Chapter 169 A familiar figureAt Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 35, Lin Tian's figure had already appeared!As Lin Tian strolled down the street, his gaze occasionally swept over the surrounding hotels, observing the scenery and the people coming and going.But Lin Tian was secretly thinking about what had just happened, feeling extremely unwilling about how close he had been to success.Such a good opportunity had been right in front of him, and he had already acted, yet it was just that tiny bit short. Otherwise, tomorrow would have seen a world-shattering event.The news of a Celestial Dragon going mad due to disfigurement and accidentally killing his own brother would surely shock the world.Alas, for now, it could only remain a thought. That male Celestial Dragon had actually survived, without even a scratch, which left Lin Tian feeling very frustrated.Initially, Lin Tian had been annoyed by the three Celestial Dragons earlier, so he secretly made a move, discreetly placing several stones at the feet of the female Celestial Dragon when no one was paying attention.At that time, everyone's attention was on the Celestial Dragons. Even normally, few people would watch where they stepped, let alone the Celestial Dragons themselves.They walked around as if they owned the place, even riding on people's backs. Such arrogant and overbearing trash—would they look where they were going? The answer was definitely no.So, the female Celestial Dragon tripped over a stone and fell directly to the ground, conveniently blocking the path of the slave captain, who was startled and quickly tried to dodge. In his haste, he lost his balance and fell to the ground, incidentally knocking over the adjacent Celestial Dragon as well.And the female Celestial Dragon's face was actually scratched by the stones, disfiguring her already unattractive face. This was something Lin Tian hadn't expected; who could have imagined she would hit the stones just right?What happened next shocked Lin Tian. Indeed, the entire family was eccentric and trash, venting their anger, rage, and pain by casually killing people.At that moment, Lin Tian realized it was a good opportunity to fish in troubled waters. This led to the next scene: the female Celestial Dragon fell again, and for some reason, the gun barrel pointed backward, and the trigger was pulled.These were all secretly controlled by Lin Tian. He had thought he could use this opportunity to secretly kill a Celestial Dragon. Even if the World Government noticed something was amiss later, with so many people, they wouldn't be able to figure out who did it.But he hadn't expected that the same stone that brought success also brought failure. When the gun finally dropped, it hit a stone and misfired, which is how the male Celestial Dragon fortunately escaped death. Otherwise, he would have been dead for sure.The more Lin Tian thought about it, the more unwilling he felt.Having missed this opportunity, the next one would likely be very difficult to come by. Although he had acted very discreetly, it wouldn't be long before someone would probably discover clues.After all, a few stones appearing out of nowhere on a main road was already puzzling, let alone tripping twice. How could there be so many coincidences in the world? This was why Lin Tian immediately left after his plan failed."Gugugugu..."A rumbling stomach sound clearly reached Lin Tian's ears. He lowered his head, rubbed his empty stomach with both hands, and a hungry expression appeared on his face.From morning until now, Lin Tian hadn't eaten anything, only drank a few cups of water. After such a long time, he was already feeling hungry.He couldn't help but look around to see if there was anything to fill his stomach, but this area was full of hotels and some restaurants. There were no street-side stalls selling food.Grove 35 of Sabaody Archipelago was also known as Hotel Street. Other than hotels, it was still hotels here. Most of the people residing here were crew members waiting for their passage permits to Mariejois.Looking at the hotels and restaurants around, Lin Tian thought for a moment and decided against them. If it were a street stall, he might eat something to stave off hunger, but as for restaurants, he didn't intend to have a full meal. Besides, he was waiting to eat somewhere else.Anyway, it wasn't far from there. Thinking of them, a hint of nostalgia appeared on Lin Tian's face. He hadn't seen them for two or three years...Suddenly, a beautiful silhouette flashed before his eyes. His gaze instinctively swept over it, feeling a sense of familiarity. Lin Tian's expression changed slightly. Why did this person feel familiar, but he couldn't remember who it was?He quickly looked up, trying to find that silhouette, but with so many people on the street, Lin Tian only lost focus for a moment, and the beautiful figure had already vanished.Lin Tian quickly stood on his tiptoes, his eyes scanning the surroundings, trying to find that figure in the crowd. After a round of searching, he still couldn't find her.Logically, only about ten seconds had passed, and there were no small alleys nearby. That person should still be on the road, so how could she have disappeared so quickly? He scanned again but found nothing."Did I see wrong?" Lin Tian couldn't help but ponder, but then he reconsidered. Lin Tian didn't think he could be mistaken; his eyesight wasn't that bad.Suddenly, Lin Tian's eyes shifted, and he saw that figure at the corner of an alley ahead, walking into the alley.Lin Tian quickly chased in that direction. In the crowded street, Lin Tian's slender figure was like a nimble fish in water, moving towards the woman.Within a few seconds, Lin Tian had already reached the spot where he had seen the woman, but by then, she was gone. Lin Tian quickly scanned the area, didn't think much, and directly entered the alley.After turning a corner, the woman's figure appeared before him. She had reached the end of the path and was about to turn the next corner.Lin Tian quickly called out, "Hey, hello, do we know each other?"Upon hearing Lin Tian's call, the woman's movements clearly paused, but she immediately turned the corner, quickening her pace by a few steps, and vanished from Lin Tian's sight.Seeing this, Lin Tian's figure flickered, and he instantly appeared at the corner, rushing to pursue her."Come, come... This is a special product from the West Blue, very rare, only a thousand Berries.""Everyone, take a look, have a look, I have good stuff here."... Looking at the bustling long street, Lin Tian patted his head with one hand, facing the dazzling sunlight, constantly scanning the crowds of people coming and going on the street, searching for the woman's figure.He had thought he could catch up with his speed, but Lin Tian hadn't expected that the corner wasn't an alley but another prosperous street.There were crowds everywhere. As soon as the woman entered, Lin Tian quickly followed, but there were too many people, and Lin Tian was too short. With a squeeze from the crowd, the woman instantly disappeared from his sight.Therefore, Lin Tian stood alone by the side of the street, but unfortunately, after looking for a long time, he still didn't see the woman's figure.From the moment he called out to the woman and her subsequent pause, Lin Tian had already anticipated that the woman must know him, and he knew her too; he hadn't been mistaken.It was just that this woman must be someone he had known a long time ago, and he couldn't recall who she was at the moment. But if this woman knew him, why would she deliberately avoid him and prevent him from seeing her?Could she be his enemy, which is why she was deliberately hiding from him? But that didn't seem right; he had never made enemies with beautiful women. Lin Tian was very preferential towards beautiful women.After thinking for a moment, Lin Tian felt he still couldn't figure it out, so he decided to stop thinking about it. If it really concerned him, she would eventually reveal herself one day, and then he would deal with it.For Lin Tian, he never wasted time thinking about things he couldn't figure out. After all, if he couldn't understand it, what was the point of thinking so much?Looking up, he saw the large numbers "13" above, and only then did he realize that he had unconsciously arrived at his destination. This was indeed luck!With his hands clasped behind his head, humming a tune from his past life, Lin Tian clarified his direction and walked directly towards the beginning of the street. The place he was looking for was at the very start of the street.Compared to the hotel street earlier, this street had many more people. That area only had some transient crew members. Grove 13 of Sabaody Archipelago was the lawless zone, also home to many bars and other entertainment facilities, and it was also a gathering place for many desperate individuals.The shops on both sides of the street were mostly weapon stores, pharmacies, and common gathering places for people—bars, selling all sorts of things inside.In the lawless zone of Sabaody Archipelago, as long as you had money, you could buy anything. This was also one of the few large gathering centers of the underworld.As he walked, Lin Tian's eyes constantly scanned the shops on both sides. Whenever he spotted a bar, Lin Tian would stop and take a few extra glances.Suddenly, Lin Tian stopped in his tracks, looking at a bar, a smile appearing on his face. He had finally reached his destination this time.Shakky's Rip-off Bar!That's right, this bar was run by Aunt Shakky. Since their farewell on Saxton Island, Aunt Shakky and Rayleigh had come to live in Sabaody Archipelago and had been there ever since. One still ran a bar, while Rayleigh became a coating craftsman.Logically, a figure like Silvers Rayleigh, the "Dark King," should stay far away from Marine Headquarters, but Rayleigh chose to do the opposite, directly moving to live in the place closest to Marine Headquarters.Perhaps this was the legendary "Dark King" Rayleigh's inherent dominance, the courage to directly confront Marine Headquarters, something a legendary pirate would possess.This time, Lin Tian was staying on Sabaody Archipelago for a day, mainly to visit Aunt Shakky and Rayleigh. It had already been two years since their farewell on Saxton Island, and he wondered how the two of them were doing now. (To be continued.)
