Rowan rubbed his forehead. Then smiled apologetically at Tiger.
"My apologies. My thoughts got a little carried away because the information I have is incomplete."
Tiger scratched his head.
"It's good that you've sorted it out, Mr. Rowan. Although Shyarly's prophecies always come true, what she sees is only vague and uncertain."
Arlong nodded repeatedly.
"Exactly, exactly. If you think it's wrong, just treat it as that little brat Shyarly talking nonsense."
Rowan shook his head slightly.
"Her prophecies may always be ambiguous but they always happen. I know that very well. But for that same reason, how such a future comes to pass and how the world recovers afterward are also goals that we must strive toward."
At that Rowan smiled at Tiger.
"So there is no effort to change this world that is ever meaningless. A world submerged beneath the sea doesn't necessarily mean that we failed."
Just then a gigantic figure had to bend over just to enter the Mermaid Cafe. Instantly every mermaid waitress looked over.
"Lord Whitebeard! It's really him! Our benefactor has come!"
The two mermaid waitresses hurried forward. They bowed respectfully then enthusiastically introduced the cafe's desserts and drinks while asking what Newgate would like.
Whitebeard clearly had no interest in any of it. The moment he entered his eyes were already fixed on Rowan.
"Bring me whatever." He answered casually. Then walked straight toward Rowan. Behind him followed Marco along with the three division commanders from earlier.
As Whitebeard approached the round table Tiger and Jinbe stood respectfully. Instead of sitting back down they moved behind Rowan, just as Marco and the others stood behind Whitebeard. The atmosphere changed completely.
This was no longer a casual conversation. To a certain extent it had become a meeting between the Revolutionary Army and the Whitebeard Pirates.
Neither Tiger and the others nor Marco, Vista, and the rest had the standing to remain seated.
"Cloaked Man." Whitebeard looked at Rowan.
"If you truly bear no ill will toward Fish-Man Island, then I suppose that face of yours is fake as well."
Rowan nodded.
"That's correct. For certain reasons, even in front of Whitebeard himself I can't reveal my true appearance. My apologies."
Whitebeard didn't mock him. Instead his gaze sharpened.
"It seems your importance to Mary Geoise is greater than I imagined. From your very first bounty to every increase afterward, what exactly have you been doing, brat?"
Rowan smiled. There was no reason to hide it.
"At the Sabaody Archipelago I killed three Celestial Dragons. Recently I also paid Mary Geoise a visit. I freed every slave there and while I was at it I killed two more. So my bounty increasing was only to be expected."
The moment those words fell Newgate's hand tightened slightly. As the World's Strongest Man he didn't believe Rowan was stronger than himself.
But this young man had personally killed five Celestial Dragons. And despite that the World Government still hadn't been able to do anything about him.
So that teleportation ability is his greatest reliance? No. The World Government wasn't that simple.
At that moment a mermaid waitress who clearly admired Whitebeard returned carrying coffee and desserts. Newgate had Marco pay the bill. Then picked up the coffee and took a sip.
Smack, smack. He clicked his tongue twice. Not used to it. Doesn't taste good. Nowhere near as enjoyable as sake.
Setting the cup back down Whitebeard got straight to the point.
"Brat, let's skip the small talk. I don't know much about the Revolutionary Army. But Fish-Man Island is my territory. So if the Revolutionary Army has any plans for this island, you'll need my approval first."
Rowan answered just as directly.
"Before this I had already intended to leave. I believed that Fish-Man Island wouldn't play a particularly important role in the future. It would have been enough to leave behind the promise of change. But about five minutes ago that opinion changed."
Whitebeard Newgate remained silent, waiting for Rowan to continue. Instead, Rowan slowly shook his head.
"Although Fish-Man Island has long been under the protection of the Whitebeard Pirates, the Whitebeard Pirates' position has always been one of staying out of the world's affairs."
"You have your own principles. You have your own bottom line. But you don't care about the future of this world."
