Louis walked on the golden beach under the sun, feeling the soft touch under his feet and the salty scent of the sea breeze on his face.
"A very realistic illusion, no different from the real thing—" Louis gave his assessment.
Hearing this, Uta, who was wearing a sun hat with the Archangel Pirates' logo, a swimsuit, and a light white shawl, had a proud and self-satisfied smile on her face.
"Of course! It took me a long time to build and replicate this!"
As she spoke, the sea breeze whistled, lifting Uta's two-toned hair and revealing the shape of the wind. Uta clasped her hands behind her back and, humming a cheerful tune, left two rows of shallow footprints on the golden beach.
Then, she said with a bright and charming smile, "Hey, Louis, did you know? Shirahoshi-chan has made great progress! She's also very talented when it comes to singing. It's just that she's really too timid! She only dares to sing when she's on the phone with me. She doesn't even dare to open her mouth in front of her brothers or father!" Gradually, a hint of exasperation appeared in Uta's eyes.
She had been singing on the Red Force since she was very young. Even when Louis and Yelena were temporarily staying with them, she had sung with grace and confidence. But now, Shirahoshi's behavior was giving her a bit of a headache.
To this, Louis, after listening, gave his serious opinion. "It's probably because she's experienced so many major events at a young age, and has personally witnessed her mother's death and been attacked herself. It's made her feel somewhat insecure and afraid."
"Is that so?" A thoughtful look appeared on Uta's face. Then, her expression became sunny and confident again. "Hmph, then let me, her teacher and big sister, help her!"
"You'll have to do your best, then."
But soon, as if she'd thought of something else, Uta said with great interest, "Hey, Louis! What do you think about giving the Sing-Sing Fruit to her when she's older?"
"The Sing-Sing Fruit?"
Louis was stunned, and then a subtle change came over his expression. "Shirahoshi is a genuine mermaid and already possesses a special power. A Devil Fruit is not suitable for her."
To be honest, Louis had never expected Uta to think of giving the Ancient Weapon Poseidon a Devil Fruit. A Sea King who can't swim... the image was too bizarre for him to even imagine. However, Shirahoshi already possessed the power to control Sea Kings. If the ability to pull people into a virtual world, or even Tot Musica, from the Sing-Sing Fruit were added to that, her danger level would likely increase to a terrifying degree.
Thinking of this, Louis silently turned his head and spoke, crushing Uta's dangerous idea. "Uta, you should keep the Sing-Sing Fruit for yourself. It's not suitable for Shirahoshi. She herself is already very dangerous. Adding the Sing-Sing Fruit would raise her danger level by more than just one tier."
Uta was taken aback. She then recalled what she had learned when communicating with the Sea Kings and silently tossed her impulsive idea into the trash. "Okay!"
Not long after, Louis looked at the distant sea surface and said pointedly, "Uta, the seawater here... it shouldn't make an ability user powerless, right?"
To this, Uta gave Louis a speechless look. "Of course not!" she said, annoyed. "How could I possibly replicate the seawater that weakens Devil Fruits within my own ability?" As she spoke, Uta rolled her eyes at him.
But soon, Uta suddenly realized what Louis meant. She poked his side and asked with a grin, "Are you thinking of going for a swim in the sea?"
"That's right."
Louis slowly nodded, then began to walk, slowly heading into the water. Feeling the sensation of the seawater gradually submerging his body, Louis's mood became more and more relaxed. Gradually, Louis was completely submerged in the sea, feeling the pleasant sensation of being pushed by the water.
Louis felt that he was perhaps one of the few people who could still experience this feeling after becoming an ability user. Normally, at a time like this, he would have already been calling for Natural Water in his mind. But now, he was swimming freely in the great sea.
Just as Louis closed his eyes to feel this moment of peace, a slender, pale hand took his.
The cool, smooth, and familiar touch made Louis slowly open his eyes and look to his side. Uta, who had transformed into her mermaid form, was giving him a bright and moving smile. Her red and white, smooth hair moved with the ocean current, dotted with a faint shimmer. Her face, with its several colorful scales, had a faint, bewitching charm, and her amethyst-like eyes were incredibly deep.
Her fair skin reflected an alluring luster under the rippling light. Two pure white seashells were pressed against her chest, lightly covering the young girl's budding curves.
At this moment, Uta had changed her usual style. She was like a true mermaid from a fairy tale, unashamedly showing Louis the legendary graceful and moving form of a mermaid. In Uta's view, between herself, Yelena, and Louis, there was nothing to be shy about.
Uta made Louis's form shrink to be the same size as hers, then held his hand tightly with her slender fingers and pulled him into the deep sea.
"Let's go! Let the world's most beautiful mermaid princess take you on a tour of the deep sea!" In the deep, dark water, Uta's clear and moving voice rippled with the waves.
Louis was momentarily dazed, then replied with a smile, "It's my honor—"
Then, Uta gently flicked her pale pink fishtail and began to swim leisurely through the sea. As the two of them moved, the sunlight that should have stopped at the shallow layers gradually penetrated deeper into the ocean, illuminating the bizarre and motley underwater world for the youth and the young girl.
Louis let Uta lead him into the deep sea, taking in the dreamlike underwater world that Uta had deliberately embellished.
As they moved forward, the seawater brushed against Louis's cheek, bringing a cool and smooth sensation, just like the slender hand held in his palm.
Louis turned his head to look at Uta's profile, which was dotted with several colorful scales. Under his gaze, Uta's face showed no abnormality, her smile still as bright as a flower.
As if noticing his gaze, Uta turned her head and gave him a bright and charming smile.
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