Chapter 170 Red-Haired ShanksJust as Marcus was about to enter the bar!With a "bang," Marcus suddenly felt something collide with him and immediately reacted."I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I was running too fast and didn't see you," an apologetic voice called out.Only then did Marcus realize someone had bumped into him. Following the source of the voice, he looked down and saw that the person who had run into him was a little loli about ten years old."Young friend, I'm sorry. My daughter was running too fast and didn't see you. I apologize."Just as Luffy was about to speak, a deep voice came over. Marcus turned his head and saw a middle-aged man with black hair.Behind him followed two guards. Marcus could sense a Killing Intent from them that was not weak compared to ordinary people, though it was negligible in front of him. Still, they were likely formidable experts. For a man to have two such guards, his identity was surely not simple."Daddy!" the little girl cried out happily, lunging toward the man. Seeing her fly toward him, a doting smile appeared on the man's face as he caught her in his arms.Marcus smiled slightly and waved his hand, looking unbothered as he said, "It's fine. It's also my fault. If I hadn't suddenly spaced out on the road, I wouldn't have been bumped into."This was indeed partly Marcus's fault for suddenly standing still in the street. Besides, it was just a minor bump; it was nothing to him.But while Marcus didn't mind, the man felt differently. He said, "How can that be? Regardless, my daughter did run into you. Why don't I treat you to a meal as an apology?"Hearing this, Marcus quickly waved his hands to decline. "No, there's no need for that. It's just a small matter. A meal isn't necessary, and I already have plans to meet a friend."Seeing Marcus's refusal, the middle-aged man immediately dropped the idea of inviting him for dinner. He smiled and said, "In that case, I won't disturb you further, young friend.""It's nothing," Marcus said softly, then walked straight toward the bar. To him, they were just passersby he had met by chance; he likely wouldn't even see them again.Watching Marcus's retreating back as he entered the bar, the man said with great interest, "That boy is very interesting."With a "click" of the door opening, Marcus slowly pushed open the bar's door and walked straight inside.With a quick scan,the general appearance of the bar appeared in Marcus's eyes. The bar's decor wasn't much different from the one in Saxon, with only minor changes in some places, but overall it was quite similar, giving him a sense of familiarity.Compared to the quiet, empty state of Aunt Xia's bar when he first entered it in Saxon, this bar was quite crowded. Most of the seats were full, and a thick smell of alcohol drifted through the air.The tables were covered with many wine bottles. Most of the people had flushed faces, clearly having drunk a lot. They only gave Marcus a brief glance as he entered before returning to their drinking.While they were observing Marcus, he was also observing them. From their speech, actions, and how they addressed one another, these people were all pirates, and they all belonged to the same pirate ship.At the counter, several stools were already occupied. These were likely the cadres of this pirate ship.One of them, a man with red hair, was talking to Aunt Xia as she wiped a glass. He let out a laugh or two from time to time; clearly, this man was an old acquaintance of hers.Looking at that man's incredibly eye-catching red hair, a certain name couldn't help but flash through Marcus's mind, but he immediately suppressed it. How could his luck be so good as to run into such a figure the moment he arrived at Sabaody Archipelago?But as his gaze scanned the cadres one by one, looking at their attire from behind, that name once again surfaced in Marcus's mind.Aunt Xia, who was wiping a glass, set it down. Sensing a customer's arrival, she picked up another glass to wipe and looked up at the front.Although it had been three years since they last met, Marcus's appearance had changed quite a bit compared to back then. After all, this age is a period of rapid growth for everyone.However, Aunt Xia recognized Marcus instantly because he had sent her photos in their past correspondence.When she saw Marcus's face clearly, shock filled her expression. She truly hadn't expected or predicted Marcus's sudden appearance.In their most recent correspondence, she had heard Marcus say he was adventuring in the West Blue. She didn't expect him to suddenly appear here today. Then, her expression turned to one of joy at such a sudden surprise."Marcus! Marcus, why are you here all of a sudden?"Seeing that Aunt Xia had noticed him, a happy smile appeared on Marcus's face. He looked at her and said, "Aunt Xia, long time no see. You're still the same—just as beautiful and young.""Of course!" Aunt Xia was quite pleased by Marcus's flattery, and the smile on her face deepened. "But having not seen you for a few years, our little Marcus has started to grow up. You've already become a handsome young man."Hearing Aunt Xia's laugh, Marcus awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, a simple and honest smile appearing on his face.The man who had been chatting happily with Aunt Xia naturally noticed the dramatic change in her expression immediately.In his eyes, Aunt Xia had always been an extremely intelligent and very composed woman. Few things could cause her expression to change, let alone so drastically.Curiosity piqued, the man set down his drink and slowly turned around. His gaze met Marcus's, who had been observing him."Eh?"Upon seeing Marcus clearly, a sound of surprise escaped the red-haired man's mouth. Clearly, he did recognize Marcus and was equally surprised to see him here.When Marcus saw the man's face clearly, it wasn't surprise he felt, but a sense of helplessness. He hadn't expected that he would actually be right; this man was indeed him.One of the strongest pirates in the world, and also one of the few top-tier powerhouses, reigning over the New World like an emperor—one of the Four Emperors, Red Hair "Shanks"!Facing such a figure, even Marcus's face turned solemn. His whole body involuntarily tensed up as he watched Shanks with extreme caution.This man's reputation was simply too illustrious, and his overwhelming strength was enough to inspire fear in one's heart.To make someone tremble at the mere mention of a name—only a powerhouse like Shanks could achieve that. Someone who stood at the Peak of the world and could change it at will.No one knew who among the Four Emperors was the strongest, as they rarely clashed, let alone in life-and-death battles. If people like them were to fight, the entire world would be changed by it.Marcus had long planned to meet the Four Emperors in the New World, but he knew that with his current strength, he might not even have the power to strike back against one, and might not even be a match for their subordinates, let alone the Emperors themselves.Among the Four Emperors, the one Marcus wanted to see most was Red-haired Shanks. Unlike the other Emperors, they were all powerhouses from Roger's era.Back in Roger's time, Shanks had also been a weakling, merely a small apprentice on CaptainRoger's ship.But after Roger's death, he began a meteoric rise. Relying on his high strength and unique personal charisma, he quickly gathered a large group of powerful crew members. In just a few short years, he went from an ordinary small pirate to a Four Emperor reigning over the New World.At the same time, having spent a year with Luffy in the East Blue, Marcus was also curious about Red-haired Shanks—the man who influenced Luffy's entire life, led him onto the path of a pirate, was hated to the core by the Stinky Old Man, was constantly mentioned by Luffy, and was revered as his idol and the one to surpass.Furthermore, he wondered what kind of charm Shanks possessed to make the gentle, kind, and beautiful bar owner Makino fall for him and constantly worry about him from afar.All of this fueled Marcus's curiosity about Red-haired Shanks. Originally, Marcus intended to look for him upon reaching the New World to give him Makino's things and deliver Luffy's message, but who knew he would meet him here?These thoughts flashed through Marcus's mind in an instant, showing how chaotic his mind was upon seeing Shanks.But who was Marcus? He was the strongest genius of the navy, the God of Slaughter who made countless pirates turn pale with fear, and was famous throughout the Grand Line.He was also a man with great ambition, one who hoped to truly stand at the Peak of the world and achieve true freedom. How could he be so easily intimidated?Only a few seconds had passed since he saw Shanks, and Marcus had already adjusted his mindset. The solemnity and tension on his face vanished, replaced by a normal expression.His tensed body also slowly relaxed, though his secret guard did not weaken. Facing such a powerhouse, Marcus couldn't completely relax even if he wanted to.Moreover, both sides stood on opposite ends—one was a Marine and the other a pirate. These two were naturally born to clash on sight.Neither spoke; they just stared intently at each other. To an uninformed outsider, it might look like two old friends who hadn't met in years were gazing deeply at each other.But the two were engaged in a wordless confrontation. One could tell from how Marcus's back was gradually soaked in sweat just how much mental pressure he was secretly enduring while staring at Shanks.Aunt Xia watched this scene with a hint of a smile. Red-haired Shanks, one of the most powerful Four Emperors among pirates, and Marcus, hailed as the strongest genius of the navy—these two should have been fighting for their respective sides in the future.Today, in her small bar, these two had actually met. Aunt Xia was very much looking forward to seeing what would happen.The cadres also watched this scene with expectant gazes. Everyone had heard the Captain's soft exclamation earlier. To be able to surprise the Captain, the cadres drinking at the bar were also very curious and couldn't help but turn their heads to see who the newcomer was.The two stared at each other for dozens of seconds before Marcus finally withdrew his gaze first and gave a light laugh. "I didn't expect one of the Four Emperors, Red-haired Shanks, to actually appear here. It's truly surprising." (To be continued.)