"The only things you truly care about are your family, and your homeland."
Those words made Newgate burst into loud laughter.
"Gurararara! Brat, do you even know who you're talking to? You seem to know quite a bit about me."
"But if killing a few pieces of trash in Mary Geoise is enough to make you this arrogant, then you're about to learn a painful lesson."
The instant those words fell, their eyes met. The Conqueror's Haki both had been suppressing to its absolute limit collided.
For a moment, the air inside the café became unimaginably heavy. Had either of them released even a little more, every mermaid waitress present would have collapsed unconscious.
"Gurararara."
Whitebeard slowly rose to his feet.
"Not bad. Your Haki is impressive."
"But that alone isn't enough to earn the right to say what you just said, brat."
Rowan met his gaze calmly.
"In the Revolutionary Army, there is no such thing as seniority."
"Great ideas deserve respect. As for those who possess only overwhelming strength, yet remain ignorant, they are nothing more than warriors."
"What did you say?! You bastard! How dare you insult Pops!"
"Even if you're with the Revolutionary Army, we'll never forgive that! You looking for a fight?!"
The moment Rowan finished speaking, Marco, Vista, and the other Whitebeard commanders exploded with anger.
Yet Rowan's expression remained unchanged, as though he were merely stating a fact.
"To stay apart from the world, to uphold your own principles, while still living by the code of pirates."
"I meant no disrespect. But no matter how powerful someone may be, strength alone can never earn the respect of those whose minds have awakened."
"Whitebeard Newgate."
Whitebeard frowned. To stay apart from the world, to uphold his principles, yet still live as a pirate.
Just one short sentence, yet it perfectly described the essence of the Whitebeard Pirates. Combined with Rowan's earlier evaluation, it was obvious this Revolutionary knew his crew extremely well.
"Brat. Then let me see whether this so-called awakening of yours has the right to judge me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Whitebeard turned and walked toward the exit. The reason both men had compressed their Haki to such an extreme was because they were both mindful of Fish-Man Island.
If they truly fought here, Fish-Man District would likely be reduced to ruins. And Fish-Man Island itself existed within the giant bubble produced by the Sunlight Tree Eve.
Neither of them intended to clash inside the island. Nor wage their battle here.
"Jozu."
"Yes, Pops."
"Tell Namur to stay here for a few more days. We'll wait for him up in the New World."
"Understood."
Jozu shot Rowan a fierce glare, then departed.
Whitebeard raised one arm high.
"Men! Set sail! In the New World, I'll be waiting for this Revolutionary's challenge!"
Following him outside, Rowan spoke calmly.
"It's not a challenge, Newgate. I've merely stated the facts. Isn't that so?"
"But if you want a fight, I'll gladly oblige."
"Gurararara."
Whitebeard's gaze gradually grew serious.
"What an arrogant little brat. Then come. Let's do it."
"Very well."
A kunai shot through the air. Marco caught it steadily. Naturally, no one mistook it for a sneak attack.
"Keep it with you. I'll come tonight."
Whitebeard glanced at the kunai. Recalling the teleportation ability described in Rowan's bounty poster, he replied,
"I'll be waiting."
Marco put the kunai away. Then he and the Whitebeard Pirates followed Newgate, leaving Coral Hill, and heading toward Fish-Man Island's official exit.
Beside Rowan, Tiger and Jinbe both looked anxious. But as representatives of Fish-Man Island, neither of them felt it was appropriate to interfere in a conversation between the Revolutionary Army and the Whitebeard Pirates.
After all, one side was Whitebeard, the benefactor who had protected Fish-Man Island for years. The other was Rowan, who had saved Tiger, and had just made a new promise with the Mermaid Princess.
Only Arlong, who walked at the very back, looked excited.
"Mr. Rowan! Are you really going to fight Whitebeard? That's the World's Strongest Man!"
Smack! Rowan immediately slapped him across the back of the head.
