Madam Shyarly's reputation may not have spread far across the open seas, but within Fish‑Man Island, her abilities were deeply respected.
If she were ever to speak recklessly, her influence combined with her fame would be more than enough to shake the authority of the royal family.
Almost every word she uttered was accepted as absolute truth, and no one dared doubt her predictions.
It was as if her visions were merely stating facts that had already been decided.
El himself did not believe in such things as prophecy, but even he could not ignore her renown.
He had heard stories about her more than once in such a short time, and gradually, even he began to treat this supposed gift with a certain degree of caution.
Whether her words were favorable or dire, people believed them to be reality. And the fact that her predictions had almost always come true made El's officers feel uneasy as well.
At first, they had treated the reading as nothing more than a bit of fun, but now that the moment had arrived, their attitudes shifted.
"Listen here, Merfolk," Crocodile spoke sharply, issuing a warning.
"You'd better speak clearly and plainly. Do not try to mystify us. I trust you understand exactly what we expect."
Everyone present knew exactly what he meant.
But El waved him off. "Let her do as she will. If we are to hear a prophecy, I want to hear it exactly as it is."
"Understood, Captain. My apologies," Crocodile bowed and stepped back.
"Tch!"
Shyarly had her own supporters among the crowd.
They knew little of the El Pirates' true strength, but they had seen her prophecies come to pass time and again.
Hearing these outsiders speak to her with such arrogance, they refused to stay silent.
"Silence!"
Crocodile ignored them completely. These ordinary folk still had no idea of the situation.
They thought Shyarly's gift gave them leverage, yet they understood nothing of the power standing before them.
Even King Neptune himself would not dare speak to the El Pirates with such defiance.
Shyarly quickly raised her voice, "Quiet! I cannot see clearly if I am disturbed!"
In truth, she was also protecting her own people. As Arlong's sister, she knew very well the strength of the forces in Fish‑Man District.
She had witnessed firsthand how easily the El Pirates had crushed the entire rebellion without suffering any losses. Their power was beyond question.
Her crystal ball was no trick or deception—it was a genuine, supernatural ability. Besides Devil Fruit users, there were others in this world who possessed strange and extraordinary gifts.
BZZZT!
Even Shyarly herself, who had expected to perform a reading, was taken completely by surprise. Within the crystal ball before her, a surge of unimaginable energy suddenly erupted.
"Ah!"
Those standing closest and weakest were instantly blinded by the flash of light, so bright it was impossible to keep one's eyes open.
"What… what is this?!"
No one could see exactly what image was unfolding inside the sphere, but the look on Shyarly's face alone told them this was no ordinary prophecy.
Even El's officers sensed that something was wrong. We cannot let her speak anything unfavorable!
"Speak clearly and hold nothing back!" Crocodile demanded sternly.
He had been skeptical at first, but what he saw now made him hesitate. If her gift was real, and if she uttered something that could bring misfortune…
The officers were already weighing whether it would be safer to silence her immediately. The dignity and authority of the El Pirates could not be questioned.
And with her reputation, her words would carry weight across the island. They would not allow her to become an obstacle to their plans.
"No… no…"
Shyarly drifted backward, supported by her personal bubble, her face pale with shock. She glanced between El and the crystal ball in her hands, trembling.
"How can this be… Lord El… he… he will become the future Ruler of the Seas!"
Her voice was low with fear, but everyone within hearing distance—El's officers, and even the strongest warriors of Fish‑Man Island—caught every word.
"WHAT?!"
The Fish‑Men were stunned. Their lives depended on the ocean; if this man was truly destined to rule it, they knew they must treat him with the utmost respect from this moment onward.
"HA‑HA‑HA!"
The reaction among El's crew was entirely different—pure delight. Who would not rejoice to know their captain was destined for such heights?
They had always believed their crew would one day dominate the seas, but to have it confirmed by such a famous prophet filled them with even greater confidence.
Meanwhile, King Neptune, ruler of the island, received the news immediately.
"The future… Ruler of the Seas?"
A mere king of one island could not compare to someone destined to rule the entire ocean.
After all, the world was mostly sea. The future was uncertain, and anything could happen—but this came from Shyarly, whose predictions had never failed.
Neptune could not afford to ignore it. Mishandling this matter could lead to disaster.
At that moment, King Neptune remembered something important.
When news first arrived that the El Pirates had entered his waters, he had secretly sent word to the Whitebeard Pirates. By now, their flagship and crew were likely drawing closer.
If conflict were to break out between the Whitebeard Pirates and the El Pirates, the shockwaves of such a battle between two of the world's most powerful crews would be more than enough to destroy Fish‑Man Island itself.
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