Chapter 171: Shanks Makes a Move"Oh, I am also quite surprised to be able to see the strongest genius of the navy here!"Looking at Marcus, Shanks shed his usual easygoing demeanor, a rare serious expression appearing on his face.Shanks also held this Marine, hailed as the strongest genius of the navy, in high regard; for the Marine to bestow such a title upon him, this youth was certainly not simple.Shanks had come from Roger's era of powerhouses. Back then, the Marine produced many strong figures like Sengoku, Garp, and Kong... yet none of them had received a title like Marcus's.For the Marine powerhouses who survived that era to unanimously bestow such a title, it was enough to show just how much of a Prodigy this youth's talent was.Beside them, the crew of the Red Hair Piratesshowed surprise on their faces, which were flushed from drinking. The intoxication vanished instantly as their eyes locked onto Marcus.As crew members under one of the Four Emperors, even an ordinary member would likely have a significant reputation in the Four Seas. They were no weaklings; despite their drunken appearances, most were perfectly sober inside."I didn't expect this to be the naval genius the Marine publicized so heavily. He looks like just an ordinary boy.""I wonder if his strength matches his illustrious reputation. I hope he's not just a figurehead propped up by Marine propaganda; that would be boring.""Defeating you shouldn't be a problem for him. This naval genius has become quite famous on the Grand Line in recent years. Quite a few pirates with bounties over a hundred million have fallen at his hands.""True. I heard very few pirates survive his encounters. There are even rumors among pirates that falling into his hands is harder than dying. I wonder if it's true..." Hearing these pirates discuss him, Marcus smiled slightly and looked calmly at Shanks, saying, "I didn't expect the world-renowned Four Emperors to know my name, let alone be surprised."Shanks leaned back, resting against the bar counter behind him. "Of course. Your name is like a clap of thunder to most pirates. Everyone wants to see what you really look like."When Marcus's fame spread across the world, it caused a storm among pirates. Many were interested in this naval genius, wanting to see what skills he possessed to be so highly regarded by Marine Headquarters.Add to that a massive bounty placed by someone unknown in the Underworld, and countless people across the world were interested in Marcus's head.That wasn't just a head; it was fame and fortune."Oh, then I wonder if the Four Emperors are also interested in my true appearance," Marcus asked curiously.Shanks casually picked up a wine cup from the table. Just as he was about to take a sip, he stopped upon hearing Marcus's question. "Of course. As a pirate, I'm naturally interested in the strongest genius of the navy. Although I've seen your photo, I'm still interested in the Immortal Master."Marcus immediately cursed Marine Headquartersand the World Government in his heart. Those bastards said their security was tight, but that was bullshit. His information was likely already widely circulated among pirates.Raising a wine bottle, Shanks took several gulps and said in a heavy voice, "I originally thought we would meet on a battlefield, but I didn't expect it to be in such an ordinary bar.""Is that so? It seems our thoughts are somewhat aligned. I also thought the place I'd meet one of the Four Emperors would be a battlefield.""Oh!" Shanks' tone carried a hint of surprise as he placed the wine bottle back on the counter. "Then, as a Marine, now that you've discovered us pirates here, I wonder what you, a Marine, will do."Hearing their Captain's words, the pirates in the room couldn't help but fix their eyes on Marcus, wearing half-smiles as they waited to see what choice he would make.Would he do what a Marine should do—notify Marine Headquarters to capture them—or pretend he didn't know, acting as if he hadn't discovered them?With a Shoo sound, a wine bottle from the bar flew toward Marcus. He reached out and caught it, drinking it all in one go without hesitation."It's not about what I do, but what you do. The choice to notify the Marine isn't in my hands; it's in yours."Hearing Marcus's answer, the pirates present couldn't help but look puzzled, not understanding why this Marine would suddenly say such a thing. There seemed to be no connection between the two matters.In the second seat to Shanks' right was a cadreswho was obese, wearing small tinted sunglasses, a green hat, a green and white striped shirt, a yellow coat draped over his shoulders, a blue belt, beige pants, and red sneakers.He took a bite of the roast meat in his hand. "Marine, are you scared? You're even misspeaking. What do you mean the decision for you to notify Marine Headquarters is in our hands?"Lucky Roux—one of the main cadres of the Red Hair Pirates. Despite his obesity, his combat power was extremely terrifying. Years ago, his bounty had already reached 250 million.He hadn't done anything major in recent years, so no one knew exactly what level his strength had reached, but it was certainly higher than in the past."Hey, Beckman, what does this kid mean?" Shanksasked quietly, his expression unchanged.To Shanks' right was a cadres with a long face, a pointed chin, a straight nose, and sharp facial features. He had a sturdy build, scars on his arms, and a rifle tucked into his waistband.He took a deep drag of his cigarette, exhaled the smoke, and smiled slightly. "This boy is good. Very interesting."Then he started smoking again. You might as well have said nothing; you didn't address the main point at all, Shanks thought somewhat helplessly.Marcus explained, "With Four Emperor Shanks' strength, if you didn't want me to notify Marine Headquarters, I probably wouldn't even have the chance to realize that thought."After a pause, Marcus looked at Shanks with a half-smile. "Now, I just don't know what you're thinking. Are you planning to have a big battle with the Marine here, or just stay here without being discovered by them?"Hearing Marcus's explanation, Shanks was stunned at first, then burst into laughter. He hadn't expected that he, the one putting the pressure on, would be checkmated in return. The turn of events was indeed quite fast."Forget it. I prefer a leisurely life. As for having a big battle with the Marine here, let's pass; it would destroy this bar.""Not to mention where I'd go to drink such delicious wine, if the bar were destroyed, the proprietress would be the first one not to let me off."Aunt Xia chimed in at the right moment. "That is indeed true. This bar is my life's work. If you destroy it, I definitely won't let you off. Although I'm no match for you, I think I could invite someone who could teach you a lesson.""Then there's no need to trouble him," Shanks said, waving his hand with a bitter smile on his face.How could Shanks not understand who Aunt Xiawas referring to? Who else could it be but Pluto Rayleigh? Shanks had met Aunt Xia through Uncle Rayleigh.Suddenly, Shanks changed the subject, looking at Marcus seriously. "Since you know that with your strength, you have no power to fight back before me, then what kind of confidence do you have to stand before me?""You should know, you're a Marine, and I'm a pirate. It's perfectly normal for a pirate to deal with a Marine, right?"Before Marcus could speak, Shanks sat up straight. His entire Aura changed; the previous lazy air vanished completely, replaced by an Aura that only a true powerhouse possesses.If before, in anyone's eyes, Shanks was just an ordinary, lazy drunkard whom no one would associate with the rumored Four Emperors due to his lack of presence...then now, Shanks was a wide-awake lion of the savannah, radiating a staggering Aura from head to toe. This was the Aura a Four Emperor should possess.Like a high-and-mighty emperor looking down upon the common ants from the Nine Heavens, this was the Haki a ruler should have. Aura alone was enough to make one submit at his feet.The moment Shanks' Aura changed, Marcus felt as if a massive mountain had appeared on him, pressing down hard, threatening to crush him.This was just the physical pressure; an even greater pressure came from within, as waves of immense Aura crashed against him like an endless tide.This was Conqueror's Haki. Having experienced the pressure of Conqueror's Haki once before, Marcusinstantly recognized it. Only Conqueror's Hakipossessed such majesty.The first time Marcus felt Conqueror's Haki was three years ago on Saxon Island, from Rayleigh—that soul-shaking Conqueror's Haki.That was an unforgettable experience for Marcus. He had faced the pressure of Rayleigh's Conqueror's Haki head-on and felt its power.It was also then that Marcus first touched upon the existence of Conqueror's Haki. He had almost reached Awakening for his own Conqueror's Haki, but unfortunately, he ultimately chose to give it up.He hadn't expected to face Conqueror's Haki again today, and at the hands of Four Emperor Shanks, no less.Marcus was puzzled. How could Shanks, who was fine just a moment ago, undergo such a drastic transformation in an instant, making a move without any warning and using Conqueror's Haki to pressure him?Under the pressure of Shanks' Aura, cold sweat soon began to pour from Marcus's forehead. His back was drenched, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.Marcus was forced to release his own Aura to resist Shanks', which finally earned him a moment's respite.But compared to Shanks' Aura, which was as turbulent as the ocean, Marcus's own Aura was like a small stream, not even worth mentioning.Shanks increased his Aura slightly, and Marcus's entire presence was instantly crushed. He felt as if he had been struck by lightning; his trembling intensified, and he looked as though he might collapse at any moment.This was one of the Four Emperors who ruled the New World. His strength was unfathomable; his powerful Aura alone was almost more than Marcuscould bear.Looking at the man before him who had done nothing but stare at him quietly, a look of frustration flashed across Marcus's face.He had already been in this world for five years. Was the gap in strength between him and these powerhouses truly this vast?"Ah!" Marcus let out a low growl of frustration from deep within, and an even more powerful Auraerupted from his body. (To be continued.)
