As soon as these words were spoken, the chaotic battlefield suddenly fell silent.
Everyone stared at Ivan in disbelief, their eyes filled with shock.
What? This guy is actually Fox?
How is that possible?
Chinjao's face instantly darkened, his expression twisting like tangled entrails.
The seasoned powerhouse, who had just been feigning gentleness and resorting to threats and bribes, could no longer remain calm. His blood surged to his head, and the Armament Color coating his cone head rippled violently.
Shadow Garden… that was a dark force even the Four Emperors of the New World and Navy Admirals had to treat with caution!
And this kid before him was actually Fox, the first of them to appear?
How could that be?
More importantly, he had just threatened to steal a Devil Fruit from him?
A bone-chilling cold shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Chinjao felt that his earlier actions had been utterly foolish.
Cracker's pupils contracted sharply, and his entire Biscuit Armor trembled wildly.
As one of the Three Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates, he understood the terror of Shadow Garden better than anyone.
This person before him was a monster capable of contending with the Navy's top brass and forces on the level of the Four Emperors!
And he had just been shouting about killing him and venting his anger?
His arrogance and rage were instantly torn to shreds by fear. Cracker clenched his fists tightly, his breathing growing heavy.
Not long ago, Big Mom had warned everyone in the Big Mom Pirates to maintain friendly relations with Shadow Garden. Yet, in such a short time, he had managed to offend Fox of Shadow Garden to the point of no return.
How was he supposed to explain this to Big Mom?
For a moment, the entire area fell into dead silence.
The two who had been so arrogant and domineering earlier now didn't dare to even breathe loudly.
Only Perona stood frozen in place, staring at the fox mask, her mind echoing with a single thought:
"You… you're Fox?"
She stood rigidly, her small hand clutching Ivan's sleeve suddenly letting go. Her pink twin-tails forgot to sway as her mind went completely blank.
The girl who had just been trembling in fear and despair, even considering fleeing alone, was now utterly stunned. Her small mouth hung slightly open, unable to utter a sound for a long time.
This person who had been following her, letting her drag him along, and whom she had dismissed as useless… was actually Fox, the one even Lord Moria feared from Shadow Garden?
Wait!
It was only now that she realized.
From the very beginning, it wasn't her protecting Fox—it was Fox who had been playing along with her act.
Hearing Perona's exclamation behind him, Ivan turned and smiled:
"That's right, I am Fox. Your task is complete now. Leave first. After I obtain those two Devil Fruits, I'll give you 50 million Berries!"
"Ah!" Perona's cheeks instantly flushed red. She hadn't expected her own promise to be used on her by Fox. "No need… I didn't really help much."
Ivan chuckled but didn't reply.
Ever since seizing the Celestial Gold, 50 million was just pocket change to him.
Giving such a small sum to Perona, a girl he had a good impression of, meant nothing to Ivan.
Happiness is priceless, and now, Ivan had finally reached that level!
After Perona's figure had completely left the battlefield, Ivan slowly turned his gaze back to Cracker and Chinjao, his tone flippant and playful:
"Now, go to the center of the battlefield and steal those two Devil Fruits. Perhaps I can still forgive you. If not, then die here!"
Finally, his voice turned icy cold, as if the very air had frozen.
Cracker's face alternated between green and pale, rage churning in his chest.
He was one of the Big Mom Pirates' Sweet Three Generals—when had he ever been subjected to such humiliating orders?
However, with the stern warnings repeatedly issued by Mama, his fiery spirit was instantly extinguished, leaving him with no courage to act.
He gritted his teeth, ultimately lowering his proud head and pleading hoarsely:
"Lord Fox, I am willing to compensate you with a Devil Fruit. I beg you to spare me this once!"
Ivan raised an eyebrow slightly, showing a hint of surprise: "You have a Devil Fruit on you?"
Cracker quickly nodded, his tone somewhat ingratiating:
"Yes, a Zoan-type Devil Fruit I obtained by chance in the New World. I haven't had the chance to use it yet!
As long as you are willing to attend the Tea Party Mama is hosting next week, I can give you that Devil Fruit at the party."
Ivan nodded faintly, his tone returning to casualness: "Fine, you may leave. I will attend next week's Tea Party."
Cracker felt as if he had been granted a pardon, his face immediately lighting up with wild joy, his hanging heart finally settling.
He hurriedly bowed deeply to Ivan, not daring to show the slightest neglect, and repeatedly expressed his gratitude respectfully:
"Thank you, I shall take my leave now!"
With that, he dared not linger any longer, turning with his subordinates and hastily retreating from this troublesome place in a flustered manner.
Having gained another Devil Fruit, Ivan was in a very good mood. He turned his gaze to Chinjao, who was glaring at him fiercely:
"And what about you? Do you want to go steal a Devil Fruit, or are you prepared to compensate me with something?"
Chinjao was thoroughly enraged by this dismissive attitude, veins bulging all over his body, the tip of his head turning a deep black.
He had no intention of compensating at all. Instead, he clenched his fists tightly and roared furiously at the sky:
"You bastard, I am Chinjao the Drill!
Back when I roamed the seas and shook the New World with my name, you weren't even born yet!
How dare you show me such disrespect? Today, I'll make sure you die!"
With a furious roar, Chinjao stomped his foot hard, shattering the ground beneath him!
He shot forward like a massive drill launched with full force, his sharp tip tightly wrapped in black Armament Color, cutting through the air with a sharp whistle as he charged straight at Ivan.
Wherever the drill tip passed, the air was compressed into a piercing shriek, and the ground was plowed into a deep fissure!
Chinjao, a powerhouse from Garp's era, had a bounty of 542 million Belly thirty years ago. Even now, despite his age, his strength should not be underestimated.
However, even facing such a powerful figure's full-force attack in anger, Ivan remained standing in place, not even shifting his feet.
He watched Chinjao charging toward him, his eyes calm and unruffled, a trace of disdainful smile still on his lips—as if what was rushing at him wasn't the famed Chinjao the Drill who shook the seas, but merely a moth flying into the flame.
Once, Garp could shatter Chinjao's skull with a single punch when facing him at his peak!
Now, how could Ivan retreat when facing an aged Chinjao?
In an instant, the flat cone head covered in Armament Color was about to strike Ivan's chest. Only then did he gently raise a hand, placing it in front of himself!
The next moment, the two collided!
A deafening metallic clash erupted, and a shockwave exploded outward from the two as the center!
When the smoke cleared, the nearby pirates and marines finally saw the result of the collision.
They then realized that Chinjao's full-force cone strike, infused with all his Haki, had been firmly caught by Ivan's single palm, without budging an inch!