"Hawk Eyes, why are we here?" Jinbei remained the calmest.

After glancing at the fleet of warships ahead, which were rapidly approaching due to their ship's full-speed advance, he continued.

"Our original plan was to go to Elbaf. Why did we suddenly change course to Whitebeard's territory?"

Mihawk had no time to answer Jinbei because Perona was tugging at his cloak.

If he didn't react soon, Orion's little girl would end up using his cloak to wipe her tears!

"Perona, that's enough!"

Snatching his cloak back and quickly putting distance between them, Mihawk glared at Perona with his hawk-like eyes.

"If Orion sees you acting like this, you'll definitely get a beating! It's just the Whitebeard Pirates—how could you be so scared?"

"Don't forget, Orion gave us a pass!"

With that, Mihawk pulled out a slip of paper from his pocket, its contents unknown, and tossed it to Perona.

"A pass? What pass?"

Perona's eyes lit up as she quickly unfolded the paper and read aloud.

"Let them pass, or I will come in person!"

"Wow!"

Seeing Orion's handwritten note, Perona felt as if she had taken a calming pill and cheered.

"Orion-sama is truly the most majestic and domineering man in the world! When I grow up, I'm definitely going to become his bride!"

Hearing this, everyone present twitched their lips slightly.

Fortunately, Jinbei promptly spoke up to change the subject, asking Mihawk.

"Mihawk, answer my earlier question! Why did we suddenly change course and come here?"

"To send you to Fish-Man Island!"

Mihawk got straight to the point without mincing words, "This was Orion's initial arrangement—for you to return to Fish-Man Island and take command of the Ryugu Kingdom's military forces. You're to secure Fish-Man Island as a fortress for the World Government and eliminate any pirates attempting to enter the New World through Fish-Man Island!"

Jinbei blinked in confusion, "If we're going to Fish-Man Island, then why are we in Whitebeard's territory?"

Mihawk tilted his head to look at Jinbei, as if staring at a big fool and explained.

"Fish-Man Island is currently under Whitebeard's protection. If we go directly to Fish-Man Island, it will definitely cause trouble!"

"Rather than letting complications arise midway, it's better to come straight to Whitebeard and demand that he stop interfering in Fish-Man Island's affairs!"

"Demand that Whitebeard stop interfering in Fish-Man Island?"

Perona and Robin almost simultaneously turned their heads, their gazes shocked as they looked at Mihawk's calm expression.

Undeniably, Mihawk held the reputation of the World's Greatest Swordsman, but the other party was Whitebeard.

How could he calmly utter such an outrageously arrogant statement like "demand that Whitebeard stop interfering in Fish-Man Island"?

This time, not only Perona and Robin, but even Yamato and Denjiro standing on the other side widened their eyes in unison!

The most shocked were undoubtedly Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, who had ultimately chosen to board the warship with Denjiro and Yamato in search of the final Road Poneglyph.

They knew that the current Grand Line had entered Orion's era, but Orion, the most powerful and youngest Fleet Admiral in history, was not present at the moment.

And the other party was the famous Whitebeard.

Could just a few of them really make Whitebeard stop interfering in Fish-Man Island?

Was that even possible?

"Hey hey, what's with all your reactions?"

Just as everyone was stunned by Mihawk's words and the scene fell into brief silence, two accompanying Marine officers suddenly hurried over from nearby.

Their sharp gazes swept over Nekomamushi, Inuarashi, and Denjiro.

"It's just the Whitebeard Pirates. Why make such a fuss? The only reason they're still barely surviving is because the Fleet Admiral is temporarily too busy!"

"Once the Fleet Admiral has free time, the fate of the Beast Pirates and Big Mom Pirates will be the Whitebeard Pirates' tomorrow!"

Another Marine officer chimed in as if playing along.

"Exactly! When the Fleet Admiral arrives, none dare to move. Those who move will be annihilated!"

Feeling the burning desire for military merits in the two young Marine officers' eyes, along with their fearless attitude even in the face of powerful enemies, even Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, the kings of the Zou Kingdom, couldn't help but straighten their backs.

Indeed, the current Navy was completely different from before, top to bottom.

For two mere lieutenants to possess such guts, they could hardly imagine what the current Navy Headquarters must look like.

Before Nekomamushi, Inuarashi, and Denjiro could react, one of the lieutenants immediately turned to Perona and said sternly.

"Perona, have you forgotten the loyalty you pledged to the Fleet Admiral? To be so frightened just hearing Whitebeard's name—what kind of behavior is that! Dead, military merits delivered to your door; alive, glory bestowed upon you. What are you afraid of?"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Never expecting this lieutenant to target her, Perona's temper flared instantly.

She floated directly in front of the lieutenant, hovering in mid-air, and pointed at his nose angrily.

"How dare you question my loyalty to Orion-sama! When we meet Whitebeard later, don't you go weak in the knees!"

Just then, a warship under Whitebeard's command rapidly approached.

Leading it was Thatch, commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' fourth division.

"Teach, snap out of it!"

Standing at the bow, Thatch watched the rapidly approaching Navy warship with grave concern and speak to the rough man crouching behind him.

"The appearance of a Navy warship at this time likely means Orion has freed up his hands and is preparing to move against us!"

"Huh?"

Before the words fully left his mouth, Thatch's pupils suddenly contracted, his gaze sweeping toward the warship's deck now less than two hundred meters away.

He exclaimed in astonishment, "What's going on? It's not a Vice Admiral or Admiral, but... Mihawk?"

"What's with this situation? Has Mihawk already risen so high in the Marine headquarters that he can independently command warships for missions? Does the Fleet Admiral trust him that much?"

"Thatch, what are you worried about?!"

Teach, who had been crouching behind Thatch, slowly stood up.

Usually hiding his edge, his eyes now emitted a terrifying, bloodthirsty glow as he looked at the rapidly approaching warship.

Grinning fiercely, he said, "No matter what their purpose is here, with Pops guarding us, they can't stir up any waves!"

Sensing the sudden invisible pressure from behind, Thatch instinctively turned to look.

However, the moment he turned to face Teach, the sudden invisible pressure vanished completely.

Before him was the familiar, seemingly simple and honest Teach he knew.

Seeing this, a flicker of surprise passed through Thatch's eyes.

He was certain he hadn't imagined it—there had definitely been a sudden, powerful, and terrifying pressure that even made him, a division commander, feel alarmed.

Yet the moment he turned around, this pressure had mysteriously disappeared.

Although Teach appeared no different from before, Thatch couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about him.

Especially the fleeting gleam he caught in Teach's eyes the instant he turned back.

With a trace of doubt, Thatch tentatively asked, "Teach, were you just about to intercept that warship?"

Teach blinked, his eyes filled with confusion.

"No, I wasn't. I was just thinking about what to eat for lunch. How about cherry pie? I love the cherry pie you make, Commander Thatch! Ahahaha!"

Seeing Teach's utterly unambitious demeanor, devoid of any unusual aura and looking completely lazy, Thatch shook his head inwardly.

He dismissed his wild thoughts and focused his gaze on the large warship approaching head-on.

Soon, the warship at full speed passed directly by their patrol boat where he and Teach stood, heading straight for the Moby Dick.