Hearing Beckman's report, Shanks patted his shoulder.
"You could have guessed that, right? It'd be strange if those guys didn't show up."
"Indeed. The Marine probably wants to observe the situation after we clash with Big Mom. If one side is at a disadvantage or defeated, the Marine might make a move."
Beckman nodded.
"I won't be defeated. But who did the Marine send this time?"
Shanks stood up, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, and asked Beckman.
"According to the reports, it should be that Marine Hero. An Admiral might have come as well."
"Monkey D. Garp?"
Shanks nodded lightly.
He was quite familiar with this old man.
Back when he was an apprentice pirate, he had fought the Marine Hero more than once alongside his captain.
"That's one tough guy."
Although Shanks said this, his face showed no worry.
"So, how far do you plan to take it this time, Captain?" Beckman asked about Red Hair's objective.
"There's no need to decide a winner with Charlotte Linlin. This battle won't end in a short time. Just have our people keep an eye on the Marine. One Admiral and one Marine Hero won't be watching here for long."
Shanks waved his hand, then jumped onto the ship's railing and looked into the distance.
"I'm going to meet Charlotte Linlin. She's coming."
Shanks left this sentence behind, then leaped up and charged toward the front-side of the ship.
His body paused slightly in mid-air before accelerating again, the lightning characteristic of advanced Conqueror's Haki techniques wrapping around his body.
And in the distance, a towering figure with a terrifying aura was rushing toward them, riding on a thundercloud.
"Captain, don't lose!"
Someone on the ship saw Shanks charge out and immediately shouted.
Then, the people on the ship burst into laughter.
Then, the aftershock of the Clash of Conqueror's Haki reached the ship.
Some people fainted directly from this clash of Conqueror's Haki.
However, the officers on the ship were not greatly affected.
Although they knew Charlotte Linlin was strong, these people had great confidence in their captain.
...
On the Marine warship on the periphery.
"It seems Fleet Admiral's guess was right. Their battle won't end in a short time."
Aokiji looked at the recent situation of the battle between the two top-tier pirate crews and said to Garp, who seemed to be asleep beside him.
A snot bubble popped, and Garp rubbed his nose and opened his eyes.
Being able to fall asleep while standing was a skill in itself.
"Then we wait. Wait for Sengoku's orders."
Garp, however, seemed completely unconcerned, as if he hadn't thought about this matter at all.
"If Red-Haired Shanks doesn't lose this time, the situation in the New World might change again."
Aokiji thought for a moment and reminded Garp.
"Anyway, the Marine's control over the New World is weak. Three or four, it makes no difference at all."
Garp shook his head directly, then turned to look at Aokiji.
"It's Cyrus, on the other hand..."
A trace of contemplation flashed across Garp's face.
"He said he wants to start a Hunter Guild. I think he might stir up something big."
Garp was very concerned about Cyrus's affairs.
Because Cyrus could be said to have grown strong rapidly under his watch.
It had been less than two years since he first met Cyrus in the East Blue.
During their fight on the ship near the 16th Branch back then, although neither was serious, Garp could roughly sense Cyrus's strength at that time.
But his rate of growth was too fast.
Which of the figures who had shaken the seas in the past wasn't able to influence the situation on the seas only after entering their peak?
But Cyrus already had such strength in his teens.
"Isn't that a good thing? At least he's not a pirate. And as for Pirate Hunters, at the very least, the people who join this Hunter Guild in the future will be opposed to pirates."
Aokiji stroked the stubble on his chin, thought for a moment, and then stated his opinion.
"That's what he said, but I always feel like he wasn't telling the whole truth back then."
Although Garp said that, what Aokiji said also made a lot of sense.
At least he's not a Pirate.
A person like that, anything he does could have a huge impact.
"Someone like him won't stay in Paradise for long. Perhaps he'll break into the New World soon, and maybe even join this war between the Red Hair and Big Mom," Aokiji said again.
"Speaking of which, based on his speed, it should still be some time before he reaches the Sabaody Archipelago."
...
Sabaody Archipelago.
Putting down the Den Den Mushi, Cyrus tucked it into his coat.
With Robin remembering to feed it, the Den Den Mushi hadn't starved to death this time.
"Crocodile isn't here yet. That guy is no good, too slow." Cyrus said with dissatisfaction.
"We came down from Sky Island and flew a very long distance, possibly crossing many islands in between," Robin reminded Cyrus.
"That's true!"
Cyrus nodded, then turned to look at the chain of islands in the distance.
The giant trees were even larger than the one he had encountered when he first arrived in this world.
But the Sabaody Archipelago was just a collection of many roots rising from a single giant tree.
To be able to support such a large archipelago, this tree could be considered a wonder of the seas, just like that giant elephant.
However, this world had far too many things like that.
Cyrus glanced at it and then looked away.
"Once we're on the island, Robin and I will take the Sea Train to the City of Water Seven. What about you guys?"
Cyrus looked at Hawkeye and the others.
"This old man's hands have been getting a bit itchy lately," Issho spoke up.
Although there were enough people on the ship, it was clear no one was there to play a couple of rounds with him, so his hands were getting itchy.
"I don't have anything to do for the time being!" Hawkeye thought for a moment.
Going back just meant staying on a deserted island anyway.
"Then I'll leave Enel with you for now. If he causes any trouble, just beat him up." Cyrus said after a glance at Enel.
Enel: ...
Cyrus's words were also a warning to Enel.
After all, if the user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit wanted to run, Hawkeye and Issho might not be able to stop him in time.
"Alright!" Issho faced Enel, nodded, and agreed seriously.
"I won't run. I have my pride too." Enel's lips moved, and he managed to squeeze out that sentence.
But just as he finished speaking, seeing Cyrus reach out his hand, he quickly handed the sword he was carrying to Cyrus.
The ship slowly approached the shipyard of the Sabaody Archipelago.
As the entrance to the New World, coupled with the various trades on the different islands here, there were many kinds of ships.
A single glance could reveal more than a dozen pirate ships of all shapes and sizes.
The people at the shipyard seemed to have long grown accustomed to this situation.
Cyrus and his group's small boat was inconspicuous when it approached, attracting little attention.
"Let's go. Bring the money!" Cyrus said to Robin.
Robin nodded, returned to the cabin, slung the bag full of Belly over her shoulder, and followed Cyrus onto the dock.
"We'll meet up later at the Rip-off Bar on Island 13."