When Arlong heard Gern answer, "Nothing more," he laughed derisively from where he lay on the ground, as though he had just heard some absurd joke.
"Nothing more? Hahaha... What a fine 'nothing more'! Gern! Didn't you keep saying Fish-Man Island was under your protection?!
Then where were you when the Marines ambushed Brother Fisher Tiger on Foolshout Island and left him gravely wounded, at death's door?!
Why didn't you save him?! Now that he's dead, you come here pretending to pay your respects?!
You humans are all hypocritical, despicable..."
Before Arlong could finish his tirade, an invisible pressure crashed down on him!
It was Gern's supreme Conqueror's Haki, focused precisely on him alone!
"Aaargh!" Arlong's arrogant voice cut off abruptly. It was as though an enormous invisible hand had slammed him into the earth.
His entire face was pressed against the Sea Forest's cold ground. He could not move so much as a finger and could only whimper in pain.
"Why didn't I save him? Heh." Gern slowly turned his head. His usually languid eyes were now as cold as ancient ice.
He walked toward the pinned Arlong, each step seeming to land on Arlong's heart. His voice was quiet, yet every word struck like thunder.
"Didn't I offer him protection?"
"After Fisher Tiger stormed the Holy Land, I told Neptune in no uncertain terms:
As long as Fisher Tiger stayed on Fish-Man Island, no one could touch him!
Not the Marines, and certainly not the World Government!
That was my promise!"
"But..." He looked down at Arlong as though he were an ant. "Fisher Tiger didn't want to owe me!
Nor could he bear the thought of plunging all of Fish-Man Island into danger because of him!
That was why, burdened by guilt and pride, he chose to