During the following days of apparent truce, Tiberion resided in Ryugu Palace as a guest… although everyone knew he wasn't exactly an ordinary visitor.
And as if everything had already been decided by fate, Shirahoshi would arrive every morning, cheerfully, from her room to where he was.
And so, during their walks across the island, she followed him like a giant shadow, floating behind him with huge eyes full of wonder, looking at every corner as if she were seeing it for the first time.
And that's exactly how it was.
She would stop in front of the stalls, greet the children, and others.
He barely turned his head. Since his attention wasn't on anything Shirahoshi was saying, but rather on the gazes piercing his back.
Because wherever they went, silence followed them.
As they passed, the inhabitants discreetly made way, lowering their voices to murmur, with emotions such as fear, doubt… and something even harder to hide: envy.
"Do you see him...? That human… that human intends to marry our Princess Shirahoshi…"
"And His Majesty, King Neptune… is going to organize the wedding personally."
"If I'm not mistaken…" whispered another, "Only ten days remain."
The comments didn't stop. Some were filled with rage just by hearing it.
"WHAT DAMN LUCK! Princess Shirahoshi is the most beautiful and adorable woman on the entire island! And now she's going to end up with a mere human? WITH WHAT RIGHT!?"
"And even so…" added another, more fearful, "They say that in a single night, that man wiped out all the rebels who were against the King. More than ten thousand… massacred!"
"WHAT!?" Disbelief crossed several faces, "He massacred over ten thousand… alone?"
"That's what they say. And without weapons. With his bare fists."
"…Then he's not a human. He's a monster."
"What else could he be? You think His Majesty gave him the princess out of love? No, old man… it was because of power. Pure survival."
"Damn…" murmured another, lowering his head, "If that guy is human, then we're trash."
…
Meanwhile, in the depths of the palace, King Neptune was not wasting time.
He knew he couldn't openly challenge that human.
That's why, in secret, he had given orders to his most trusted men.
A shipment with royal treasures was prepared. Precious stones, sacred shells, among others. All packed with the utmost care.
And along with that gift… a formal request.
…
Three days later...
The currents of the Calm Belt roared slowly.
In the vastness of the sea, floating majestically like a sleeping leviathan, the Moby Dick rested peacefully. Its sails barely fluttered with the murmur of the water, and its whale-shaped bow pointed, as always, toward the horizon.
Onboard, the Whitebeard Pirates were gathered on the deck. The atmosphere was relaxed, but full of respect.
No one raised their voice more than necessary. No one interrupted the ship's natural rhythm… because he was there.
Edward Newgate. Whitebeard.
Imposing. Gigantic.
Seated on his special chair as if it were a throne. A barrel of sake by his side, his bisento planted into the deck like a declaration of power. His chest bare, crossed with scars from other eras. Above all, his iconic white mustache curved like a crescent moon.
But despite all the presence he radiated, tubes were attached all over his body — signs that he wasn't in his best condition…
Then, the fish-men arrived.
A small flotilla, sent from Fishman Island, boarded under the supervision of one of their own: Namur, captain of the Eighth Division, also a fishman, loyal to Whitebeard for years.
Namur escorted his compatriots through the ship's corridors to the center, where his "Father" was.
"Old man…" he said, slightly bowing his head, "There's been a problem on Fishman Island. King Neptune begs for your help."
"…"
Whitebeard remained silent for a few seconds.
He took his barrel with one hand, drank a long swig as if it were water, and then placed it back on the floor with a dry thud.
"Namur… if it concerns the fishmen… then you take care of it personally this time." His voice rumbled like a wave crashing against a mountain.
"Yes, old man," Namur replied with a slight nod, "That's exactly what I was thinking…"
But just then, one of the kneeling fishmen—young, trembling, with his hands pressed against the floor—dared to speak, almost choking on the sheer aura radiating from the being seated on the throne:
"M-Mister Whitebeard…! Mister Namur…!"
He barely lifted his head.
"That human who threatens our island… is formidable. He killed… more than ten thousand fishmen! And he did it alone, unarmed, with his bare hands!"
Silence fell over the deck.
Several pirates exchanged looks. Marco narrowed his eyes. Vista turned slightly.
But Namur frowned.
'Is he implying… that I'm not enough…?'
A roar of pride climbed up his chest… but he didn't let it out.
Namur took a deep breath, trying to swallow his pride.
Because even though it bothered him that his compatriots doubted him… that number wasn't something that could be ignored.
After all, an average fishman is ten times stronger than a human.
And those weren't just average fishmen.
And even so… they all died.
With nothing but bare hands.
A human… or a monster?
"More than ten thousand dead…?"
