Ace's anger was instantly extinguished. A moment ago, he had been acting like he was the boss of everything. Now it was replaced by confusion and an impending sense of danger. "Wait! When did I ever say that?! Uncle Rhett, you're lying! You're slandering me! Mom, don't listen to him!"
Rhett: I've eaten more meals than you've walked steps. You can't beat me, kid.
Rouge's gentle voice carried a hint of "oh?" from a distance. "A—ce—? Is what your uncle said true? Is Mom's fried cutlet... really that bad?"
Ace immediately broke out in a cold sweat. "What do I do when this happens? Urgent, online, waiting."
"No! Absolutely not! Mom, let me explain! It's Uncle Rhett who—"
But Rhett had already put away his little blood mist horn. Another day, another victory.
The children watched their uncle go from "inscrutable Emperor of the Seas" to "childish, shameless tattletale parent" in an instant. The "top monster" image they had just built up cracked.
Awe? Shock? Transcendence above all things?
None of that existed.
---
Meanwhile, on the island that rose high into the clouds from the rising sea current, the destination of "Two Piece," the atmosphere was completely different from the Golden City's "heartwarming" chaos. It was practically frozen.
Germa 66 had been the first to reach the island with their technological brute force. But they hadn't found the treasure chest. Or rather, Judge didn't dare to find it first.
The other forces arrived almost immediately. A tense standoff formed instantly, surrounding the seemingly ordinary treasure chest. No one dared to move first.
At this point, the island contained enough power to destroy Navy Headquarters. Let's call it the power of one sea.
The groups could be divided into five:
The first group: the two who had been fighting to the death moments ago. Now they stood back to back, warily watching everyone else.
Buggy split countless hands pointing in all directions, shouting, "What are you looking at?! The five billion is mine! Redhead, if you hold me back this time, I'll tear your Red Force apart for firewood!"
Shanks held his straw hat, a helpless but excited smile on his face. "Well, well... let's work together first, Buggy. But we still have to settle things between us in the end."
"Settle what?! It's all mine!"
The second group: the Big Mom Pirates.
Perospero's face was dark. He hadn't expected it to be this intense. Katakuri stood beside him. They regretted only bringing the two of them. They looked a little outnumbered. Look at the Whitebeard group. They had brought their whole family.
But Perospero had several giant candy puppets surrounding him. His eyes swept over everyone with a fierce look, especially the Whitebeard group. "Peroperopero... It seems we need to get rid of some annoying flies first~"
The third group: the Whitebeard Pirates.
Marco had dead fish eyes. Jozu, Thatch, Teach... They had brought everyone they could from the Whitebeard crew. They had brought everyone except Whitebeard himself. Vista's right hand was already in his pocket. The moment the fight started, he would start throwing flowers.
The other commanders also looked fierce. They had the most people and the best teamwork. They were the biggest threat to win the treasure.
"Tch, how troublesome... Let's just grab the thing and go back to the banquet." Marco yawned.
Don't let Marco's lack of enthusiasm fool you. The Whitebeard Pirates were famously poor. They had territory, but, well, you know.
They didn't explicitly collect protection money. They didn't have the open and hidden businesses that Rhett had. They were a group of street bums like Roger.
The fourth group: the strangest combination, but also the most harmonious.
Doflamingo grinned. Strings danced on his fingertips. "Fufufufu... I never thought we'd be working together. What do you say we take out the noisiest ones first?"
Crocodile had a cigar in his mouth. "Hmph. Enough talk. Once we get the treasure, it's every man for himself."
Mihawk held his black blade, Yoru. He said calmly, "I'm not interested in money."
Doflamingo: "Then why are you here?"
Mihawk: "...To watch. And cut down anyone who's boring."
His gaze swept over the restless small-time pirate alliances nearby. Crocodile scoffed. "Pretentious."
Without Doflamingo, this was the Cross Guild.
The fifth group: the largest, but with uneven strength and full of hidden agendas. They were blinded by the five billion and held onto the hope that they could sneak in a steal while the big names were fighting. "Charge! There are only a few of them!" "Five billion! That's enough for a lifetime!"
Then there was the group watching from the sidelines: Hancock and Germa 66. They realized that the cost of competing for this treasure was too high.
---
Just as tensions reached the breaking point, a cold, proud voice broke the frozen air.
"Boring."
Everyone's attention was drawn to it. Empress Boa Hancock stood on the head of the Kuja Pirates' giant snake. Her long hair fluttered in the wind. She didn't even look at the treasure chest worth five billion. It was as if it were just a roadside pebble. Her gaze swept over the aggressive, ugly men on the field. Her beautiful face showed undisguised disgust and contempt.
"For a few berries, you fight and tear at each other like beasts. Men's stupidity and greed are truly revolting." She raised her head slightly. Her tone was firm. "This one will not participate."
At this moment, Hancock showed the decisiveness of an Empress. The Kuja Pirates' crew were not just pirates. They were also the people of Amazon Lily. As the island's Empress, she had a responsibility to her people.
Without giving anyone time to react, she waved her hand. "Kuja Pirates, return to the ship! Uncle Rhett said he saved us cake."
The giant snake obediently turned around. It carried the Empress of Amazon Lily and her warriors away from the island that was about to become a bloody battlefield. They swam calmly toward the Golden City.
Hancock's exit was decisive. She even seemed to be saying, "Looking at you one more second would dirty my eyes."
Her actions were like a bucket of cold water. It woke up some people who had been blinded by greed. But that brief moment of reason was instantly washed away by the five billion.
Germa's snail ship also silently retreated a distance. Judge's face was dark. He had ambition, but he also had self-awareness. In a chaotic battle between top fighters, his technology couldn't guarantee absolute victory. Instead, it might make him a target. It wasn't worth risking Germa's main force for five billion. He chose to watch for now. Or rather, to wait for an opportunity to pick up scraps.