CHAPTER 101

My father is King Neptune! If you dare touch me, I promise you'll regret it!" Princess Shirahoshi cried, voice trembling. She knew better than anyone that she was powerless to resist. The man before her radiated hostility masked by a thin veil of calm. If he wanted to harm her, it would be easy and so her only shield now was the name of her father.

"Now, now, my little mermaid princess, no need to be so tense. I wouldn't hurt you. I still intend to marry you, after all," Van der Decken IX said with a twisted smile, staring at Shirahoshi as if she were a rare treasure caught in a glass case.

"What?! You, you said marry me?!" Princess Shirahoshi gasped, backing away instinctively. She was still so young, and this strange, dangerous man spoke of marriage like it was an arrangement already agreed upon.

"Hahaha! My dear little princess… if you become my bride, I'll give you anything you want. Jewels from the depths of the Calm Belt, a throne of coral, even the treasure of Ship Graveyard," Van der Decken IX cackled. He believed, foolishly, that Shirahoshi was naïve enough to fall for empty promises, the same way children fall for sweets.

"No! My father would never let me go with a stranger like you! And you, you don't even look like a good person!" Shirahoshi's voice was firm despite her fear. She wasn't a child to be tricked. The look on Decken's face was vile—greedy, leering and her instincts screamed that he was dangerous. She knew not to trust him.

"Good person?" Van der Decken chuckled darkly. "When did I ever claim to be good?"

His wicked grin remained fixed in place, unfazed by her rejection. It made Shirahoshi's skin crawl.

"Get out of the way I have to go to Gironcorde Plaza! If I don't get there soon, it might be too late!" Shirahoshi's panic was rising. She could feel something had been summoned by her earlier cries something immense and dangerous, something that could threaten all of Fishman Island. She couldn't allow that. She had to go.

"Out of the way? Is that how you talk to your fiancé, princess?" Decken said, stepping deliberately into her path. He wasn't just blocking her he was stalling, and worse, he had a goal: to shake her hand and activate the ability of his Target-Target Fruit.

"Then what will it take for you to move? If you don't, something terrible will happen!" Shirahoshi pleaded, glancing behind her. If her father's guards caught up, they'd stop her. And worse, they'd capture her again and lock her away.

"What will it take?" Decken smirked. "Marry me, and I'll step aside."

He was blackmailing her outright now, playing his last card. It wasn't a proposal it was coercion.

"Fine! If you'll get out of the way, then yes!" Princess Shirahoshi exclaimed in desperation. Rin and Artoria might already be in danger from the Sea Kings she'd unintentionally called. She couldn't delay any longer. Even if it meant agreeing to something she never wanted, she had to act now.

"Very good," Decken said, eyes gleaming. "Then let's seal our engagement with a handshake."

To him, this was the final step. Just one touch, and his Devil Fruit power would lock onto her permanently, allowing him to throw weapons at her from anywhere, at any time. The same power he once used to torment her by sending ships, spears, and axes her way.

Shirahoshi, too desperate to suspect the trap, extended her hand. Because her hands were massive compared to most fish-men, she had to stretch her fingers toward him. The moment their hands met, something shifted. A chill passed through the air as if invisible eyes turned to watch her from all sides.

Van der Decken IX vanished instantly after the handshake, leaving Shirahoshi shivering and confused, but she had no time to process it. She immediately turned and swam with all her might toward Gironcorde Plaza, where chaos loomed. She had to help. She had to protect Artoria and Rin.

It was during that moment that Shirahoshi arrived just in time to place herself between Artoria and the rampaging Sea King class creature. Her presence halted the beast's advance her latent power to communicate with them overriding their frenzy. She had saved them without knowing how.

"And just now, I remembered all of this again and I rushed to find my father," Shirahoshi said, recounting the events to Artoria. "I was just arriving at the door when I heard you all discussing what's happening now."

Her voice trembled. Remembering the handshake, the wicked grin, and the feeling of being watched by thousands of unseen eyes brought a shudder down her spine. She was still a child sheltered her whole life in Ryugu Palace and now she had experienced fear and manipulation beyond anything she'd known.

"Then why didn't you tell Rin right away?" Artoria asked, visibly confused. After the incident with the Sea Kings, Shirahoshi had said nothing she'd only insisted that King Neptune take them all back to Ryugu Palace for rest.

"Because… because Brother Rin was already so exhausted, taking care of you after you were poisoned and Father was dealing with the destruction on Fishman Island," Shirahoshi whispered, voice tinged with guilt. "And that man… Van der Decken IX… he told me not to say anything. He said… if I told anyone… I would be in danger."

That warning still echoed in her mind. Van der Decken's final words before disappearing had terrified her. Even though she had intended to tell Rin everything that same night, she had seen him gently caring for the unconscious Artoria—had seen how tired he was and she hadn't wanted to burden him.

So she kept the secret, waiting for the right time, until the days passed and the fear began to fade… until today. Until that feeling.of being watched, of the Target-Target Fruit's presence returned. It had resurfaced when Rin left the palace, which could only mean one thing.

"Princess Shirahoshi," Enel spoke up for the first time, lightning crackling faintly along his arms. "Do you think Rin left to deal with him for you?"

He already knew the answer. Everyone in the room did. Somehow, Rin had learned of the danger. And without telling anyone without asking for help he had gone alone.

To fight Van der Decken IX.

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