Whitebeard's voice thundered across the deck.
His tone wasn't raised, but the temperature seemed to drop several degrees instantly.
The expression on his face, relaxed just moments ago, turned completely cold.
Everyone present fell silent.
Because even though that man was a father to his crew, they all knew that when Edward Newgate took something seriously… it meant a storm was coming.
The Yonko narrowed his eyes.
"Fishman Island flies my flag." His voice echoed like the distant roar of a dark sea. "That territory is under my protection. And someone… dared to unleash a massacre there?"
One of the kneeling fishmen, swallowing hard, quickly nodded.
"Y-Yes, Lord Whitebeard… He did it with his bare hands. Just his fists."
"…"
There was an awkward silence among the division commanders on deck. Some remained with arms crossed, others exchanged curious glances… but no one seemed truly alarmed yet.
Curiosity, not concern.
"What's his name…?" Whitebeard asked with icy calm.
"Tiberion Hanma, sir."
Upon hearing it, several commanders began repeating the name under their breath.
"Tiberion… Hanma?"
"Tsk… Never heard of him."
"Though I gotta admit… the name sounds badass."
"Could he be one of those new lunatics from the New World?"
And that's when Jozu, the "Diamond Man," stepped forward.
With his arms crossed over his broad chest and a confident smile, he spoke up.
"Old man," he said with a deep voice and a spark in his eyes, "Why don't I go with Namur too? If this Tiberion guy really has strength… I want to see if his fists can handle the impact of mine."
"And while I'm at it," he added with a laugh, "I'll see if his raw power can surpass my diamond defense."
The captains chuckled quietly.
"..."
Whitebeard looked at him for a couple of seconds. Then, a smile full of experience appeared on his weathered face.
"Very well. Go with him."
Jozu nodded enthusiastically.
Whitebeard lifted the sake barrel once more, took a deep swig, and added:
"But when you return… bring me a good liquor."
"Heh. That'll be the first thing I do," Jozu replied, already turning toward the command stairway.
And so, the Captain of the Eighth Division, Namur, and the Captain of the Third Division, Jozu, set sail together heading south, bringing their respective men with them.
First, they sailed toward the Sabaody Archipelago, where they made a stop to coat their ships with the anti-pressure film necessary to safely descend to the ocean floor.
Meanwhile, the fish-men sent by King Neptune, after completing their mission, took the direct route through the seabed, moving ahead of Whitebeard's group. They traveled faster and without obstacles, to bring the news that the response was on its way.
…
One day later...
The sunlight of the sea filtered through the protective dome of Fishman Island, lighting the corridors of the Palace with a soft, bluish glow. The atmosphere, which had been heavy with tension until recently, now felt a bit lighter.
Neptune was seated on his throne when a guard and his two ministers entered quickly, kneeling at once.
"Your Majesty! We have already received a response from the Moby Dick."
The king's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. He rose immediately, with renewed energy.
"Hohoho! Whitebeard never disappoints!" he exclaimed, striking his trident against the ground with excitement.
"They've sent two full divisions!"
The minister on the left nodded, showing a faint smile.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The Third Division is led by Jozu, the 'Diamond Man'. His strength is… very great. Moreover, he possesses a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that makes him practically indestructible."
The other minister added:
"And the Eighth Division is led by Namur. They say his strength is comparable to that of Jinbē himself. If there's any difference between them… it's minimal."
Neptune allowed himself a deep sigh of relief. The weight on his shoulders, at least for now, seemed a bit lighter.
"Good. Guard, you may leave for now," he ordered with a firm but more relaxed voice.
The guard bowed and exited the hall.
Once he was alone with his inner circle, Neptune's expression changed. His gaze grew more serious.
Because deep down, his decision hadn't changed.
He had no intention of allowing his daughter to end up married to a ruthless killer.
"In these days," he said quietly, "I must find a way to distance Shirahoshi from that human before Whitebeard's pirates arrive and the conflict begins…"
The minister on the left nodded immediately.
"Majesty, with how much the princess likes that human, it wouldn't be strange if she gets frightened seeing him fight… or worse, if she cries."
"And if that happens…" added the one on the right with a tense expression, "It could trigger the arrival of the Sea Kings. If they ram the protective barrier surrounding the island… we could be facing a major catastrophe."
Neptune crossed his arms. He pondered for a few seconds, then spoke with confidence:
"That's easy to solve."
He snapped his fingers.
A few minutes later, the three princes entered the throne hall.
And they stopped in front of their father.
"Father, did you call us?"
Neptune looked at each of them one by one.
