Before Austin arrived at Fish-Man Island.
New World, aboard the Moby Dick.
"Pops!!! Please allow me to leave for a while! Fish-Man Island needs me!!!"
On the deck, a figure knelt there, lowering his head in tears before the towering man seated in the chair.
"My friends on Fish-Man Island told me that with the beginning of the New Era, the number of pirates has surged. Many merfolk and fish-men have been captured, tortured, and sold as slaves. How can I just stand by and watch!!!"
Hearing the anguished plea of the Eighth Division Captain, Namur, the World's Strongest Man, Whitebeard Edward Newgate, was visibly shaken.
Marco and the others watched the scene, their fists clenching as they could not bear to see their brother in such pain.
They had lived in the New World for years and truly had no idea that Fish-Man Island had suffered such a calamity.
Ever since Roger had ushered in the Great Pirate Era, there had indeed been far more newcomers challenging Whitebeard, but they had never expected the consequences to affect more than just themselves.
Even though fish-men were generally over five times stronger than humans,
Fish-Man Island, without any top-tier powerhouse standing guard, still seemed somewhat weak against pirates capable of making their way through the New World—especially the beautiful mermaids, whose strength was no different from ordinary humans.
Capture one, and she could be sold for an astronomical price measured in hundreds of millions. The more beautiful she was, the more valuable she became.
Thus, Fish-Man Island had suffered.
Neptune had once been Whitebeard's friend and had given him considerable help in his younger days.
Moreover, it was the hometown of his son, Namur.
Whitebeard made up his mind.
"Silly son..."
He stretched out his huge hand and drew Namur into