บท 123: Welcome to the New World!
A week had elapsed, and the world's attention was fixated on new developments. Whitebeard, a name synonymous with fear and respect in the pirate world, had officially claimed Fishman Island as his territory. He warned that anyone foolish enough to disturb the peace there would have to reckon with him. Some had doubted the gravity of this announcement until one of Whitebeard's fleets eradicated pirate crews aiming to kidnap mermaids from the island. The message was clear: Fishman Island was under Whitebeard's protection.
For Jack, Fishman Island had served its purpose. He had seen all there was to see and gathered what information he needed. A tinge of excitement flickered in his usually calm blue eyes at the thought of their next destination: the New World.
Standing on the edge of the bar, Jack looked out at the endless ocean. "Time to set a new course," he said, his voice tinged with the eagerness that came when a new adventure was on the horizon.
Ponis, holding a map and looking up beyond the bubble as if trying to glean some secret from it, nodded. "The New World, huh? Never thought I'd get this far."
Titi grinned, holding onto a rope as she leaned against the mast. "Well, if it's adventure we're after, there's no place better."
Robin wobbled over to Jack, her small hand tugging on his pants. "Are we going somewhere new, Daddy?"
Jack picked her up, setting her on his arm. "Yes, Little One. Somewhere with new skies and new seas."
Aria, overhearing the conversation, looked at her father. "Will there be treasures and strange animals?"
Jack smirked, his gaze softening as he looked at his daughter. "Plenty, Princess. Maybe even some things you can add to your collection."
As Jack spoke about the new horizons ahead, he felt a subtle change in the atmosphere. A quick rustle of fabric, the faint scent of the ocean mingled with something floral; and then, Otohime was there. She reached out hesitantly and grasped the back of his shirt, anchoring herself.
"Jack," she began, her voice quivering slightly as she kept her gaze lowered. "Are you leaving?"
"Yes," he replied, a simple affirmation devoid of any emotion except for a hand that found its way to her shoulder. She had been a pillar of support during their time on Fishman Island, and his family had grown fond of her. But Jack was not the type to ask anyone to join him; that was a choice they had to make on their own.
Otohime was visibly torn, her lips trembling as she bit her lower lip. "How will everyone fit on your boat?" Her thoughts seemed to reorganize, and she quickly added, "You'll use the space to keep your family safe?"
Jack only nodded again. Words weren't necessary.
"Is the space large?" she finally asked, her voice so soft it was barely audible.
Again, he nodded.
A momentary silence stretched between them, each contemplating the unsaid. Otohime broke it, her voice fragile as if she feared his answer. "Is it...is it big enough for another person?"
Jack raised his hand to lift her chin gently, forcing her to meet his eyes. For a rare moment, a sincere smile touched his lips. "It is," he assured her.
Otohime's face lit up like the moon's glow on the water. She hugged him tightly, overwhelmed by relief and newfound hope.
Amelia and the others smiled as they watched the touching moment unfold between Jack and Otohime. Shakky shook her head, a soft smirk playing on her lips. "It's almost like déjà vu," she mumbled to herself. She'd seen the power of Jack's presence before; it was a quiet but palpable force that changed things and people around him, herself included.
With Otohime as the newest addition to the family, Jack focused on the task at hand. He carefully placed everyone into the pocket space provided by the Bodily Refinement Bead. The Bead Rider, now unburdened, lightly touched down on the river that led to the exit of Fishman Island.
The Bead Rider glided effortlessly through the underwater tunnel, its ethereal glow illuminating the surrounding darkness. Jack sat alone at the helm, steering the vessel with practiced ease. His family were tucked away safely in the isolated island within the Bodily Refinement Bead. There, they were shielded from potential hazards, at least until they reached the relative safety of the open sea.
The tunnel began to widen, the immense bubble that contained Fishman Island growing smaller behind him. Soon, the protective barrier separating this underwater refuge from the unforgiving depths of the ocean came into view. Jack's usually calm blue eyes took on a more vivid hue, signaling his anticipation. The New World awaited them on the other side, a realm of untold adventures, dangers, and opportunities.
