw them in a vision, they should be allowed to do whatever they want on our island?"

"Humans will never coexist peacefully with us! Don't get it twisted!"

Vander Decken IX's men began shouting in fury.

But no matter what they said, the rest of the crowd had already stopped listening—they'd much rather believe Shyarly's words.

"This is great! Queen Otohime was right, after all."

"Yeah, I thought living peacefully with humans was nothing more than a distant dream. But since Madam Shyarly said it, it must be true!"

"I'm so looking forward to seeing the world above the sea. I wonder how much longer we'll have to wait."

"I heard the world above the sea is beautiful. I really want to see it for myself."

The crowd's previous anger had all but dissipated, replaced with excitement for the future.

Neptune and his children looked at Takumi's group in disbelief.

Takumi and his crew had heard Shyarly's words as well.

Kaku and Enel's faces were full of bewilderment.

Takumi, too, found it all rather ridiculous.

Neptune awkwardly stroked his beard. "If it's Shyarly who said it, then there's no issue."

"That's wonderful, Father," Shirahoshi said happily. "Mother's dream will really come true."

"Indeed," Neptune smiled, "If your mother knew, she would be overjoyed."

Fukaboshi cheered, "That means Takumi and his crew are now our benefactors. We don't have to worry about their safety on the island anymore."

Ryuboshi also cheered, "Calling them benefactors would be an understatement. They are destined to become the heroes of Fish-Man Island in the future. Madam Shyarly's fortune-telling has never been wrong. Our perseverance and efforts over the years are finally about to pay off."

"Father," Manboshi, though deeply moved inside, still appeared calm, "I propose that to strengthen the bond between the citizens and the humans, we should allow willing citizens to join the upcoming banquet. What do you think?"

"Yes, yes," Neptune wholeheartedly agreed, "A banquet should be lively and joyous. Ha ha ha, this is truly wonderful."

Takumi and his two companions remained silently speechless.

This trip to Fish-Man Island had turned out unexpectedly smooth...

Although Shyarly had spoken in their favor, why hadn't the final task progressed yet?

Takumi pondered this. From what he knew of Neptune and his sons, he had saved Shirahoshi multiple times and might even assist them in reaching the surface in the future.

Could it be that these deeds still weren't enough to earn their acknowledgment?

Just as Takumi was wondering where the problem lay, the system's delayed prompt finally came.

[Ding! Gained the recognition of Neptune and his three sons, progress +30%.]

[Ding! Fish-Man Island's progress complete. Congratulations, host, for upgrading Observation Haki by one level. Current Observation Haki Level: Lv8.]

Instantly, countless voices once again poured into Takumi's mind.

He originally thought, like before, that it would pass in the blink of an eye.

But this time, it lasted a full five seconds.

Takumi prided himself on his tolerance, but the sensation of his head being overwhelmed by countless voices made him question his sanity for a moment.

Enel and Kaku were the first to notice something was wrong with Takumi. Seeing the sweat beading on his forehead and his entire body swaying as if about to collapse, they each took one of his arms to support him.

"What's going on?" Enel frowned. "Why are you sweating so much all of a sudden?"

"Are you feeling unwell?" Kaku asked, worried.

"Takumi-sama, are you alright?" Shirahoshi asked with concern.

Manboshi turned to the nearby soldiers, "Go call a doctor."

"No need," Takumi shook his head. The sensation of his head about to explode had already subsided. "I'm fine."

"But you looked really uncomfortable just now, Takumi-sama," Shirahoshi said, still worried. "Maybe you should let the doctor take a look."

"I said no need. Stop being so annoying..." Takumi snapped.

Shirahoshi's eyes instantly welled up, and she said pitifully, "Takumi-sama is so mean..."

Takumi: "..."

"Captain," Kaku asked again to make sure, "Are you really alright now?"

Takumi nodded lightly.

Enel, playing the smartass, said mockingly, "Pretending to be sick to earn sympathy, huh? Well, you got it."

Takumi responded with a punch to Enel's face, sending him flying without hesitation.

"Huh? Thunder God-sama~" Shirahoshi looked in the direction Enel was sent flying, worried. "What should we do? Falling from this height might hurt, right?"

Kaku, unfazed, said, "Don't worry. That guy's skin is thick. He'll be fine."

"Really?" Shirahoshi still looked uneasy.

Kaku smiled, "Really."

Kaku then glanced at Takumi and asked, "Captain, you didn't take a nap today. Are you tired?"

"I'm fine," Takumi replied casually. "Once the banquet is over, you and Enel go get the ship's coating done."

Kaku agreed immediately without any questions, "Alright, Captain."

Later, just as Kaku said, Enel returned to the fish boat, grumbling but seemingly unharmed, which reassured Shirahoshi and her brothers.

Neptune kept his promise and hosted a three-day feast at Ryugu Palace, inviting many island residents to join in.

The celebration was incredibly lively. Kaku and Enel mingled well with the Fish-Man Island residents.

As for Takumi, he didn't involve himself too much with the general merriment. He stayed in a corner of the banquet, eating and drinking. Though some mermaid girls tried to chat him up, his aloof and indifferent demeanor quickly drove them away.

The banquet soon came to an end.

Kaku and Enel, per Takumi's instructions, spent another two days getting the ship properly coated with the help of the Fish-Man Island residents.

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