Fish-Man Island Harbor.
Dozens of Sun Adventure Group members dragged the massive Mechanical Sea Beast into the harbor, tiny bubbles constantly escaping from its damaged shell.
The enormous coating surrounding Fish-Man Island glowed a deep blue beneath the dark ocean currents.
The surrounding area had already been cleared in advance.
Aside from the Fish-Man guards stationed on watch, only Jinbe and several Sun Adventure Group officers remained around the Mechanical Sea Beast.
Click.
The hatch slowly opened, and York stepped out.
Her face was still somewhat pale, but she struggled to maintain the last shred of her composure.
At least... Rock isn't here.
Good. Things had not reached the worst possible point yet.
As long as she found a way to stall Jinbe first, there might still be a chance—
Buzz.
A blue-white glow suddenly lit up the distant seawater.
York froze, then slowly turned her head.
A small Marine vessel, coated for deep-sea travel, was passing through Fish-Man Island's outer barrier and slowly entering the safe harbor.
At the very front of the deck—
Only one figure stood there.
His white Fleet Admiral's cape drifted gently with the current, its golden epaulets especially conspicuous beneath Fish-Man Island's lights.
York's expression stiffened bit by bit. She stared at the approaching figure, her lips moving several times.
"No..."
"No way..."
The vessel docked.
Rock stepped off the deck, and York instinctively took half a step back.
The mental preparation she had painstakingly built up along the way instantly collapsed by half.
But she quickly forced herself to straighten her chest.
"I told you already."
"This is ten thousand meters beneath the sea. There's no way you could—"
Crackle!
With a flash of lightning, Rock was already standing before her.
York's voice abruptly cut off.
Rock looked down at her.
"What ten