"..."
King Neptune's almost pleading shout plunged the battle into a brief silence.
Whitebeard had a close relationship with him and understood his friend's feelings well.
Austin had more to consider.
One was the late Captain Roger's relationship with Neptune, and another was what Rayleigh and the others might think.
If he insisted on fighting and destroyed Fish-Man Island, then the former crew members of the Roger Pirates would surely hear about it.
They would probably blame him.
Especially Uncle Sambel.
"What a hassle..."
Austin shook his head helplessly, brushed the loose strands from his forehead back, and slowly opened his eyes, staring seriously at Whitebeard.
"Then... let's settle this above the sea. The winner gets Fish-Man Island."
"What do you say, Whitebeard?"
Hearing that arrogant declaration of war, Whitebeard's lips curled up, his eyes brimming with fighting spirit.
"Gurarararara! Just what I wanted!!!"
Thus,
Under the watchful eyes of Neptune and the Ryugu Kingdom soldiers under his command, the two enormous ships slowly sailed away from Fish-Man Island and headed for the surface.
"Neptune..."
King Neptune gripped his trident tightly, his gaze complicated as he watched those two familiar ships sail away—one the Oro Jackson, the other the Moby Dick—when a voice pulled him back from his thoughts.
"Otohime..."
Beside him stood Queen Otohime of Fish-Man Island, the great queen devoted to peaceful coexistence between Fish-Man Island and humans.
"Otohime, you often keep up with the human world. Who do you think would be better suited to protect Fish-Man Island?"
As if feeling something in his heart, Neptune asked his wife beside him.
Though he asked the question, he already had an answer in his heart.
He still favored the established powerhouse of the seas, the World's Strongest Man whom he knew well—Whitebeard.
Otohime's Observation Haki sensed Neptune's emotions,