The two men disembarked from the Konoha, then took a small boat back to the Germa fleet. The meeting had lasted barely ten minutes, yet to everyone in Dressrosa waiting for the outcome, it felt like hundreds of long years had passed.
"There's a result! There's a result!" Those who called themselves important figures all clung to their respective ships, staring fixedly at the Germa fleet. Every movement tugged at their heartstrings.
Not long after the two men returned to the main fleet, the Germa forces finally moved. The vast, dark fleet drifted across the sea before faintly advancing a short distance toward Dressrosa.
"!!!"
Everyone was terrified out of their wits. The words 'negotiations failed' immediately flashed through their minds, and every face turned deathly pale as despair settled over their hearts.
Yet the man in white aboard the Konoha remained unmoved. Faced with that provocative gesture from the Germa forces, he stood there calmly, looking ahead without the slightest fear.
Just as the situation was on the verge of erupting, faint cannon fire suddenly rumbled across the distant sea. At first, many thought they had imagined it, their attention wholly fixed on the Germa forces. But after a while, the roar of cannon fire grew closer and closer, until someone finally realized something was wrong.
Aboard the Konoha, Jinbe stood beside Hikaru and looked into the distance. He suddenly spotted the problem: seven or eight pirate ships were relentlessly pursuing and attacking two battered Navy warships.
"Something's happening!" Jinbe said. "What kind of pirates are bold enough to attack the Navy?"
Hikaru did not even spare them a glance. He continued staring at the Germa fleet, wanting to see whether they truly had the nerve to charge at Dressrosa. "We've been arrogant for so long. So many major