"I truly have no hidden agenda — I came here simply to pay a visit. I had even planned to invite you all to a feast, but since our philosophies are so fundamentally opposed, we clearly walk different paths and cannot work together. So I shall take my leave." Shanks stood up as he spoke.
"If the World Government is overthrown completely, this world will only fall into greater chaos — more people will die, and no single power will ever be able to rule it again." Shanks' tone grew serious.
"Luffy will become the Pirate King, and I will stand in the way of your ambitions."
Grimm waved his hand dismissively.
"Instead of wasting breath on such empty words, you should be looking at your own situation. There is no such thing as a Fifth Emperor in this sea — only Four Emperors. If you want to rise to that rank, you must first bring one of the existing four down…"
He paused, then smiled. "Or wait — whenever I feel like it, I could simply wipe one of them out for you, and you could step right into the empty spot."
Shanks' expression hardened. A flicker of anger flashed across his face, though it vanished just as quickly. He replied with a cold, forced smile.
"Your confidence is certainly impressive, but there is a limit to how much you can look down on others. I will not be taking that second option."
It took a great deal to make Shanks angry, but this time it was not just a difference in beliefs — Grimm's words had been nothing short of demeaning.
Wait for me to eliminate one of the Four Emperors, then step in and take the leftovers?
That was an insult beyond measure.
Someone like Marshall D. Teach would have leaped at such an opportunity, but Shanks was far too proud to ever accept advancement through such means.
"So you intend to pull one down yourself?" Grimm asked, still leaning back with his legs crossed. "Or… is it me you have in mind?"
Shanks lowered his head for several seconds, his face twisting into a fierce scowl.
When he raised it again, a faint but overwhelming aura pressed outward — perhaps only half as strong as the presence Roger had once commanded, yet unmistakable.
"No. As I said, this was only a courtesy visit. After the battle against those monsters earlier, my crew has suffered many injuries. I have no intention of fighting today."
With that, he turned and walked out without looking back. Grimm watched his red cloak disappear through the door.
"Is it wise to share your troop's condition so openly? I could order an attack right now and wipe you out before you sail far."
"If I feared that, I would never have set foot on your island," Shanks called back over his shoulder.
He stepped out into the open and raised his voice to his crew. "Let's go, everyone — set sail once more!"
Ul'dah and his men stood by and made no move to stop them.
Grimm had given strict orders not to pursue or attack them for the time being — though he had also sent other instructions to Indigo and the others, which meant it was only a matter of time before the real trouble began.
Back inside the room, Grimm picked up the Den Den Mushi and spoke only two words before ending the call.
"Strike."
On the other end, Violet heard the command, folded the small receiver away, and turned to Mannoroth beside her. "This comes directly from Lord Grimm himself."
Mannoroth shifted his massive frame and began to lower himself into the sea. "Understood."
Until now, no one other than the Four Knights could give orders to Mannoroth without receiving a sharp retort.
"I joined this crew long before you — you have no right to command me," he would say, much to the frustration of many.
But no one dared push the issue, for his strength was unmatched, especially when it came to battles at sea.
Only when Violet made it clear this was Grimm's own order did he submit without complaint.
"Come, Shirahoshi."
Violet walked toward the young mermaid princess, who was waiting near the shore.
"Y‑yes, I'm ready!" Shirahoshi replied nervously.
Both had been summoned in haste by Grimm. An ordinary ship would have taken three days to sail from New Amazon Lily to Artemis, but Shirahoshi could swim at such speed that she covered the distance in less than five hours.
Violet was brought along to use her powers and ensure Shirahoshi would not be hindered by any unexpected obstacles.
And the reason for their summons? Simply that Grimm had grown thoroughly annoyed with Shanks.
To believe that pirates and the World Government can coexist in peace?
If we walk different paths, then you are my enemy.
The moment the Red Force sailed out of Artemis harbor, Shanks began to recount the conversation to his crew — though he carefully left out any mention of Luffy.
"He really said that?"
Benn Beckman held a cigarette between his fingers, his eyes narrowing as he listened. The rest of the crew turned their full attention to their first mate and chief strategist.
"To be honest, there is some truth to what he said — in fact, it is completely accurate." Beckman spoke slowly, exhaling a thin trail of smoke.
"Neither the Marines nor the existing Four Emperors will simply stand by and let a fifth rise to equal status. Besides, nearly every territory in the New World has already been claimed and divided."
"The Marines hold the G‑1 and G‑5 bases, controlling the first half of the New World. Then Big Mom rules the central region, followed by Kaido, Grimm, and Whitebeard."
Beckman continued, "Years ago, during the meeting of the Three Powers on Dressrosa, the entire New World was formally split between them. To claim the title of a Fifth Emperor, there is only one way — defeat and replace one of the four."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the crew — even those still wrapped in bandages from the earlier fight — began to debate which target would be the best choice.
"What about Big Mom? She looks terrifying, but she treats her own people with such cruelty that many surely resent her. Wouldn't she be the easiest to take down?"
The suggestion was met with immediate disagreement.
"No way! After what happened with Jack and King, Kaido will never forgive us. If we go after Big Mom, Kaido will attack us from behind. We'd be caught between two Emperors. It makes more sense to target Kaido first."
"I agree! We've already made an enemy of him anyway — he'll come for us sooner or later. Why not strike first?"
The discussion quickly split the crew into two factions: one favoring Big Mom, the other Kaido.
Lucky Roux, as usual, was busy biting into a large leg of ham. He noticed that Shanks, who usually spoke the most, had fallen silent, standing rigidly at the rail with a grim expression.
"Captain? What's wrong?" he asked.
Shanks said nothing, only walked to the side of the ship and stared out across the water. Seeing his serious demeanor, the rest of the crew joined him.
They were still within ten kilometers of Artemis, and the island itself was still visible on the horizon. Shanks fixed his gaze on the sea surrounding their vessel.
"Can you all feel it?" he asked slowly.
"Something is gathering in the water around us… and there's more and more of it by the second."
Everyone leaned forward, their eyes scanning the surface of the sea with sudden alarm.
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