NOVEL NEXT Freedom III
I spent two days with Sandersonia and Shirahoshi travelling across Fishman Island and enjoying the attractions, playing games, chilling on a private beach and splashing water on the cheerful massive princess.
I had dinner with Otohime and Neptune a few times in which it looked like they wanted to tell me something but were refraining from doing it. And I already knew what they wanted to tell me but decided to not push the issue and just relax with Shirahoshi, she's too pure and lovely to be involved in politics so quickly.
Yes, for the last two days, I experienced freedom... freedom like the one being experienced now in Wano I presume, and... it felt weird. I'm so used to either fighting or working that when I do something like this it feels weird but enjoyable nonetheless.
For the past five years, I'd dealt with everything. Whenever there were any issues I'd crush them with iron hand. Any criminals in my territory would be dealt by me. Any invaders I'd put in prison... when the marine wanted to mess with me I obliterated the world government. My mother and Primrose had already told me that I should tone it down and relax but I just couldn't.
I guess it is one of the detriments of becoming a lightning human. It wasn't only my body that became quicker, my mind did too and it has become difficult for me to give it a rest out of now. My army is powerful, and my girls are powerful but it just feels like everything will be done faster if I deal with it.
I wonder if that was the reason why Hancock didn't want to rely on me. All of that overworking behaviour concluded in this... a near-death experience against the person -who I am completely convinced- is the most powerful individual in this world.
And if she isn't then goddamn... who is it? I wouldn't even want to know.
...
Sandersonia tells me at all times that the girls are okay, they're coming back soon and I don't have to worry.
My mother is together with Robin in Wano, I'd expect the latter to be in Wano since she's so interested in the void century and Wano seems to be a treasure stove in that regard. Once they sort out the new Shogun and the alliance terms, they will return.
Hancock, Marigold and Primrose sailed towards the New World just recently carrying half of the national tribute which is to be distributed to Dressrosa and Wano. I was not present during the negotiations, Prim also didn't reveal lots but as far as I can tell things weren't so smooth. Gion and Kuzan departed with the other half of the national tributes and the whole ship, they also took alongside them the crew of the injured celestial that had fallen adrift, Otohime, as kind as she is, had given that person asylum in the palace.
Before and after sailing Gion didn't even call me... that's the reason why I know something happened but nobody wants to tell me anything yet. Sandersonia is like a magician... every time she embraces me into her chest my anxieties disappear like a puff of smoke.
And so... for the first time since my marriage, I let my wife do everything and lazily lay my back on Sandersonia's body, using her chest as my big pillow as we enjoyed the artificial sunshine of the fishman island with a couple of lemon slices in our eyes, Shirahoshi humming beautiful songs alongside the subtle noise of the waves splashing at the shore.
Peace.
"Are comfortable, little brother?~"
"Like never before".
"Do you like this song, my lord?~"
"It is lovely".
"Would you like a beverage? I can bring it!"
This girl is so cute she's about to move me to tears.
"I'm good Shirahoshi, just relax alright? Also, you don't need to call me lord, Veyron is okay"
"I wouldn't dare!".
Could it be that she's still scared of me because I shocked her mistakenly the other day? I could only sigh and let her address me as such, she enjoys being a cute and well-behaved girl so I'll have to spoil her later for that.
Soon enough one of the royal guards of the Ryugu Palace standing nearby patrolling approached us, he was carrying a newspaper.
"S-Sir we just received this, we thought you may be interested".
"Thank you, hmn... let me see".
It was quite handy, I haven't read newspapers for weeks... and for the last two days, I even forgot they existed. This time the newspapers were quite packed up talking about the 'aftermath' of a catastrophe that had taken place in the new world with many Emperors of the Sea Involved.
'The Devil God, Dracule Veyron... 6 Billion Bellies'.
I went from Dark Mantle to Demon Child, to Lightning God and now I'm a Devil God... Kinda miss the days when I was just Dark Mantle sucking mommy's tits not gonna lie.
The newspapers spoke about Dressrosa, the national tributes, the threat that we posed to the world due to stealing it and how wicked of an individual I was for even dare threaten the world nobles... all the propaganda crap they always do. Turns out Prim has a bounty of eight hundred million bellies. She's barely involved in anything and yet she has this bounty, likely because she's involved with me, that's the only reason.
Hancock, Sandersonia and Marigold's remained the same, two billion and one billion respectively. Robin's bounty increased too to two Billion Bellies. I wonder what the reason for this is... she is not publicly known to be related to me except for the time when I busted up Ennies Lobby and it was partly because of her. I think it may be related to that mysterious woman and her manipulation of darkness that seemed to match Robin's... I'll ask her later.
Aside from that, there wasn't much to read in the newspapers... I'm surprised my mom's title as a warlord hasn't been removed after this incident as she proactively hunted a knight of god. I guess it is still profitable for them to keep her there.
I put the newspaper away and Shirahoshi picked it up to read it.
"Emperor of the Sea..." She looked between me and my wanted poster as if to confirm the person with those many zeroes in his bounty was really me.
That's right, I'm an Emperor of the Sea now, the worst part is the bastard Kaido is still alive so he should step forward and get his title back; taking me out of this mess. Being an Emperor is equal to being in the spotlight and having all your actions analysed and scrutinized by every single damn organisation and kingdom on earth.
Other hooligans like Shanks who go and come to their liking without accountability don't really care about being in the spotlight. Kaido went out of his way to get into a country with closed borders and that's why the marine could never get information. But in the case of Whitebeard and Big Mom, their every action is under the world government's lenses. I know because Stussy hands me over that information all the time.
Cypher Pol 'Aigis' Zero exclusively takes the surveillance of high-profile individuals and not only them but everyone around them too. I'm essentially a true emperor who reigns on Shandora, Amazon Lily and Rusukaina. Now also Wano and Dressrosa… the way things look Fishman Island is likely to join there too. Due to that, it won't be weird to find a few funny bastards trying to infiltrate us.
What a pain in the *ss.
"My lord, c-could it be… you're not having fun?" Shirahoshi seemingly detected my projected annoyance, removing me from my deep thoughts and remembering that I shouldn't be worried about those things, these are my holidays.
"N-No! I absolutely am!"
"Little brother you're overthinking again..."
"I'm not, Sonia. It is just... things".
She turned me around with a slight glare, "What are you worried about?"
Many things. But if I had to mention one right now, it would be... "Gion departed without talking to me… even though I told her to stay. Do you think I should call her?"
It was bugging me. Our relationship was complicated but not to the point she'd just leave without saying a word, not even a goodbye see you later.
"If you love her you should, little brother... do you want a den den mushi?".
"Please..."
Hearing our conversation it was Shirahoshi who called the guards and requested a Den den mushi.
I sat up on top of Sandersonia and made the call, let's hope things go well. Of all my lovers she's by far the most problematic.
***
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