Chapter 17 The Player's Brainwashing Trilogy (Major Revision...)
Even before Tiger contacted Neptune, Neptune cautiously sought out Shirley, the manager of the Mermaid Cafe who possessed prophetic abilities, and asked her to perform a divination to predict the outcome of their encounter.
"That is a variable beyond fate, an unpredictable natural disaster."
The hand with purple nail polish moved away from the crystal ball, and the hooded Shirley looked at Neptune, who was frowning, and said, "Be careful."
Neptune rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought. It was hard to imagine that such an innocent little girl would be given the title of "walking calamity." But Shirley's prophecies had never been wrong. She had accurately predicted two major events: the birth of the mermaid princess and the arrival of the Great Pirate Era.
However, Fishman Island desperately needs an opportunity to connect with the land. Ever since the Pirate King Roger was publicly executed, the world has entered a period of great chaos. The strength of the Navy and pirates has increased dramatically, and the number of pirates choosing to coat their bodies and venture into the deep sea has been increasing day by day. Fishman Island's idea of relying on its geographical advantage to remain unscathed has become increasingly difficult to realize.
Neptune rubbed his temples, and just then, he caught a sweet fragrance. Princess Otohime walked gracefully ahead, followed closely by waiters carrying huge trays laden with various exquisite desserts and steaming cups of fragrant black tea.
Neptune, who hadn't been eating much lately due to anxiety, smelled the aroma and his stomach rumbled twice. He looked gently at the smiling princess approaching him, his hands resting on either side of the throne as he prepared to rise and greet her…
Queen Otohime walked straight past him.
Neptune: ? ? ?
He stared blankly at the princess, who seemed not to see him, and said in a daze, "Darling, this dessert?"
Queen Otohime blinked innocently at King Neptune on the throne as if she had just noticed him, then clapped her hands: "Ah, it's like this, Violet is playing with Shirahoshi, this is afternoon tea for them."
"Shira...Hoshi?" Neptune wondered if he had misheard. His young daughter, Shirahoshi, had always been timid and introverted. She would be frightened even when talking to mermaids of her own kind, let alone humans.
Shirahoshi was actually playing with a human she'd only met once today? Neptune suspected he was just too tired lately and was even hallucinating.
Queen Otohime: "Oh dear, the tea is getting cold. I'll be going now. If you want some, there's still some left in the kitchen. Have a guard get it for you."
After Queen Otohime finished speaking, she left in a hurry with a group of people.
Neptune: ...
He eats leftovers. Is it reasonable for a king to eat leftovers?!
Neptune felt that his family needed to be saved more than Mermaid Island.
——
Tiger, who had only spent less than half a day catching up with his friends on Fishman Island, was hastily summoned to the Dragon Palace by King Neptune. When he saw Violet snuggling up to Princess Shirahoshi and enjoying being fed by Queen Otohime, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
No wonder the king looked at him with such a resentful expression when he met him; so that's why.
Violet is a straightforward and innocent good girl, and Queen Otohime and Princess Shirahoshi are both born with Observation Haki, making them very sensitive to the emotions and feelings of others. It's quite normal that they would become familiar with Violet so quickly...
This is absolutely not normal!!!
As Violet opened her arms and begged Princess Otohime for a hug, Tiger suddenly stepped forward and pulled Violet up.
"What are you doing?!" Tiger exclaimed in disbelief. "Didn't we agree to make a deal with the Fishman King?"
Violet: "Oh dear, I forgot."
Queen Otohime: "It's alright. Neptune hasn't had anything to do lately and has been staying at the palace. You can go see him whenever you have time."
Tiger: "..."
Queen Otohime, do you still remember who you are actually related to?
Perhaps Tiger's shocked expression was too obvious, because Violet actually understood his emotions. She walked up to Tiger, stood on tiptoe, and patted his abs with difficulty.
"Don't worry, I'm not here to break up this family, I'm here to join it."
Tiger: "...What?"
Vera lifted a strand of hair and turned her head to show him her ear.
The obviously inhuman fin-like ears made Tiger frown. After observing them carefully and confirming that they were not just realistic decorations, but really grew from Wil's body, Tiger's worry was quite obvious.
"What happened? How did this happen? Should we see a doctor?"
To his shame, Tiger was already considered a "human expert" on Fishman Island because of his past experiences. However, after meeting Violet, his past stereotypes about humans were overturned and rebuilt by Violet from time to time, making Tiger a little doubtful about his existence as a fishman.
But... would a human have ears like that?
Violet: "Of course humans don't have ears like that. I've changed roles now, I'm a fishman, a fishman!"
Even mermen don't look like you!
Violet jumped up and down: "How can I not be a merman? I still have scales, and I even unlocked the merman's exclusive blueprint!"
Violet made a grand promise to Tiger: "Once I've built the [False Murloc Throne], I'll make you the new Murloc King!"
Tiger wiped his face, deciding to pretend he hadn't heard anything. He picked up Wille with one hand and covered her mouth tightly with the other to prevent her from saying anything more "disrespectful".
“Your Highness, Princess, I will take this child to see King Neptune first.”
Queen Otohime took a sip of tea and waved goodbye to Violet with a smile. Shirahoshi was clearly reluctant to part with this "super interesting" and "more amazing than her father" new friend, and her eyes welled up with tears again.
Bai Xing: "Hmm... It's okay, I'm not sad. Weir must come back soon."
Tiger: "..."
Why does he seem like a bad fishman who bullies children?
