"Daphne, isn't it still too early for the performance? Why are you already putting on makeup?"
Daphne looked up and saw Madam Shyarly. She immediately smiled brightly.
"Good morning, Madam Shyarly! There's a really handsome guest outside today. Of course I want to look my best!"
Shyarly curled her lips, said nothing, and lazily lay back on her couch, picking up the pipe by the table.
"Madam Shyarly!"
"Mina?! That's wonderful—you're safe!"
Before Shyarly could even speak, Daphne—who was still doing her makeup—rushed over and hugged Mina tightly, her eyes glistening.
"Mina, where did you go?! We were worried sick!"
"I was captured by human traffickers," Mina said honestly. "But I was lucky—Vice Admiral Karl saved me, and I came back with them!"
"Karl? Wait… you said his name is Karl?"
Daphne froze for a moment. The name suddenly clicked—wasn't the handsome Marine from earlier called Karl too?
"Good that you're back," Shyarly said calmly. "From now on, don't run around anymore. Do you hear me?"
Mina nodded vigorously.
"Of course! I'm never leaving Fish-Man Island again!"
"Aaaaah—Mina! You're back!"
A shrill cry rang out as the mermaids working in the café all rushed over at once…
Mina was immediately surrounded and thoroughly "interrogated." Only after confirming she was truly unharmed did the sisters finally relax.
"Oh, right!" one of them suddenly said. "That handsome guest outside—his name is Karl, right? And he's wearing a Marine uniform. That must be the Vice Admiral who saved you!"
Mina's eyes lit up.
"Yes! Yes! Vice Admiral Karl is incredibly handsome! They say he's the World's Most Handsome Man!"
The mermaids exchanged looks—
Then swarmed straight toward the dining area.
Karl almost jumped out of his seat.
One… two… three… four…
No, this was too many. He was still young—this was way beyond what he could handle!
"Thank you, Vice Admiral Karl! Thank you for saving our Mina!"
"Ahem—I'm a Marine. This is simply my duty."
The overly enthusiastic mermaids completely surrounded Karl. Ain, who had been sitting across from him, was forcibly squeezed more than five meters away.
Ain: ???
"That's enough!" Shyarly's voice rang out sharply. "What are you all doing, causing such a commotion? There are other guests waiting!"
Only then did the mermaids calm down, reluctantly stepping away from Karl's table.
Karl was left gasping for breath, his face covered in lipstick marks. He'd nearly suffocated just now—but considering how soft and fragrant the experience was, he decided not to pursue accountability.
"…It's him."
Shyarly's pupils trembled violently.
She stared at Karl in disbelief as his figure slowly overlapped with the Marine from her crystal ball—
The man who would bring slaughter and death to Fish-Man Island.
The man from her prophecy.
When she noticed Karl's gaze about to shift in her direction, Shyarly immediately covered her mouth and retreated into the shadows, breathing rapidly.
Only after a long while did she manage to calm down.
"No… I must tell King Neptune immediately. This man has to be driven out of Fish-Man Island as soon as possible."
Taking advantage of Karl being swarmed by the café staff, Shyarly quietly slipped out of the Mermaid Café…
Ten minutes later.
"Sorry, Vice Admiral Karl," Mina said apologetically. "Once the sisters found out you saved me, they might've gotten a bit too enthusiastic."
Karl accepted the handkerchief Mina offered and wiped his face.
"I understand, I understand. By the way—are you free later? Would you mind showing us around the Ryugu Kingdom?"
Mina nodded eagerly.
"Of course! Right now?"
Karl scratched his head.
"Maybe after we at least finish our coffee."
Ain sat back down across from him, wearing a half-smile that was anything but friendly.
"Tch. You're really popular, aren't you?"
Karl shrugged, spreading his hands.
"My fault?"
"Hmph. I'm not talking to you."
The blue-haired mermaid Daphne returned with a tray, setting the drinks down in front of Karl and Ain.
"Here's your coffee, guests. Please enjoy."
"Thank you."
Daphne smiled sweetly.
"You're welcome. Oh, right—there'll be a dance performance later. Don't miss it!"
Karl's eyes lit up.
So there's even premium content?
He immediately agreed.
An hour later, Karl finally left the Mermaid Café, still reluctant, waving goodbye to the two well-endowed mermaids at the door.
"Come again next time, sir!"
Ryugu Palace
"Shyarly… are you saying the Marines who arrived today will cause a massacre?"
Shyarly nodded solemnly.
"Yes, King Neptune. My prophecy has never been wrong."
Neptune's brows knitted together as he rubbed his temples, letting out a long sigh.
"I understand. I'll contact Jinbe immediately and discuss countermeasures with him."
"This news must not be made public for now—panic would only make things worse."
"Of course," Shyarly replied quietly.
Outside the Mermaid Café
Ain stood beside Karl with her arms crossed, a dark cloud hanging over her mood.
"Didn't you say we came to Fish-Man Island on a mission? From what I see, you clearly came for this."
Karl shook his head.
"Wrong. Completely wrong. We're unfamiliar with the place—are we supposed to charge around like idiots?"
"This is information gathering."
Ain was about to retort when Mina, wearing a bubble float, swam over.
"It's still early. How about I show you around?"
Karl immediately seized the chance.
"Ain, didn't you want to buy clothes? Come on—now's the time!"
And so, under Mina's guidance, Karl and Ain toured nearly all of Fish-Man Island.
The Merin Shopping Center, the Fish-Folk Cultural Hall, Fishverly Hills, Mermaid Cove, and finally—
The place where Queen Otohime had died: Gyoncorde Plaza.
Even without using Observation Haki, Karl could clearly sense eyes watching them from the shadows—especially him.
Is Fish-Man Island really this on edge? Getting monitored on day one already?
But on second thought, Karl felt this might actually be a good thing.
If nothing stirred the waters, how would someone like Hody Jones ever reveal himself?
"Mina, it's getting late. You should head back and rest."
"What about you?"
Karl waved his hand casually.
"Relax. We're not kids."
Mina nodded, then pointed toward the Mermaid Café in the distance.
"I work at the Mermaid Café. If you need any help, just come find me!"
Karl nodded seriously.
"Of course. After all, here on Fish-Man Island—you're our only friend."
After Mina left, Ain's smile faded. She scanned the surroundings and whispered,
"Doesn't it feel like someone's watching us?"
"Your instincts are right," Karl replied quietly.
"To be precise, we've been watched ever since we arrived."
Ain covered her mouth in shock.
"Who?"
Karl shook his head.
"Doesn't matter. If they don't move, neither do we. Let's head back."
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