Chapter 188: The Fish-Men Who Blocked the Way
"Will you help us, Lord Blue Demon?" Inside the rapidly descending psychic barrier, Princess Akatsuki continued to ask in her usual calm tone.
"John, huh?" Luo Han chuckled lightly, glancing at her thoughtfully. "I'll take care of him. That condition of yours—do you really mean anything?"
"Yes," Akatsuki replied without hesitation.
I see… Luo Han pondered, his eyes drifting slightly. A vague idea was forming in his mind—something to do with Ark Island—but he needed to test Akatsuki's resolve first.
He asked, "Then how about becoming my woman?"
"Hmm…!" The moment he said it, all five women—except Akatsuki—stared at Luo Han in stunned disbelief.
"Luo Han, you… shameless—" Aishi glared at him, voice frosty, but didn't get to finish.
Because Akatsuki responded, "Okay."
"Huh?! She actually agreed!" All five women stared at her in shock. They didn't expect her to really say yes.
Then they thought of her reason—it must be to save Fish-Man Island. Their collective gaze turned toward Luo Han again.
"That kind of low move—using a favor as leverage—really doesn't suit you, Luo Han!" Sister Spoon scolded coldly.
She couldn't believe Luo Han would actually do that… though she couldn't say it was impossible. Men, after all, were easily swayed by beauty.
"Heh, don't misunderstand. I was joking," Luo Han said awkwardly. "Just wanted to test her resolve."
Seeing he had angered them, he quickly dropped the subject.
"Princess Akatsuki, I have an island in the New World. I'd like to invite you and some fish-men to live there someday. That's my condition."
After a moment of thought, Akatsuki replied, "I can go. But I can't make that decision for the others."
"Hmph. So in the end, you just want her there," Aishi said with a sour expression.
"…." Luo Han fell silent.
Maybe that test wasn't such a great idea after all. Though… honestly, perhaps he had been tempted. Looking at her flawless beauty and that enormous mermaid tail…
Forget it. He shook his head. I'm human—no weird thoughts. That's dangerous ground.
"Enough of that. We're almost at Fish-Man Island," he said.
They had passed the undersea waterfall and entered the region of deep-sea volcanoes.
Luo Han had already sensed the island with his spiritual awareness and pushed the barrier forward at greater speed.
…
Soon, outside Fish-Man Island's protective bubble, fish-men who had fled the island gathered, watching anxiously.
Luo Han's group arriving in their barrier immediately caused a stir.
"No! Princess Akatsuki has been captured by humans!"
Deep-sea fish-men, with sharp eyesight, immediately spotted the slave collar around her neck—and chaos broke out.
Hearing this, others turned and looked, instantly erupting with rage.
"Go inform Prince Neptune! We'll hold those humans off—they're trying to take our princess!"
A captain-level guard shouted and led a charge of over a hundred soldiers toward Luo Han.
"This… is a bit much," Luo Han muttered, halting the barrier and glancing between the crowd and Akatsuki's collar.
He sighed, facepalming. He had forgotten to remove it.
Though, honestly, even without the collars, these fish-men wouldn't let a human just stroll off with their princess.
Luo Han could sense their hatred—directed at all humans, no exception.
"I'll go explain," Akatsuki offered, stepping forward.
By now, countless fish-men had completely surrounded them—layers deep. Most were civilians who had evacuated earlier.
Out of fear, none dared attack. Yet.
"Wait, let me get rid of those collars first."
Luo Han stopped her, and with a thought, removed both collars, compressing them with psychic force.
Pop pop! Two quiet explosions echoed. The detonations were fully contained by Luo Han's power and vanished deep into the sea.
"It's done. Go on. Tell them to stand down—your father's nearly at his limit," Luo Han said softly.
Through his spiritual sense, he could see that the fish-man battling John was gravely wounded and barely holding on.
"Understood," Akatsuki replied and, with Shouji, exited the barrier into the sea.
They were met by a massive shadow—Prince Neptune had arrived at full speed.
"Akatsuki! Shouji! Are you two alright?" he called anxiously, relaxing only after seeing their collars were gone.
