Rio's command, amplified by the loudspeaker, finally made the "suicide fleet" composed of fishing boats and merchant ships come to a stop one after another.
He left the warship and most of the Marine soldiers behind to maintain order, strictly guarding against any civilian vessel crossing the line again.
Then, he made a decision that took everyone by surprise.
He jumped onto a small sampan that could only accommodate three people, took up the oars himself along with two soldiers, and began rowing toward the pirate fleet that radiated an aura of death from across the water.
...
On the Moby Dick.
Whitebeard watched the civilian fleet that feared no death, then looked at the Marine warship that had resolutely charged out.
Before the smile could fade from his face, he spotted a tiny boat making its way toward him.
He raised his hand and made a simple gesture.
"Pass the order. All ships, halt."
The massive fleet came to an immediate stop.
Dozens of giant vessels lay dormant like sea beasts, silently anchored on the ocean surface, their oppressive presence even more overwhelming than when they were moving.
On the deck, the division commanders watched the approaching small boat with astonished expressions.
Jozu widened his eyes, grumbling in his deep voice, "Daring to approach us in a small boat? Are the Marines that bold these days?"
Vista gripped his sword hilt, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.
"There are only three people on board. The leading Marine officer is just a Lieutenant."
A Lieutenant, with two ordinary soldiers, daring to come alone to confront the entire Whitebeard Pirates with over fifty thousand members?
This wasn't a matter of courage anymore.
This was madness.
Under countless contemptuous, curious, and solemn gazes, the small boat stopped about a dozen meters away from the bow of the Moby Dick.
The moment it halted, an invisible wave of pressure washed over them.
It wasn't Conqueror's Haki, yet it felt heavier and more suffocating than Haki.
This was the unique aura of Edward Newgate, the "World's Strongest Man"—the presence accumulated over decades of reigning over the seas, known as "Whitebeard."
The two young soldiers on the small boat instantly turned pale.
Their hands gripping the steel rifles trembled violently, their legs went weak, and their hearts felt as if seized by an invisible hand, pounding wildly against their chests.
Yet even so, they gritted their teeth, mustering every ounce of strength to remain standing, aiming their rifles at the colossal ship with blazing determination.
Rio wasn't faring much better.
He felt as if he were facing a tsunami alone, one that was about to swallow everything, to the point where even the strength to speak was stripped away.
In the past, he wouldn't even have had the right to stand here.
Just hearing Whitebeard's name would have been enough to make him and his subordinates flee in terror.
But now, things were different.
Behind them stood an unprecedentedly powerful Marine force and that fiercely protective Fleet Admiral!
At the thought of Fleet Admiral Orion, a surge of scorching heat rose from the depths of Rio's heart, transforming into boundless courage that supported his nearly crushed spine.
He took a step forward, causing the small sampan to sway.
Lifting his head, he met the gaze of the figure on the Moby Dick's deck, who seemed to look down upon all living beings, allowing the cold sweat on his forehead to gather and stream down his cheeks.
"Whitebeard," his voice trembled slightly but remained exceptionally clear, "you cannot land on the island."
Rio turned sideways, pointing toward the fleet of civilian ships standing ready behind him.
"Do you see them? They are all civilians ready to protect their homeland at all costs. The moment you cross the route in front of me, they will charge forward recklessly, using their flesh and blood to block your advance!"
Before Whitebeard could speak, the 13th Division Commander, "Water Buffalo" Atmos, stepped forward and roared.
"You ants overestimating yourselves! Do you really think they can stop us? We are the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"Atmos."
Marco shot him a glance and said sternly, "Pops is here. It's not your place to act recklessly!"
Atmos shrank his neck and retreated resentfully.
Whitebeard remained silent, merely looking down at Rio from his elevated position, the invisible pressure intensifying abruptly.
The two soldiers behind Rio could no longer hold on, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Sweat soaked through their uniforms as if they had just been fished out of water.
Yet, they stubbornly straightened their backs, lifting their heads with their last ounce of strength to meet the gaze of that mountain-like figure.
Rio's body also began to tremble uncontrollably—his instincts screamed with fear!
But beyond instinct, he possessed the courage to face death unflinchingly!
He took another step forward, nearly reaching the bow of the small boat.
"I admit, the Marine forces stationed at Sphinx are no match for you, but that is no reason for us to back down!"
His voice suddenly rose, his gaze burning as he stared straight at Whitebeard.
"Now, you have two choices!"
"One, the entire Whitebeard Pirates move to the uninhabited subsidiary island next to Sphinx! We'll stay out of each other's way and wait together for the arrival of the Fleet Admiral!"
"Two, every Marine stationed at Sphinx dies here! You'll step over our corpses to set foot on Sphinx!"
At this point, a flicker of madness flashed in Rio's eyes.
"But if that happens, what awaits you won't just be the Fleet Admiral—it'll be his overwhelming wrath!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the deck of the Moby Dick erupted into chaos.
"Bastard! How dare a mere Marine lieutenant threaten Pops!"
"Reckless fool! Pops, let me go twist his head off!"
"Why waste words with them? I alone am enough to take out these Marines!"
The division leaders were incensed, their eyes blazing with fury as if they were about to leap off the ship at any moment and tear the insolent little boat to shreds.
"My sons."
Whitebeard's brow furrowed slightly as he spoke in a deep voice, "What is all this commotion? This is my hometown!"
The division leaders immediately fell silent, stepping back in unison, not daring to act out of line again.
In an instant, the suffocating pressure vanished without a trace.
Whitebeard looked down at the drenched, swaying but still ramrod-straight Marine lieutenant and couldn't help but sigh with admiration.
"As expected of the Marines under Orion's command. Even a lieutenant dares to come alone and negotiate terms with me now."
After a brief pause, Whitebeard shifted his tone.
"Let's each take a step back."
"All forty-three subordinate crews of the Whitebeard Pirates will head to the nearby subsidiary island. The members aboard the Moby Dick will come ashore on Sphinx with me."
Hearing this proposal, Rio's tense nerves finally relaxed.
He knew this was the greatest concession the other side could make—and the best outcome he could hope to achieve.
"Agreed."
Rio took a quiet, deep breath before speaking again.
"I'll order the withdrawal of all militiamen. Once you land, you must not enter the town—you may only proceed as far as the cherry blossom grove in the eastern suburbs!"
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