The battle intensified as more and more Marines landed on the beach.
Right at that moment—
Riiip!!
A heavy, thunderous aura suddenly swept in from the open sea!
It wasn't wind, nor waves, but a pressure that made souls tremble...
Conqueror's Haki!!
...
Thud—thud—thud—
As the terrifying Haki swept over them, large numbers of Marine soldiers and Nine Serpent Island female warriors collapsed unconscious.
The next moment, a figure leaped into the air, his sword glinting in the sunlight.
With what seemed like a casual swing—
Boom boom boom boom boom!!!!!
The sea surface was split in two by the massive sword energy, seawater surging to both sides to form a bottomless trench that forcibly blocked the warships' landing path.
The residual sword energy transformed into violent gusts, knocking over the soldiers who barely managed to remain conscious!
...
A tall silver-haired man landed gracefully before Hancock.
"That's enough, everyone from the Marines..."
...
Silence fell over the battlefield.
"Silvers... Rayleigh!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru's voice was low: "Are you going to abandon the amnesty your captain bought, Rayleigh!"
Rayleigh smiled faintly: "Tsuru, act your age."
"Hancock hasn't committed any major wrongs. I'll have her release the petrification, so let's end this here."
"Rayleigh..."
Hancock's tense nerves finally relaxed.
The appearance of this man—who had helped the three sisters return to Nine Serpent Island and taught them combat—gave her immense sense of security.
...
Rayleigh didn't turn back, keeping his eyes fixed on Vice Admiral Tsuru.
"Otherwise..."
His sword shifted, his voice turning cold.
"I'll be your opponent!!"
Reminded by Vice Admiral Tsuru, people began recalling this legendary name.
Silvers Rayleigh, epithet 'Dark King,' known as the Pirate King's right hand, a legendary great pirate!!
...
"Old era's—" A hot-tempered Rear Admiral started to speak but was silenced by Vice Admiral Tsuru.
A faint light flickered in her profound eyes as Vice Admiral Tsuru smiled slightly: "Calculations show our probability of victory is less than ten percent."
"I won't fight such a battle."
"But Rayleigh... even if we withdraw now, can you protect this place forever?"
...
Rayleigh smiled faintly: "We can discuss that later. Compared to those vicious characters in the New World, do you really intend to waste your strength here?"
"I heard your Marine Supernova has gone missing in the New World. Shouldn't finding him be your top priority?"
Marine Supernova...
Hancock frowned and asked: "Rayleigh, who are you saying went missing?!"
Not only Rayleigh, but even Vice Admiral Tsuru was surprised by Hancock's reaction.
...
"Ah... I know that kid. He's not someone who dies easily, no need to worry."
Vice Admiral Tsuru shed her previous solemnity, speaking as if chatting with an old acquaintance: "Garp even said he saw the same qualities in that kid that he saw in Roger."
"Roger, huh..."
Rayleigh shook his head with a light laugh: "Did Garp really see him with his own eyes? The person I saw on Sabaody... was completely different from what you described."
Vice Admiral Tsuru nodded: "Your intuition is correct. I actually think he resembles your old rival more..."
"No..."
Rayleigh shook his head again, his expression turning serious: "That guy doesn't resemble anyone..."
"If I had to say..." Rayleigh glanced at the sky and spoke gravely: "Tsuru, consider this my advice to you Marines."
"Find him as soon as possible. If he doesn't receive proper guidance, he'll become the world's most terrifying catastrophe!"
"That day on Sabaody, I clearly felt... before his Conqueror's Haki awakened, something extremely evil was stirring within him!"
"There's a monster hidden inside his body that could destroy the world!"Vice Admiral Tsuru frowned slightly, while the officers behind her wore subtle expressions."
"Enough!"
A clear female voice rang out as Doll angrily shouted at Rayleigh.
"What right does someone as wicked as you, who started the Great Pirate Era and caused countless people to lose their homes, have to judge a hero who would sacrifice everything for his comrades!!"
"Putting on this act of caring about the world - where were you when civilians were being slaughtered by pirates! Where were you when humans were being sold without dignity!!"
"Who do you think you are! How dare someone like you slander Griffin!!"
Who do you think you are...
Even the Marine Fleet Admiral, even Whitebeard or Shiki...
Rayleigh couldn't remember the last time someone had spoken to him like this.
He wasn't exactly angry, but rather curious as he asked: "I recall you were his vice admiral, right? Do you really think I'm wrong?"
"He doesn't seem good at disguising himself. You interacted with him daily - couldn't you see what kind of person he is?"
"Or perhaps... admiration has blinded your eyes."
Doll's face flushed red, though whether from anger or something else was unclear.
"You uncultured old man, watch your words!"
"Griffin is the man who will destroy this pirate-infested era and establish a new generation!"
Rayleigh's grip on his sword tightened.
Vice Admiral Tsuru quickly raised her voice: "Wake the unconscious ones, we're retreating!"
——
——
On the return ship, Vice Admiral Tsuru watched Doll bandaging her wounds and smiled wryly: "That was incredibly rude. Do you realize Rayleigh was almost provoked into taking action?"
Doll snorted lightly: "At worst it would be mutual destruction. I'd die before letting him off easy!"
"You're too impulsive, Doll... This isn't like you normally. Is it because he mentioned that boy?"
This time it was certain - Doll's face was flushed with embarrassment.
"Serves that old bastard right for badmouthing people behind their backs!"
After following Griffin for so many years, Doll had picked up quite the vocabulary of curse words.
Vice Admiral Tsuru crossed her arms with an amused smile, leaning against the ship's railing as she watched Doll playfully: "How troublesome, my granddaughter has gained another love rival... Ah, well, she has many already, one more won't matter."
Snip—
Doll cut the bandage and stood up: "Not another one..."
"From the moment I first saw Griffin, I liked him!"
"They're the extra ones!"
She didn't shy away from her feelings, speaking with absolute conviction.
Soon she deflated, slumping onto the deck and fiddling with the wood splinters with her fingers.
"Really... I was just about to confess to him, and then he had to come to headquarters..."
Vice Admiral Tsuru slowly lowered her hands, her expression turning more serious.
"Is that so..."
"I acknowledge your determination. I'll help you!"
...
"Can you really do it?" Doll looked somewhat skeptical.
Vice Admiral Tsuru's lips curved slightly: "In this regard, both Garp and Zephyr are my disciples!"
——
——
"Achoo!!"
New World waters.
Garp and Kuzan were searching on the ice surface when he suddenly sneezed.
"It's too cold, Kuzan! Don't make the ice so cold - I'm catching a cold!"
Kuzan felt helpless. How could they freeze the sea surface without low temperatures?
Besides, how could someone like Mr. Garp possibly catch a cold? It must be someone cursing you behind your back - a pretty common scenario.
Though he thought this, Kuzan didn't dare say it out loud, or he'd have to face the Fist of Love.
...
Garp stood on the ice gazing into the distance and suddenly said: "We've searched for so long without finding him. Either the kid has been digested into poop by Sea Kings, or he's hiding somewhere himself."
"Let's stop searching!"
"Ahead... seems to be the waters of Totto Land, right? Let's go! We'll go play with Charlotte Linlin!"
...
Kuzan's expression changed dramatically as he urgently said: "We can't start a fight with such a major Pirate without the World Government's permission!"
Garp turned his head and grinned: "Ehahaha... Since when have you seen this old man follow their orders!"
...
That was true.
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