Neptune wore a bitter expression as he handed a letter to the two trusted aides before him, the Left Minister and the Right Minister.
"This is a letter from Big Mom," he said heavily. "She demands that we raise the Big Mom Pirates' flag and formally submit to her rule."
After reading it, both ministers' expressions darkened.
"Your Majesty! Whitebeard may be dead, but the Whitebeard Pirates still exist!" the Left Minister said emotionally, his voice filled with indignation. "If we change allegiance this easily, Fish-Man Island's reputation will be ruined!"
"And we'll completely offend the Whitebeard Pirates!"
Everyone knew that Neptune and Whitebeard had been close friends. That was why Whitebeard had been willing to lend his flag to Fish-Man Island, shielding it from danger.
And now, not long after Whitebeard's death, they were going to turn to one of his former enemies?
If word of this spread, who would still respect Fish-Man Island?
Neptune understood all of this perfectly.
But he said helplessly, "Linlin has already issued a final ultimatum. She's sending her fourth son, Charlotte Oven, to take over Fish-Man Island. We're to prepare the sweets tribute for her."
"That's a powerhouse only slightly below the Sweet Commanders. And right now, the Whitebeard Pirates are struggling to protect themselves. Can we really stop Oven on our own?"
The Left and Right Ministers fell silent at the same time.
This was Fish-Man Island's greatest problem.
They had no true top-tier powerhouse.
Even Jinbe, who once held the title of Warlord of the Sea, was only considered second-rate on the vast seas.
He might be able to hold Oven back once.
But what about the next time?
They wouldn't even need Big Mom herself. One Sweet Commander, backed by a few strong fighters, would be enough to push Fish-Man Island into utter ruin.
After all, they had only one Jinbe.
Big Mom had thirty-four ministers… and that didn't even count her non-blood-related subordinates.
Refuse Big Mom?
What right did Fish-Man Island have to refuse?
At that point, the room fell into a suffocating silence.
Humiliation.
Pure humiliation.
In front of these monsters, Fish-Man Island was nothing more than a dish on the table.
Anyone who wanted it could try to take it.
"Your Majesty! You summoned me urgently. Is something important happening?"
A plump blue figure walked in.
It was Fish-Man Island's strongest warrior at present… the former Warlord of the Sea, Knight of the Sea Jinbe.
The Left Minister handed him the letter and explained the situation.
Jinbe frowned deeply after hearing it.
They couldn't afford to offend Big Mom.
The Whitebeard Pirates were benefactors they owed an enormous debt to.
It truly left them trapped between two impossible choices.
After a long silence, Jinbe sighed.
"Your Majesty… let us contact the Whitebeard Pirates."
"I have some ties with Ace. If I explain the situation clearly to him, perhaps…"
Even Jinbe couldn't finish that sentence.
Perhaps Ace would agree to them taking down Whitebeard's flag.
But that would also mean the bond between them would be severed forever.
Whitebeard's flag represented Whitebeard himself.
For Fish-Man Island to replace it was to trample on Whitebeard's dignity.
It was equivalent to declaring that the Whitebeard Pirates were inferior to the Big Mom Pirates.
How was that any different from slapping Ace and the others in the face?
What?
You say it's forced by circumstances?
Then who had protected Fish-Man Island all these years?
Enjoying the benefits but refusing to shoulder the risks?
There was no such thing as a free ride in this world.
Jinbe took a deep breath, his expression gradually hardening.
"I will bear all responsibility myself."
"Once this is over, I will personally go to the New World and apologize to Ace and the others."
Neptune looked at Jinbe, opening his mouth as if to speak, but after a long pause, he could only let out a deep sigh.
Jinbe didn't waste time. He took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed Ace's number.
Click.
The call connected, and Ace's cheerful voice came through.
"Jinbe! How have you been lately? The World Government hasn't been giving you trouble, right?"
After the Summit War, Jinbe's Warlord title had been revoked, and he now carried a bounty exceeding four hundred million Beli.
Jinbe forced a faint smile.
"I'm hiding in the deep sea. There's not much the World Government can do to me."
Ace nodded.
That was one advantage of the Fish-Man race… even the World Government had limited reach.
"So, why did you call me?" Ace's tone carried a hint of urgency and excitement.
Using the formula Oguro had given him, he had successfully recreated thermite.
The terrifying heat had genuinely shocked him.
After studying that fearsome flame for days, Ace felt he'd grasped something crucial and was eager to press forward.
Right now, he just wanted to end the call quickly and refine his flames even further.
If he succeeded, the Whitebeard Pirates would still stand firm in the New World.
Jinbe's round face twisted painfully, but with Fish-Man Island's survival at stake, he could only force himself to speak.
"Ace… Big Mom has sent people to forcibly take over Fish-Man Island. We truly have no way to resist, so… we may have to take down the old man's flag."
Silence.
The Den Den Mushi went completely quiet.
The face molded after Ace grew incomparably cold.
After a long while, Ace's voice finally came through.
"So you're planning to seek protection from Linlin?"
"Ace, there are over a hundred thousand ordinary Fish-Men on this island. We really can't ignore their safety," Jinbe explained humbly.
"Heh. 'No choice,' huh?" Ace's voice was icy, cold enough to pierce bone.
Even when the Whitebeard Pirates were being driven back by Blackbeard, they had never produced traitors or deserters.
"Jinbe, I've always remembered that you refused to answer the Navy's summons back then."
Ace's tone calmed, as if he had accepted everything.
"Since you want to find a way out for Fish-Man Island, then do as you see fit. I wish you well in the future."
With that, Ace hung up the call.
Because of that old debt, Ace wouldn't trouble Fish-Man Island or Jinbe.
But from this moment on, bridges would be bridges, roads would be roads.
Lowering the Den Den Mushi, raging flames burned in Ace's eyes.
With the old man gone, everyone really did see them as easy prey… all trying to take a bite.
"Old man… please wait a little longer," Ace muttered. "I will make the name of Whitebeard resound across the seas once more."
His gaze shifted to the pile of powder on the table.
He grabbed a handful and ignited it with his Devil Fruit ability.
In an instant, blinding white thermite flames roared to life.
Ace stared intensely at the fire.
He needed to master this flame as fast as possible… to gain the power to compete in the New World.
Blackbeard. Big Mom.
He would make all those who dared to reach out understand that even if the old man was dead—
The name Whitebeard was not something they could trample on.
Fish-Man Island.
Jinbe put away the Den Den Mushi, sorrow etched across his face.
This was the tragedy of the weak.
Forced to struggle just to survive.
"Your Majesty," Jinbe said softly, "prepare to receive the Big Mom Pirates."
Since the choice had been made, they would see it through to the end.