Before long, after Jinbe swept past the Fish-Men and swam straight into Fish-Man Island, the suited Fish-Man at their head pulled a bubble-wrapped Den Den Mushi from his chest.
Keeping an eye on Lina and the others, he exchanged a few words with the other end. Then he smirked and waved for two subordinates to ride over on their Sea Beasts.
"Hey, you guys."
Hammond, a long-necked, sharp-toothed eel Fish-Man, stood atop a giraffe Sea Beast and scrutinized the group below. He tossed the Den Den Mushi in his hand down to them.
"Our boss Hody has something to say to you."
Thump—thump!
The Den Den Mushi hit the deck. When no one went to pick it up, it stood on its own, mimicked the expression of the one at the other end, and spoke with a grim face:
"Straw Hat Crew, I'm Hody, captain of the New Fish-Man Pirates. You're the ones who defeated Arlong, right?"
"What do you mean?" Sanji asked calmly. "Didn't Jinbe say we wouldn't fight until we got a result from negotiations?"
"Negotiations? Shishishishi, what a joke!"
The voice on the other end of the Den Den Mushi laughed arrogantly, then bared its teeth. "Hammond told me all about it. That traitor actually thinks he can lead us down the same path as Queen Otohime."
"The outcome of the negotiations is already decided! Either he joins the New Fish-Man Pirates, or he dies alongside King Neptune! There's no other option!"
"As for you..."
Click!
"Blah, blah, blah."
Before Hody could finish, Zoro hung up the Den Den Mushi, drew a sword from his waist, and glared coldly at Hammond and the other Fish-Men.
"We only asked to make sure we could fight."
"Then you've chosen to die!"
Hammond's face twisted with anger. "Boss Hody was