One Piece: Starting as a Marine Lieutenant, I Slack Off and Get Stronger

"It's a sea king!"

Karl was about to launch an attack, but then he thought, "Sea Kings? Aren't they Poseidon's underlings? Could it be that these Sea Kings are here to find Shirahoshi?"

That's right, that should be the case, otherwise they would have launched an attack long ago instead of just watching them quietly.

Bai Xing looked at these enormous creatures with some fear, her body trembling slightly.

Strange sounds kept echoing in my mind.

"Your Majesty! You've arrived!"

"Your Majesty, don't worry, we won't harm you!"

"king!...."

Shirahoshi cried out in pain and covered her ears tightly.

"No, stop talking!"

Karl turned to look at Shirahoshi. Shirahoshi's state was very strange at this moment. Could it be that she was about to awaken?

"Stop talking, all of you get out of here!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the sea kings began to move, reluctantly leaving the place.

"Shirahoshi, are those sea kings listening to you?"

Bai Xing replied, somewhat bewildered, "I think so! They said they'd listen to whatever I say."

"Then, why don't you try again?"

"Isn't this a bad idea? Shirahoshi just told them to leave."

"Try it!"

Bai Xing nodded, put her hands together, and whispered, "Everyone, come here to me!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed that every sea king could hear it clearly. They walked towards Shirahoshi without hesitation, waiting for the next instruction.

Now Karl is basically certain that Shirahoshi has awakened the ability to communicate with Sea Kings.

Although the awakening scene was somewhat unremarkable, she did indeed awaken; otherwise, the Sea Kings wouldn't have been so obedient.

"Shirahoshi, let them go. Let's go back to Fishman Island first."

"Oh! Wait a minute, let me talk to them."

On the way back, Shirahoshi noticed that Karl seemed to be looking at her strangely, so she couldn't help but ask, "Lord Karl, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Um, Shirahoshi, do you know Poseidon, the Sea King?"

“Poseidon? I think I’ve heard my father mention him, but I don’t really know what he is.”

“Poseidon is a mermaid princess with the ability to communicate with sea kings. She is the king of sea kings and appears once every 800 years. The last mermaid princess with the name “Poseidon” appeared in the “Void Century” 800 years ago. And now, you are Poseidon, the sea king.”

Shirahoshi covered her mouth in surprise: "Huh? I, I'm Poseidon, the Sea King? Am I that powerful?"

Karl said with great seriousness, "Poseidon, the Sea King, is known as an Ancient Weapon! He possesses the power to destroy the world, isn't that amazing?"

Bai Xing shook her head: "Is that how it is? But I don't want to destroy the world?"

Karl smiled and shook his head. This was also why Poseidon needed a guide. If it were controlled by an ambitious person, Poseidon would undoubtedly be a meat grinder at sea, practically invincible in this world themed around the ocean.

"Let's not talk about this now. I will speak to your father in person when we return to the Dragon Palace."

"oh oh!"

......

Dragon Palace City.

Upon learning that Karl and Shirahoshi were returning, Neptune had Jinbe and the Straw Hat crew leave early to avoid any unnecessary conflict.

Before Neptune could speak, Carl preemptively struck when he saw Shirahoshi and Carl approaching.

“Lord Neptune, there is something important I must tell you, and it concerns Shirahoshi.”

“Shirahoshi?” Neptune glanced at Shirahoshi, then said, “Please speak, sir.”

"The fewer people who know about this, the better. I think you understand what I mean."

"Ahem, you may all leave!" Neptune said casually.

"Yes!"

After his ministers had all left, Neptune asked anxiously, "Has something happened to Shirahoshi?"

“That’s right, when I took her out just now, Shirahoshi unexpectedly awakened.”

Neptune was shocked: "Awakened? So quickly? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

Karl pointed at Shirahoshi and said, "I saw Shirahoshi command the Sea Kings with my own eyes, don't you believe me?"

Neptune gasped and rushed to Shirahoshi's side: "Little Shirahoshi, how are you? Is anything bothering you?"

"No, Father, I am fine."

"We must not tell anyone that Shirahoshi has awakened into Poseidon, the Sea King, or the consequences will be unimaginable."

Neptune sighed deeply: "I understand, but you can't hide it forever."

