"So you mean…" Doflamingo trailed off, his expression thoughtful.
"Exactly," El replied.
"I suspect the ones following us belong to the area King Neptune mentioned—the part of Fish‑Man Island that still refuses to submit to rule: Fish‑Man District."
"Do you intend to deal with them, Captain?" Doflamingo picked up on the unspoken meaning, daring to guess what El had in mind.
"Hmph…
"Let things take their course," El said, evading the question with a faint smile.
"If they know their place and stop following us, or if they try anything foolish… then we'll see."
His meaning was clear. Neptune had treated them with nothing but respect and courtesy.
As the saying went: When you eat someone's food, you owe them a debt of gratitude.
Since the king had rolled out the red carpet, El felt it only right to return the favor—by giving these troublemakers one chance to walk away, if nothing else.
Fish‑Man Island itself was stunningly beautiful, offering views of the deep sea unlike anywhere else in the world.
In recent years, through contact with the surface and membership in the World Government, life had improved greatly.
For ordinary Fish‑Men and Merfolk, the old hatred and conflict with humans had softened considerably.
El and his crew were truly enjoying the sights of this foreign land.
The only annoyance was the group trailing them—who not only failed to realize how reckless they were being, but seemed to grow bolder by the minute.
Their numbers increased, and their surveillance grew more open and aggressive.
"They're practically begging for trouble…"
By now, even Doflamingo and the others had noticed. Having their captain watched like this was an insult to the entire crew.
"Captain, give the order. I'll wipe them out right now!"
Doflamingo's pride and status would not allow him to tolerate such insolence—especially not while guarding his captain.
"Not yet," El said, shaking his head calmly.
"Let's keep walking. Once they can't keep up anymore, we'll follow them back the way they came."
He intended to root out the problem entirely: let them lead the way to their hideout, and deal with everyone involved—whether they had acted directly or not.
Doflamingo had been seething with anger, but now a flicker of pity crossed his mind.
These fools have truly pushed the captain too far.
To make El plan to follow them home and destroy their base entirely—this meant they had crossed a line.
"About time," Doflamingo muttered. "Leave a snake half‑dead, and it will only come back to bite you later."
Crocodile and the others agreed completely.
"Right," El nodded.
"For now, let's put this aside and keep exploring. It won't be easy to return to Fish‑Man Island once we leave."
He spoke the truth. Pirates who came this way to reach the New World rarely turned back.
All of them were driven by ambition and the legend of the One Piece, the great treasure left at the end of the Grand Line by the Pirate King himself.
To go backward while chasing that dream was unthinkable.
And so, the powerful officers of the El Pirates wandered from one landmark to another, through markets and streets, all while the group behind them struggled to keep pace—like dogs being walked until they were panting, eyes rolling, gasping for breath.
"I can't go on… I really can't…"
"You two stay here and keep watch. I'm going back to report to the boss!"
Just as El expected, the first to crack were the leaders among the followers. This was exactly the opportunity they had been waiting for.
"Now," El said, opening his eyes. "It's time to move."
"At once, Captain!"
In an instant, the top officers struck.
Taking down a few amateur spies was effortless.
They moved so silently that not a single sound was made.
The group sent back to report had no idea their comrades had already been eliminated.
In no time, all those still following were dealt with.
Then El and his crew trailed quietly behind the retreating scouts.
Sure enough, they were heading straight for Fish‑Man District—the lawless quarter that had long resisted the authority of the royal family.
It was a place filled with outcasts and wanderers, and integrating them into the kingdom was no easy task.
"That run‑down hulk over there… is that where Fish‑Man District is?" Doflamingo asked. None of them knew the island's geography well.
El nodded. "I believe so. I've heard legends of a great ship called Noah hidden beneath the sea… it seems the stories are true."
The Ark Noah was a vessel of immense proportions—nearly as large as Fish‑Man Island itself.
It was said to be big enough to carry every single Fish‑Man and Merfolk on the island and sail them away to safety if needed.
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