The ordinary crew members of the El Pirates were also given separate accommodations and hospitality by the Fish‑Man Kingdom.
While the crew as a whole already possessed enough strength to stand their ground even against the Four Emperors, their reputation had not yet spread far enough for most people to realize it.
As a result, the rank‑and‑file pirates received far less respect than their counterparts in the crews of the Four Emperors.
Even a single regular pirate from an Emperor's fleet carried considerable prestige anywhere in the Grand Line, but those in El's crew had not yet earned that level of recognition.
The reason was simple: they had not fought enough battles, nor defeated enough enemies, to make their name widely known.
The Four Emperors had built their reputations through years of real combat and victories, while the El Pirates, though powerful, were still young and had not had the time to expand their influence or spread their fame.
But none of this mattered right now. Given time, El and his crew would surely achieve feats equal to or even greater than those of the current Four Emperors.
…
"Thank you for your hospitality, but we would prefer to explore the island on our own," El said, declining King Neptune's offer to accompany them further.
"Of course… that is perfectly fine," Neptune replied, secretly letting out a sigh of relief.
To be honest, he had not prepared for this turn of events.
Knowing the El Pirates' reputation, he had expected them to be far more difficult and demanding.
Their reasonable attitude was a pleasant surprise—thanks largely to the fact that Neptune had treated them with the utmost respect from the start, offering only the finest accommodations and highest‑standard service.
Kindness, after all, tends to be returned in kind.
El was no brute. Though he had initially viewed Fish‑Man Island with caution, as the territory of a different race, Neptune had left no room for complaint in anything he did.
When treated with such courtesy, El saw no reason to stir up trouble.
After all, becoming strong was meant to free him from petty annoyances and unnecessary conflicts.
Watching the crew depart, Neptune finally felt the tension leave his shoulders.
"Thank goodness that went smoothly…"
Throughout the entire banquet, he had been on edge, but at least no incident had occurred.
Now that the situation had been resolved so easily, he began to feel a twinge of regret for having called the Whitebeard Pirates.
In reality, even if Whitebeard's fleet arrived, any conflict or clash would only cause damage to Fish‑Man Island itself.
To have avoided trouble entirely was already the best possible outcome.
As for the scenery of the island, it was unlike anything found on land.
In the whole world, there was nowhere else one could witness the unique beauty of the deep sea.
The world of piracy has never been short of open competition and secret schemes.
Many of the underhanded tactics used behind the scenes were enough to make one's skin crawl.
And it was not just pirates who acted this way.
Every nation and island that managed to survive and thrive in the Grand Line—indeed, every major power in these waters—had its share of dark dealings.
The Fish‑Man Kingdom was no exception. For host and guest to part on good terms, with a banquet held peacefully and without incident, was actually quite rare.
Not only King Neptune but all the high‑ranking officials of the kingdom breathed a collective sigh of relief.
As long as they did not have to fight such a powerful crew and risk bringing destruction upon their home, it was the best possible result.
Even if the Whitebeard Pirates arrived to find no crisis to resolve, it was still far better than going to war.
The damage caused by conflict could never be undone simply by paying compensation.
…
Meanwhile, the El Pirates' ship needed to be re‑coated.
The original coating applied at Sabaody Archipelago had dissolved the moment they entered Fish‑Man Island, merging with the giant air bubble that enclosed the entire island.
Inside that bubble, the atmosphere was dry and stable, just like on land—this was the magic of the barrier that kept the sea out.
Every vessel entering the island lost its outer coating, and that was exactly why Fish‑Man Island existed: to serve as a resting point where ships could be re‑coated for the journey ahead.
The craftsmen here were every bit as skilled as those at Sabaody.
While the work was being done, El decided to give his crew some free time to explore and relax.
Life at sea was confining and exhausting, and the chance to walk freely on such a rare and unique island was something none of them wanted to miss.
Even El and his top officers joined in, making it a rare group outing.
El was enjoying the moment—if only he could ignore the unwelcome eyes watching them from behind.
His Observation Haki was among the most powerful in the world, with unmatched range and precision.
He had already sensed a hostile presence following them, staying close enough to be noticeable, yet acting as if they were not hiding at all.
"Is this all there is to Fish‑Man Island?" El murmured casually, as if speaking to himself.
"Are we being followed, Captain?" Doflamingo immediately caught the implication.
El glanced over his shoulder and smirked. "Sure are… and they're not even trying to be subtle about it."
"Shall I take care of them?" Doflamingo offered, looking eager to do exactly what he did best.
"Remember what King Neptune mentioned during the feast?" El asked suddenly.
"That there is still one area of the island that lies outside the royal family's control?"
"I do recall him saying that," Doflamingo replied.
None of them had paid much attention to the internal politics of Fish‑Man Island—after all, this was just a brief stop on their journey, and they had no interest in getting involved in local disputes.
But it seemed now that the people following them were likely connected to the unrest within the kingdom.
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