"If we lose-"
"Fish-Man Island will be wiped off the map."
"Every one of our people still alive will become a slave, suffering even more than they do now."
"I cannot shoulder the risk of our people's extermination, nor can I gamble with my subjects' lives."
Lin Nuo still said nothing. He simply listened quietly.
"I know you've brought powerful men like Rocks, Roger, and Whitebeard together."
"But from what I've learned, these old rivals have different goals, don't they?"
"They've only come together temporarily because of you."
"Your goals were never aligned to begin with. How far can an alliance like that go? Might it fall apart before you even overthrow the Celestial Dragons?"
He shook his head.
"So I cannot let Fish-Man Island join so readily."
"Not to mention that mastermind you keep bringing up-Imu."
"To be honest, I rule one of the World Government Member States and have negotiated with the Five Elders several times, yet I've never heard that name."
"I still find it hard to believe."
"That an enemy whose very existence you cannot prove to me is worth staking the entire Fish-Man Tribe's future on."
His words faded.
The young men from the Fish-Man District exchanged looks, unsure what to say.
Arlong looked even more disgruntled, his fists clenched tight.
Fisher Tiger opened his mouth and was about to speak when Neptune changed tack.
His gaze settled on Fisher Tiger, and his tone softened somewhat.
"However, I will not stop any of our people who wish to follow you."
"The youngsters of the Fish-Man District have long since had enough of being captured and enslaved. They want to fight for a future with their own fists."
"I have no right to deny them that choice."
He turned to Lin Nuo. "However many people Fisher