Chapter 174: Chapter 174: A Grand Welcome, The Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi
Fish-Man Island.
"Princess Shirahoshi, please, you must follow the King's orders and not leave your chamber! Do not leave, I repeat, do not leave!"
At this moment, inside Ryugu Palace.
In the impregnable tower, the chamber of Princess Shirahoshi.
A Fish-Man guard, looking flustered, shouted toward the interior of the impregnable tower.
Even though this place is located in the depths of Ryugu Palace and heavily guarded on all sides, the situation on Fish-Man Island has become increasingly tense.
Ever since Jinbei returned, the entire Fish-Man Island has been engulfed in fear. The flag of the Whitebeard Pirates, which had protected the island for so long, has been replaced. In its place now flies the banner of the Central Authority.
Recently, the Central Authority has become the most formidable power in the sea. Its Supreme Commander, Shiro, is a man capable of even challenging the might of the Navy's Admirals.
Though the Central Authority has a fairly decent reputation across the seas, and Shiro's ideals have attracted many strong followers, Fish-Man Island's unique location makes it critical. Thanks to the protection of the Whitebeard Pirates, Fish-Man Island remained at peace. But now, with the flag changed, no one knows what the future holds.
"Is it... is it Vander Decken IX again causing trouble?" a timid voice echoed from within the Hard Shell Tower. Clearly, the owner of the voice was terrified of Vander Decken.
"No, there has been no sign of Vander Decken IX. Today is the day that the Supreme Commander of the Central Authority, Shiro, arrives. King Neptune has already gone to meet him," the guard replied honestly.
Their mission was to ensure the safety of Princess Shirahoshi. Known for her timid nature, the mention of Shiro's fearsome reputation would likely keep her securely inside the impregnable tower.
"Shi... Shiro...?" Princess Shirahoshi's voice quivered in shock.
However, the guards failed to notice the hidden excitement in her tone. In truth, a few days earlier, Jinbei had visited Princess Shirahoshi on behalf of Shiro. She had already heard of Shiro's incredible feats from afar. Although Shiro was still young, his reputation in both strength and influence rivaled that of the Yonko of the New World.
Such a powerful figure, both young and charismatic, was naturally someone to be admired by many young women. Even though Shirahoshi was not like other girls in appearance, it didn't stop her from idolizing someone as strong as Shiro.
So, upon hearing that Shiro had arrived on Fish-Man Island, Princess Shirahoshi's heart surged with a desire to meet him. But just as she was about to take action, the guards outside the impregnable tower were suddenly attacked. An uninvited guest took advantage of the moment when the Ryugu Palace was greeting Shiro!
...
At Ryugu Castle, Fish-Man Island.
At this moment, countless residents of Fish-Man Island had gathered at Ryugu Castle. Normally, common Fish-Men could not easily enter the castle, but King Neptune and his sons decided to host a grand welcoming ceremony.
After all, they were welcoming one of the most renowned young warriors of the sea. With a bounty of 5.36 billion Belly and the Supreme Commander of the Central Authority, Shiro, his reputation alone was enough to leave everyone in awe.
Putting aside Shiro's legendary battle achievements, the Central Authority itself was a terrifying force. Even the powerful Navy, which once maintained order across the Grand Line, was severely weakened by this formidable group.
In the current era, Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, stood as the pinnacle of the old era. But Shiro represented the dawn of a new future.
Balancing the situation, King Neptune decided to submit to the Central Authority, allowing Fish-Man Island to fall under its protection. After all, the Fish-Man Island defenders stood no chance against the forces led by Vice Admiral Jinbei of the Central Authority.
Now that Fish-Man Island was a territory of the Central Authority, the arrival of their Supreme Commander called for a grand welcome.
As Shiro set foot in Ryugu Castle, he was momentarily stunned. Thousands of Fish-Man Island residents cheered his arrival, with banners displaying his image and the emblem of the Central Authority everywhere.
Shiro hadn't expected this reception. He thought his arrival on Fish-Man Island would require asserting his dominance, especially since he knew that some hidden factions harbored ill intentions. But the sight before him was genuinely surprising.
No wonder so many people aspired to be in positions of power, the admiration and respect from the crowd were a unique experience.
At the same time, Nico Robin, who accompanied Shiro to Fish-Man Island, looked around in awe. It was hard to believe that just a few years ago, Shiro was merely a Marine youth wielding a worn-out sword, completing missions. Now, he stood as one of the most influential figures in the world.
"Fish-Man Island welcomes the arrival of the Supreme Commander!" King Neptune led the cheering crowd in their warm welcome.
Although many of the Fish-Man Island residents were still wary of Shiro, his declaration caught everyone off guard.
"King Neptune, no need for such formalities. We're all allies here," Shiro said, his voice firm yet reassuring.
"I promise you that one day, every Fish-Man will have the right to live under the sun, equal to all humans."
The residents of Fish-Man Island were stunned into silence. King Neptune and his subjects were left speechless, for they had never heard such a statement from a human before. Could this powerful young man truly bring the change he promised?
Suddenly, Shiro's expression changed as he looked up into the sky, his senses sharp. King Neptune noticed the shift and followed his gaze, his heart sinking as he saw his beloved daughter, Princess Shirahoshi, in the clutches of the dreaded Vander Decken IX!
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The fanfic is finished on p@treon/tambeerg