"Show some respect. I don't agree with his ideals, but the Whitebeard Pirates truly have protected Fish-Man Island."
"When facing your benefactors, you should be respectful."
Arlong rubbed the back of his head. He felt that today alone, he had been hit there more times than in the rest of his life combined.
They're about to fight. And Whitebeard started it. So why should I still respect him?
Without realizing it, Arlong's way of thinking had already begun to change.
"Mr. Rowan, should I inform King Neptune? This fight doesn't seem to accomplish anything."
Rowan shook his head.
"No need. Sometimes the only way to have a proper conversation is to fight first."
Jinbe hesitated.
"Mr. Rowan, are you actually confident you can defeat him? That is Whitebeard, the man known as the World's Strongest."
Before he could finish, Rowan waved a hand.
"It's not about winning. When your positions aren't completely opposed, there's no need for a fight to the death."
"But if you want someone like him to truly listen, then you first have to earn his acknowledgment through strength."
"Originally, this battle really would have been meaningless. But after Shyarly's prophecy, Fish-Man Island has taken on tremendous importance."
"So, to a certain extent, the Revolutionary Army needs this battle."
The Revolutionary Army was still operating in the shadows. It couldn't openly protect Fish-Man Island the way the Whitebeard Pirates could.
As for Kaido and the Beasts Pirates, they possessed neither Whitebeard's prestige, nor his influence among the fish-men.
If the entire world would one day sink beneath the sea, then Fish-Man Island's importance would become immeasurable.
The Mermaid Princess, Shirahoshi, would become just as important. In a single moment, Fish-Man Island's strategic value had risen dramatically.
As thoughts churned through his mind, Rowan suddenly paused. It felt as though he had remembered something.
Imu's weapon. The National Treasure of the Celestial Dragons. That's right. Before the destruction of Lulusia, there had already been hints about why Mary Geoise was able to rule the world.
Those hints had appeared during the Dressrosa arc. The one who mentioned them was Donquixote Doflamingo, a former Celestial Dragon who had once lived in Mary Geoise.
Rowan could no longer remember the exact conversation. But he remembered its meaning. It had been a discussion between Doflamingo and Trafalgar Law.
The powers of the Op-Op Fruit were connected to using the National Treasure of Mary Geoise, and thereby obtaining supreme authority over the world.
The Eternal Youth Operation granted everlasting life. That lifespan was somehow related to being able to use the National Treasure. And whoever could wield that treasure could control the world.
So could lifespan replace an energy source? Or was lifespan itself the price required to activate it, causing the seas to suddenly rise, and drown the entire world?
As for the Mother Flame, whether it was an energy source, or the weapon itself, remained unknown.
Yet it had only been capable of destroying a single island, and raising sea levels by one meter.
For a moment, Rowan's thoughts became tangled. There simply wasn't enough information. He couldn't even be certain whether the National Treasure in Mary Geoise was the colossal shadow he remembered.
After thinking for a while, Rowan patted Tiger and Jinbe on the shoulders.
"We still have some time. Show me around Fish-Man Island."
"And if you decide to come with me, then after tonight's fight, I'll be sending you to undergo the Revolutionary Army's ideological training."
Jinbe looked at Rowan.
"Are you really sure about this, Mr. Rowan?"
Rowan knew exactly what he meant. He smiled.
"Don't worry. What I encountered in Mary Geoise was far more formidable than the Whitebeard Pirates."
"And besides, this is also a good opportunity to create the appearance that the Revolutionary Army and Fish-Man Island aren't on good terms."
"In the eyes of those people, Fish-Man Island is special as well. We can make use of this battle to sell that illusion."
Afterward, the three towering fish-men accompanied Rowan as they toured Fish-Man Island. With the bubble-powered transportation, they were free to wander wherever they pleased.
The red Road Poneglyph in the Sea Forest was nowhere to be found. Only a single Poneglyph bearing an apology remained in its place.
----------
Advance Chapters: patreon .com/OneFic