Jinbe

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The Marine soldiers were unaware of Brontes's true intentions. He had no interest in battling Whitebeard; the thought of facing him wasn't something he entertained.

His journey into Whitebeard's territory had only one purpose: to locate Jinbe.

Following Fisher Tiger's death, Jinbe had taken over as the leader of the Sun Pirates.

The Marines had been relentlessly pursuing the Sun Pirates. The only reason the crew had not been wiped out was their exceptional ability to escape through the sea, thanks to their fish-man abilities.

The Sun Pirates were notorious, especially since their captain, Fisher Tiger, had once caused significant upheaval in Mariejois by freeing slaves.

Some of the World Nobles wanted to retaliate with full force, but they were restrained by others World Nobles.

The decision to offer Jinbe a position as one of the Seven Shichibukai of the Sea was a strategic move to reduce the tension between Fish-Man Island and the World Nobles. Jinbe knew this and was likely to accept the offer.

Jinbe's admiration and respect for Whitebeard ran deep. Having served in the Royal Guard, Jinbe had experienced Whitebeard's formidable influence firsthand. Without Whitebeard's protection, Fish-Man Island could have faced devastation.

Thanks to Whitebeard, the island had endured fewer hardships over the years, and pirates had become more cautious in their dealings with them.

They avoided causing trouble on Fish-Man Island, knowing that any such actions would ban them from the New World forever. Newcomers to Fish-Man Island were immediately met with Whitebeard's pirate flag, a stark reminder of the consequences of disrupting the island's peace.

In the original story, it was Borsalino who approached Jinbe with an invitation, and Jinbe had demanded Arlong's release as a condition for his cooperation.

Now, with Brontes taking Borsalino's place, it was uncertain whether Jinbe would still insist on freeing Arlong.

.....

Brontes's warship made its way into the New World, effortlessly destroying any pirate ships it encountered.

Many pirates didn't even catch a glimpse of his warship before their own ships were obliterated.

"The Lightning Demon is back!"

This phrase struck fear into the hearts of the New World pirates, particularly the weaker ones.

Upon hearing it, they scrambled to avoid Brontes's path, seeking refuge on deserted islands far from his warship's destructive course.

...

After several days of travel, Brontes finally reached the expansive territory of Whitebeard.

Among the territories controlled by the Four Emperors, Whitebeard's was the most extensive, situated in the second half of the New World. It closer the areas controlled by Kaido and Shanks, while being the most distant from Big Mom's territory.

Over time, the Whitebeard Pirates had grown their influence by incorporating numerous new pirate crews into their fold.

In contrast, the Red-Haired Pirates maintained a smaller, more selective group. They didn't seek out many allies, preferring a lean crew of a few hundred on a single ship. Despite their size, the Red-Haired Pirates were a force to be reckoned with, capable of standing toe-to-toe with the Whitebeard Pirates, the Beasts Pirates, and the Big Mom Pirates.

This was a testament to the formidable strength of Red-Haired Shanks.

As Brontes entered Whitebeard's territory, the distinctive design of his warship caught the attention of the Whitebeard crew.

Any pirate who had spent more than six months in the New World would recognize that this warship belonged to Brontes.

It wasn't long before a massive ship, resembling a giant whale from a distance, emerged before Brontes's warship.

"Here they are." Brontes muttered, having anticipated the arrival of the Whitebeard Pirates. He halted his ship on the ocean's surface to await their approach.

"Gurararara! Brontes, what brings you to my territory? Are you looking for a fight?" Whitebeard's booming laughter echoed across the water as the two ships drew within a hundred meters of each other.

The Moby Dick, Whitebeard's flagship, came to a stop.

"W-Whitebeard!" The Marine soldiers behind Brontes couldn't hide their trepidation, instinctively stepping back and leaving Brontes standing alone at the front of the ship.

"I've not come for you, but for one of your men." Brontes replied, his voice was steady.

Whitebeard's demeanor shifted instantly, his eyes narrowing at the mention of his crew: "You dare target my family!"

"Woosh! Boom!"