"I want you to get Shirahoshi away from that human. Find a believable excuse, something she won't question. It doesn't matter what it is. But keep her away…"
Fukaboshi was the first to respond.
"Don't worry, Father. Finding an excuse will be easy."
"Yes," added Ryuboshi confidently, "We know how to distract her without raising suspicion."
"We'll do it gently," added Manboshi, "And without causing another scene."
Neptune nodded, pleased.
"I trust you. If something goes wrong… it could mean the end of the island."
Shortly after, the three princes left the palace.
They already knew exactly where to go.
After all, their men hadn't stopped watching Shirahoshi and Tiberion for a single second since all of this began.
They knew the routes they walked, the places they visited, and even the time when Shirahoshi came out with fresh fruits to share with her "Tiberion-sama."
…
Shirahoshi walked happily, holding her gigantic multicolored cotton candy in her hands. Her massive tail floated behind her with joy, and her eyes sparkled as she saw the little stalls filled with food.
"Hehe, Tiberion-sama! Look, look! This one tastes like sweet pearl!" she said, offering him a piece.
But before he could respond, three figures stepped into their path.
"Brothers!" she exclaimed, surprised but still smiling, "What are you doing here?"
Fukaboshi stepped forward, speaking firmly but trying to sound as kind as possible.
"Shirahoshi, did you forget that you're getting married in ten days?"
Ryuboshi followed, with a smile that tried to sound calm.
"Father believes you still don't understand many of the customs and etiquette involved in a wedding."
And Manboshi finished with a more playful tone, though sweat was already shining on his forehead. "After all… you wouldn't want to embarrass yourself in front of the entire island during the ceremony, right?"
"That's why we've come," continued Fukaboshi, "To take you. A specialized teacher is going to teach you everything you need to know."
!
Shirahoshi stood still for a second.
Her smile slowly faded. She looked down at her cotton candy… and suddenly, it didn't taste sweet anymore.
Her chest hurt a little. Not because of the lessons. But because it meant she would have to be apart from him. From Tiberion-sama.
She slowly turned her face and looked at him with big, shining, dependent eyes. As if searching for one last sign, an excuse, a reason to stay.
"Tiberion-sama…" she murmured softly, "What… what should I do? Should I go…?"
Tiberion looked at her in silence.
And then, with a calm smile, a smile that showed no anger or rejection, but absolute trust in her, he nodded.
"Go," he said gently, "We'll see each other in ten days."
Shirahoshi nodded sadly. But before she could walk away, Tiberion slowly turned his head toward the princes.
And his smile changed. It was no longer pleasant.
It was dangerous.
"Tell your father," he began, in a low voice but with an authority that stung, "to choose well who will teach her."
The three princes felt a chill down their spines.
"I don't want to arrive on the wedding night and see that Shirahoshi doesn't know what it means to 'cooperate'," he added, lowering his voice a bit.
And then… he laughed.
A strange laugh.
It wasn't a loud chuckle, nor an exaggerated mockery. It was something darker. As if behind that sound vibrated a threat.
And in that instant…
Boom
An invisible pressure exploded into the air.
It wasn't Conqueror's Haki pressure, but his own aura, unleashed like a brutal wave that pushed the oxygen, shook the ground, and made the nearby crowd freeze in place.
Visible waves of energy expanded from his body, as if something dormant inside him had stirred for a moment.
Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi were paralyzed. Sweat covered their foreheads and their legs trembled uncontrollably.
To their eyes, that man was not a human being.
He was a demon.
Something primal held back by will, but capable of destroying them all if provoked.
"G-Glup…"
The three of them swallowed hard at the same time.
"Y-Yes… y-yes, Lord Tiberion," Fukaboshi replied, forcing a smile, "Don't worry! We won't disappoint you!"
"We promise!" added Manboshi, almost on the verge of collapsing.
"We'll do everything we can to make sure she learns… properly!" finished Ryuboshi, bowing as if he were in front of their father.
Shirahoshi, still a bit confused, turned her head one last time. Her eyes were sad, and her steps were slow, full of nostalgia. She walked beside her brothers, but her heart had stayed behind. With him.
She turned around several times, waving her hand, like a little girl saying goodbye to someone important for the first time.
Tiberion just watched her in silence.
And when he could no longer see her, he sighed.
"How dramatic she is…" he murmured with a half-smile.
Shortly after, he arrived at the Mermaid Cafe, where the atmosphere was calm. Some mermaids were working, others chatting in low voices. Everyone recognized him instantly, but no one dared to interrupt him.
He approached the counter and asked.
"Excuse me," he said in a relaxed tone, resting his arm on the bar, "Is the owner, Madame Shyarly, still absent?"
________
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