Chapter 172: Awakening of Domineering HakiInside the bar, Shanks' sudden move against Lin Tian caught everyone off guard; no one expected things to change so quickly.The Red-Haired Pirates' senior officers were also puzzled by this scene. Even if their captain really wanted to deal with this Marine, why only use Conqueror's Haki to pressure him?However, everyone held a trusting attitude towards their captain. They believed that their captain must have his own intentions in doing this, and they only needed to stand by and watch.Lucky Roux took a big bite of the roasted meat in his hand and asked, puzzled, "Benn Beckman, you know the captain best. Do you know what he's thinking?"Hearing Lucky Roux's question, the surrounding officers couldn't help but prick up their ears. Benn Beckman could become a vice-captain not only because of his strong power but also because of his extremely high intelligence.It was with his strong power and extremely high intelligence that Benn Beckman was able to secure his position as vice-captain. Among everyone, only Vice-Captain Benn Beckman could truly understand the captain's thoughts, which is why everyone wanted to hear his opinion.Propping his chin, he fell into deep thought. After thinking for a long time, Benn Beckman finally uttered three words amidst everyone's anxious gazes: "I don't know!"A chorus of thuds sounded as everyone instantly had black lines on their foreheads. If you don't know, why did you pretend to be in deep thought and think for so long? Aren't you just messing with us?And just as these officers were asking, a powerful aura emanated. No! Perhaps it shouldn't be called an aura, but rather a killing intent.A strong killing intent erupted from Lin Tian's body. This killing intent was so powerful that even the experts present showed drastic changes in their expressions when they felt it.The Red-Haired Pirates' officers present, possessing formidable strength, were all individuals who had emerged from countless slaughters. Killing intent was something commonplace for them, something they all possessed.However, such an extremely powerful killing intent caused their expressions to change, especially since it emanated from a teenager of about ten years old, which shocked them even more.To possess such intense killing intent, how many people had this young man killed? A word, 'God of Slaughter,' involuntarily popped into everyone's minds. No wonder this young man had such a title; judging from the killing intent emanating from him, he truly deserved it.To resist Shanks' Conqueror's Haki, Lin Tian had no choice but to unleash his full killing intent to withstand it.At this moment, Lin Tian's body seemed to be enveloped in a bright, blood-red light. That extremely strong killing intent, with Lin Tian as its center, permeated the bar.Under the strong killing intent, Lin Tian appeared like a God of Slaughter who had walked out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, exuding a terrifying aura.Ordinary people, let alone looking at Lin Tian, would instantly faint under his killing intent, let alone anything else.Looking towards Lin Tian, it felt as if one was in a blood-red world, where both the sky and the earth were blood-red, and various bones lay everywhere. A chilling wind howled, and red lightning flashed across the sky.The blood-red light illuminated the entire land. Countless objects on the ground were composed of skeletons. On the high mountain formed by countless corpses, Lin Tian stood bathed in blood.These events happened in an instant. The powerful officers immediately emerged from the illusion caused by the dense killing intent.Their faces showed shock. This killing intent could actually make them enter an illusion. Although it was only for an instant, it was still extremely impressive, especially since this was done by a fifteen-year-old boy.Shanks' expression also changed slightly. He hadn't expected Lin Tian, who seemed somewhat simple and sunny, to hide such a dense killing intent within him. This young man had an extremely strong control over himself, but it was still not enough.His eyes narrowed slightly. Without holding back, his full aura surged out, fiercely rushing towards Lin Tian. Under Shanks' control, not a single trace of his Haki leaked out.As Shanks released his full aura, Lin Tian already felt it. The pressure on his entire body suddenly increased sharply. The dense killing intent, under Shanks' aura, offered no resistance and was instantly shattered completely.The moment his killing intent was scattered, Lin Tian's legs, under the sudden surge of pressure, sank downwards. Just as everyone thought Lin Tian was about to kneel, he stopped his downward posture with sheer willpower.Under the pressure of Haki, Lin Tian's every muscle and every inch of skin bore immense force at every moment. This force didn't come from one direction but pressed upon him from all over his body.The physical oppression wasn't the most important part. Haki, being an intangible and formless thing, is difficult to cause damage to tangible objects.However, Lin Tian, under the Haki suppression of both Shanks and Rayleigh, felt as if his body was bearing an immense weight. This was because both of them were among the world's top experts, and their control over Haki had reached an extremely high level.Haki's true target is a person's spirit. Haki directly oppresses a person from their essence, relying on its inherent aura and pressure to greatly affect the mind and deter the spirit.Those with weak wills, facing the deterrence of Conqueror's Haki, would instantly be unable to bear it, directly faint, and lose their fighting ability.Moreover, Haki is a large-scale attack. As long as it is within the attack range, even if there are tens of thousands of people, under Conqueror's Haki, they could be instantly wiped out.Therefore, Lin Tian's mind was currently engaged in an intense battle. Shanks' aura was like a vast, surging, and endless ocean. Lin Tian could only barely resist Shanks' attack with his extraordinary willpower.However, this situation was a huge burden for Lin Tian. The clash of wills was not that simple; it was even more dangerous and exhausting than a physical battle.Benn Beckman took a puff from his cigarette, exhaled smoke, and looked at Lin Tian's constantly trembling body, which seemed as if it would collapse at any moment. He said with a tone full of certainty:"This Marine prodigy is about to give out. The boss's Haki can be called the strongest in the world. It's already quite remarkable that this Marine prodigy can hold out alone until now, after all…"Just as Benn Beckman was about to take another puff and speak, the scene before him astonished him. The cigarette he had been raising to his mouth stopped, his mouth slightly agape, and he stared blankly ahead. Not only Benn Beckman, but the other officers nearby were also in the same state.Lin Tian slowly stood up, straightened his body, his eyes fixed on Shanks, his lips moving constantly, no sound coming out, but he was saying something.It wasn't that Lin Tian didn't want to speak; he simply couldn't. Just standing up had already exhausted all his strength, and he didn't even have the strength to open his mouth and speak.Although there was no sound, from Lin Tian's moving lips, everyone could read the content of what Lin Tian wanted to say, and it was precisely because they understood that everyone was so shocked."Is this all? Is this all the power a Yonko has? It's truly disappointing."These mere twenty-odd words conveyed a single message: a declaration of war. Lin Tian was declaring war on Shanks.In this situation, Lin Tian did not faint as everyone expected, nor did he beg for mercy. He chose a path that no one had anticipated.Facing a Yonko, even if Lin Tian was the strongest Marine genius, he had no chance of winning. How could he declare war without a chance of victory?In everyone's eyes, why would anyone choose such a path? This was not only unwise but would also force himself into a dead end. Yet, Lin Tian chose it anyway.Shanks, however, showed no anger on his face. Instead, a hint of admiration appeared in his eyes, only to quickly disappear, his eyes returning to their calm state.This subtle change was noticed by Benn Beckman, who couldn't help but ponder in secret. It seemed there was another meaning behind the boss's actions.Shanks' sudden move against Lin Tian was merely to test out this strongest Marine prodigy, because in his interactions with Uncle Rayleigh...They had once discussed Lin Tian, this Marine genius. Uncle Rayleigh had nothing but praise for Lin Tian, greatly admiring him and saying that the Marines had truly found a good prospect this time.At that time, Shanks had jokingly asked how he compared to this genius. Rayleigh, without much thought, directly and straightforwardly said that in terms of both talent and intelligence, Shanks was no match for him.He still remembered that Rayleigh had once remarked with emotion, "From him, I see something different, something I can't quite explain, but this is something I've only ever seen in the Captain."Shanks still greatly trusted Uncle Rayleigh's words, so from that moment on, Shanks began to pay attention to Lin Tian, eagerly anticipating meeting him to see if he was truly as Uncle Rayleigh had described.Now, Shanks had his answer. Uncle Rayleigh was not wrong. From Lin Tian, Shanks saw the same unyielding aura that the Captain possessed—an aura that feared no danger, no matter how perilous the path ahead.But Shanks did not retract his Haki; instead, he increased it, because Shanks wanted to know where this Marine prodigy's limit lay.Crack, crack… The sound of wood splintering echoed. The entire bar was floored with wooden planks. In the distance between Lin Tian and Shanks...Those wooden planks, under the immense pressure of an invisible force, could no longer bear it and began to slowly crack, little by little, spreading rapidly towards Lin Tian.Before Lin Tian could react to what was happening, a huge force suddenly erupted from the void, striking Lin Tian's chest.With a "Pfft" sound, as if his chest had been struck by a heavy hammer, Lin Tian instantly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. His qi and blood surged in his chest, and his face turned pale.Immediately after, from different directions in the void, huge forces appeared, pressing down on Lin Tian's body. Even the tables and chairs nearby, under this immense force, broke with a bang, shattering into countless small wooden pieces that flew in all directions.However, Lin Tian did not fall. His legs remained standing, although the wooden floor beneath his feet had already shattered, revealing the bluestone below. Even the bluestone had numerous cracks, but Lin Tian still stood tall."This Marine prodigy is about to give out," someone said, and everyone nodded in agreement."Ah!"Lin Tian let out a loud roar, and an equally powerful aura erupted from his body, directly resisting Shanks' Haki. No! It shattered Shanks' Haki and spread outwards at an extremely fast speed."This is… the awakening of Conqueror's Haki!" (To be continued.)
