At one of the harbors in the New World, within Peach Garden, a ship bearing the Ion Tempest pirate flag was docked along the shore.
"Should we report this first? These merfolk might actually be relatives of Queen Shirahoshi."
One of the guards spoke quietly, glancing at the others.
They exchanged looks, then nodded in agreement.
Shirahoshi was a mermaid, and the individuals before them were clearly merfolk and Fish-Men. As guards stationed in Peach Garden, they were familiar with the different races across the world.
They knew that both merfolk and Fish-Men originated from Fish-Man Island, ten thousand meters beneath the sea.
Shirahoshi was the princess of Fish-Man Island. Naturally, anyone coming from there would know her status. It made no sense for them to make such claims without reason.
Moreover, Peach Garden stood as one of the most powerful nations in the world. No one would dare make false claims here without understanding the consequences.
Still, some guards hesitated.
The massive mermaid in front of them claimed to be Shirahoshi's father.
That would make him the king of Fish-Man Island.
But a king traveling with such a small escort felt strange.
Before they could decide further, a massive shadow suddenly fell over them.
The guards instinctively looked up.
A gigantic Pterosaur descended from the sky.
They immediately bowed in unison.
"Captain!"
Neptune and the others also noticed the creature.
The Pterosaur landed beside the guards, then calmly nodded before shifting its attention to the visitors.
"I assume you are King Neptune, Prince Ryuboshi, and Prince Manboshi from Fish-Man Island. Lady Shirahoshi will be very pleased to see you."
The speaker was Wyper, captain of the Peach Garden guards.
He had already recognized them.
When Neptune and his group first arrived, Aisa had sensed their presence using Observation Haki. With her ability to distinguish aura size and presence, she quickly identified them as merfolk.
The moment Wyper received the report, he rushed over without delay.
Thankfully, he arrived in time.
"I am Neptune, gamon," Neptune replied.
"This way, please," Wyper said as he took to the sky, guiding them forward.
Dan quickly maneuvered the ship to follow behind him.
The wind whistled as they moved.
Only after the ship disappeared into the distance did the guards finally relax.
They exchanged uneasy looks, lingering fear evident in their eyes.
"So that really was Princess Shirahoshi's father…"
"That means the King of Fish-Man Island…"
"Good thing we didn't offend them."
"Wait, weren't you the one doubting him earlier?"
"I did not!"
"You're still denying it?"
"Enough," another guard interrupted. "We were just doing our job. There are too many important figures in this world, we cannot recognize all of them."
He paused, then continued.
"Remember when the Revolutionary Army came here? The Fifteenth Squad stopped them too. Not only were they not punished, they were praised."
"This situation is different," another guard argued. "That was the Revolutionary Army. This is the father of Princess Shirahoshi."
"…Then we can only hope for the best."
Meanwhile, Neptune and his group remained unaware of the discussion behind them.
They stood at the bow, taking in the view.
Peach Garden stretched endlessly before them.
Roads crisscrossed in perfect order. The sounds of daily life filled the air.
People of different races lived together peacefully.
There was no oppression, no visible conflict. Only contentment.
The streets were wide and lively, lined with vendors calling out their goods.
The architecture was orderly and well-planned, unlike the chaotic layouts seen in other nations.
Some buildings towered into the clouds, while others were built low for convenience.
Some shimmered with brilliance, others were simple and understated.
The entire place radiated prosperity.
They had read about Peach Garden in newspapers before, descriptions of its wealth and fairness.
But seeing it in person was completely different.
Those reports had not even captured a fraction of its true grandeur.
Only by standing here could one truly feel its scale and inclusiveness.
As the ship moved deeper inland, the scenery grew even more impressive.
Eventually, they arrived at Lungan Harbor.
Wyper landed first, reverting to his human form.
"King Neptune, please dock here. I will take you to Lady Shirahoshi."
Neptune and the others did not hesitate.
They quickly disembarked.
At that moment, a massive pink figure rushed toward them.
"Father! And my brothers!"
Shirahoshi flew straight into Neptune's arms.
Neptune froze briefly, then embraced her tightly.
"Shirahoshi… my daughter."
His voice trembled slightly.
"I've finally seen you again."
Tears streamed down both their faces.
Ryuboshi and Manboshi stood nearby, their eyes red.
They had grown up together, always by Shirahoshi's side.
Even when she was confined to the Hard-Shell Tower, their bond had never weakened.
She was their precious sister.
This reunion meant everything to them.
Time seemed to slow as father and daughter held each other.
After a while, Neptune gently pulled back, looking her over carefully.
"Let me see… have you lost weight?"
Despite trusting Rolan, Neptune could not help but worry.
Rolan had multiple women, and even if things appeared harmonious on the surface, a father could not ignore such concerns.
Shirahoshi smiled brightly.
"Father, I've been eating very well. I think I've even gained weight."
Her happiness was obvious.
Neptune studied her expression, then relaxed.
She was not lying.
The environment here, the people, everything felt right.
The weight in his heart eased.
"Shirahoshi, you moved too fast."
A familiar voice called out from behind.
Vivi had arrived.