Chapter 174 - Bai Ye: I'm here to end this war, give me some face everyone!
"Vice Admiral Garp, are we just going to watch here?"
Kuzan, who had been promoted to Vice Admiral, was closely monitoring the pirate situation alongside Garp.
The Marine had known early on that Golden Lion was going to make his final invitation to Roger, though it wasn't really an invitation; everyone knew Roger would never accept Golden Lion's offer, and the two sides would inevitably devolve into a naval battle.
Whenever such a major event occurred, the Marine would monitor from the sidelines, partly to gather firsthand intelligence and partly to see if they could completely annihilate both pirate crews.
Garp was chosen to bring Kuzan partly because Garp, as Roger's old rival, understood the New World, and partly because Kuzan's ability was well-suited for the sea. Furthermore, Golden Lion's ability could create monstrous waves, which Kuzan could perfectly counter.
"Vice Admiral Garp, calm down!"
Bolt quickly interjected, seeing Garp's restless demeanor.
That wouldn't do!
Before the operation, Fleet Admiral Kong had specifically instructed them not to initiate an attack. The main objective was to monitor the enemy, and they could intervene if an opportunity arose, but only if they had a hundred percent certainty of success.
Originally, he didn't want Garp to come, but he couldn't talk Garp out of it, and Sengoku also had his own mission, so he could only entrust this task to Garp.
But even after entrusting it to Garp, he kept reminding him, clearly showing his unease.
"Hmph, I know!"
Although Garp enjoyed causing trouble, he understood that he couldn't act in the current situation.
Once he made a move, he would inevitably become the primary target.
He wouldn't die, but that didn't mean others wouldn't; he couldn't lead other Marines to their deaths.
Bolt breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Garp's words. What he feared most now was Garp rushing in recklessly.
"That's truly a shame!"
A hint of regret flashed across Kuzan's face. At this point, he wasn't yet adhering to his 'lazy justice'.
He was still more hot-blooded; if possible, he wished to fight pirates rather than just watching from afar.
"Kuzan, sometimes Marines and pirates don't necessarily have to fight to the death the moment they meet."
Garp glanced at Kuzan, offering a reminder.
The current Kuzan was very much like himself when he first joined the Marine.
"So Vice Admiral Garp is talking about himself and Roger?"
Kuzan had heard about Garp and Roger's history.
Although it had become taboo now, Kuzan still knew that it wasn't Garp alone who defeated Rocks during the God Valley incident.
Regarding the God Valley incident, the World Government tried its best to cover up the Celestial Dragons' involvement while constantly praising Garp for killing Rocks.
Garp didn't say anything in response, merely grinning as he looked at Roger, who was at the center of the battlefield. Since engaging Golden Lion's fleet, the Roger Pirates had already fallen into a disadvantage.
"The weather is truly dreadful!"
Kuzan looked at the sky. The overcast conditions seemed to indicate a heavy downpour was coming.
Did it perfectly reflect the current battlefield?
"That's how the New World is."
Bolt chimed in from the side. Such unpredictable weather was unique to the New World.
He wondered if it would affect the upcoming battle.
"Roger, today you will die here completely!"
Golden Lion's high-tier combat strength couldn't compare to Roger's, but in this kind of area battle, Golden Lion had an absolute advantage.
The Piao Piao Fruit allowed him to control seawater for combat. Even non-Devil Fruit users would feel a deep sense of powerlessness when facing the vast sea.
Relying on his ability, Golden Lion's destructive power at sea was on a catastrophic level.
Roger's Oro Jackson swayed precariously in the storm.
"Captain, we're not going to die, are we?!"
Buggy was on the verge of tears. He had never seen such a spectacle. Was his dream going to end before it even began?
Amidst the overwhelming waves and the Oro Jackson, which was adrift in the wind and rain, threatening to be crushed by the waves at any moment, he cried with snot and tears streaming down his face.
"Buggy, can you calm down?!"
"How can I calm down, Shanks, you idiot, we're really going to die this time!!"
Buggy gritted his teeth and grabbed Shanks' collar. This guy was talking so lightly, but they were going to die, going to die!!
His twitching red nose looked so comical at this moment.
"But you let go of me!!?"
Shanks was speechless.
You're holding on so tightly; he was about to go fight. How was he supposed to fight like this?
