While Cudius and his group were meeting with Kiu Ryugu Pace, the transfer of the freed mermaid sves from the Prometheus was successfully pleted.

  At that moment Nia had just exited the pad was standing near Jihe stout, blue-skinned merman who was also Kiurusted subordihe two seemed to be engaged in some light versation, and Cudius happeo notice them as he stepped out of the pace.

  Upon seeing Cudius, Nia quickly approached to give her report. After hearing that the handover had been pleted without issue, Cudius nodded in satisfa. The rest, he figured, to Fish-Man Isnd to hahere was no need for him to himself further with such minor details.

  As they made their way back to Coral Hill, Cudius took in the sights of the isnd with a growing sense of admiration.

  Although he couldn't help but criticize Fish-Man Isnd's "submissiveness" over the past 800 years, he had to admit that the isnd itself was breathtakingly beautiful. The dreamy, otherworldly sery, with its glowing coral and shimmering waters, felt like something out of a fairy tale.

  "What a wonderful pce," Cudius murmured to himself, clearly impressed.

  Hearing this Nia smiled and suggested, "Yhness, if you like it so much, why don't we establish some property here? After all, it's not far from Mariejois, a trip would only take a day at most. If Yhness enjoys this pce, you could e here to rex whenever you please."

  Cudius chuckled and asked, "Property? You mean like real estate? A manor?"

  Nia nodded matter-of-factly and said, "Yes. I've heard there's an area called Euphory Hills, sidered the most prestigious residential distri Fish-Man Isnd. It has several beautiful estates avaible for purchase. While the manors there are said to be expe's hardly an issue for us."

  Nia's fidence arent, her tone brimming with the self-assurance of someone who kheir wealth could solve any problem. To her, buying a luxurious vil seemed no more difficult than pig out a new coat.

  And, truthfully, she wasn't wrong.

  Cudius had built up an impressive fortune over the years. In his younger days, he had been far more restrained with his spending, carefully managing his limited funds. But now? Now he was wealthy beyond imagination.

  Whether it was the "tributes" he regurly received from underworld figures like Umit, the generous annual allowances from the Wover, the vast sums of heavenly tribute owed to the upper-echeloial Dragons, the profits geed by Happy Street uussy's ma, or the earnings fuhrough his alliances with pirates like Crocodile and Dofmingo, money was something Cudius no longer o worry about.

  Hearing Nia's suggestion, Cudius stroked his thoughtfully before smirking. "You've grown quite attached to Mero and Lenny, haven't you? Is that why you want to buy a property here?"

  Nia's cheeks turned slightly red, and she looked away, embarrassed. "Well, Lenny and Mero are leaving, but…"

  "But you've bee good friends with them over the years," Cudius said, his toeasi kind. "You've spent so much time together that you're like family. Now that they've returo Fish-Man Isnd, you'll want to visit them from time to time, and for that, you'd need a pce to stay. Am I right?"

  Caught off guard by how easily Cudius had guessed her thoughts, Nia lowered her head in bashful silence.

  Cudius chuckled at her rea, amused but also touched. "Nia, you're the person I trust most. You don't o ask for my approval for something as trivial as this. If you want to buy property here, go ahead. And if it's what you want, we'll purchase all of Euphory Hills!"

  Nia's eyes widened in shock, and she quickly waved her hands. "No, no, Yhness! There's o go that far! A small manor would be more than enough."

  Cudius ughed. "If you say so, but make sure it's one of the best manors on the isnd. o settle for sed-best. Take your time and pie you really like."

  Seeing the siy in his words, Nia's initial embarrassment was repced by warmth and gratitude. "Thank you, Yhness. I'll take care of it."

  As the group tinued walking, Stussy, who had been quietly their versation, smiled. She and Nia shared a close bond, so she wasn't surprised by how easily Cudius indulged her.

  Meanwhile, Sengoku, who had been walking a short distance away, couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. "Celestial Dragons really live on a pletely different level," he thought with a sigh. "They just casually decide to buy the best property on aire isnd, as if it's nothing."

  Still, Sengoku quickly soled himself. "It's fine. Marine will soon be flush with resources after all these new developments. Maybe I'll propose building a nice Marine base with fortable aodations. Surely an Admiral deserves a det pce to stay…"

  Had Cudius been aware of Sengoku's musings, he would've likely ughed and remarked on the creeping "corruption" in the Admiral's thoughts. But all of this was just pyful banter in his mind. Sengoku, despite his occasional pints, remained an upright and disciplined leader.

  Eventually, Cudius and Nia arrived at Coral Hill, where they spotted Lenny and Mero walking around with a young mermaid girl. The girl was noticeably rger than Lenny and Mero, and her shark-like features hi her being a rare shark mermaid.

  When Lenny spotted Cudius, she immediately waved and called out, "Yhness!"

  Cudius smiled and waved back as the group approached him. "You seem happy. Is it because you're bae?" he asked.

  After exging a few pleasantries, Mero introduced the young shark mermaid. "Yhness, this is Shyarly. She's the daughter of a dear friend of ours… well, her mother isn't with us anymore. She's only fifteen, so Lenny and I thought we'd take care of her together. Is that alright?"

  Cudius blinked in surprise. "Shyarly? A shark mermaid?" He couldn't help but feel that the name and her appearance were familiar, though he couldn't immediately pce why.

  Still, he smiled warmly and said, "You don't need my permission for something like that. You're free now, aren't you?"

  Hearing this, Lenny touched the mark on her arm, a bination of the Celestial Dragon's Hoof and the Donquixote family crest. inally, the mark had been branded onto her when she was ensved, but the addition of the family crest had e ter, symbolizing her bond with Cudius.

  "Even though we're free, this crest means we'll always belong to you, Yhness," Lenny said with a grin.

  "Wise words, little one," Cudius replied, stroking his with mock seriousness.

  "We're not little!" Mero chimed in indignantly. "We're older than you by a few years!"

  As the group ughed and chatted, Lenny suddenly perked up and said, "Oh! Yhness, Shyarly has an amazing ability, she predict the future! Why don't you let her try it for you?"

  ***

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