In an instant, Whitebeard unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, a force so powerful it felt like a mountain bearing down on Brontes's warship.

Many Marines succumbed to unconsciousness, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of fear.

Unfazed by Whitebeard's display, Brontes continued: "You're surely aware of the Seven Shichibukai initiative."

"The Seven Warlords of the Sea, huh? Legal pirates, right? Turning into lapdogs for the World Government and hunting other pirates." Whitebeard responded, his voice laced with disdain.

"Gurararara! The Marines have sunk so low that they're legalizing piracy now. What's next, you want me to become a 'legal' pirate too?" Whitebeard's laughter was thunderous, filled with mockery.

"That's not the reason I'm here. I've come for Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea and captain of the Sun Pirates. If you decide to reject the Shichibukai invitation on Jinbe's behalf, I won't start a fight with the Whitebeard Pirates over it. However, the future of the other Fish-Men might take a different turn." Brontes explained with a smile.

"Lightning Brat! Are you threatening my son?!" Whitebeard's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he stared down Brontes.

"Let Jinbe come out. This is between him and me. Do you really think you can protect Fish-Man Island forever, Whitebeard?!" Brontes called out boldly.

Whitebeard looked Brontes's face for a moment, then let out a quiet sigh. Turning back, he called: "Jinbe."

"Pops!" A blue-skinned, stout figure stepped forward at the call.

"Go and talk to him. I'll be right here watching. If he tries anything, I'll step in immediately." Whitebeard said, his voice carrying a reassuring calm.

"Thank you, Pops." Jinbe replied, his lips pressed together in gratitude.

He understood what Whitebeard was doing for him. Jinbe was fully aware of the recent discussions and the World Government's offer to join the Seven Shichibukai.

As a member of the Whitebeard Pirates, he had been thinking his options for the last few days.

With Whitebeard's words, Jinbe knew that the time had come to make a decision.

"Boong!"

With a big leap, Jinbe dove into the sea. He swam swiftly towards Brontes's warship and climbed aboard, standing face-to-face with Brontes.

"Brontes-dono." Jinbe greeted in a deep voice, standing before Brontes with a respectful nod.

"I believe this is our first time meeting, so let's get straight to the point. The World Government has chosen you to be one of the Seven Shichibukai for two main reasons. First, your strength is well-regarded by Admiral Borsalino and Vice-Admiral Stalker, who both speak highly of your abilities. Your reputation precedes you. Second, it concerns the welfare of Fish-Man Island. You're likely aware that the World Nobles harbor resentment towards Fish-Man Island because of the Fisher Tiger incident. At the recent World Conference, there was even a motion to revoke Fish-Man Island's status. Despite your absence from these politics, the Five Elders and some World Nobles still consider Fish-Man Island a vital ally. That's why they want to appoint you as a Shichibukai." Brontes laid out the situation.

"I understand. In exchange for accepting this position, may I request something in return?" Jinbe inquired.

"Go ahead. If it's within reason, I can grant it on behalf of the World Government." Brontes responded, confident in his authority to to release Arlong from Impel Down.

"I have a friend who is locked up in Impel Down. Could you arrange for his release?" Jinbe's request was direct, with his eyes never leaving Brontes.

"Arlong, correct? That's not an issue. He's a small pirate. As long as you agree to the terms, I can arrange his release. But you must understand, your ties with the Whitebeard Pirates must be limited. You can no longer be seen on Whitebeard's ship. From now on, you are solely the captain of the Sun Pirates." Brontes clarified the conditions.

"I understand." Jinbe acknowledged the terms.

"Once the Seven Shichibukai System is officially announced, come to me, and I will ensure Arlong's release from Impel Down." Brontes said calmly.

"Thank you, Brontes-dono." Jinbe expressed his gratitude with another nod.

With that, Jinbe plunged back into the sea, swimming back to the Moby Dick.

Brontes watched him go, then turned to meet Whitebeard's gaze one last time. Without another word, he gave the order to his crew: "Let's go."

His warship then set off, leaving Whitebeard's territory behind.