King Neptune was already beginning to regret his earlier decision.
He had originally contacted the Whitebeard Pirates to act as a deterrent against the El Pirates.
But now, the El Pirates were already here, and it was clear they had no intention of occupying or harming Fish‑Man Island.
If the Whitebeard Pirates arrived now, it would bring no benefit to the island at all—instead, it could trigger a disaster.
Yet it was too late to turn back.
The Whitebeard Pirates had already received the distress call, and by all rights, they had every reason to respond.
In the New World, the territory of a powerful crew was sacred, especially when challenged by another force of similar standing.
If they could not protect their own lands, how could they survive in such a chaotic era?
As one of the most influential crews in the New World, the Whitebeard Pirates would never tolerate outsiders intruding on their domain.
King Neptune was now consumed by regret and self‑blame, yet finding a way out of this mess seemed nearly impossible.
He had not understood the El Pirates' intentions when they first arrived; now he knew they were merely passing through.
But what if this powerful crew—destined to become the future Ruler of the Seas—was provoked? What if they encountered the Whitebeard Pirates coming to drive them away?
They might forever hold a grudge against Fish‑Man Island. Even if they did nothing for now, even if Whitebeard's power forced them to retreat, there would be many opportunities in the future.
The Whitebeard Pirates were indeed formidable, but as their ally, Fish‑Man Island knew the truth: their captain, Edward Newgate—"Whitebeard"—was in critical condition.
The crew today was not the same as it had been in its prime, and it could not hold on forever.
Eventually, the future would belong to the new generation of powerful pirates… and perhaps, according to Shyarly's prophecy, to the El Pirates themselves.
This made the situation far more complicated. Should Fish‑Man Island stand firmly with Whitebeard and expel the El Pirates?
Or try to mediate between the two forces, preventing conflict and keeping innocent civilians from being caught in the crossfire?
As king, Neptune had countless things to weigh. The complexity of the problem left him feeling as if he were staring at a mountain, unsure where to begin.
Fish‑Man Island occupied a strategic location, with a large territory and population, and was frequented by merchants, pirates, and officials from all over.
Yet its own strength was far too weak to match its importance—this was exactly why it had sought protection under the Whitebeard Pirates.
Now, two crews far more powerful than the island itself were about to meet, and with underlying tension. This was nothing short of a catastrophe waiting to happen.
After turning the problem over in his mind countless times, King Neptune still could not find a safe solution.
And there was no time left—the Whitebeard Pirates had already moved quickly and were now approaching the surrounding waters.
This was only the third day since the El Pirates had arrived. On the first day, they had been warmly received by the royal family.
On the second, they had dealt with the trouble in Fish‑Man District, which had ultimately turned out well—removing a long‑standing threat and bringing peace to the island, while also receiving a prophecy that boosted their morale.
But on the third day, just as they were preparing to depart, the Whitebeard Pirates arrived.
The El Pirates' lookouts spotted the approaching fleet in advance.
El knew immediately why they had come—everyone along the Grand Line knew Fish‑Man Island was under Whitebeard's protection.
"Captain! This must be that old fool Neptune's doing!" Doflamingo snapped.
"He feared we would make a move against the island, so he called Whitebeard's crew ahead of time!"
Though he now served under El, Doflamingo still carried the wariness of someone who had once been a Warlord of the Sea—well aware of how terrifying an Emperor‑level crew truly was.
That sense of caution remained, and he grew visibly tense knowing the Whitebeard Pirates could appear at any moment.
"Calm down," El said, glancing at his subordinates.
The officers of his crew were already more than capable; few groups across the Grand Line could match their combined strength.
Yet it seemed they had not yet fully adjusted to their own standing.
El understood Doflamingo's background: born into one of the highest noble families in the world, then cast down into suffering, before clawing his way back to fame and power in both the pirate and underground worlds.
That life‑shaped experience gave him a sharp mind and access to valuable information, but it also left him with certain limitations.
"So what if they are one of the Four Emperors?" El shook his head with a dismissive smile. "Let them come. We shall see exactly what the Whitebeard Pirates are made of."
The arrival of the Whitebeard Pirates was no small matter.
As perhaps the strongest crew in the entire New World, their reputation commanded respect and fear even within the El Pirates. Doflamingo's reaction was proof of that.
"Captain! This is clearly a scheme from the island!" others shouted. "They want to pit us against Whitebeard's crew and profit from the chaos!"
Opinions were divided among the crew, but El himself felt no particular concern.
What interested him most was something else entirely: who was truly stronger between himself and Edward Newgate, the man called the Strongest in the World…
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