As the Bead Rider approached the colossal barrier separating Fishman Island from the ocean depths, Jack engaged the latest feature from Shipwright Tom's upgrades: the Coating Bubble. With a flick of a lever, a shimmering bubble enveloped the boat. Essential for underwater travel, this innovation protected the Bead Rider from the immense pressure and lack of air that could be lethal in these depths. Now cocooned in its protective bubble, the boat began its 10,000-meter ascent toward the surface.
Jack's eyes, typically a calm blue, took on a more vivid hue as he guided the Bead Rider through the tunnel. His hands danced gracefully over the controls, adjusting the speed and activating the boat's defensive systems. Just as quickly as he activated it, reinforced wooden panels emerged from the sides of the boat, providing an additional layer of protection against any would-be hazards in these treacherous waters.
The water outside darkened as they left the illumination of Fishman Island behind. Yet the ethereal glow from beneath the Bead Rider lit the path ahead, like a lantern in the inky blackness of the deep sea. The boat moved steadily, its speed a testament to both its exceptional design and the power of the Bodily Refinement Bead.
Suddenly, a school of luminescent jellyfish floated by, their soft light adding a sense of surreal beauty to the moment. As they drifted past, their glow seemed to dim, as if acknowledging the greater light emanating from the Bead Rider.
For a brief moment, Jack allowed himself to marvel at the wonders of the deep sea, but his focus quickly returned to the task at hand. He felt the water pressure lessen as the Bead Rider continued to climb, the protective bubble flexing and adapting to the changing conditions.
Still deep in the ocean, Jack felt the Bodily Refinement Bead pulse lightly against his chest—a signal that it was safe to release the pocket space. He focused his thoughts, and in an instant, his daughters Aria, Robin, Hancock, Sonia and Mari, and Otohime appeared on the Bead Rider.
Otohime looked around, her eyes widening at the ethereal surroundings. "It's beautiful down here."
As the Bead Rider ascended through the dark, oceanic abyss, the atmosphere on the boat was one of quiet wonder. Hancock climbed onto Jack's shoulder, her tiny frame perching comfortably as though she had found her throne. Mari and Sonia found their place on his lap, their eyes wide with fascination as they gazed into the eerie beauty of the deep sea.
Robin, gripping Aria's hand tightly, scurried around the boat's limited space. "Look, Aria! Fishies!" Robin pointed out, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Aria returned her sister's excitement with a beaming smile. "Wow, they glow!"
Jack's eyes followed their movements, and for a moment, his otherwise impassive demeanor gave way to a subtle but genuine smile. "You girls enjoying yourselves?"
Aria looked up at him, her eyes twinkling. "It's like a fairy tale, Daddy."
Otohime, standing by the edge of the boat, was equally captivated. "I've lived my life under the sea, but never like this," she said, mostly to herself. "It's astonishing."
"Regretting your decision to come?" Jack's voice, tinged with a trace of humor, interrupted her thoughts.
Otohime glanced back at him, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of wonder and gratitude. "No, not for a second."
Jack's hand gently adjusted a control, and the reinforced wooden panels silently slid back into the boat's frame as they continued their ascent. The Bead Rider's glow became brighter, matching the reduced water pressure as they approached the surface. He felt the Bodily Refinement Bead subtly pulse, almost as if approving of the family moment unfolding in its aura of protection.
"We're almost there," Jack announced, his gaze focusing on the rapidly approaching surface.
Otohime, understanding the gravity of those words, took a deep breath. She was about to experience a world entirely different from her own—a new chapter in a book she had thought was almost finished.
As the Bead Rider broke through the water's surface, a cascade of moonlight filled the air, marking the beginning of new adventures, new challenges, and a life redefined by the presence of new family members.
Jack looked at Otohime, his daughters, and the horizon stretched out before them. His eyes—oceanic and deep—were calm, yet anyone who looked could see a storm of emotions brewing just beneath the surface.
"Welcome to the New World," he said, his voice as steady as the endless sea. Yet, in that steadiness, there was an undercurrent of exhilaration, of unspoken promises and untold stories.
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