Utgard, the Frost Giant who had delivered the decree, vanished once more through the Heavenly Gate.
The shafts of golden light hanging over the banquet hall gradually faded as well.
Everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief, rising to their feet and exchanging glances, not daring to speak carelessly.
No one had expected the Creator's Giant God Soldier to descend so suddenly.
And every word it spoke had been utterly earth-shaking.
But everyone knew there was no longer any dispute over who would become the Sea Folk Chief.
Countless gazes turned toward Black Marlin.
They wanted to know how he would react.
Would he fly into a rage?
Would he cry injustice, refuse to accept it, refuse to obey?
Yet Black Marlin disappointed them.
He merely sat back down in his chair, expressionless and silent.
Only an icy aura radiated from him, warning all living beings to stay away.
It constantly warned them that although he could no longer become the Sea Folk Chief, he was not someone they could mock or look down upon.
For the rest of the time.
Although the hundred-day banquet continued under the host's efforts, it had become dull and lifeless.
Everyone's thoughts remained on what had just happened.
At last, the hundred-day banquet came to an end.
The guests boarded flounder buses and returned to Fishverly Hills, discussing Shirahoshi, the Sea Folk, and the divine artifact of faith along the way.
But Black Marlin was nowhere among them.
Because he had returned to the main hall of Ryugu Palace.
"Tell me, what is Poseidon?"
Black Marlin stared coldly at Neptune on the throne, who was holding a golden—no, the Trident of the Sea God.
One was aggressive, while the other remained composed.
Because Neptune could sense that, through the divine artifact in