A sweet fragrance suddenly rippled through the courtyard—Aforandrala's new fruit power at work.
"What an entrancing scent…" Daphne breathed it in, eyes bright. This was a power every woman would covet.
She'd once considered this very fruit herself, but ultimately chose the Logia Cloud-Cloud Fruit. For a second, a tiny pang of regret nipped her.
"I love this ability, Elder!" Aforandrala said, thrilled.
"Withdraw it, quickly," Elder Nyon instructed. "Don't release such a dense aroma. Keep it subtle—light, almost imperceptible. That's how you fool enemies without warning."
"Understood, Elder! I'll develop it properly. Lord Karl—thank you for this devil fruit!" Aforandrala bowed to Karl.
"No need for thanks. A future Empress of Amazon Lily should have a power worthy of the title. This one suits you perfectly." Karl could already picture her stepping onto the seas, perfume drifting like a battle standard.
"Enough—time we moved. Aforandrala, I'll leave Amazon Lily to you for a few days. Everyone will assist," Nyon said.
"Yes, Elder!"
Daphne raised a bank of cloud; they stepped aboard and swept into the sky.
They detoured to Jaya Island to pick up Bunsen. Enel remained to watch the island; Jerry had a shipyard to run and couldn't leave.
"Lord Karl, are we going straight to Tiger Roar Island after this?" Marigold asked.
"Not yet. First stop: Sabaody Archipelago. We'll meet Rayleigh and Shakky, then head for Fish-Man Island. Once we reach Sabaody, wait a day—Daphne and I will be back, and then we all sail for home."
"Fish-Man Island… been ages," Nyon mused, a touch of nostalgia in her voice.
—
By afternoon, they set down at Sabaody and headed straight to Shakky's Rip-Off Bar.
"Karl, lad—been a while," Rayleigh grinned. "Didn't think the next time I saw you, you'd be getting married."
"So when's your wedding?" Shakky deadpanned.
"Ahaha… I'm broke, and a gambler. Don't want to ruin anyone's life," Rayleigh coughed.
"Hmph. Karl, don't you dare learn from him," Shakky said, side-eye sharp enough to file steel.
"I won't, I won't. Uncle Ray—boat ready? We want to head to Fish-Man Island now." Karl wisely ducked out of their domestic front.
"All set. This way." Rayleigh practically bolted for the door; the older he got, the more Shakky's stare terrified him.
"Who's he fetching down there?" Elder Nyon asked Shakky when Karl and Daphne left.
"King Neptune and Princess Shirahoshi, I hear."
"Neptune, hm? Didn't expect Karl to be on such terms."
—
"This is the one," Rayleigh said on the pier. "Two people can handle her just fine. And, Karl—why marry so soon? A man should roam free first—"
The killing intent hit like a winter gust. He glanced at Daphne—her eyes were twin knives.
"—or maybe early marriage is great. Wonderful choice. I'll, uh, leave you to it!" Rayleigh vanished in a blur.
"I almost called lightning down on him," Daphne huffed. "Telling my man not to marry…"
"Haha, don't mind him—you know how I feel. Let's go. If we're fast, we can bring them up by tomorrow morning."
"Right. Let's move."
They boarded the coated ship and slipped beneath the surface.
"So this is the deep sea… my first time. Kind of thrilling," Daphne said, face pressed to the bubble-film.
"Same feeling I had last time. All these giant fish drifting by—it's surreal."
After a long descent, a pale glow blossomed in the darkness.
"There—the gate to Fish-Man Island," Karl pointed ahead.
"Finally. Novel at first, but the dark starts to press on you."
"Thousands of meters under—no sun. People get antsy," Karl agreed. Endless black water gnawed at the nerves.
"Hey, Karl… you never had… thoughts about Princess Shirahoshi?" Daphne watched him sidelong. In terms of beauty, the princess could stand beside Hancock.
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm not into kids," Karl said flatly. "She might be tall, but she's still a timid little girl. Not my type—especially not that tall."
"Hmph. We'll see. Is she really that timid?"
"Extremely. First time we met, a few sentences and she was on the verge of tears. Ann stuck with her for a long while—rubbed off on her, helped her be braver."
The gate guards recognized Karl and waved them through. They docked and were escorted toward the palace.
"King Neptune! Long time no see!" Karl called as the doors opened. Neptune and Shirahoshi stood waiting, with the Right Minister and Jinbe at their sides.
"L-Lord Karl, did Ann not come?" Shirahoshi asked, voice soft as foam.
"Not this time. We're just here to pick folks up, so Ann stayed at Tiger Roar to wait. Oh—this is my wife, Murphy Daphne," Karl said, introducing her around.
"Ho ho ho ho… Karl, this is Jinbe," Neptune rumbled.
"'Knight of the Sea' Jinbe—an honor. And thank you," Jinbe bowed. "I heard you dealt with Hody Jones' lot. I should have foreseen their hatred of humans turning so twisted."
He'd been away; when he returned and learned the details from Neptune, he blamed himself. Since Tiger's death, Jinbe was the one standing guard over Fish-Man Island in the light.
"Haha, don't stand on ceremony. Call me Karl. I've known of you for a long time." Respect colored Karl's tone—Jinbe was a man worth respecting.
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