Taro was held against Shirahoshi's chest by her giant palm. The wonderful sensation made him lose himself for a while, and in the end, he almost started drooling.
Struggling to lift his head from the softness, Taro forced down the wicked thoughts in his heart.
"Shirahoshi, let go of me first. We can talk things through!"
Shirahoshi finally released Taro, her face filled with excitement and joy, almost on the verge of tears. "Lord Taro, thank you. You are truly strong!"
"Of course. Not only is my martial arts prowess high, but I'm also strong in other areas!"
Having just experienced the ultimate bliss of the mortal world, Taro felt a bit lightheaded and started talking nonsense again.
It couldn't be helped; Princess Shirahoshi was one of the three greatest beauties in the world, equal in fame to Boa Hancock!
This scene alone would make countless people cry with envy just by thinking about it!
"Lord Taro, really? Can I see for myself?" Shirahoshi asked with a cute, dazed expression.
"Err, well..."
Taro stumbled. "It's not very convenient. You're still too young!"
As soon as he said that, a mental image of a "toothpick stirring a giant vat" inexplicably popped into his head. His cheek twitched, and he lamented:
"No, it's that I'm too small!"
The joy Taro felt from receiving that "bliss" vanished instantly, and his mood plummeted.
Saying such a thing was the ultimate humiliation for a man, but facing Shirahoshi, it was an indisputable fact!
Noticing Taro's sudden depression, Shirahoshi asked blankly, "Lord Taro, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"
Yes, I'm very hurt!
Taro wanted to cry but had no tears. He waved his hand. "It's nothing. I just want some peace and quiet!"
Fish-Man Island Royal Palace.
Today was the happiest day for the Ryugu Kingdom in eight years. Ever since Queen Otohime passed away, Vander Decken's constant harassment of Princess Shirahoshi had cast a shadow over the entire kingdom.
Until today, that shadow had finally dissipated.
Vander Decken was escorted to the dungeon by the Sea King Army. Because the Bald Sea Monster was too massive for any cell to hold him, King Neptune banished him.
"Hohohoho, Vice Admiral Zhou Qi, I haven't felt this relaxed in a long time! Neptune!"
King Neptune raised a giant wine cup and toasted Taro.
Taro also raised his cup, clinked it from afar, and curled his lip speechlessly.
"King Neptune, let me emphasize once more: my name is Taro. Please stop using that joke; it's terrible!"
"Hohohoho, alright, Vice Admiral Taro! I actually think it's quite interesting, Neptune!" Neptune gave a mischievous smile.
Taro rubbed his forehead, too lazy to deal with this king's poor sense of humor. Fine, since I took advantage of your daughter today, I'll forgive you this once!
Thinking this, Taro cheered up and downed the wine in his cup in one go.
Taro's bold and straightforward manner earned the respect of everyone present. The Three Princes and the Grand Ministers of the Left and Right took turns coming forward to toast him.
Taro refused no one, drinking cup after cup until he was dead drunk and fell asleep leaning against a coral pillar.
"Taro, Taro!"
In his daze, Taro heard someone calling his name. He impatiently waved his hand in front of him. "Don't be noisy, I'm sleeping!"
"Taro, I want to ask you, is it possible for Fish-Man Island to move to the surface to live?"
Taro rolled onto his side and muttered, "Not now. It might be possible in two years or a few more years. Just wait, wait for that person to appear."
"Regarding racial discrimination, doing it like Queen Otohime—where it's just one-sided enthusiasm—won't work. After all, there's still too little understanding between humans and Fishmen!"
With his fish tail coiled beneath him, King Neptune was slightly taken aback. He didn't understand the "one-sided enthusiasm" metaphor, but he understood the meaning behind Taro's words.
"What will happen in two years? Who are we waiting for?" Neptune pressed.
"I don't know. Stop bothering me. I'm not Oda, what's the use of asking me?" Taro was annoyed to death.
Neptune was stunned upon hearing this. After checking to ensure no one was around, he leaned in and whispered into Taro's ear:
"Taro, are you a dead person?"
"Are you crazy?!" Taro's voice grew louder, full of impatience. He shifted his position to make himself more comfortable.
Then he muttered in a voice only he could hear, "Can't a guy just get some sleep?"
After being scolded by Taro, Neptune also felt he was being a bit crazy. Taro was a living person right in front of him; how could he be a dead person?
He gave a light chuckle, straightened up, and slowly swam out of the palace... Taro stretched, feeling the soft texture beneath him, and comfortably wiggled his body.
As expected of a royal palace, this bed is so comfortable to sleep in!
The next second, his eyes snapped open. Something felt wrong.
Then, he saw a giant mountain peak and its summit.
"Holy crap!"
Taro cried out in alarm and scrambled up.
"Good morning, Lord Taro! You're awake!" Shirahoshi was lying on her side on her giant bed, propping her head up with her arm, looking at Taro with a smile.
Taro finally realized where he had slept last night and hurriedly jumped out from the cleavage.
"Uh, how did I end up here?"
Holy crap, in a palace as big as Fish-Man Island's, is there not even a single spare guest room?
If there really isn't, I could have just kept sleeping in the main hall!
"Father and my brothers all drank too much yesterday and forgot to settle you in, Lord Taro. This is truly impolite!"
Shirahoshi said with a face full of guilt, "Everyone was so happy yesterday and got drunk, so... please, Lord Taro, don't be angry!"
Taro composed himself. "No, that's not the point. I mean, how did I end up sleeping in... here!"
"I'm the one who brought you over, Lord Taro!" Shirahoshi said proudly, then looked even more ashamed. "I'm so sorry, Lord Taro..."
"Oh, oh, it's fine!" Taro breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he hadn't initiated it, it was okay.
I knew it! There's no way I would do something so beastly!
"Um, you were originally sleeping over there, but you probably weren't used to it, so you crawled over to my side!"
Shirahoshi said, pointing to a small bed made of shells nearby.
Taro almost spat out a mouthful of blood. Holy crap, I crawled over here myself?
I really picked a damn good spot!
"Uh, th-this... I have things to do back at Sabaody. I'm leaving now, goodbye!"
Taro scratched his head for a while, unable to think of anything else to say. He quickly found an excuse and made a run for it.
Fish-Man Island Entrance.
"Vice Admiral, you're back?" Mike, who had been released, greeted him with a joyful face.
Taro hurriedly urged, "Let's go, let's go now! Back to Sabaody!"
"Ah? Vice Admiral, what happened?" Mike was very confused; the security signs hadn't even been set up yet.
Dammit, you talk too much!
"Don't dawdle, start the ship quickly!"
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