Chapter 234

But...

What is it?

Even now, Bai Xing

still could not connect herself with the legendary "Sea King."

Sima Di offered no explanation, watching only as an observer.

Regardless of what relationship he and Bai Xing might have in the future, now was the moment of her ascension as the new queen.

The Sea Kings answered for her.

Mermaid Princess, you are the Sea King of this generation, the king of all Sea Kings.

Your fierce will to protect Fish-Man Island has awakened the dormant power of the Sea Kings, summoning us here.

Although the crisis has been averted, we shall still at all times obey your will and fight for you whenever called.

Give the order, or more Sea Kings will arrive; by then your identity might be exposed, and the World Government may not spare you.

Tsk!

Even the Sea Kings know the World Government's wickedness; in some ways, that World Government is quite "excellent."

"I am the Sea King?" Bai Xing said blankly: "But... I don't understand... why me?"

Bai Xing spoke her words aloud, and everyone nearby heard them.

This made Neptune and the others' expressions change!

They looked nervously at the Straw Hat Pirates, finding that although their faces were strange, they made no overstepping moves.

【Isolation Domain!】

Sima Di used his Voice Spirit ability to open a domain, blocking sound waves from entering or leaving, but not hindering spiritual communication.

Robin nodded and said: "Indeed, what was recorded on Skypiea is correct; the Sea King appearing every eight hundred years can only be inherited by the Mermaid Princess... is Bai Xing the Sea King of this generation?"

Well!

So they already knew.

"The Sea King!" Usopp exclaimed: "The Sea King, ranked alongside Franky's Pluton as an Ancient Weapon? What is it used for?"

"Probably... to command the Sea Kings?" Zoro looked up at the Sea Kings in the sky.

These Sea Kings overhead were different from those he usually saw, quiet to an excessive degree.

"Princess Bai Xing is too powerful! I love her so much! Hoo-hoo-hoo—'" Sanji cheered.

"This is too amazing, right?" Chopper exclaimed: "Sea Kings the size of islands, and yet there is a king? This is even more terrifying than Pluton!"

"If you say that, I won't be happy." Merry said displeased: "I can fly! Can they fly?"

Chopper awkwardly scratched his head.

"Sorry, I forgot you are the Little Pluton, hahaha—"

Merry turned her head away, refusing to look at Chopper.

I'm ignoring you!

"Enough." Sima Di interrupted: "Let's not discuss this further... Bai Xing, it is your turn to give the order; the Sea Kings are still arriving one after another. If the World Government discovers this anomaly, Fish-Man Island will be in trouble."

"Ah—then... then what should we do?" Bai Xing said in panic.

Everyone: "..."

The Sea King gave such a person as its master; well...

"Let them guard Fish-Man Island in the nearby seas!" Neptune spoke up: "If needed, they are also suitable for you to summon at any time."

"O-okay, Father King!"

Bai Xing turned and spoke a few words in a low voice to the Sea Kings, and all the Sea Kings turned and left.

At this moment,

a large crowd of people also gathered, watching the Straw Hat Pirates and Neptune's family from afar, silently kneeling halfway to the ground.

"This is the highest courtesy of gratitude from our Fish-Man Island people," Robin explained.

Sima Di had heard of this courtesy for the first time.

Suddenly!

Neptune and several members of the royal family bent down, preparing to kneel; Sima Di frowned and stopped them with telekinesis.

But Neptune still lowered his head toward Sima Di and said solemnly: "We thank my lords for saving Fish-Man Island; if you have any orders in the future, we will fulfill them without hesitation!"

"If you have any orders, we will fulfill them without hesitation!" The three princes and Bai Xing did the same.

"If you have any orders, we will fulfill them without hesitation!" The Fish-Men on the periphery followed, shouting.

【Ding! Congratulations on signing in at the famous scene "The Gratitude of the Fish-Man Race"! You have received the sign-in reward: "Master Karin's Small Bag of Senzu Beans"!】

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"Master Karin's Small Bag of Senzu Beans": Eating just one bean allows a person's injuries to recover rapidly, and they will feel no hunger for an entire day, but it cannot cure bodily diseases, especially having no effect on viral heart disease!;

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【Reward has been stored in the system space!】

Senzu Beans!

A miraculous item said to revive one on the spot; it seems the "survival rate" of the Straw Hat Pirates will be greatly improved from now on.

An unexpected gain indeed.

But...

"If you have any orders, we will fulfill them without hesitation"?

Then I won't be polite!

"King Neptune," Sima Di said solemnly: "After today's anomaly, the identity of Bai Xing as the Sea King will likely be suspected by the World Government. When that time comes, between Fish-Man Island and Bai Xing, how will you choose?"

Neptune fell silent.

The Third Prince, Mero, spoke up: "We are under the protection of the Whitebeard Pirate Crew! Would the World Government dare to act against us?"

Sima Di laughed.

Considering Mero was his future brother-in-law, he decided to explain a bit.

"Once we possess the Sea King, does the World Government still need to fear the Whitebeard Pirate Crew?"

The Whitebeard Pirate Crew wasn't made up entirely of elites; on the contrary, Whitebeard had taken in many rather ordinary sons.

Sea Kings posed a fatal threat to them.

As for Whitebeard...

"Even if Whitebeard is incredibly powerful, facing endless Sea Kings, he would either be crushed to death by his own Tremor-Tremor Fruit, exhausted to death, or..."

Sima Di looked at Shirahoshi.

"... or be killed... by you, the Sea King who controls the Sea Kings!"

Shirahoshi trembled in fright!

Was Whitebeard going to kill her?

How could she possibly escape that?

"No more words!" Neptune said heavily: "Lord Sima, state your purpose!"

It was simpler to chat with someone who understood.

Sima Di smiled: "Our Pirate Crew already possesses the Pluton, so... let Shirahoshi come with us. At that time, whether it is the World Government, the Whitebeard Pirate Crew, or any of the other Four Emperors' crews, I can guarantee Shirahoshi's safety."

"Yes!" Sanji patted his chest: "I swear on my knight's honor! I will fight to the death to protect Princess Shirahoshi!"

"Is Scaredy-Shirahoshi coming aboard?" Luffy scratched his head: "But she's so big, she can't even fit through the dormitory door."

That's easy!

Sima Di took out the Little People's potion; the pure white liquid in the glass bottle rippled with a rainbow halo.

He tossed it directly to Shirahoshi.

"This is a potion that can shrink your body, allowing you to become roughly our size... Don't worry, if you ever want to return to normal later, I have a way for that too."

Although he hadn't obtained the "Longevity Potion" that could cause gigantification, since it existed in this world, he could replicate it using Dragon Spirit Language.

Shirahoshi was momentarily at a loss, instinctively looking toward Neptune.

"Shirahoshi!" Sima Di called out: "You must see your own heart clearly! Are you prepared to stay on Fish-Man Island and be protected by others, or follow us to train, to grow stronger, and to become the one who protects Fish-Man Island!"

A killing blow!

Shirahoshi, who had always been confined within the Hard Shell Tower, desired to know the outside world more intensely than anyone else!

And traveling freely as a pirate was, for her, simply a fatal poison!

"R-really... is it possible?" Shirahoshi asked again, seeking confirmation.