Chapter 173: Shocking the Sabaody ArchipelagoInside the bar, everyone was beyond shocked; even opening their mouths to the widest extent couldn't express their astonishment.They had thought that once the Captain went all out, even if this young man was a naval genius, he wouldn't be able to resist; being a Genius didn't mean one was a master.Even if you are a Genius, in the eyes of the truly strong, as long as you don't yet possess the strength, you are just an ant that could perish at any moment.But unexpectedly, at this final moment, an extremely powerful Aura erupted from Marcus's body, instantly breaking through the Captain's Haki.With Marcus as the center and without any warning, this Aura vented out in all directions, exceeding the speed of time and space, instantly covering the entire Sabaody Archipelago.This Aura permeated the entire Sabaody Archipelago; whether one was inside a room or walking on the street, this invisible power could be felt. Even high walls several meters thick offered no resistance against this invisible force.On the island, countless ordinary people suddenly felt as if a great mountain was pressing down from the Void Realm under Marcus's Conqueror's Haki.Under this immense force, their hearts beat uncontrollably fast; the high blood pressure, driven by the powerful force of the heartbeat, surged directly toward their heads through the blood vessels, causing them to faint instantly.As the only and necessary stop before heading to the New World, this island gathered countless Great Pirates with immense potential who wanted to make a name for themselves in the New World, all possessing extraordinary strength.They also felt this Aura; many pirates were no different from ordinary people under Li Tian's Haki, fainting directly without any reaction.Throughout the entire Sabaody Archipelago—whether on busy streets, in popular restaurants, at high-end auctions, or in various shops—the sound of people falling to the ground echoed continuously.Many people who were eating delicious food just collapsed into their meals. Some walking on the road fell to the ground without warning, and some vendors who were promoting their goods collapsed right where they stood.These scenes occurred all over the Sabaody Archipelago, with countless people falling to the ground in various postures; the lucky ones only suffered common bruises, while the unlucky ones faced life-threatening danger.Since it was lunchtime, the kitchens of many restaurants were noisy with countless busy chefs; now that these chefs had fainted, the fires on the stoves wouldn't just disappear. With the fires left unattended, fires broke out in many places.Some people even walked right into the river, while others fell out of windows.They dropped straight down; some who were arguing also fainted in an instant.Some powerful pirates remained conscious, their faces filled with fear, especially as they watched people around them collapse without any sign.In an entire street or a whole room, they would be the only ones standing, surrounded by figures lying on the ground; if not for the sound of breathing, one might think everyone was dead.Their bodies tensed up involuntarily as they stayed alert to their surroundings; this was the human instinct when facing the unknown, where even a slight movement would cause extreme nervousness.In this eerie situation, even the comfortable sea breeze blowing from the ocean gave people goosebumps, as if it were a series of ghostly winds, causing a chill and panic to rise from within."What kind of power is this? Without any movement, countless people fainted just like that without any reaction. How can such a power exist in this world?"In the first half of the Grand Line, the power of Conqueror's Haki rarely exists, and many people have never heard of it because the masters who possess such power have already entered the New World.In short, the entire Sabaody Archipelago was in chaos; thick smoke billowed from many places, and wild beasts from amusement parks escaped, walking openly on the streets.However, the island lacked any signs of life at this moment; countless people had fainted, knowing nothing of the outside world, deeply submerged in a coma.An eerie atmosphere settled over the Sabaody Archipelago; it was once bustling with people everywhere. Evil, trade, joy, and laughter—all sorts of things happened on this island where light and darkness coexisted in a strange balance.But now, all of this vanished in an instant, leaving only silence and fear; this was the power of Marcus's Conqueror's Haki.At this time, in the bar, earth-shattering changes had occurred outside in just a few seconds, and the same was true inside the bar.Being close to Marcus, the pressure of the Haki they endured was even stronger; even among Red's crew members, many had no resistance under Marcus's powerful Haki and fell directly to the ground.Feeling this powerful Aura, that indomitable Hakifelt like a mountain pressing down on one's will, forcing one to submit beneath it.To the pirate cadres who had ventured into the New World and followed Shanks on the path to becoming one of the Four Emperors, this Aura was very familiar."Conqueror's Haki! Only Conqueror's Haki has this kind of power!"This naval genius had actually exploded with his inner potential at the final moment, achieving the Awakening of Conqueror's Haki—a power worshipped by the world.Those who achieve Awakening of this power are said to possess the 'Aptitude of a King,' something not even one in a million people has; such individuals have the Aptitude to become kings, and most can become powerhouses in their own right.Such people are rare even in the New World, where experts are as common as trees in a forest.And now, this Marine had actually awakened it; how could everyone not be shocked? But on second thought, it was perfectly normal; being called the strongest genius of the navy, possessing Conqueror's Haki was an entirely normal thing.What shocked this group of Great Pirates who shook the New World was something else: Marcushad just achieved the Awakening of his Conqueror's Haki, yet he could break through the Captain's Haki. Although it was while the Captain was off-guard, it was still no simple feat.One must know that in terms of mastery of Conqueror's Haki, even the other Four Emperorswho also possess Conqueror's Haki are no match for the Captain; in this regard, the other Four Emperors must admit defeat.Shanks' Conqueror's Haki is the only one among the Four Emperors that can cause physical damage to objects, something the other Four Emperors cannot achieve.It could be said that Shanks' mastery of Haki is the strongest in the world. Among the Four Emperors, Shanks is the only one without a Devil Fruit Ability, and he has also lost an arm.As a swordsman, losing an arm would significantly impact one's combat power, yet Shanks still holds the position of one of the Four Emperors; from this, one can indirectly feel how high his Haki mastery is.At this, the calm on Shanks' face couldn't help but waver; clearly, Shanks' heart was not at peace either. Marcus's Haki could actually break through his own; how could it have such powerful force right after Awakening?One must know that Conqueror's Haki cannot be improved through Cultivation; it is the user's own spirit, and only when the person themselves becomes stronger will the attack power of the Conqueror's Haki increase."And Marcus has just awakened it, yet he has such attack power. Just how strong is this young man's strength? Could his talent truly be this formidable?" Shanks couldn't help but ask himself.Standing there, Marcus was immersed in this powerful strength; three years ago, he had already caught a slight glimpse of it, and three years later, under similarly powerful pressure, he finally achieved the Awakening of this power.Feeling the power flowing through his body from inside out, the Awakening of Conqueror's Hakididn't just mean that Marcus would have a powerful means of attack and a confirmation of his potential in the future.At the moment of Awakening, it also opened the treasure trove within Marcus's body, stimulating the potential hidden deep within him.In an instant, Marcus could feel his strength improve significantly, with powerful energy flowing everywhere inside his body.Feeling the powerful strength within him, Marcuscouldn't help but want to let out a long roar to the sky, but he knew that the Four Emperors' Red-haired Shanks was still beside him; he couldn't do such a thing yet, as he wasn't absolutely safe.Marcus had only just awakened and hadn't studied Conqueror's Haki much; he couldn't control it freely in such a short time and couldn't retract it immediately.Just as Marcus didn't know what to do, a similar power came from the Void Realm, blocking Marcus's Haki from continuing to spread outward while slowly compressing it.Without a doubt, only Shanks could achieve this; with Shanks' help, Marcus finally managed to slowly retract his Haki.As someone who had awakened Conqueror's Hakihimself, Shanks was very familiar with the things that happen during the Awakening of Conqueror's Haki. For instance, when first awakened, it is generally difficult for the user to effectively control the Conqueror's Haki.Another reason for Shanks' intervention was that, as someone who had just awakened, he hadn't expected Marcus's Haki to be this strong; the outside must already be in total chaos.As one of the points where two of the seven routes of the Grand Line intersect, the Sabaody Archipelago is never short of powerhouses; surely such a big commotion has been noticed.Many experts must have noticed by now; if Marcuswere allowed to continue like this, it would surely attract many strong individuals, and then their whereabouts would be exposed.The Marine Headquarters would also surely find out; there are over a thousand elite Marines stationed at the Sabaody Archipelago, and they would have to flee then, which was not what Shanks wanted.It wasn't that Shanks was afraid of the Marine Headquarters, but to fight a major battle with the Marines for no reason seemed very troublesome to the easy-going Shanks; after all, there are many experts at the Marine Headquarters, and leaving would be a hassle.Retracting his Haki, Marcus opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them as his Aura surrounded him, his Haki fully revealed.Shanks' expression shifted slightly as he thought to himself, "He truly is the strongest genius of the navy, to be so highly praised by Uncle Rayleigh; his talent is immense. In that situation, he achieved a Breakthrough of his limits and awakened Conqueror's Haki, and his strength increased significantly in an instant."A smile appeared on Marcus's face; anyone would be joyful when their combat power improved after gaining such benefits. Then Marcus turned his gaze toward Shanks, who was still sitting calmly and composed, and thanked him; if not for Shanks' pressure, who knows how long it would have taken for him to awaken Conqueror's Haki."Thank you, Red!" (To be continued.)