"No time. Have them stand down!" Akatsuki said firmly.
But Neptune didn't listen. Instead, he pulled her behind him protectively and glared at Luo Han. "Did these humans capture you? Don't worry. I won't let them harm you again."
"They're here to help!" Akatsuki quickly said. Turning to the others, she raised her voice. "Everyone, please move! These humans are not enemies—they came to help Fish-Man Island!"
"…?"
The crowd looked at each other in confusion. Help? From humans?
To them, Luo Han looked no different than the pirates attacking their home.
"Akatsuki, are you being threatened?" Neptune asked suspiciously.
"You—" Akatsuki began, frustrated.
…
Seeing Akatsuki and Neptune still arguing—
"Shouldn't we just go deal with John already? Why are we still waiting?" Sister Spoon asked.
With Luo Han's power, these fish-men couldn't stop him.
"I said I'd help, but I'm not a saint. If they want my help, they need to let me pass. I won't force it," Luo Han said firmly. "You all too—don't interfere."
Seeing his serious expression, the women nodded.
"Understood."
They turned their gaze to Akatsuki, silently urging her to hurry up.
Realizing no one believed her, Akatsuki had no choice but to spell it all out.
"I was captured and taken to Sabaody as a slave. These people rescued me!" she said, pointing to Luo Han. "That man is the Blue Demon, a powerful pirate from the New World. He's the only one who can defeat John. Please, let us through!"
Akatsuki tried her best. But she had underestimated the fish-men's hatred.
They weren't all as rational as her. Most didn't have Shouji's ability to sense malice with Observation Haki.
Instead of backing off, the fish-men surged forward.
"You humans… you made our princess a slave!!! This is unforgivable!"
"Kill them!"
They had heard only one part: Akatsuki had been enslaved. The rest, they simply refused to believe.
Worse, they suddenly seemed emboldened—perhaps knowing Luo Han wasn't a killer, they assumed he wouldn't hurt them.
"Classic weakling mentality," Luo Han thought grimly. "Lashing out at the ones who show mercy, just to vent your helpless rage."
He felt no sympathy.
He wasn't some idealistic hero. If they attacked him, they'd die. No discussion.
"Please, stop! Don't attack them!" Shouji cried out in panic, sensing the killing intent building in Luo Han's heart.
But no one listened to a mere maid. The crowd pressed closer.
"You…" Akatsuki's patience finally snapped.
She couldn't understand it. She'd told them these humans were saviors—why weren't they listening?
She looked to Neptune for help.
But he too was lost in his fury. "They took you to the surface as a slave?!" he roared, charging at Luo Han.
That was… quite the interpretation. Luo Han rolled his eyes.
Akatsuki rushed forward, slapped Neptune—twice.
Smack! Smack!
He froze. The other fish-men stared, dumbfounded.
Their princess had just struck their prince… over a human?
"Are you stupid?!"
"And the rest of you too!"
"Didn't you hear me? They saved me from slavers! Are you all brain-dead?!"
Akatsuki scolded them, still in her deadpan tone—but her sheer volume conveyed her fury.
Everyone froze in place. No one had ever seen this side of her.
"I'm going to save my father now. If anyone tries to stop me—just kill me!"
She turned to Shouji. "Let's go."
"Okay…" Shouji murmured.
Together, they swam to Luo Han's barrier—never once glancing back at Neptune.
"Let's move," Akatsuki said, pointing forward, and the two began leading the way.
The fish-men, thoroughly scolded, stepped aside without a word.
"Let's go, Luo Han," Aishi said, tugging on his arm.
They could tell Akatsuki was trying to lead him directly, hoping he wouldn't stubbornly wait for permission.
The women now understood: the hatred these fish-men bore for humans was deep—unreasonably so. Clearly, they'd suffered immensely.
So Aishi , letting go of her jealousy, decided to help Akatsuki.
"Fine, fine. You're the kind one, I'm the cold one," Luo Han muttered, shaking his head as he followed her.
With a thought, he propelled the psychic barrier forward, following Akatsuki.
(END CHAPTER)
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