"Don't tell me you want to interfere in this matter as well?"
"Don't be nervous, I don't mean anything else."
Ian smiled. "I just came over to take a look and join the excitement."
Sengoku: "…"
Damn it, do you even believe that yourself?
Sengoku cursed inwardly and stared at Vegapunk.
"Hand Vegapunk over."
"Oh my, how scary indeed."
Borsalino's tone sounded rather calm, or perhaps there was even a trace of relaxation hidden within it. "If you take him away, we'll have quite the headache."
"Hmm…"
Hearing the two of them, Ian did not get angry. Instead, after nodding, he turned to look at Vegapunk beside him.
"How about you leave first?"
Vegapunk: "...?"
Vegapunk was stunned for a moment. But indeed, there was no need for him to stay anymore.
As for the clones… they still had other things to do.
"Alright."
"Kuma!"
"Yes, Mr. Ian!"
Kuma stepped forward without any hesitation.
Just as he was about to slap Vegapunk away, Sengoku and Borsalino's expressions changed when they saw this scene.
But it was only their expressions that changed; they did not dare to step forward even a single step.
Compared to them, the Marines following behind them had a bit more courage.
"What are you doing?!"
"Damn it, stop him! Kill Vegapunk!"
However…
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Ian didn't even draw his axe. With a single kick each, he directly sent them flying.
Sengoku's expression darkened even more. With a gloomy tone, he said, "What exactly do you want to do? Do you even know what Vegapunk represents?"
Taking Vegapunk away? Did he want to make a full-scale war begin ahead of time?
"Don't say it like that."
Ian smiled at Sengoku and Borsalino. "I reckon you two are actually quite happy about this right now, aren't you?"
Sengoku and Borsalino: "..."
Sengoku and Borsalino fell silent.
Immediately afterward…
Sengoku: "No. What nonsense are you talking about?"
Borsalino: "I'm not, you're slandering me!"
But at this moment, Sengoku and Borsalino were also feeling quite troubled. The Five Elders were chasing the Straw Hat Pirates behind them, yet they were just standing here watching Vegapunk being sent away.
No, not just Vegapunk…
Was this guy planning to empty the entire research institute?
If they still remained indifferent, the World Government would truly explode in rage!
So without any hesitation, the two exchanged a glance and were just about to charge forward.
Suddenly…
"Rumble!"
An overwhelming wave of Conqueror's Haki surged in, instantly covering the entire island.
No, it felt as though the entire sea had been covered, and even the sky split apart.
"This is?!"
Sengoku and Borsalino struggled to resist the Conqueror's Haki, their expressions turning ugly.
But just as they were about to see who exactly possessed such a strong Conqueror's Haki…
A voice sounded beside their ears.
"You're still standing? Aren't you going to faint?"
The voice seemed to knock directly into their minds, making their eyes suddenly brighten.
Then, as if they could no longer resist the Conqueror's Haki, they directly fainted.
No, or rather, it wasn't just the two of them.
Wherever the Conqueror's Haki passed, every marine was knocked unconscious.
Even Kuma, Zephyr, and Enel were the same, all stunned in place by the Conqueror's Haki as if they had been shocked unconscious.
Until Ian's voice sounded.
"So this is Joy Boy's Conqueror's Haki?"
Ian stared fixedly at the rope knot and at the robot sinking into the sea.
Bathed in sunlight, with muscles bulging all over his body, he let out a sigh of amazement. "It's truly incredible!"
Zephyr: "...?!"
Joy Boy?
Zephyr froze for a moment.
"Ian…"
"Start moving the stuff."
Before Zephyr could say anything, Ian directly interrupted him. "These guys probably won't wake up so quickly."
As he spoke, he glanced at the only person left, whose expression had drastically changed, the King of God Valley, St. Figarland Garling.
At this moment, seeing this scene, his whole body had stiffened, and he seemed unable to maintain that kingly demeanor anymore.
Especially after seeing Sengoku and Borsalino both unconscious, he internally let out a holy shit word, his entire body stiff as he stared at Ian.
"King of the West Blue… Ian, the God of Sun!"
However, Ian did not pay any attention to him, nor did he respond to his words. Instead, he shifted his gaze to the unconscious Marines and revealed a smile.
"Enel… It's time for roll call!"
…
In the Holy Land, Mary Geoise, in the supreme power center of the World Government.
A familiar scene, a familiar moment…
When the four elders appeared once again in that luxurious hall, the expressions on all four of their faces were extremely dark. No, it would be more accurate to say even darker than last time.
Last time, it was the same: the four of them had been teleported back.
This time, it was still the four of them who had been teleported back, and…
"Where is Garling?"
When the words of St. Topman Warcury fell, the four of them fell silent again.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, they abruptly turned their heads, exchanged glances with one another, and a trace of panic could not help but appear in their eyes.
Damn it, the Warrior God of Science and Defense hasn't returned again?
Last time, St. Jaygarcia Saturn failed to return, which had already made Imu-sama extremely displeased; this time… if St. Figarland Garling also fails to return, they simply cannot imagine how furious Imu-sama will be then!
They themselves might even be punished.
Without any hesitation, the four of them quickly snapped back to their senses.
Just as they were about to contact Garling through the Five Elders' network and tell that guy to hurry back…
With a bang, another figure appeared beside the four elders.
The four were momentarily stunned.
Looking at the figure that suddenly appeared beside them, they immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and excited expressions appeared on their faces.
"Garling, you're back?!"
"You're alright, this is truly wonderful!"
"You almost scared us to death!"
"That really lets us breathe a sigh of relief!"
Garling: "...?"
However, hearing the words of his fellow elders, Garling, who had originally been wearing a proud expression, and whose movements as he stood up from the magic circle still carried the bearing of a king, became somewhat confused instead.
Are the bonds between fellow elders really this good?
They actually care about him this much?
It even made this colleague, who had only recently joined, feel a little moved.
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