Silver Axe had only one right arm, clutching his axe with one hand; his body had already expanded to seven or eight meters, clearly having taken quite a bit of damage earlier.
He lost his left arm in the Naval Battle of Puttelocrone six years ago.
However, his strength hadn't diminished much.
On the contrary, he was a bit stronger than before.
While running, Silver Axe looked back at where Carlo was, a strange emotion in his eyes.
A thought uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.
In the vast Rocks Pirates, who could be the one to inherit Rocks' position?
In the past, he always thought that person was Shiki.
Although Silver Axe usually looked dissatisfied with Shiki, his childhood friend.
But in reality, having grown up with Shiki in the West Blue since childhood, he still thought highly of Shiki.
This childhood friend of his was definitely a born pirate! And a born Pirate King!
Whether it was personal talent, strength, or that insidious and cunning, peerlessly ruthless, and incomparably overbearing personality, Shiki was the most suitable person to inherit Rocks' legacy.
In Silver Axe's eyes, he was even more suitable than the stronger Whitebeard to inherit the Rocks Pirates and become the new 'Pirate Commodore'!
But at this moment, after seeing the extraordinary spirit displayed by Carlo.
The thought in Silver Axe's heart suddenly wavered.
Hunting Celestial Dragons was something others wouldn't even dare to imagine, yet Carlo could propose it so openly and high-profilely.
What kind of powerful spirit did this require?
If in the past, Silver Axe was still a bit unconvinced by Carlo's rise and harbored the thought of one day challenging Carlo to take the position of Fourth Division Captain.
But now, that idea had quietly vanished.
"That kid will definitely become Shiki's formidable rival in the future!"
On the other side.
Carlo was a bit surprised to see Linlin standing still.
"Linlin, why aren't you going? Are you not interested in these Devil Fruits?"
"How could I not be interested?" Linlin rolled her eyes, then sighed and looked at Carlo somewhat resentfully.
"But Mama has to think about my children. Although I don't care about those Celestial Dragons, if I really kill a few, I'll be harassed by the Marine day and night in the future. I don't care about myself, but my children are far from grown up."
"So, let Kaido, Shiki, and the others fight for them. Mama won't bother to intervene."
She looked at Carlo with a complex gaze, "As for you, Carlo, I really can't figure out what you're trying to do. Wouldn't it be better to use these precious Devil Fruits to arm your own subordinates? Why do such a thankless task here? Do you have a grudge against the World Government? To hate the Celestial Dragons that much."
Carlo shook his head, "I don't hate the Celestial Dragons that much. After all, no matter how detestable those trash are, they can't control me."
"Then why do you..."
"I just want to make this world a bit more interesting."
"Linlin, don't you think this world is too peaceful? Even though we and Roger's group are running wild in the New World, there are still too few opponents. A world without opponents is truly boring!"
A crazed smile appeared on Carlo's face.
"Heroes emerge in troubled times!"
"Believe it or not, after this battle, our Rocks Pirates will surely fall apart!"
"At that time! Heroes will rise across the sea, competing for supremacy! We will usher in a true Golden Age!"
"But... those competing for supremacy shouldn't just be us pirates!"
He raised his finger and pointed at the sky above.
"The World Government and the Celestial Dragons have been dominant for too long! Our fighting and jockeying for power is just child's play in their eyes."
"If you and I want to become true Pirate Overlords, we must force them to enter the fray personally!"
"Otherwise, in thirty, fifty, or a hundred years, after batch after batch of us pirates have changed, those cunning guys will still be perched there, watching us like a joke. Wouldn't that be too boring?"
Linlin's mouth hung open, shocked by Carlo's words.
She hadn't thought that far ahead yet.
She was only thinking about having more children now.
When Katakuri and the others grew up, they would become independent from the Rocks Pirates, occupy some territory in the New World, start developing their own power, and create an Ideal Kingdom where thousands of races lived as equals.
But Carlo's words were like a wake-up call!
Indeed!
The World Government was too powerful!
So powerful that even a behemoth like the Rocks Pirates still couldn't shake it.
If all of them united together now couldn't oppose the World Government...
If in the future, as Carlo said, the Rocks Pirates fell apart and everyone went their separate ways to fight for themselves...
If the World Government then picked them off one by one...
Then they would be in danger.
Or...
Even if the World Government didn't step in to attack them.
Decades or a hundred years later...
The World Government would still be the World Government.
While they, who worked so hard to dominate the sea, would eventually grow old and die.
When she got old or died...
Could the territory she worked so hard for and her children still be preserved?
Without her protection, could Katakuri and the others still gain a firm foothold in this cruel sea?
A hidden worry quietly surfaced in the depths of Linlin's heart.
Carlo keenly noticed it.
He couldn't help but curl his lips into a comforting smile at her.
"Don't worry, even if that day really comes, I will help you. We are allies, aren't we?"
"Yes, we... are allies!" Linlin forced a smile.
Just then, a loud broadcast suddenly rang out from the sky above.
A majestic and old voice echoed through the broadcast.
"I am the supreme authority of the World Government, the Gorosei!"
"I now issue the highest order of the World Government! All Marines on the island are to fully retract their defenses! Protect the World Nobles on the island with all your might! They must not be harmed!"
"Order Marine Vice Admiral Garp and the God's Knights to attack immediately! Capture the heinous Rocks D. Xebec and... Sorus Karlo! Once caught, kill them on the spot! To make an example of them!!"
The noisy broadcast echoed throughout the island.
It caused the expressions of the Rocks Pirates who heard it to change drastically.
Both Linlin and John, standing in front of Carlo, changed their expressions.
Linlin was shocked that the Gorosei actually mentioned Carlo alongside Rocks.
Didn't this mean that in their eyes, the current Carlo's danger level was already comparable to Rocks?
Where did this leave the three Division Captains: her, Newgate, and Shiki?
Has Carlo's current prominence already overshadowed Shiki, Newgate, and Roger?
As for John, his expression changed because the Gorosei actually ordered Garp to capture Carlo.
That Marine demon was not someone to be trifled with.
When he first set out to sea, he had encountered that monster of a Marine with monstrous strength.
At that time, John was almost beaten to death with two punches.
If he hadn't stepped on metal and flown away quickly, there would have been no famous Captain John later.
Therefore, John had always had a severe psychological shadow over Garp.
While he was reminiscing about his unpleasant past, he suddenly shivered and turned his head stiffly.
In John's wide pupils, a sturdy figure wearing a white military uniform and a Cloak of Justice, striding over with clenched fists, was reflected.
"Garp!!"