Tiger walked into the room, completely bewildered, and then left with Vera, looking utterly disillusioned.
Violet, held in his arms, looked at Tiger with quiet and obedient demeanor.
Tiger: "...Go see King Neptune."
Facing the majestic and imposing King Neptune, Violet greeted him quite naturally: "Hello, King of Mermaids."
After speaking, Violet took out the bird eggs that she had prepared in her pocket and backpack and handed them to the other person.
Neptune: ?
Vera looked at Neptune expectantly.
Completely baffled by what Val was doing, Neptune suddenly felt something hard bumping against him from under his tail. He reached down and pulled it out, finding a shiny gold nugget.
Neptune: Who put this kind of thing on his throne?
Violet: "Wow, thank you, Mermaid King!"
Violet happily took the gold nugget and put it in her pocket, then gave the other person all the bird eggs that had fallen from the tree that she had in her pocket.
Neptune looked pained. He raised his tail, and the movement caused the gold nuggets on the throne to fall down with a clatter. Violet picked up all the falling nuggets.
Vera: "Wuhu~"
Seeing Vera's genuinely joyful smile, even the usually serious Neptune couldn't help but relax a little.
He suddenly no longer wanted to follow the ministers' suggestion to sign one useless treaty after another through a series of heated debates and digging countless pitfalls, all while maintaining mutual distrust.
Violet is still just a child.
If the treaty were truly effective, how could they, who became members of the constituent republics and concluded a treaty of friendship with humanity 200 years ago, still be subject to discrimination?
Fishman Island needs allies to become a member republic, and it needs friends to change the current situation of mutual discrimination between fishmen and humans.
Just like Violet and Shirahoshi.
[You have obtained the achievement: [Fishman Island]]
[Faction affinity is now available; players can view it in the interface.]
The quest "The Promise of the Deep Sea" has been launched.
[Description: Even in the depths of the ocean, we have basked in the same sunlight. Success is achieved when Fishman Island achieves a "friendly" or higher relationship with 70% of its member republics.]
A new section appeared on the player's panel, with the factions roughly divided into four categories: [Navy], [Pirates], [Republics], [World Nobles], and an unlocked gray faction marked with asterisks.
There are seven levels of affinity between different factions and between factions and players: [Zombie], [Host], [Alert], [Neutral], [Friendly], [Ally], and [Oath].
Violet clicked on each one.
[Naval Forces]
[G7 Branch (Alert)], [Naval Headquarters (Alert)]...
[Pirate Faction]
[Red-Haired Pirates (Friendly)], [Whitebeard Pirates (Friendly)], [Sun Pirates (Allies)], [Big Mom Pirates (Strangers)]...
[Federation Republic]
[Fishman Island (Friendly)]...
[World Nobles]
[CP Department (Alert)]...
[****(Unlocked)]
The Whitebeard Pirates? That's strange. When did she come into contact with this pirate crew?
While Violet was checking her newly unlocked panel, Neptune also gathered his thoughts. He stepped down from his throne, walked to Violet's side, and sat down on the steps without any kingly demeanor.
Of course, given Neptune's height of 10 meters, even if he sat down, Violet would still have to strain to look up at him.
Neptune was amused by Violet's appearance. He laughed twice and put aside the huge crown and harpoon that symbolized his status and position.
"Little girl, would you like to hear a story?"
Neptune told her about the past of Fish-Man Island, from the promise made 800 years ago, to the ancient ship "Noah" that the Fish-Men protected during their time, from the history of Fish-Men being regarded as fish and aliens, to the fact that 200 years ago, the Dragon King Palace became a constituent republic and forged a friendly alliance with humans, yet they still faced discrimination...
Neptune sighed with emotion.
“My wife, Otohime, believes that the residents of Fishman Island should move to the mainland and live there. She hopes that humans and fishmen can understand each other and end that wrong hatred in our generation.”
“Shari’s divination predicted that you would be the variable on Fish-Man Island.” Neptune looked at Violet. “You do indeed possess amazing abilities, being able to become friends with Shirahoshi on your very first meeting.”
Neptune: "As one of the few human friends of Fishman Island, I'd like to hear your advice."
Violet: "..."
Vera, who had been skipping through the audio without listening, quickly went to check her history.
Oh no, why can't I watch the skipped dialogues again in this game? I need to reload, reload, damn it!
Neptune was still waiting for her answer.
A bead of cold sweat rolled down Vera's forehead.
Stop being so dense! Think of something! Use your usual ability to make up stories and then elevate them to a higher level in your Chinese essays!
Violet: "I think the most important thing is... bonds!"
Neptune: "...Bonds?"
Violet suddenly raised her arm and grasped Neptune's huge hand that was hanging down at her side.
Violet: "That's right, don't underestimate the bond between us!"
"Dreams, passion, and bonds—with these three things, you're bound to succeed!"
Neptune: "Is that so?"
“Of course.” Vera pointed to Neptune. “A dream.”
She pointed to herself again: "Passionate."
She patted Neptune's hand: "Bonds."
"Please feel free to leave everything to me."
Neptune looked at their clasped hands and remarked, "I never imagined that someone your age would have such a profound understanding of the world."
"Yes, with goals, the drive to act, and the help of friends, what in this world can't be accomplished!" He had been trapped on this throne for so long that he had even forgotten his past self.
Tiger was right; this child is indeed a straightforward and sincere person.
I taught him a lesson.
'At worst, I'll just check the forums for guides,' Vera thought to herself with a smile.
A note from the author:
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