After dealing with Arlong, Gern slowly rose, then turned his gaze toward the officers of the Arlong Pirates, who stood frozen around him.
Kuroobi, Hachi, Chew... these fish-men, powerful enough to run rampant across the East Blue, now dared not move a muscle under Gern's gaze.
"Admiral Gern, we..."
"Get back to Fish-Man Island." Gern's tone was utterly flat. "And don't try anything."
"Because I'll be asking Neptune and Jinbe about you."
At the names "Neptune" and "Jinbe," Hachi and the others shuddered, their last shred of hope extinguished.
They had no doubt that if they failed to return obediently or tried anything else, the man before them would hold Fish-Man Island accountable.
The consequences would be far more than they could bear. And so...
Clang! Hachi was the first to throw down his swords.
Kuroobi, Chew, and the other fish-man crew members followed, dropping their weapons in a clattering chorus.
Without exchanging a word, not even daring to raise their heads for another look at Gern, the fish-men who had been so arrogant moments before
fled like beaten dogs, sprinting with all their strength toward the ships moored along the shore, leaving behind a scene of devastation and a crowd of shaken villagers.
Gern did not even watch them leave. As far as he was concerned, the whereabouts of those small fry no longer warranted his attention.
Neptune and Jinbe would take care of the aftermath.
So, once the fish-men had left, Gern turned his attention straight to Bellemere, who sat slumped on the ground nearby.
Noticing his gaze, Bellemere endured the piercing agony in her right hand and propped herself up on her left arm. "Admiral... Gern..."
Her voice was hoarse as she spoke, trying to maintain some semblance of military courtesy.
She had addressed him by the