One Piece: Investing In Whitebeard At The Start.

Today, Fishman Island was full of joy, especially the Ryugu Palace, which was adorned with lanterns and vibrant decorations.

The celebration was to honor the benefactor of Fishman Island and mark Princess Shirahoshi's liberation—she was now free to live anywhere on Fishman Island, no longer confined to a narrow, hard-shell tower.

To commemorate the occasion, King Neptune declared that all expenses for the day would be covered by the royal family. The entire island rejoiced. Pirates and citizens alike joined the festivities in high spirits.

The main hall of the palace was vast, befitting the enormous fishman royal family. King Neptune and his three sons were all massive, and though Princess Shirahoshi was only thirteen, she too was enormous. As the future Poseidon, her size was no surprise—after all, the largest Sea King she could command was over five thousand meters long, and a single tail flick could easily endanger the entire island.

These behemoths still slumbered, awaiting her command to awaken.

On either side of the main hall were rows of low tables made of sea-prism stone. Normally reserved for royal use, these tables now held the finest delicacies of Fishman Island for the celebration. Commoners rarely had access to such luxury.

Seated at the tables were Neptune, his three sons, Madam Shyarly, and several other royal figures Vane didn't recognize—nor did he need to. Vane and Kalifa were treated as honored guests, as they should have been.

Each table was served by a graceful mermaid, among the most beautiful in the palace—and therefore among the most beautiful on the entire island.

Their appearances were flawless, and their elegance moved countless men. Dozens of them approached, each more stunning than the last, with subtle smiles and graceful movements.

Female fishfolk seemed favored by the gods, born with breathtaking beauty. This same beauty, however, made them targets. Even on Fishman Island, danger loomed—beyond it, their fate was often slavery.

They were too beautiful to ignore, too valuable to leave unguarded.

Some of the mermaids looked at Vane with admiration and a touch of flirtation. Vane, a human boy with monstrous strength and striking looks, was more than just a hero to them—he had become a legend, known for killing three Celestial Dragons. Though defeating a Navy admiral had impressed few, his stand against the Celestial Dragons struck a chord with the fishfolk. He had done something they all wished they could have.

Vane didn't pay much attention to the attention. He wasn't tempted. To him, Kalifa's beauty was already on par with any mermaid. Besides, he had no interest in women with tails.

(Why would anyone wanna fvck a fish?😕)

"Vane, your name is on everyone's lips here on Fishman Island!" said Madam Shyarly, seated beside him. "Everyone wants to meet you. Right now, you're the most popular person on the island!"

She regarded Vane with warmth. She had always appreciated his kindness toward the island, and her admiration had only grown. It wasn't just because he'd resolved their greatest internal threats—it was also because she foresaw his future.

In her eyes, Vane was destined to become a major figure in the world. And in the uncertain era of pirates, Fishman Island needed strong allies more than ever.

At present, Fishman Island was under the protection of Whitebeard, recognized by the World Government, and guarded by Jinbe, one of the Seven Warlords.

"I'm truly grateful," Shyarly said. "If it weren't for you, those two cancers would've continued to plague us."

Vane said nothing, just smiled. Two Devil Fruits had been enough to deal with two enemies. It was an excellent deal. Neither Hody Jones nor Vander Decken was particularly strong.

And yet, Fishman Island had nearly fallen into their hands—that said a lot about its vulnerability.

"Your Fishman Island is too weak," Vane said after a pause. "It can't survive in this world without strength. You understand that, don't you?"

"...I do," Madam Shyarly admitted. Still, such matters weren't hers to decide. She was only the owner of the Mermaid Café, with influence but not authority. The future of the island was in Neptune's hands, not hers.

After a moment, Vane looked at her curiously. "I heard you can divine the future. Can you read mine?"

"You want a reading?" Shyarly asked in surprise. "But I don't have my crystal with me."

She hesitated, then added, "I can't always see individual futures. What I see is the future of the world. And often, it's not a happy one. That's why I avoid divination—who wants to see misfortune?"

"Fair enough," Vane said. He'd also heard something else.

"Is it true that you predicted the Great Pirate Era when you were four?"

It was. Shyarly's prophecies were always accurate. Even before Gol D. Roger's death, she foresaw the chaos that would follow. Roger himself had visited Fishman Island and met her, but she had since distanced herself from prophecy. Seeing too much darkness had taken a toll.

"It was long ago," she said. "I could hardly believe it myself. I was just a child. But the Great Pirate Era began not long after, and the chaos was unbearable. Pirates fought over territory. War never ceased. And Fishman Island... we lived in constant fear. Every day was a nightmare. Many of our people were taken and sold into slavery across the world."

Her hands trembled at the memory.

"If not for the Whitebeard Pirates, we might've been destroyed. Even though we're part of the World Government, no Navy protects us. Sometimes, they even come to hunt us themselves."

She shook her head. "I'm sorry to bring up such painful memories at a time like this. The banquet is about to start."

She glanced at Vane apologetically.

"Whitebeard Pirates…" Vane murmured.

There was still more than a year left. As long as he didn't disrupt the course of history—like interfering with Blackbeard—the war at Marineford would proceed as expected, and the world would plunge into deeper chaos.

Whitebeard and Red-Haired Shanks stood apart from the other Yonko. They had no interest in the One Piece, and Whitebeard protected many islands, including Fishman Island.

The pirate world was stuck in a cycle of violence. Pillaging created orphans and trauma, which created more pirates. Few were born evil—most were broken by their circumstances.

Still, pity didn't make Vane naive. He wasn't a saint, but he wasn't a monster either.

"If anything happens to Whitebeard," he said quietly, "I'll protect Fishman Island."

Madam Shyarly looked at him, momentarily stunned.

Would something happen to Whitebeard? Rumors said his health was failing. Perhaps the legends of Roger's era were nearing their end.

She was about to ask more, but before she could, a commotion erupted outside the palace.

"It's Princess Shirahoshi! Look! Look at her!"

"She's the most beautiful mermaid I've ever seen!"

"That's Princess Shirahoshi?"

"She's stunning!"

"She's so huge... but so graceful! I've never seen such beauty!"

The crowd outside roared in awe.

To everyone, Shirahoshi was a peerless beauty. Though only thirteen, her charm was already apparent. In a few more years, her beauty would likely be unmatched.

Countless photos were taken. Her appearance left a lasting impression—an image of beauty destined to stun the world.

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Author's Note: Princess Shirahoshi is sixteen years old in the original timeline (1522). This scene takes place in 1519, so she is approximately thirteen at this point.

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