"…Be quiet."
Looking at the Megalo who was grinning at him, Dewey just narrowed his eyes slightly. The fifty-meter-long Megalodon was immediately frightened and broke out in a cold sweat. A look of human fear appeared on his face, and he quickly fled to a corner and trembled.
"Eh?!!"
At this time, Bai Xing was also awakened by the strange voice. Looking at Dewey floating in the air, her sleepy look was immediately replaced by shock. She shrank to the wall at the head of the bed, hugging a specially made huge pillow to cover her body and cheeks, revealing only a pair of beautiful blue eyes that seemed to be able to speak. She looked at Dewey with timid eyes and said in a voice as thin as a mosquito: "Arnold…you, who are you?"
"Nice to meet you, beautiful mermaid princess. My name is Dewey, and I'm your future companion!"
Dewey broke through the protective membrane on his body and flew in front of Shirahoshi. He smiled gently at the mermaid princess who was huge in size but extremely timid.
That smile that seemed like sunshine, and the emotion without any malice, successfully made Shirahoshi, who inherited her mother's "natural observation Haki", slowly put down the pillow. With two blushes on her cheeks, she said with uneasiness and curiosity in an uncertain tone: "Companion?"
"Um!"
Dewey nodded heavily, then stretched out his hand to Bai Xing and said with a smile: "Do you want to leave here with me and see the outside world?"
"Eh? Could it be that…"
Hearing Dewey's words, Bai Xing's beautiful blue eyes suddenly lit up, and her timidity was instantly replaced by surprise. She asked Dewey, "Master Dewey, are you from the outside world?"
"Well, I come from the world at sea."
Dewey sat cross-legged in the air and communicated with Bai Xing: "I have known you for a few years, but due to some reasons and your young age, I didn't come to find you."
"Now that you're 14, I think it's time to come find you."
Dewey stretched out his hand to Shirahoshi again and said with a smile: "You are the last piece of the puzzle of my fleet, Shirahoshi, come with me to see the outside world!"
"…No, I can't leave with you!"
Maybe it was because of her simple personality or her "natural observation Haki", but Shirahoshi's eyes became brighter because of Dewey's invitation. But the next moment, she seemed to remember something and said with a frustrated look on her face.
After the refusal, Bai Xing seemed to be afraid that Dewey would be angry, but she couldn't help her curiosity. She looked up at Dewey, who was still smiling, and said timidly, "Arnold… Lord Dewey, can you go to the world on the sea with me?"
"Are you afraid of Vander Decken IX?"
Dewey didn't answer, but continued to smile and said, "Don't worry about that. We have already dealt with that guy."
"Really…really?"
Bai Xing first opened her beautiful eyes wide, then looked at Dewey with admiration and said: "Wow… so awesome!!"
"So, will you join us?"
Looking at Bai Xing who had no doubts about him, Dewey's smile became even brighter, and he stretched out his hand to her again, inviting her: "So, are you willing to go out with me to see the outside world?"
"Uh-huh..."
In response to Dewey's third invitation, Bai Xing nodded like a chick pecking at rice, then stretched out her palm, which was not as big as in the original book, and tapped Dewey's palm with a finger that was almost as big as Dewey's.
Thus, the lifeguard and mascot of the "Flask" officially joined Dewey's group.
This was probably the crew member that Dewey recruited most successfully and easily.
In front of this "Mermaid Princess" who is as pure as a blank sheet of paper, no matter how perfect you appear, as long as you have a trace of malice towards her in your heart, you will be judged as the evil party by this chosen girl who possesses "Innate Observation Haki", and it will be almost impossible to win her favor.
Similarly, as long as she judges you as the kind party, you will gain her great favor even if it is the first time they meet.
This girl relies entirely on her intuition when it comes to making friends, and the key is that she doesn't have any friends yet.
So when faced with Dewey's invitation, this girl who longed for the outside world foolishly agreed.
"Come, I'll take you out of here."
Dewey was extremely satisfied with the mascot of the "Flask". After touching Shirahoshi's fingers, he took out a "bubble coral" from his body, created a swimming ring protective film for Shirahoshi, and then used the ability of the "Float-Float Fruit" to take her flying and flew towards the gate.
"Mekaro, here, here…"
Looking at the gate in front, Bai Xing waved excitedly to Mekaro who was huddled in the corner.
"Shark…"
Mekaro, who heard the conversation between Dewey and Shirahoshi, suppressed his fear of Dewey and flew back to Shirahoshi obediently.
"Arnold… Lord Dewey, can I go to the "Sea Forest" first?"
When the door opened, after not sensing the dangerous aura for a long time, the shadow that had accumulated in Bai Xing's heart for years finally dissipated. Then, as if he had thought of something, he asked Dewey with a nervous look.
"Of course, I will take you to see your father first, and then we will take you to the Sea Forest."
Dewey turned and smiled at Shirahoshi.
"...Um!"
Looking at Dewey's smile that was as warm as the sunshine, Bai Xing seemed to have achieved her dream of seeing the sun with her own eyes. Tears involuntarily overflowed from the corners of her eyes, and she nodded vigorously with a sob.
This crybaby finally cried.
But she didn't cry because she was scared by Dewey, but because she was moved.
Taking Shirahoshi back to the palace hall, Neptune couldn't help but sigh in his heart as he looked at Shirahoshi following Dewey with a smile on her face, and then a hint of anticipation emerged.
Otohime, this man… could it be that he is the 'key person' you mentioned who will appear in the future and guide Shirahoshi's abilities in the right direction?
"…Mr. Dewey, please help me take good care of Shirahoshi!"
After chatting with Shirahoshi for a while, Neptune bent his waist towards Dewey. At this moment, he was a great father who cared for his children.
"Leave it to me, King Neptune!"
Dewey also made the assurance with a serious expression.
"Before you leave Fishman Island, please come to see me, Lord Dewey."
Just as Dewey was about to take Shirahoshi away from "Ryugu Castle" and head towards the "Sea Forest", Neptune suddenly called him and said something meaningful.
"I see."
Dewey didn't look back, but the corners of his mouth rose slightly.