The speedboat was quickly prepared.
"Sir, isn't this a bit risky? We've never fought the Red Hair Pirates, but we don't have any relations with them either. What if they..."
The banded facial hair officer was just about to advise against it, but he saw Jack already leap onto the prepared speedboat from the ship's side with a powerful jump.
The speedboat was actually sized for Jack's height; for a normal person, it would qualify as a proper boat.
"Stop blabbering, hurry up and scram!"
The oar felt like a toothpick in his grip, awkward to handle. Jack simply took his two scythes down to use as paddles while waving impatiently, urging,
"If you're really worried about me, you all better retreat far away. If the boss finds out I brought you to your deaths, he'd skin me alive!"
So you do realize this is a suicidal act!
Then why go at all?
The banded facial hair officer was dumbfounded.
And at that moment, the speedboat, propelled by Jack's paddling, cleaved through the thunderstorm, sailing toward Thunder God Island, leaving the crew to watch his formidable figure disappear into the rain curtain.
"We should notify Lord Xiano as soon as possible."
The banded facial hair officer sighed with a worried frown,
"That's all we can do." The deputy nodded, immediately turned around, and rushed to the communication room, "I'll get in touch with Legion headquarters right away!"
However.
Soon, the deputy returned with an unpleasant expression:
"It's no good! Sir, the magnetic field interference from Thunder God Island is too strong here; the radio snail can't connect at all!"
"What a hassle."
The banded facial hair officer muttered, "Then sail back at full speed! Once we're out of the storm's range, contact immediately!"
So it's not only a sea blockade, but communication signals are also jammed?
His heart grew increasingly uneasy as he wondered what exactly the World Government and the Red Hair Pirates were conspiring here...
————
Meanwhile.
On the shore of Thunder God Island,
Shanks docked the small boat on the beach and stepped onto the island. Despite the terrifying lightning strikes around him, not a single bolt hit him.
It was as if the lightning intentionally avoided him.
Shanks glanced at the thundercloud-filled sky and shook his head.
"What a choice of location... Hey, Beckman, can you hear me? If you can hear me clearly at this volume, have Buggy move his ear."
As soon as he finished speaking,
The ear hidden inside his chest, belonging to Buggy, immediately perked up, tapping his skin to signal communication was normal.
Only then did Shanks proceed into the island with ease.
He hadn't gone far when, out of the rain curtain at the base of Black Rock Mountain ahead, appeared a shadowy figure clad in a cloak.
The person was tall, with red hair blowing in the wind like his own. Hearing movement, he looked up, revealing a face indistinguishable from Shanks', save for the scar.
"Shamrock."
Shanks slightly frowned and halted, "As I expected, Garling sent you to meet me."
"Long time no see, dear brother, you indeed came alone, quite trustworthy of you."
Shamrock elegantly approached, a refined smile on his lips, "The last time we met was in the Holy Land, wasn't it? Back then, you were still..."
"There's no need for pleasantries; the ties between us were severed long ago."
Shanks interrupted emotionlessly, "Why are you alone? Where is my daughter?"
Shamrock looked him up and down, smiling without answering.
"Answer me immediately! Or don't blame me for being rude!"
Shanks' gaze turned cold, his right hand already resting on the hilt of Gryphon at his waist.
"No need to get so tense. Think about it: how could a young girl who's never left the Holy Land wait in such an exposed environment?"
Shamrock chuckled lightly, turning to gesture invitingly,
"Come with me. See that tallest Black Rock Mountain? I've had a simple palace built inside. Your daughter is waiting there; with your Observation, you should be able to sense her presence."
Shanks frowned, his Observation indeed detected several extremely weak presences inside.
The others were likely servants, and the weakest, most inconspicuous one matched the presence of a young child.
Yet he remained motionless, instead squinting, glancing around cautiously.
"What, apprehensive of an ambush?"
Shamrock looked back with a slightly mocking tone, "The formidable Four Emperors, Red-haired Shanks, even fears?"
"Provocation won't work on me."
Shanks snorted coldly, "I know the Divine Knight Order can mask their presence. I'll wait right here; have your people bring my daughter out."
"You..."
Shamrock's smile gradually vanished, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes, "You really haven't changed, still this uncooperative."
"Since it's like this."
Shamrock snapped his fingers, expressionless, "The plan changes; take him out here."
"Yes!"
Before the words faded, multiple figures shot out from the rain curtain.
Powerful auras ceased their concealment. Six elite members of the Divine Knight Order, cloaked, each brandished their weapons, encircling Shanks tightly!
"The Omi family brothers skilled in joint entrapment?"
Shanks looked up at them and scoffed disdainfully, "So it really is a trap. But what surprises me is that you didn't even let me see my daughter once."
"Don't be foolish; the daughter story was fake too. You, betrayer of the family, still hold out hope for familial love?"