Chapter 184: Akatsuki Is Captured
"Princess Akatsuki… I caught… up!" the little blonde mermaid Shouji finally reached Akatsuki's side, panting heavily.
Glancing at the out-of-breath fish-girl, Princess Akatsuki said, "Shouji, your body's getting weaker. You don't need to rush like that next time."
"Yes, Princess… I…" Shouji began to answer, but suddenly furrowed her brow and turned toward a coral reef below them. There, a group of six humans were glaring up at them with obvious hostility.
"What is it?" Akatsuki asked, noticing Shouji's expression and following her gaze.
She frowned inwardly. It seemed those people had recognized her.
Shouji moved forward and gently touched Akatsuki's large orange tail, her tone soft and fearful, "Princess… we should leave quickly. The malice from those humans is terrifying."
Akatsuki didn't reply, but instead quickly assessed the situation.
Below, her father was still being overpowered. Her mother was there too, and defeat seemed inevitable.
That twin-blade-wielding human was far too strong. No one on Fish-Man Island could stop him. The only solution was to evacuate everyone to the deep sea and wait for the humans to eventually leave. After all, they couldn't stay on Fish-Man Island forever.
Sigh… With a heavy heart, Akatsuki exhaled silently. But her expression remained a cold, blank slate.
"Let's go. We'll notify everyone to retreat to the deep sea," she said, flying toward Waterwheel Town to warn the civilians.
"Wait for me, Princess!" Shouji cried again, left behind once more, chasing after her with an exasperated pout.
"Is it ready yet?!" barked the burly, bearded man in a nurse outfit—Arthur—his eyes locked on Akatsuki's departing figure.
"Almost, Boss Arthur!" replied two of his men, visibly frustrated. "This is already our fastest!"
The two continued connecting cylinder-shaped tubes and attaching twin rotors.
Soon, a dual-propeller aircraft, surrounded by a ring of bubbles, was complete.
After some quick adjustments, the two shouted, "It's ready, Boss Arthur!"
Arthur lit up, grabbed his bag, and hopped onto the aircraft.
With a sputter, the propellers spun rapidly, and with a loud roar, he shot into the sky after Princess Akatsuki.
Those left behind stared dumbfounded.
"Didn't the bubble booster still end up in Boss Arthur's bag…?"
Everyone looked at each other, then burst into a desperate run to keep up. That was 20 billion berries on the line—bubble car or not, they couldn't lose her.
"They're chasing us! What do we do, Princess?!" Shouji cried, sensing an immense malice rapidly approaching.
"Head down. We'll notify everyone and escape into the deep sea," Akatsuki replied calmly, scooping up Shouji and diving.
Unbeknownst to her, soldiers were already on their way to do just that.
As they neared the ground, Ryugu soldiers spotted them.
A squad captain rushed over and shouted urgently, "Princess Akatsuki! You're still here?! The King already ordered a full evacuation to the deep sea—has no one informed you? You must go quickly! We have other towns to notify!"
"The King already gave the order?" Akatsuki asked—not with surprise, but in her usual flat tone.
She silently thought: So Father did understand after all—evacuation is the only path to victory.
"Ah… so you do know. Then why are you—" the soldier was confused. Why come here if she knew?
"…" Akatsuki glanced at him but didn't explain. Her stoic face had clearly misled him.
"Princess, we must go! That human is close!" Shouji suddenly pointed behind them.
There, flying rapidly toward them, was a man in a nurse outfit on a strange aircraft.
"What?! He's chasing the princess?!" the squad captain snarled and turned toward Arthur. "Princess, go! We'll handle this!"
"Mm," Akatsuki nodded, holding Shouji and flying toward the island's border.
"Stop! Don't run! My berries!" Arthur shrieked, but dared not say "princess" aloud for fear his peers would snatch the prize.
The soldiers, enraged at the disgusting look Arthur gave their beloved princess, launched their bubble vehicles and flew to intercept him.
"Don't think you're getting through, you sick cross-dresser!"
Spears and tridents pointed at Arthur.
"Move, you small fry!" Arthur growled, jamming his hands into two holes on his craft's front.
Click—two barrel-shaped guns popped out like twin aircraft machine guns.
"I ate the Injection-Needle Fruit, I'm the Injection Man! It's time for shots, sweeties! PAIN NEEDLE BLAST—FIRE!" Arthur bellowed, triggering the cannons.
Needles like syringes fired rapidly, machine gun-style, striking soldiers before they could dodge.
"AHH! IT HURTS!"
"AGHHH…!"
Wails of pain rang out. The needles triggered unbearable, nerve-wracking agony. One by one, the soldiers passed out mid-air and crashed below in clouds of dust.
"Hahaha! That's right, sweeties! No one gives shots better than Nurse Arthur!" Arthur cackled, flying past them and continuing the chase.
Ahead, Shouji sensed the soldiers had fallen. Tears welled up.
"What now?! Princess! He's getting closer!" she cried.
Akatsuki looked back. That strange aircraft was too fast. She couldn't outrun him—especially in her current state.
She gritted her teeth. "I'm going to accelerate. If it's too much, tell me!"
"I can handle it, Princess!" Shouji declared resolutely.
Akatsuki nodded, then whipped her huge tail—suddenly accelerating like a sports car, zooming ahead.
"You can't run from my berries!" Arthur called gleefully.
Calmly, he pressed a button.
"Let's go! Four-wheel drive—ignite! Hail Mary, full throttle!" he yelled.
BOOM! His craft shot forward like a rocket.
"Hehehe… you can't escape. Time for your shot, sweeties."
Arthur's creepy voice echoed behind them.
"He's still chasing us!" Shouji cried, her voice trembling.
Akatsuki's expression remained unchanged. She turned upward to gain distance but was already calculating.
"We'll have to seek help," she thought.
Staying calm, she whipped her tail again to dive downward—
But it was too late.
Arthur's eyes gleamed. He shoved his hands back into the barrels. Two tubes locked onto her.
"Watch out, Princess—!" Shouji tried to warn her.
"Let's go, baby! NUMB-ANESTHESIA NEEDLE BLAST!" Arthur shouted.
Hundreds of syringes launched toward Akatsuki.
She whipped her tail desperately, knocking many away.
"HAHAHA! Useless! NUMB-ANESTHESIA NEEDLE—BLAST!!" Arthur roared again, firing another barrage.
The onslaught was endless. Despite her efforts, Akatsuki's movements grew sluggish—she'd taken dozens of hits.
The anesthesia began taking effect.
Her muscles weakened. Her thoughts grew fuzzy.
She gritted her teeth and released Shouji.
"Shouji, run! He's after me!" she cried, gathering her last strength to rush at Arthur.
"No! Princess!" Shouji screamed, charging after her.
"Bring it on, sweeties! Time for your shots!" Arthur howled, spraying more needles at them.
Moments later, both Akatsuki and Shouji floated helplessly, fully sedated.
"HAHA! My berries! Finally!" Arthur cried, elated.
He whipped out the classic trafficker's tools: oversized rope and a massive sack—clearly prepared just for the princess.
With practiced ease, he bound them and stuffed them into the bag. Then he created a large bubble and sealed them inside.
Pulling out a Den Den Mushi, he contacted his men, instructing them to rendezvous at the island's exit—now under their control.
Everything was going perfectly.
(END CHAPTER)
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