After he finished speaking, Shanks didn't feel any loosening; instead, Buggy held on even tighter.
"Hey, if the apprentices are scared, just hide in the back!!"
"Rayleigh, you bastard, I'm not scared at all!!"
Upon hearing Rayleigh's words, Buggy instantly flew into a rage.
Damn it!
No one could look down on Buggy!
"Then fight, kid. This is a life-and-death struggle!"
A hint of a smile flashed in Rayleigh's eyes, seeing Buggy trying to force out those words with courage.
The current Buggy was still too green, but he couldn't be blamed. After all, who wouldn't be nervous facing a battle of this magnitude?
He casually split the incoming wave.
A hint of solemnity flashed in Rayleigh's heart. He had just tried to ignite Buggy's fighting spirit. Being scared at this moment would only lead to a faster death.
The battle between the two sides had already entered a white-hot stage.
Roger was fighting Golden Lion, trying to prevent Golden Lion's ability from affecting his pirate crew.
But Golden Lion, fully aware of this, naturally wouldn't give Roger a chance to entangle him.
Since Roger chose not to join his pirate crew, he could only eliminate Roger.
Golden Lion admitted that he greatly admired Roger, otherwise, he wouldn't have invited Roger to join him repeatedly.
However, Roger's repeated rejections made Golden Lion understand a truth.
Simps don't die well!
When he heard Bai Ye explain this term back in the Rocks Pirates, he felt it made no sense.
Who would remain infatuated with someone after being rejected?
Later, Golden Lion also discovered that it seemed there really were such people, he just hadn't met them. And when he did, it truly validated what Bai Ye had said.
Why doesn't he toy with others, only with me?
Maybe it's a test?
With this thought, Golden Lion invited Roger multiple times, only to later realize that he had completely misunderstood. The other person had never considered being with him.
So, he was the'simp' that Bai Ye talked about!
The more he thought about it, the more disgusted Golden Lion felt. So this time, he came to confront Roger. If Roger didn't agree, then he would send Roger to his grave!
"Roger, it seems your pirate crew is doomed today!"
A hint of mockery flashed in Golden Lion's eyes. This was the consequence of rejecting him!
Thinking of this, Golden Lion suddenly realized that this seemed like an even better moment. He looked at Roger, then pointed to the pirate crew behind Roger and said, "How about it? If you surrender now, all your pirate crew members can survive!"
They were already at their wit's end; surely Roger had no reason to refuse now, right?
Even if Roger didn't care about his own life, he should at least think about his pirate crew at this point, shouldn't he?
"A very good suggestion." Hearing Roger's words, Golden Lion's eyes lit up, but the next second he felt he had been played: "But I refuse!"
Even if it meant death, Roger would not join another's pirate crew, and he believed the people behind him felt the same.
There were no cowards in the Roger Pirates.
If they had joined another pirate crew just to survive, then they would have already joined the Rocks Pirates back then.
"Good, good, good, then Roger, go to hell!"
His last bit of patience completely eroded, Golden Lion no longer hoped that Roger would join his pirate crew.
He knew very well that Roger wouldn't, and even before, it had just been his own fantasy. It turns out that disinterest really does show on one's face!
Bai Ye... your thoughts are still too ahead of your time...
Golden Lion felt a surge of emotion in his heart, but also a hint of respect for Roger.
If Roger had truly accepted his offer just to save his life, then he would have truly looked down on Roger. That wouldn't be the Roger he knew.
Great pirates don't surrender!
Even if they die, they won't beg for mercy to survive. Great pirates must have the backbone of great pirates!
Since that was the case, killing Roger was also a form of respect for him.
"Kill!"
Below, the pirates were fighting, and the surrounding weather grew increasingly oppressive. The Roger Pirates, surrounded in the middle, were like trapped beasts at this moment.
Even with strong individuals like Gaban and Rayleigh, they couldn't withstand Golden Lion constantly manipulating the seawater to attack them.
And Roger couldn't defeat Golden Lion in a short time.
The scene seemed to be one of utter despair.
Garp, watching from afar, was now considering whether he should enter the fray.
Buruburu buruburu buru
"Vice Admiral Garp, your Transponder Snail seems to be ringing?!"
Kuzan looked at Garp with admiration. Was that Fleet Admiral Kong's Transponder Snail?!