Chapter 174: Everyone Stunned, Red Hair BlushesInside the bar, Marcus's sudden expression of gratitude made most of the pirates feel strange. The Captain had suddenly attacked him; although he had awakened his Conqueror's Haki because of it, that wasn't a reason to thank him!Shanks hadn't attacked him intentionally; otherwise, he would have been finished long ago. Why would he have gradually increased his power? He hadn't sensed any Killing Intent either. This was merely a test and a guess.Marcus had realized this after his Awakening. As for the reason, Marcus didn't know, but it should have been related to Uncle Rayleigh."Hahaha... Kid, not bad. It seems Uncle Rayleighwasn't wrong. You actually resisted my Haki and even awakened your own Conqueror's Haki," Shanks said, laughing loudly as he returned to his previous lazy demeanor.If one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, how could they connect this lazy man before them with the domineering Four Emperors Red-haired Shanks, who had appeared like an emperor earlier?It was indeed related to Uncle Rayleigh. It seemed he hadn't guessed wrong. "It was just luck. If I hadn't awakened at the last moment, I almost wouldn't have been able to hold on. The Four Emperors are truly worthy of being the Four Emperors.""Come!"To Marcus's praise, Shanks just smiled faintly. He casually grabbed a bottle of alcohol and tossed it toward Marcus. Marcus hurriedly reached out to catch it, and without hesitation, drank it all in one gulp.Seeing Marcus's action, a hint of admiration appeared on Shanks' face. He said loudly, "Good! Worthy of being the strongest genius of the navy, good!"After saying 'good' twice, Shanks did not hesitate either and drank the alcohol in the bottle in his hand dry.A strange look flashed in the eyes of the cadres on the side. They were Great Pirates, and Marcus was a Marine; they were in such an adversarial relationship.Marcus had actually not hesitated and drank the alcohol handed over by the Captain immediately, which caused many pirates to deepen their good impression of Marcus."Hey, Xiao Tian, come over here. Let Aunt Xia see what you've become after not seeing you for three years," Aunt Xia said with a smile, flicking her cigarette ash gently and pointing to an empty seat in front of the bar counter.Hearing this, Marcus showed a trace of helplessness, but he felt very warm in his heart due to the concern in Aunt Xia's tone. He walked over, sat directly in the seat, and found himself in the middle of a bunch of Great Pirates."Aunt Xia, have you been well lately? Ever since we parted ways at Sabaody, I've been missing the food here," Marcus said to Aunt Xia, placing his hands on the bar counter.After looking him over carefully, a faint smile appeared on Aunt Xia's face. "Looking closely, our little Marcus has grown up to be much more handsome. I wonder what Hancock would think if she saw you."Hearing Aunt Xia's words, Marcus was stunned. In his mind, that incredibly beautiful and arrogant figure couldn't help but appear. He hadn't seen her for three years; he wondered how she was doing."Hancock, does Hancock come here often? How is her situation lately?" Marcus asked, somewhat puzzled.The events of that year had been extremely damaging to Hancock and the others. How could she still come here? This was the territory of the Celestial Dragons.Having also experienced that event, Aunt Xianaturally understood the doubt in Marcus's heart. She exhaled a puff of smoke and looked at Marcuswith a peculiar gaze as she said:"Hancock is deeply in love with someone; she comes here once every two months just to learn about that person's situation. Unlike some people, who haven't come to see her in three years and might not even remember her anymore."Facing Aunt Xia's scolding, a hint of embarrassment appeared on Marcus's face. What Aunt Xia said was indeed the truth, and precisely because of that, he didn't know what to say.On this point, he really felt sorry for Hancock. At the same time, he also felt moved in his heart. To be able to have the Empress, the world's most beautiful woman, do this for him, one could imagine how much space he occupied in Hancock's heart."Hancock? Could it be the Empress Hancock who recently joined the Shichibukai?" A flash of surprise crossed Shanks' face, and the cadres on the side were the same; clearly, Hancock's name was also thunderous to them.Marcus turned his head and asked Shanks, who was holding a bottle and drinking, "What, the Four Emperors also pay attention to this name?"Placing the empty bottle on the table, Shanksnodded. As the Shichibukai, which along with the Marine Headquarters and the Four Emperors were known as the three great powers, even the lazy Shanks had to pay attention.Especially in the last two years, the EmpressHancock, who became a Shichibukai, was also the only female pirate among the Shichibukai. At that time, the fact that Hancock became a Shichibukaihad shocked the Grand Line.Not only because such a powerful female pirate had appeared in the world without having any reputation at all, but there was another reason: the title of Hancock being the most beautiful woman in the world.Many people wanted to see Hancock's beautiful face to see if she was truly as incredibly beautiful as the rumors said—the best in the world—and that one look would get you mesmerized and then turned into stone."Hahaha... I didn't expect that the Empress Hancock, the world's most beautiful woman, would actually like the strongest genius of the navy," Shanks said, looking at Marcus and laughing loudly, his tone filled with undisguised surprise.The cadres on the side were equally surprised. They hadn't expected to hear such big news. If this matter were to spread, it would definitely shock the world.Ignoring the laughing Shanks, Marcus looked at Aunt Xia and explained apologetically: "There's no way around it. I've always been on the sea with the Stinky Old Man. Even if I wanted to come back, the Stinky Old Man wouldn't let me."Without thinking too much, Marcus directly placed the blame on Garp. Anyway, that Stinky Old Manwasn't here, and besides, if he didn't pin it on him, who else could he pin it on?"Stinky Old Man? Who is the Stinky Old Man!" Shanks, listening to the conversation on the side, muttered to himself in confusion.Aunt Xia explained in a timely manner: "The Stinky Old Man is Marine Hero Garp.""It's actually him!"The pirates present heard this name and wore expressions of shock. For everyone present, this name was thunderous; whether among Marines or pirates, anyone who heard it would change color.As one of the Four Emperors, the Red Hair Pirateshad not fought him few times in the past. Thinking back on Garp's combat power now, they were still terrified.Their eyes couldn't help but fall on Marcus. Now they suddenly realized that the Marine genius before them was Garp's only Disciple, the one who inherited his mantle.If one were to say who among those present had the deepest impression of and understood Garp the best, it would have to be Shanks, who had been an apprentice crew member on the Roger Pirates ship back then.Back then, even Captain Roger, the man who became the Pirate King, was no match for Garp and was often chased around by him. Those days of being chased were thrilling and also nostalgic.Suddenly, Aunt Xia changed the subject and looked at Marcus with a meaningful smile. Marcusimmediately had a bad premonition in his heart."That's not right, Xiao Tian. I remember that about two years ago, Garp returned to the Marine Headquarters, but you didn't seem to have come back at that time."Hearing Aunt Xia's words, he cried out in his heart that he had made a miscalculation. He had almost forgotten that Aunt Xia specialized in intelligence and was an information broker; how could he deceive her in this regard?Exposed by Aunt Xia, Marcus scratched the back of his head and said embarrassedly: "I didn't expect that after not seeing you for so long, Aunt Xia is still so sharp, seeing through my joke immediately."Suddenly, Marcus slapped his head violently. If it hadn't been for Aunt Xia's reminder, he would have almost forgotten about this matter, and it would have been troublesome later.Marcus's sudden action left everyone confused and curious. Ignoring everyone's gaze, Marcus instead started laughing at Shanks.Seeing Marcus's smile, Shanks had a bad premonition in his heart. The wine glass he had originally brought to his mouth was put down, and his body instinctively retreated.A dignified Four Emperor who shook the New World was actually scared into instinctively retreating by the smile of a Marine. If this were to spread, what kind of storm would it stir up?It wasn't that Shanks was afraid, but rather that Marcus's smile was truly too lecherous and asking for a beating. It wasn't just Shanks who felt this way; everyone present, whether it was the cadres or Aunt Xia, felt the same.Regarding this, everyone was very puzzled in their hearts. What exactly did Marcus know, and why would he show that kind of smile toward Shanks?Amidst that lecherous smile, Marcus reached out and fumbled inside his clothes for a long time, finally touching something, and the smile on his face grew even wider.Seeing this, Marcus slowly withdrew his hand, and amidst everyone's expectant and curious gazes, after fumbling for a long time, what he brought out was indeed a pouch.It was made entirely of red thread, with various things embroidered on it using other silk threads. The pouch was cinched tight with two thick golden threads, so one couldn't see what was inside.Looking at this ordinary pouch, the confusion on everyone's faces deepened. This pouch had nothing special about it, yet why did Marcus have that expression?Scanning with his eyes, taking in everyone's expressions, Marcus couldn't help but laugh secretly in his heart. If they knew the significance of this pouch, who knows what kind of expressions they would have.Marcus slowly flipped the pouch over to the back, because the real mystery was actually on the back, and everyone just hadn't seen it.And at the right moment, he said: "Earlier, Aunt Xiasaid that I had left the Stinky Old Man for a year, and during that year, I was thrown into the East Blue by the Stinky Old Man."Hearing the word 'East Blue', some of the Red Hair Pirates cadres showed expressions of contemplation. They had stayed in the East Blue for quite a while, while some others were just confused."And while there, I stayed in a quiet little village. That village is called Foosha Village, and there is a Party Bar, which has a landlady."Hearing this, the veterans of the Red Hair Piratesshowed expressions of realization, as well as confusion. When they were traveling, they had passed through there and stayed for a long time, almost a year.That Party Bar was the place they often went to, and there was also a very interesting kid there who kept saying he wanted to become the Pirate King.However, how did this Marine also go there and stay for a year? Was this just a coincidence?At this moment, Marcus also turned the back of the pouch toward everyone!"Ah! What!"A chorus of screams rang out, accompanied by the sound of people falling to the ground. Even a few of the cadres were scared, falling to the floor, yet their eyes remained fixed on the pouch in Marcus's hand, staring in shock.Even when facing these New World powerhouses, they wouldn't be this scared, yet they were frightened by the content on the pouch. It wasn't that they were incompetent, but this thing was simply too astonishing, completely exceeding their psychological limits.Now, everyone finally understood why Marcus had that expression; after all, this news and content actually contained such a huge secret. Next, those who understood the matter looked at Marcus with the same smile.As the person involved, Shanks should have been the most shocked, because the content on it caught the Four Emperors Red-haired Shanks off guard, leaving his mind in Chaos, not knowing what to do.After a while, Shanks finally reacted. Feeling the malicious and gossiping gazes around him, the dignified, world-renowned Great Pirate, Four Emperors Red-haired Shanks, actually blushed.What exactly was on the back of the pouch that caused such a huge change in everyone in an instant? (To be continued.)
