(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited
smoothly. sp.atreon/INeedRest)
*************
The conversation was so casual and unhurried that Neptune and the others were left confused.
Kisa gave a slight nod and exited the room.
Colt then turned to Neptune.
"He has so matters to attend to; he'll be back shortly. Let's eat first."
Seeing Colt remain so easy-going, Neptune felt a sudden chill rise in his heart for reasons he couldn't quite place.
Without daring to question anything, Neptune quickly led Colt into the palace.
As soon as Colt entered, his eyes landed on an enormous rmaid gracefully flicking her pink fishtail, her chin resting on her right hand.
'This rmaid is huge! She is also very beautiful'
In fact, it wasn't just Colt.
Nami, Robin, and Perona were also srized, their gazes firmly locked.
'So beautiful!'
Such a thought echoed simultaneously in the minds of all three won.
Though each was confident in her own beauty, they couldn't help but feel a twinge of inadequacy in front of her presence.
It felt as though every beautiful word ever conceived existed solely to describe this rmaid.
Neptune, eager to break the spell, made introductions. "Colt-sama, this is my daughter Shirahoshi."
Shirahoshi blushed deeply and timidly extended her hand or rather finger in greeting.
Looking at a finger larger than his own fist, Colt's mouth twitched.
Forming a hand seal, he activated the [Expansion Jutsu] of the Akimichi Clan.
For the first ti, this technique found a serious use.
Under everyone's astonished gazes, Colt's height swelled to over ten ters before halting. "Perfect," Colt said with satisfaction as he reached out and gently patted Shirahoshi's head. "Hello, little Shirahoshi," he greeted with a smile.
Shirahoshi, startled by Colt's sudden growth, covered her mouth in surprise. "Amazing!"
Thus, the banquet began.
Colt maintained his enlarged form and chatted with Shirahoshi.
Before long, Shirahoshi-initially timid and wary-relaxed and began whispering shyly to Colt.
Learning that Kisa had arranged for Shirahoshi to tour him around during his stay on Fish- Man Island, Colt silently credited his observant subordinate for the thoughtful gesture.
Compared to the fiery and domineering Hancock, Colt found Shirahoshi's innocent, well- mannered, and gentle personality more appealing.
In Shirahoshi, Colt saw a hint of Hinata's pure deanor, which only endeared her further to him.
"Don't worry," Colt said reassuringly.
"I'm not as scary as Kisa. From now on, I'll rely on you, Cowardly Princess."
Hearing this nickna, Shirahoshi pouted her lips in a cute display of protest but nodded earnestly.
"I'll do my best! Though... there's still so much I don't know about Fish-Man Island. Please don't be mad at if I ss up."
Colt chuckled at her endearing deanor.
"This personality suits the nickna Cowardly Princess perfectly," he thought.
****
anwhile, outside the Dragon Palace, the mood was starkly different.
Kisa stood in the dim light, his expression murderous.
Sahada had been fully unleashed, its razor-sharp edges gleaming ominously.
Before him stood a group of recently captured Fish-n, trembling under his icy glare.
"Kisa-sama! What is the aning of this?" One of the New Fish-Man Pirates stamred, -clutching a deep wound inflicted by Sahada.
The re sight of Kisa was enough to rekindle the terror he felt during their last encounter when Kisa had killed Hody Jones.
Without a word, Kisa swung Sahada, now clad in [Armant Haki], slicing him cleanly in half.
"If you must bla soone, bla your own hatred for humans," Kisa growled before moving to his next target.
Earlier, as they entered Fish-Man Island, Colt had sensed the pervasive malice directed toward humans.
With his abilities comparable to Naruto's [Nine Tails Mode], such ill intent was impossible to miss.
Colt agreed wholeheartedly with Princess Otohi's dream of peaceful coexistence between humans and Fish-n.
However, he understood that this ideal could only flourish when there was no longer any hate toward humans.
The fish-n whose hearts burned with hatred posed a direct threat to this vision-and to
Colt's plans.
It was better to eliminate them now than let them sow greater chaos in the future.
By the ti the banquet concluded, Kisa had completed his task and returned to the Palace, his body drenched in blood.
Shirahoshi, seeing the blood-streaked Kisa, let out a frightened wail and hid behind Colt, sobbing uncontrollably.
"What... what is the aning of this?!" Neptune exclaid, his face pale with shock.
The three princes, weapons drawn, aid their tridents at Kisa, bracing themselves for an
attack.
"What have you done, Kisa-san?" Neptune demanded, barely suppressing his fury.
Kisa flashed his shark-like grin. "Just clearing out threats to Colt-sama. Eighty-six of
them in total. None escaped."
Colt calmly ate the fruit on the table and gestured for Kisa to sit.
"Good work. Sit down and eat sothing."
Neptune's composure cracked.
"Colt-sama, I demand an explanation! Why have you slaughtered my people like this?"
Neptune's voice quivered as realization dawned-nearly a hundred Fish-n had been killed
during a single banquet.
Shirahoshi sobbed quietly, while the guards pointed their tridents at Colt and Kisa.
Colt sighed deeply, setting his cup down.
He glanced at Neptune with a calm yet penetrating gaze.
"Neptune, don't you see? I'm helping you and Fish-Man Island."
Reviews
All reviews (0)