He held no ill will toward the Whitebeard Pirates.
Besides, Whitebeard had fought with great restraint and honor, leaving no unresolvable conflict between them.
So El decided to accept their offer of goodwill without hesitation.
"Very well! Since you have invited us so warmly, we would be delighted to join you!"
Doflamingo stepped forward to speak on El's behalf.
Since the invitation had come from Marco rather than Whitebeard himself, it was only appropriate for the El Pirates to send one of their officers in reply.
Doflamingo was taking this chance to represent the crew—though strictly speaking, his position within the El Pirates was not yet equal to Marco's standing in the Whitebeard Pirates.
But clearly, neither El nor his other officers cared much about such formalities.
To be honest, this left Doflamingo feeling as though he had swung a punch into empty air.
At present, the only other crew member who could rival him in both intelligence and strength was Crocodile.
As for Issho?
His power was undeniably immense—Doflamingo suspected he might not even win if they fought at full strength.
But Issho had only just joined the crew, and his focus was elsewhere.
He had not yet earned the standing to compete for the position of "second-in-command" beneath El.
This left Doflamingo feeling confident that he could claim that spot—provided Crocodile did not get in his way.
With both captains in agreement, King Neptune quickly arranged a grand feast to welcome the two most powerful crews in the New World.
The Whitebeard Pirates could feel the overwhelming pressure radiating from El and his elite officers.
It reminded them of the old days, when the Roger Pirates—almost as formidable as they were—would cross paths with them on the open sea, and the two crews would exchange blows as a form of friendly training.
The bond between Whitebeard and Roger was unique, yet it never turned into hostility; instead, the two crews often supported and helped one another.
Back then, Marco—who had not yet earned the title "Phoenix"—was still an apprentice aboard the Moby Dick.
It was worth noting that around the same time, a young red-haired boy was also serving as an apprentice in the Roger Pirates—none other than Shanks, now one of the Four Emperors of the Sea.
Even though only El had fought Whitebeard directly, everyone could easily recognize the caliber of the other officers in his crew.
They were all former Warlords of the Sea—names feared and respected across the entire Grand Line.
Recruited by the World Government and the Marines, these men had carried out their duties "thoroughly" in the past, destroying countless pirate crews.
That was why, aside from the Four Emperors, the Warlords were the figures most dreaded by other pirates.
Now, these same powerful individuals—Doflamingo, Crocodile, and Boa Hancock—served under El.
Their strength was visible even without a fight.
What was more, all of them were still in their prime; though already incredibly powerful, they had not yet reached their absolute peak.
This meant that, given time, the El Pirates would only grow stronger.
Even as things stood now, there were very few across the Grand Line who could stand against El himself.
If even Whitebeard could not gain the upper hand, then it was doubtful that the combined might of the World Government and the Marines' highest ranks could achieve any victory over him.
From the Whitebeard Pirates' perspective, it was far better to avoid making enemies of such a crew—especially given their own declining condition.
There was no time for lengthy deliberation.
The priority now was to enjoy the moment and strengthen their ties with the El Pirates.
Even if they could not become close friends or formal allies, they must do everything possible not to provoke this young and powerful crew.
The happiest person in all this was undoubtedly King Neptune.
At first, he had watched the confrontation between the two captains with great anxiety.
In his youth, Neptune had been a warrior of the highest caliber, having built respectful relationships—even friendships—with both Whitebeard and the Pirate King, Roger.
But as the years passed, two things had changed him: his own advancing age, and the fact that he had grown focused on the duties of ruling, neglecting his training.
His strength had diminished significantly, and his long absence from battle meant his instincts no longer matched the pace of the new era.
He was truly a casualty of changing times.
If the two crews had clashed in earnest right there on Fish‑Man Island, the result would have been catastrophic—the entire island would have been torn apart, and in the worst case, the entire Fish‑Man race itself could have suffered great harm.
Thankfully, the outcome was one that Neptune could accept.
The two crews had not turned on each other.
He did not trouble himself to wonder exactly why these two great forces had managed to hold back after facing off.
All that mattered was that it was good news for his people—they would not have to endure destruction.
"Please, everyone, follow me to Ryūgū Palace!" Neptune called out, acting with great tact. "I have prepared a feast there in your honor!"
He immediately ordered his ministers to make ready for a grand dinner.
To host both the Whitebeard Pirates and the El Pirates at once was an achievement few across the Grand Line could claim—one that required not only courage but also extraordinary luck.
Once word of this day spread, Fish‑Man Island's security would rise to a whole new level.
Already, the protection of the Whitebeard Pirates had kept most pirates and human slave traders far away.
Now, with the favor of the El Pirates added—who clearly held no ill will toward the island, and whom Neptune would be sure to mention in future accounts—no one would dare cause trouble here.
Looking further ahead, this could even help Fish‑Man Island gain greater standing with the World Government.
It was already recognized as an official nation, and had slowly been securing its rights and status.
With the combined protection of both the Whitebeard Pirates and the El Pirates, Fish‑Man Island would not only maintain its rights as a recognized nation—it would likely rise to a position of even greater influence and authority than most other countries in the world.
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