Chapter 175: Garp, Rayleigh, and Shanks GatherThere was nothing world-shattering about it; it was just embroidered with some ordinary landscape scenery. What truly shocked everyone were the four tiny characters at the bottom.An ordinary person would have a hard time noticing them without looking closely, but there were no ordinary people here; everyone spotted the handwriting immediately."Gift for Shanks!"Giving a pouch like this, especially with that kind of embroidery, must be from a woman to the man she loves. Otherwise, why would anyone give such an intimate item in ordinary circumstances?With a flash of an afterimage, before Marcus could even react to what had happened, he felt the pouch in his hand disappear. He quickly looked up and saw that the pouch was already in the hands of Shanks.A look of shock instantly appeared on Marcus's face. He hadn't even seen how Shanks moved. Although he had been caught off guard, he shouldn't have been completely unable to react. As expected of one of the Four Emperors; he was still quite far off from that level of strength.Watching Shanks examine the pouch carefully, Marcus smiled and said, "Makino made this by hand overnight after she found out I was returning to the Grand Line. She stitched every single thread on that pouch herself."In truth, Marcus hadn't known Makino was preparing something like this. It was only on the night of his departure that he happened to discover Makino finishing it overnight."Oooooh..." Hearing Marcus's words, a chorus of jeers and whistles rose from the people around them.Aunt Xia extinguished her cigarette, exhaled a puff of smoke, and said with a smile, "It seems I've heard an incredible secret today. One of the Four Emperors, Red-haired Shanks, actually has someone he likes."Faced with the laughter of the crowd, Shanks—who wouldn't even change his expression in the face of an entire army—showed a hint of embarrassment on his face. Shanks understood that if he tried to stop them now, they probably wouldn't listen and would only laugh even harder.He gently squeezed it; from the feel of it, it seemed to be filled with some leaves. At the same time, a unique fragrance emanated from within, permeating the air.Shanks took a gentle sniff and immediately felt his mind clear up quite a bit. He was suddenly curious about what was inside.Marcus explained at the right moment, "These are medicinal herbs that Makino intentionally gathered from Mt. Colubo and specifically placed in the pouch. Their main function is to sober you up; just a light sniff is enough to clear the alcohol."The pouch contained very precious medicinal herbs that were hard to come by, all growing in treacherous places. Makino had only been able to gather them all with the help of Marcus, Luffy, and Ace. They hadn't understood why at the time, but they realized it later.Lucky Roux took a bite of the roasted meat in his mouth and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law Makinois truly gentle and considerate to have thought of this."The cadres on the side also had smiles on their faces; even the usually stern-faced Beckmanshowed a smile. They had all spent time with Makino and knew her character very well.From the bottom of their hearts, they were happy that their Captain had such an outstanding confidante.How could he not understand Makino's intentions? Shanks couldn't help but grip the pouch in his hand tightly. Although it was ordinary, to Shanks, it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds; its value could not be measured by material things.In his mind, he couldn't help but recall that figure, that gentle smile, and those considerate actions. All of this made Shanks feel nostalgic, accompanied by a deep sense of apology.At this moment, another question rang out, "By the way, how is that kid Luffy doing now?"Marcus looked toward the source of the question and saw it was another cadre beside Shanks, Yasopp, the sniper of the Red Hair Pirates, whose sniping skills were famous throughout the Grand Line.Yasopp was of medium build, with curly hair and thick lips. He wore a headband with his name written on it, a collared shirt, long pants, and carried a musket at his waist.It had been a year since he left. Thinking back on it now, Marcus also missed Luffy and Ace a little. A year had passed, and he wondered how they were doing now."Luffy, huh! He's still talking all day about becoming the Pirate King. He trains hard every day, developing his Devil Fruit ability, wanting to get stronger quickly."Hearing about Luffy, a smile unconsciously appeared on Shanks's face. Shanks missed Luffyvery much as well.As he spoke, Marcus suddenly remembered that Luffy had asked him to pass on a message. "I almost got sidetracked by you guys. Luffy also wanted me to pass on some words.""Oh, what does Luffy want to tell us?!""He said you should wait for him on the Grand Line. He will set sail at seventeen, and when that time comes, he will come to the Grand Line, catch up to you, and become the Pirate King.""Hahaha... that certainly sounds like something Luffywould say," many people nearby laughed.Shanks thought to himself, "Luffy, hurry up and come. The Grand Line is the place that suits you. A new era is about to begin; the next stage will be your time to shine.""Boom!"At this moment, a loud noise came from outside, followed immediately by the entire ground beginning to shake. Tables, chairs, and other items inside the bar vibrated violently, and many things fell to the floor, making a clattering sound.Everyone quickly stood up, feeling the earth shaking, with confusion on their faces. However, Marcus and the others at the bar had slight changes in their expressions, revealing a serious look.They had already sensed through Observation Hakithat two extremely powerful experts were fighting outside. Shanks grabbed a bottle that was about to fall, stood up, and walked outside.At this moment, Shanks had once again returned to that domineering demeanor, unconsciously influencing everyone around him. This was the quality possessed by an Emperor. The members of the Red Hair Pirates quickly followed and walked outside.After thinking about it, Marcus also decided to follow and see what had happened. As he walked out of the bar with everyone, he saw quite a few people standing outside, and many others lying on the ground unconscious.Looking at those who had fainted, Marcus rubbed his nose in embarrassment. Although this wasn't intentional, it was still his responsibility.As for those who were still standing, they were no weaklings, otherwise they wouldn't have remained conscious under the effects of Conqueror's Haki. At this moment, they were all looking up at the sky.It turned out that there were two figures fighting above. Looking closely, they were two old men; who else could it be but Garp and Rayleigh?Their figures were like streams of light, flashing in the air one moment and appearing on the ground the next. Each attack had immense power, and the 14th Island had already been destroyed beyond recognition by them.There wasn't a single person within a one-kilometer radius. No one dared to get close to the battlefield, fearing they would be caught in the shockwaves of the two's battle; that would be a miserable fate.Seeing this, Marcus didn't say a word. Without thinking much, he directly turned invisible and hid in the Void Realm. The cadres nearby saw this scene, and their expressions changed slightly; they were clearly shocked by Marcus's ability.But they didn't say anything more. They understood what Marcus was worried about; in the public eye, how could Marcus, as a Marine, stay with pirates?In the shadows, the invisible Marcus hurried toward the Marines not far away. At a time like this, he had to appear among the Marines.Shanks and his large group of people walked out of a bar, immediately attracting the attention of many. Those who could stand here were not minor experts, so how could they not recognize Shanksand his crew?"This... this... this is the Red Hair Pirates! One of the Four Emperors, Red-haired Shanks, is actually on the Sabaody Archipelago!"Many people were stunned to see Shanks and his crew. Who could have imagined that one of the Four Emperors of the New World would actually appear here? This scene was truly shocking.The whole world seemed to freeze. Everyone couldn't help but hold their breath, watching the Red Hair Pirates walk by quietly, not even daring to make a sound.It was only after Shanks and his crew passed by that they came back to their senses, gasping for air, their backs already soaked with cold sweat."Is this the Red Hair Pirates of the Four Emperors? They are truly too powerful. Their Aura alone is enough to completely overwhelm us. They are worthy of being one of the strongest Great Pirates."On the other side, Garp and Rayleigh were still fighting intensely. One possessed incredibly refined swordsmanship, and the other possessed unmatched power—using raw strength to overcome technique. Neither was using their full power, and for the moment, neither could do anything to the other.Rayleigh kicked off with his leg, moving at an incredibly fast speed. Everyone only saw an afterimage flash before their eyes, and Rayleigh was already beside Garp."Garp, you bastard, you actually started attacking me without saying a word." Because of Marcus's Haki Awakening, Rayleigh had rushed toward the bar, but who knew Garp would arrive a step before him.The two ran into each other. Garp didn't say a word and directly swung his Iron Fist to attack Rayleigh. Rayleigh hurriedly drew his sword to counter, which led to the current scene.The white longsword in his hand glinted with a cold light under the sunlight. Before it even fully approached, it already carried the momentum of thunder, and the atmosphere shattered under this slash.A slash several tens of meters long destroyed everything in its path. Plants flew, stones shattered, and a bottomless chasm appeared on the ground. The earth was split in two by this move, heading straight toward Garp.With a light flick of his hands, the air turned into a shockwave, carving two deep ravines into the walls on both sides. He stomped one foot and shot out. Under that powerful force, the ground beneath his feet sank several tens of centimeters within a radius of over ten meters, creating a deep pit.Facing that tens-of-meters-long slash, Garp's figure was so small, but his Aura was not weak in the slightest; it was even a notch stronger, and his expression was incomparably calm."Iron Fist!" he shouted in a low voice.His right arm, filled with explosive power, raised a pitch-black fist, meeting the slash head-on.There was no loud noise, but a blinding light burst from the center. People had to close their eyes, but experts like Shanks did not need to.That powerful slash, capable of cutting through a mountain, was brought to a standstill by Garp's small fist."Argh!" Garp let out a low roar, his terrifying power surging out through his arm, and that overwhelmingly strong slash was actually shattered by Garp's punch.He didn't stop, his whole body radiating a powerful Aura as he charged toward Rayleigh. With every step he took, a spiderweb-shaped crack appeared on the ground.As the light faded, everyone hurriedly opened their eyes. The scene before them made them gasp. The entire 14th Island had turned into ruins; not a single intact building could be found.On the battlefield, everyone only saw Rayleigh, but they didn't see Garp. Just as everyone was looking around, a roar rang out.It turned out that, without anyone knowing when, Garp had appeared above Shanks and his crew, looking down from above, his Iron Fists attacking Shanks."Red-haired Shanks, you bastard, how dare you do such a thing!""Everyone back away! You are no match for him!"Seeing Garp attacking, Shanks let out a low shout, drew the longsword in his hand, coated it with Armament Haki, and met Garp's Iron Fist."The Four Emperors' Red-haired Shanks, Pluto Rayleigh, and Marine Hero Garp—to think they are all gathered here today." (To be continued.)
