Werther rested a hand on Intent Blood's hilt, then fixed Aokiji and Garp with a piercing stare.
His cooperation with the two of them was only temporary. If they tried to stop him now, he would fight them.
Aokiji and Garp's faces darkened. One had yet to recover from his injuries, while Werther had nearly electrocuted the other to death underwater. If they fought, there was no telling who would win.
Monet and Buffalo sensed that something was wrong. Werther had also signaled to them, and they were slowly backing away.
Neither could contribute to a fight at this level. They might only hold Werther back.
But just as the fight was about to break out, footsteps came from the distance, followed by a furious shout.
"You three bastards! What have you done to Samantha? Get away from her!"
The three turned toward the voice.
The man running toward them looked familiar to Werther. Then he remembered: wasn't he the mayor of that town? Black, if he recalled correctly.
Mayor Black hurried up to them. When he saw the mermaid collapsed on the ground, his face twisted with rage.
"What are you doing? She's the woman I love! What have you done to her? And who gave you the right to put her in cuffs? What right do you have to arrest her? Do you still think you're Marines?"
Black was beyond furious. He gave no thought to the gulf in strength between himself and the three men before him.
"The woman you love? Don't make me laugh. This mermaid's lived for two hundred years. She's older than your grandmother. Spare me the nonsense. If this doesn't concern you, stand aside and watch. Get in my way, and I'll kill you."
First Aokiji and Garp had tried to stop him.