"What nonsense are you spouting?"

As soon as Perona finished speaking, Jozu the third division commander standing to Whitebeard's left, abruptly took a step forward.

His expression was fiercely menacing as he glared at the little brat who dared to point at their father's nose and provoke him twice.

In a deep voice, he said, "If it weren't for Father's protection over the years, Fish-Man Island would have long since become a lawless wasteland! Now you show up and think you can just tell us to stop interfering with Fish-Man Island with a simple sentence? Do you really think we're just for show? Brat!"

"Eww~"

Perona swept a disdainful glance over Jozu, whose face was angular, eyebrowless and who wore an expression of extreme anger.

"You big oaf are not cute at all! This princess doesn't like you! And, didn't you hear what i just said? We're not here to negotiate with you—we're here to give you a one-sided notice! Scram, scram, scram, hurry up and scram!"

Never expecting Perona to be this arrogant, Jozu clenched his fists in fury, his face flushed with rage.

"You... are asking for a beating!"

As soon as Jozu spoke, Perona suddenly widened her eyes.

"Wow, you ugly big oaf, you actually dare to threaten a little girl!"

"Mihawk!"

Before Jozu could react, the loli swiftly floated behind Mihawk, like a frightened porcelain doll, yet her expression was exceptionally fierce.

"Hurry, draw your sword and cut down this big fat oaf, or I'll tell Orion-sama that you failed to protect this princess!"

"Big fat oaf?"

Mihawk's lips twitched violently, but his hands didn't stop moving.

He cleanly and decisively gripped the hilt of his black blade with a reverse grip, simultaneously stepping forward and casting a sharp gaze toward Jozu.

"Jozu, you'd better be able to represent Whitebeard. Otherwise, you won't be able to bear the consequences of your words and actions right now!"

Sensing the atmosphere suddenly growing tense again, the division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates all tightened their nerves.

It wasn't that they feared Mihawk's group.

In terms of pure combat power on the scene, even with Mihawk leading the team, they posed no real threat to the fully assembled Whitebeard Pirates.

However, Mihawk and his group now carried the name of the Navy's iron-willed Fleet Admiral.

If they were to attack Mihawk's group here, it would mean declaring war on the Navy.

Once the battle began, the Navy fleet would arrive immediately, and as Perona had said, it was even possible that the iron-willed Fleet Admiral would personally appear.

Just as the atmosphere grew tense and Denjiro, Jinbei, and the others who had come with Mihawk were secretly preparing for battle, Shanks, who had been the first to board the Moby Dick, suddenly grinned.

Then, he placed one hand on his sword hilt and took a step forward, smiling cheerfully at the imposing Mihawk.

"Hawk Eyes, compared to when you were a Warlord of the Sea, your temper has grown even fiercer now!"

"Although this matter has nothing to do with me, both you and I know very well that the reason Fish-Man Island has been able to remain peaceful all these years is entirely due to Whitebeard's protection."

"Most importantly, although Whitebeard has claimed Fish-Man Island as his territory, he hasn't done anything heinous to the island over the years. He has simply used his name to secure temporary stability for Fish-Man Island!"

"This means that Fish-Man Island is a completely free existence."

After saying all this in one breath, Shanks suddenly changed his tone, turned around and scanned the commanders including Jozu, before finally fixing his gaze on Whitebeard.

"So the issue of Fish-Man Island's ownership isn't really a problem at all. We can absolutely sit down, discuss it over drinks, without needing to make the atmosphere so tense."

"How about I act as a mediator in this matter, striving to find a solution that satisfies both parties!"

"Just... give me some face!"

No one in the Whitebeard Pirates had expected Shanks to step in and intervene in this matter, catching them all somewhat off guard.

Similarly, Mihawk also slightly turned his head to look at Shanks.

Purely from a personal standpoint, Mihawk would definitely honor Shanks' request.

But now, his presence here wasn't for personal reasons—he had come under Orion's orders.

In the eyes of various pirate factions, and even the former Marines or World Government, Shanks' face carried weight.

Because in the pirate world, Shanks is one of the Four Emperors who rule over the New World.

During Sengoku's era, the Marines were constrained by the World Government and couldn't easily wage war against the Four Emperors, so they would also give Shanks face.

As for the Gorosei who control the World Government, they viewed Shanks as lacking ambition and believed his presence helped balance the power dynamics in the New World.

Combined with the fact that Shanks carries Celestial Dragon bloodline, they naturally turned a blind eye.

But now, both the Marines and the World Government are under Orion's command.

Even the other two Emperors, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, were executed without hesitation—Orion naturally wouldn't give Shanks any face.

Thinking this, Mihawk hesitated briefly before breaking his silence, his tone turn cold.

"Shanks, as one of the Yonko of the New World, your sudden appearance in Whitebeard's territory—you should know perfectly well that even a meeting between just the two of you is enough to trigger a new war."

"So, under these circumstances, don't add to the chaos unless you want to engage in full-scale war with the Marines right now!"

"Additionally, Perona has made it very clear—we didn't come here to negotiate with Whitebeard, but to notify!"

"Now that the notification has been delivered, there's no need for us to remain here and disturb your meeting with Whitebeard!"

"On behalf of Fleet Admiral Orion, I hereby declare that effective immediately, the Whitebeard Pirates will unconditionally withdraw from Fish-Man Island, which will be fully taken over by the Marines!"

After speaking, Mihawk glanced up at Whitebeard—who had remained silent throughout—then turned away gracefully.

Seeing this, Perona quickly floated up to follow Mihawk's steps.

Immediately after, Robin secretly breathed a sigh of relief and followed closely behind.

Jinbei and the others didn't leave right away.

They all looked up at the majestic figure standing proudly before them, their expressions complex, before eventually turning to depart.

Setting aside their current affiliations, on a personal level—whether it was Jinbei, Nekomamushi, or Inuarashi—they all held deep respect for Whitebeard.

If given a choice, they certainly wouldn't want to conflict with Whitebeard.

Especially Jinbei, who most dreaded the possibility of war with Whitebeard over Fish-Man Island.

As the mandatory passage for pirates from the first half of the Grand Line entering the New World, were it not for Whitebeard's protection, the current Fish-Man Island would surely have been devastated long ago.

"Mihawk, you stop right there!"

To everyone's surprise, Mihawk turned and left without even attempting to negotiate.

Jozu and Vista spoke up almost simultaneously, then both flashed forward, intending to intercept Mihawk.

As division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates, how could they swallow such an insult?

Though Fish-Man Island couldn't even be considered Whitebeard Pirates' territory, Mihawk's attitude was utterly disrespectful.

Unilaterally declaring their unconditional withdrawal from Fish-Man Island was tantamount to treating the Whitebeard Pirates as nonexistent.

Fish-Man Island itself no longer mattered.

What truly mattered was that the Whitebeard Pirates' honor could never be trampled upon like this!