Chapter 176: Restraining RayleighDescending from the sky, Garp looked like a meteorite. The Marine cape on his back fluttered in the wind, flapping loudly. His energy swirled around him; his Aura had arrived before he even did.Garp's speed was extremely fast. His entire body was like a crimson streak of light as he smashed his pitch-black Iron Fist down from above. Facing this unadorned punch, even Shanks couldn't help but be moved.Clutching his black longsword with both hands, he held it in a reverse grip to block. Clearly, Shankswanted to engage in a pure test of strength with Garp.With a loud "clang," his bare fist collided with the longsword, yet it sounded like steel striking steel.The sound was deafening, and the sound waves possessed immense destructive power. Even those standing hundreds of meters away felt their ears ringing; a normal person likely would have fainted long ago.The two powerful forces, carrying an invincible momentum, collided with a loud "boom," like meteors crashing together. The two forces were evenly matched, entering a stalemate.During the stalemate, these forces vented into the void in all directions. Instantly, a shockwave erupted with the two of them at the center.The bluestone-paved ground was instantly ripped up, exposing the black soil underneath. Countless ruins were sent flying into the sky, crashing toward the onlookers at the side.Seeing this, the onlookers no longer cared about watching the battle. Without a word, they turned and ran, wishing they had been born with an extra pair of legs.Within the thick fog, immense power gathered at a single point, shattering the air. Cracks appeared in the void, but they instantly recovered, only to appear again. Their power was so great that even space itself could not withstand it and was ripped apart.Seeing this scene, the most shocked person was Marcus. As someone who had mastered space, no one knew better than Marcus just how much power was required to shatter space.Ordinarily, even Garp would find it difficult to achieve this. This was the result of two of the world's Peak fighters focusing all their strength on a single point.Amidst the thick smoke, two figures rushed out from opposite directions. The clothes on both of them were torn in many places.Garp, who was retreating, flashed in the cover of the smoke and suddenly appeared on a pile of ruins. He reached out with his pitch-black hands and grabbed the air, and a figure appeared in Garp's hands just like that.Looking closely, who else could it be but Marcus? Garp had noticed this Stinky Kid from the very beginning and had already locked onto him using Observation Haki.Being grabbed by the collar by Garp, Marcus looked miserable. He hadn't expected the Stinky Old Manto have such keen perception. He had realized he was discovered when he saw the Stinky Old Manflying toward him, but the Stinky Old Man's speed was too fast, and he was caught before he could run far.On the Marine side, over a thousand Marines were gathered neatly to the side. Apart from some of Garp's subordinates, the rest were the garrison of the Sabaody Archipelago.Facing high-level experts like Pluto Rayleigh and the Four Emperors Red-haired Shanks, these Marines would just be throwing their lives away if they went up. Therefore, Garp had ordered them to stay on the sidelines and wait for an opportunity.Seeing that Vice Admiral Garp had actually brought back a person, the Marines were puzzled. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was Major General Lin Tian, and their confusion only deepened.Just as Marcus was feeling miserable, Garp picked him up and threw him forward. A scream rang out, followed by a loud "boom."Hearing this sound, the crowd couldn't help but shrink back, as if they were the ones who had been hit. Looking at the human-shaped crater in the tree, they couldn't help but feel a hint of sympathy.With a flash of light, Marcus crawled out of the crater, covered in dirt. He cursed, "Stinky Old Man, you actually threw me! One day, I'll get you back for this!""Is that so?" Garp clenched his fists, a strange smile appearing on his face. "Do you want me to give you that chance right now?"Forget it! Marcus immediately shut his mouth. A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him; revenge is a dish best served cold. One day, he would return everything to the Stinky Old Man, Marcus thought fiercely."Vice Admiral Garp, I've already notified Marine Headquarters. They said reinforcements will arrive soon," Andre said, panting as he ran over.Who could have imagined that the Four EmperorsRed-haired Pirates would appear here, along with the former First Mate of the Pirate King, Pluto Rayleigh? These were all Great Pirates who had shaken the world.Facing this situation, Andre had immediately dialed the den den mushi to notify Marineford, as these people's combat power was truly too terrifying. Although Garp was very strong, he might suffer a loss against two of them, so reporting to Marine Headquarters was necessary.The appearance of two such powerful pirates here shocked Marine Headquarters immensely. One had to know that the Sabaody Archipelago was very close to Marine Headquarters and the Holy Land Mary Geoise, yet the Marines had received no news at all.Garp nodded slightly, understanding in his heart that notifying Marineford didn't actually have much effect. To keep these people here, at least all of the Marines' top combat forces would need to be deployed, and even that might not be enough.If such experts wanted to leave, who in the world could stop them? Moreover, in such a sudden situation, how much combat power could Marine Headquarters muster in a rush? Therefore, Garp had never thought about keeping them here."Stinky Kid, was that commotion from earlier caused by you?" Garp asked."That's right," Marcus nodded and admitted. There was no need to hide such things from Garp, though it was a bit strange that the Stinky Old Man could guess it was him.Hearing Marcus's admission, Garp's expression changed slightly. He had just been asking; he hadn't been sure it was really Marcus who caused it. This kid had experienced something after leaving; he had actually awakened Conqueror's Haki.Andre on the side looked shocked. He had also felt that power earlier and asked in surprise, "Marcus, was that power really yours? Does that mean you've awakened Conqueror's Haki?"Marcus smiled slightly and nodded in reply. "Yeah, I had an encounter just now and awakened Conqueror's Haki."Hearing this, the shock on Andre's face deepened, but in the blink of an eye, a joyous smile appeared. He was happy that Marcus's strength had improved by such a large margin.Watching the smoke that was about to dissipate, Garp turned his back to Marcus and instructed, "Stinky Kid, I have a difficult task for you."Marcus stepped back a few paces, keeping his distance from Garp. At a time like this, if Garpwanted to give him a task, it definitely wasn't anything good.Sure enough, just as Marcus expected, Garp said, "Stinky Kid, you've been there for a year, so you should understand some things. I need to settle a score with that bastard Shanks.""That's true, but this doesn't seem to have anything to do with me. You can just go settle the score with Shanks yourself," Marcus said, puzzled.The Marine Soldiers on the side were confused, watching the master and apprentice speaking in riddles, but they roughly understood that Red-haired Shanks seemed to have done something, and now Vice Admiral Garp wanted to settle the score with him."But there's Pluto Rayleigh on the side, so it's hard for me to make a move," Garp said with a serious tone, then changed the subject. "So, I need..."Hearing this, Marcus knew what the Stinky Old Manwas thinking. He must want him to hold back Pluto Rayleigh and keep him on the sidelines, not letting him interfere.Originally, people like Shanks and Rayleighwouldn't allow others to interfere in their fights; they all had their own pride as strong fighters.But Garp's unprovoked attack earlier had made Rayleigh somewhat annoyed. Coupled with their relationship, Rayleigh was very likely to help Shanksand the others escape before Sengoku arrived.Understanding this, Marcus didn't refuse. Instead, after a moment of thought, he asked in a deep voice, "Stinky Old Man, what is your goal in dealing with the Red Hair Pirates this time?"This time, Garp turned his head back and said very annoyedly, "I just want to beat that bastard up for daring to corrupt Luffy."A smile appeared on Marcus's face instead. This was the answer he wanted. He walked forward a few steps and stood side-by-side with Garp. Looking at the smoke gradually dispersing, the ruins that appeared, and the group of figures that were revealed, he whispered."Stinky Old Man, I agree to this task. However, I can't beat Pluto Rayleigh, so you'd better finish quickly. If Fleet Admiral Sengoku arrives, it won't be easy to deal with.""Don't worry, Stinky Kid. I've already thought of these things without you reminding me." Speaking of this, Garp snorted and glared at Marcus. "Also, don't mess around this time. Don't think I don't know about you and that bastard Rayleigh..."Garp didn't say the rest. A timely warning was enough; anyway, this Stinky Kid, Marcus, knew his limits.Marcus gave a sheepish smile. "Don't worry, Stinky Old Man, I understand. I have a good idea of what's going on."Garp nodded slightly. He was still reassured about Marcus. Although this Stinky Kid often pushed the boundaries, he was actually very clear-headed."In that case, I'll go first!"After speaking, Marcus leaped out, dashing rapidly toward the giant redwood tree on the side, leaving only one figure in the faint smoke."This... Vice Admiral Garp, what is Major General Lin Tian doing..." Andre stepped forward from behind and asked, puzzled. Marcus and Garp had spoken in very low voices, and Andre hadn't heard anything."I'm having Marcus go and restrain Pluto Rayleigh. Next, I'm going to make a move against Red-haired Shanks. All of you go to Marcus's side.""What!"...At the roots of the redwood tree, Garp's sudden change of direction to attack Shanks caught even Rayleigh off guard, leaving him only able to watch the battle from the sidelines.Suddenly, Rayleigh's eyes narrowed. A figure flashed before his eyes. The speed was so fast that it felt like light, entering the smoke and rushing toward Shanks' direction.Shanks also noticed this scene. He waved his longsword gently and instructed the people behind him, "You guys retreat first and return to the ship. I'll hold off Garp."Lucky Roux bit into his meat and said unconvinced, "Boss, it's not like we aren't Garp's match; we don't need to fear him. Why retreat?"Shanks didn't answer. His figure flashed as he went to intercept Garp. Beckman sheathed his long gun and explained on Shanks' behalf."We are so close to Marine Headquarters; presumably, the headquarters' reinforcements are already on the way. Although we don't fear Marine Headquarters, now is not the time for war. We should retreat first."On the other side, seeing Garp make a move, Rayleigh thought for a moment and decided to restrain Garp, letting Shanks and the others retreat first. Marine Headquarters was right nearby.But just at this moment, a voice sounded from the side, and a figure walked out."Uncle Rayleigh, don't you get involved in their fight. Today, your opponent is me." (To be continued.)