He hadn't expected Garp to completely ignore it!
He was truly too individualistic!
At this moment, Kuzan was practically Garp's little fanboy.
"Tch!"
Garp took the phone with a disgruntled expression. He already knew what Kong was going to say.
Although a bit unwilling, he still reluctantly answered the call.
"Garp, Roger is about to lose, right?!"
In the Fleet Admiral's office, through the intelligence transmitted, Kong was now very clear that Roger's defeat was only a matter of time.
Golden Lion's Devil Fruit ability was indeed powerful. They now had to prepare to deal with Golden Lion afterward.
After this guy dealt with Roger, there would be no opponent in the New World. The only rival, Whitebeard, didn't care about the Pirate King title at all, so the Pirate King would definitely fall to Golden Lion.
And within the office, the other two strategists, Sengoku and Tsuru, also understood that another pirate alliance similar to the Rocks Pirates would emerge among the pirates.
"He's going to lose."
Garp knew very well that, judging by the current situation, Roger was doomed to lose, and couldn't even escape. That's where Golden Lion's Devil Fruit was so formidable.
"Garp, your current mission is to capture all of the Roger Pirates after their defeat. If they all die, then assess the Golden Lion Pirates' situation. If they also suffer heavy losses, then focus on Golden Lion."
Kong issued the order directly.
They didn't need to participate in the pirates' struggles; they just needed to pick up the spoils.
He knew Garp's personality. Given Garp's relationship with Roger, Garp might intervene, so Kong's call at this moment was to prevent Garp from joining in.
He didn't want Garp to team up with Roger again. The previous time they killed Rocks was out of necessity.
How could the Marine cooperate with pirates!
"I understand."
Garp tightened his grip on the Transponder Snail, a wave of sadness washing over him.
Roger, his old rival, seemed destined to die here this time.
Garp had actually been struggling internally with whether to take action.
For him, he didn't want Roger to die here, but he also knew that the justice he represented wouldn't allow it.
"Kuzan, keep an eye on Garp!"
"Huh?! Me?!"
A wry smile flashed across Kuzan's face. Why was this task given to him? How could he possibly keep Garp in check!
But with Kong here, Vice Admiral Garp shouldn't act on his own, right?
No, that's not right.
It really was uncertain, after all, Garp truly didn't listen!
So, would he really be able to stop him then?
Or should he not stop him?
In an instant, Kuzan also fell into a dilemma.
"Wait!!? What the hell is this situation!!!?"
Originally, on the battlefield, the Roger Pirates had already fallen into decline, almost on the verge of defeat.
Golden Lion had exhausted most of his fleet, pushing Roger to the brink, but then came this storm!
The sea instantly became uncontrollable by Golden Lion, and even swallowed Golden Lion himself. Although it was only for a brief moment, the instant the sea touched Golden Lion, his ability temporarily failed, and everything that had been flying in the air plummeted.
And this led to the destruction of Golden Lion's fleet.
"No way, can Golden Lion lose even like this?!"
Garp's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the scene unfold before him.
Golden Lion, who had clearly been on the verge of victory just moments ago, saw the situation completely reverse in an instant!
This was the New World!
Humans were simply too insignificant compared to the sea!!!
At this moment, Garp couldn't help but lament the insignificance of human power.
Golden Lion, caught in the storm, felt a sudden dizziness, a sense of powerlessness...
Why?!
He was clearly about to win, so why was the heavens siding with Roger?
Golden Lion didn't even know how he lost in this situation, but then the heavens intervened.
The bizarre weather of the New World completely annihilated Golden Lion's invincible fleet.
At this moment, he felt a surge of bewilderment. Before this, he had been full of vigor. After learning that Roger had obtained an ancient weapon, he had sought out Roger to team up with him.
If he obtained the ancient weapon, he would surely surpass Rocks, but fate played a cruel trick. He never expected that he would lose, and that his invincible fleet would be lost along with him.
And...
The ship's rudder, swept over by the waves, was now rushing towards his head at an extremely high speed.
A bad premonition suddenly arose in his heart, and Golden Lion roared frantically within, 'Why is the heavens treating me like this!'
"Stop this, I'm here to stop this war, please give me some face!!!"
As the voice fell, a chilling sword light instantly split the entire sea in half.