"It's enough to keep it a secret for a while."

Chapter 304 The Person of the Promise

"By the way, Mr. Carl, could you describe how Shirahoshi awakened?"

"certainly..."

So Carl told Neptune about the slightly modified awakening process to avoid revealing his secret of being able to swim. He believed that Shirahoshi wouldn't talk nonsense, but Neptune might.

After listening to Carl's story, Neptune gave Carl a deep look, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Lord Karl, it seems you are the one promised in the prophecy!"

Bai Xing, standing to the side, asked curiously, "The one with the promise? What is the one with the promise, Father?"

Neptune leaned back slightly on his throne: "That is a prophecy that has been passed down among the merfolk royal family."

“Every eight hundred years, a mermaid with royal blood will awaken and become Poseidon, the Sea King. At the same time, a guide will be born, who will be responsible for guiding Poseidon and will also become the one of the covenant.”

"The one with whom we made a promise is Poseidon's closest companion and the only person in this world who can influence Poseidon's good and evil. Shirahoshi has become Poseidon, the Sea King, as she wished, and Lord Karl, you are Shirahoshi's one with whom she made a promise!"

Karl rubbed his cheek. So... the driver? Wait, something seems off.

“Lord Neptune, that’s a bit of a stretch! After all, I’ve only spent less than a month with Shirahoshi. How could I have become her closest companion? I’m a married man, you can’t just say things like that!”

“No, I’m serious, Lord Karl. I’m absolutely certain, because only those with whom a pact is made can earn Poseidon’s unconditional trust.”

"And from today onwards, both I and the residents of Fishman Island will naturally trust you unconditionally!"

"From this moment on, Fishman Island will do everything in its power to cooperate with your work. Please trust Fishman Island and trust me!"

Neptune's words were so sincere that Carl felt a little embarrassed.

Because Carl was never a rule-abiding person, he didn't care about ancestral teachings or rules, so he couldn't understand Neptune's actions.

But now that things have come to this point, it's impossible for Carl to refuse.

"Well! Since Lord Neptune has said so, I'll give you the bottom line as well. Fishman Island is a very important part of the Navy's future plans, and when the time is right, the Navy will find a way to help the residents of Fishman Island leave the seabed and live under the real sun!"

Neptune: "Really?"

Shirahoshi: "That's great!"

The reactions of the father and daughter reveal that Neptune doesn't fully trust Carl, but Shirahoshi would definitely believe anything Carl says.

"We were originally planning to tell you this news after the naval forces had settled down, but now..."

Neptune quickly replied, "Please rest assured, Fishman Island will absolutely cooperate with the Navy's work."

......

Seven days later, at Naval Headquarters.

"Your vacation this time was really long! But you got things done quite well. Neptune's attitude was so positive, how did you manage that?"

Carl waved his hand. He should have been back long ago, but Neptune insisted that Carl and Shirahoshi should spend more time developing their relationship and building a stronger bond, forcing him to start taking care of a child ahead of schedule.

"Alright, now that things have been settled, let's not have so many questions! Let's think about when to make our move against the Big Mom Pirates!"

Speaking of this, Kuzan got excited and said with great enthusiasm, "Everything is ready. We're just waiting for BIMMOM's tea party to begin. At that time, the Navy will launch a surprise attack on Whole Cake Island! We'll try to destroy Whole Cake Island within a day. As for Big Mom, that's up to you."

"Oh, so confident?"

Kuzan chuckled and said, "I have confidence in you."

"So how many troops are you planning to deploy?"

"A total of 30 warships, 2000 naval soldiers, 1000 naval officers, 15 rear admirals, 10 vice admirals, and 3 admirals."

"Wow~ that's quite a big spender! It seems like Bigom is doomed this time! You really know how to pick a day, choosing the time when the aunties are having a tea party."

Of course, Kuzan has given it serious consideration. According to sources, Big Mom hasn't had a food craving for a while, and the tea party was largely held to satisfy her appetite. Secondly, it was for some scheming. After all, with her power, no matter how much she schemes, she can't turn the tide.

This means that Big Mom is highly likely to experience a food craving at this tea party. If she does, she will be a highly dangerous mole who can greatly relieve the pressure on the Navy.