As Cudius listeo Lenny's suggestioudied Shyarly for a moment. This time, he was certain, this young mermaid was ihe future owner of the Mermaid Café. If memory served, wasn't she somehow reted t? Perhaps his older or younger sister?

  Before Cudius could say anything, Stussy's curiosity got the better of her. With a gleam of i in her eyes, she said, "You predict the future? I love divinations like this. Why don't you give me a try first?"

  It had to be said regardless of age or maturity, women seemed to have a natural fondness for fortuelling and mysterious predis.

  "Are you ied Stussy? Great! Let's find a nice spot to sit and do this together," Lenny said enthusiastically.

  Seeing their excitement, Cudius smiled and g Sengoku Admiral, eared both exasperated and amused. With little else to do, both men decided to join the group.

  Under Lenny's guidahey soon arrived at a cozy café. As they stepped inside, Shyarly's eyes lit up with admiration, her gaze darting around the establishment with evident fasation.

  "My dream is to open a café here in Coral Hill," Shyarly whispered to Mero, her tone shy yet full of longing.

  Mero paused, toug her thoughtfully before nodding. "Since we're baow, and after all these years so much has ged including our homes being gone, why don't we help you make that dream e true? Let's opeogether."

  Lenny cpped her hands in agreement but then blinked mischievously and said, "That sounds like a great idea, but we're broke. If we want to open a café, we're going to need a generous iht?"

  Mero caught on quickly and nodded with a sly smile. "You're right. But where would we find such a kind, handsome, ahy beor willing to i in three poor little mermaids?"

  Hearing their pyful banter, Cudius chuckled and shook his head. "You two... Handsome and kind? Are you fishing for pliments to guilt-trip me?"

  "We're talking about a beor, Yhness," Lenny teased with a grin.

  "Let's be real," Cudius replied with mock seriousness. "Who else but me—this kind, handsome man would be foolish enough to indulge you two schemers?"

  Mero didn't eveate. "So, it's settled then? You'll help us, Yhness?"

  Cudius couldn't help but ugh at her shamelessness. Not that he minded—after all, he'd long po establish some influen Fish-Man Isnd. Mero and Lenny would py key roles in his pns, and the friendship they had built over the years only ted his desire to support them.

  "Fine, fine," Cudius relented with a wave of his hand. "But remember, this isn't without a price. Someday, I might he two of you to lend me a hand."

  Lenny immediately raised her arm, pointing to the mark of the Celestial Dragon's Hoof on her shoulder, now tattooed with the Donquixote family crest in its ter. "Don't worry, Yhness. Whatever you need, leave it to us!"

  Ohey settled into a er of the café, the versation shifted to Shyarly's abilities. Stussy, ever curious, leaned forward eagerly. "So, how does this work? Do you need my hair? My palm?"

  Cudius raised an eyebrow, surprised by Stussy's enthusiasm. Judging by her eagerness, she must have had her fortuold more than once before.

  Shyarly, a little shy, shook her head and replied, "No, I just need my crystal ball."

  From her bag, Shyarly retrieved a clear crystal ball a gently oable. "What would you like me to predict, Sister Stussy?"

  Stussy's excitement faltered for a moment, and she g Cudius with a suspicious look, as if worried he might overhear. Then, l her voice, she leaned close to Shyarly and whispered something in her ear.

  Whatever Stussy said made Shyarly's cheeks flush pink, but she nodded in uanding. Pg her hands on the crystal ball, Shyarly closed her eyes, and the ball began to emit a soft, ethereal glow.

  Cudius and Sengoku both leaned forward slightly, intrigued by the sight.

  " she really see the future?" Sengoku muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "If this ability is real, its strategic value could be enormous."

  Cudius shared his curiosity but was also cautious. "Does this ability have limitations?" he asked.

  Before Shyarly could respond, Lenny eagerly chimed in, "Of course, there are limits! Shyarly's predis are very accurate, but they don't work every time. The bigger the event, the harder it is for her to see clearly. Sometimes even she doesn't know why her visions succeed or fail, it's all up to fate! But she did predict the start of the Great Pirate Era, and that came true!"

  "Seriously?" Cudius said, genuinely impressed.

  Sengoku's expression became more serious. For a moment, he even sidered whether Shyarly should be brought into Marine's fold as a strategic resource. But then, his gaze softened. "It's an incredible ability," he murmured, "but also a painful one. Predig the future... isn't that an unbearable burden? People strive toward the future because they 't see it. If you already know what's ing, what's left to hope for?"

  Cudius nodded in agreement. "True. Even if you could glimpse the future, would it be worth it? The future isn't set in stone. I'd rather face it head-on and shape it with my own hands."

  Hearing this, Sengoku abandoned any thoughts of recruiting Shyarly. As admirable as her gift was, it seemed like a heavy cross to bear—one he had no desire to exploit.

  Meanwhile, Shyarly finished her predi and looked at Stussy. "Sister Stussy, you and—"

  Before Shyarly could finish her senteussy let out a shriek a to her feet, g a hand over the young mermaid's mouth. "Privacy! This is private! Shyarly, don't say it out loud!"

  The se was so over-the-top that Cudius couldn't help but ugh. "What's with all the mystery?" he teased.

  Ign him, Stussy whispered something to Shyarly, who then shared the rest of the predi in a hushed voice. Whatever Shyarly said caused Stussy's face to flush crimson, and she returo her seat, clearly flustered. For the rest of the time, she sat in silence, occasionally breaking into a dreamy, silly smile.

  Cudius couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "What could she possibly have told you to make you, the unshakable Queen Stussy act like that?"

  After Stussy, Sengoku decided to try his luck. With a grin, he said, "Why don't you show me, too? Let this old man see what the future holds."

  Shyarly smiled and nodded. "What would you like to know, Grandpa?"

  "Anything is fine. Just surprise me," Sengoku said good-naturedly, ign the "Grandpa" bel.

  Shyarly once again pced her hands on the crystal ball, and it began to glow. After a few moments, she opened her eyes, startled, and excimed, "Grandpa, yoing to bearine's Fleet Admiral soon!"