One Piece: Starting by Refusing Shanks

Enel seemed unimpressed with Cathy's nervousness and said dismissively, "Fine, as long as it doesn't taste awful, I suppose this god can forgive you."

Cathy let out a helpless smile, then turned to the mermaid waitress and said, "Please give this gentleman a cup of the new blend."

"Alright~" The mermaid waitress smiled and asked, "How many sugar cubes would you like, sir? Would you like milk in your coffee?"

Enel looked puzzled.

Sugar? Milk?

After a moment of consideration, Enel declared, "Add all the sugar, and put in the milk too."

"Uh?" The waitress's smile froze momentarily. "All the sugar? Do you mean the entire container? Um..."

"Haha, sorry about that," Cathy said, a bit embarrassed. "My friend is trying coffee for the first time. He probably likes his coffee on the sweeter side. Just add a few extra cubes."

"Alright," the mermaid waitress replied with a somewhat awkward smile. She then led Cathy and Enel to a small table in a quiet corner of the cafe. "Please have a seat here, both of you."

As the waitress was about to leave, Cathy quickly asked, "By the way, is Lady Shyarly in the shop today?"

"Yes, she is," the waitress replied, giving Cathy a curious look. "Are you here for a divination?"

Cathy nodded. "Yes, my friend here is very interested in Lady Shyarly's readings."

"I'm afraid that might be difficult," the waitress said apologetically. "There have been so many humans visiting the island lately, and many of them have been trying to meet with Lady Shyarly. Even though she rarely reads for humans, people keep pestering her. She's been getting quite fed up. I suggest you come back in a few days when she's in a better mood."

"Ah, I see," Cathy sighed in disappointment. "Well, if that's the case, there's not much we can do."

"So your boss refuses to see me?" Enel asked with a smirk.

The mermaid waitress apologized again, "I'm sorry, sir, but please understand."

"Hmph, dares to refuse this god?" Enel sneered. "Aren't you afraid that I might get angry and destroy this little cafe of yours?"

A cold sweat formed on the waitress's forehead. "Sir, that joke isn't funny."

"Who said I was joking?" Enel yawned lazily. "If I felt like it, I could destroy this entire Coral Hill right now."

"Please, don't say such things!" Cathy hurriedly whispered to Enel, seeing the change in the waitress's expression. "If you don't tone it down, we'll be thrown out!"

"Who would dare throw me out? They can try!" Enel responded, clearly uninterested in backing down.

"Try what?" A low female voice called from the back of the cafe.

Sitting on a bubble was a mermaid with short black hair, cold, piercing eyes, fair skin, and purple nails. She wore a hooded top and held a long smoking pipe. She was much larger than the average mermaid, towering over the others.

When the customers saw who it was, excitement swept across the cafe.

"Oh, it's Lady Shyarly~"

"Lady Shyarly, how have you been? It's been so long since we last saw you!"

"Lady Shyarly, you're as stunning as ever."

Everyone was talking at once.

Shyarly gave them a small nod in acknowledgment.

Cathy's eyes lit up upon seeing Shyarly, her face showing admiration and reverence.

Enel eyed Shyarly curiously, smiling faintly. "You must be the famous mermaid fortune teller."

Shyarly glanced at him coldly, letting out a mocking laugh. "And if I am?"

"Since you're here, give me a reading," Enel said bluntly. "My request is simple. Just tell me how long until we have a new crewmate."

Shyarly sneered, taking a drag from her smoking pipe. "I don't do readings for humans."

With that, she floated on her bubble chair towards the cafe's counter.

A mermaid at the counter handed her an accounting book she had prepared.

However, before Shyarly could do anything, the accounting book disappeared from her hand and reappeared in Enel's.

Cathy was stunned, feeling a sinking sensation in her heart.

The surrounding mermaids hadn't even processed what had happened when Shyarly turned back to Enel, her voice cold. "Human, this is Fish-Man Island. It's not a place where you can act so arrogantly."

Enel was unfazed. If not for Takumi's promise not to stir up trouble, he would have already made his move.

Nonchalantly flipping through the ledger in his hands, Enel said lazily, "I have only one request. Answer my question, and I'll give this back. Otherwise, I'll destroy it."

As he spoke, tiny sparks of electricity began to dance across his free hand.

"Are you a Devil Fruit user?" Shyarly asked with a cold laugh.

Enel shrugged. "And if I am?"

"Interesting," Shyarly mused. After a moment of thought, she suddenly seemed to recall something. "Are you Enel?"

"Hmm? You know of this god?"

Shyarly smiled slightly. "I've seen your wanted poster. If I remember correctly, there are two others in your crew."

"Them?" Enel answered casually. "One's out for a stroll, the other is watching an egg. Why, what do you want?"

"Heh, relax. I have no interest in you or your crew," Shyarly said dismissively. "You want to know when your next crewmate will join you, right? Very well, I'll do a reading for you this one time. Follow me."

With that, Shyarly floated towards her private quarters.

Enel smirked, transforming into lightning and following her instantly.

Cathy and the mermaids in the cafe were left stunned.

The waitress asked awkwardly, "Um, do you still want the coffee you ordered?"

Cathy sighed helplessly. "Yes, but make it to go. Please give me four cups."

The waitress nodded and went off to prepare the order.

Enel and Shyarly soon reached a room decorated with beautiful coral and shells.

Against one wall was a large open clam, inside which was a blue-purple crystal ball about the size of a person's head.

Shyarly moved in front of the crystal ball, placing her hands over it. "I'll only do this once. Are you sure this is the only question you want answered?"

"Yeah, yeah. Just get on with it," Enel said impatiently.

"Heh, how arrogant," Shyarly said with a cold smile. She raised her hands above the crystal ball, and instantly, a faint purple glow began to emanate from within.

It only took a few seconds before Shyarly withdrew her hands. Turning to Enel, she said, "In two years, a new crewmate will join your ship."

"Two years?" Enel frowned. "That long? Are you sure?"

Shyarly scoffed, "My divinations have never been wrong. Believe it or not, that's up to you. Now, return my ledger."

Enel tossed the ledger back to Shyarly without another word, then turned and left the room.

After he left, Shyarly turned back to the crystal ball. She was silent for a moment, then placed her hands on it once more. As she glimpsed the future she sought, an expression of shock and disbelief crossed her normally composed face.