IW: Chapter 175: Drawing Again, Shanks: This guy is so good at posturing, I want everyone to give me Face too in the future!
The sword light grazed past his scalp. Fortunately, the ship's wheel that had been flying straight toward his head was sliced apart by this Sword Qi.
In such a critical state, even the big-hearted Golden Lion breathed a sigh of relief. He had truly been left with no ability to resist just now; if that ship's wheel hadn't been sliced by the Sword Qi, he would have been either dead or crippled.
And that familiar voice...
A smile instantly appeared on Golden Lion's Face. He hadn't expected that guy to still be alive after all these years, and it seemed he owed him another favor this time!
Back at God Valley, they had already owed him one.
Shaking the seawater off his body, Golden Lion felt the sense of powerlessness dissipate. He hurriedly used the ability of the Float-Float Fruit to hover in the air to avoid a repeat of the previous situation. Looking at his fleet, which had been basically wiped out, Golden Lion felt truly miserable at this moment.
His once invincible fleet, an existence that could force Roger into a desperate situation, had now completely vanished.
He had once stood at the Peak, and he had also fallen into the depths.
Pulling himself together and casting aside those unnecessary emotions, he was still the same Golden Lion!
He stared intently at the person who had arrived.
As the giant waves fell into the chasm carved out by the Sword Qi, the gloomy weather lifted. With the dissipation of the dark clouds, rays of sunlight shone down from the sky!
"Bai Ye, so you didn't die after all!"
Golden Lion hadn't expected to see Bai Ye again in such a scenario.
From the high spirits he felt when he had forced Roger into a desperate situation, to his current penniless and disheveled state—he reckoned this guy had seen it all just now, right?
How truly embarrassing!
"I didn't expect that even you would come out!"
A glimmer of interest flashed in Roger's eyes. This era was simply too interesting. Since the death of Rocks, heroes had been vying for supremacy. Over the years, he had actually regretted not being able to see Bai Ye, who had been like a god back at God Valley.
Such a capable person—if he didn't get to meet him, it would truly be disappointing.
"So… so strong!!!"
On the Roger Pirates' ship, Shanks was staring at Bai Ye with a look of shock. That slash just now… he was the one who swung it, right?
His strength is so great, and that line was so cool—I've learned something!
"The situation has changed, Fleet Admiral Kong. That guy has arrived."
"Who?"
Kong was feeling a bit numb. Just a moment ago, Garp said the battle situation had changed and Roger seemed to be winning, and now it had changed again.
Are you a chameleon or something? Always changing?
"Bai Ye."
After Garp finished speaking, he also realized that this matter probably had nothing to do with them, the Marines.
After all, since the person was already here, there was no point in the Marines staying here any longer.
Besides, he didn't care; this matter had nothing to do with him anymore.
The people who should be getting a headache were those Celestial Dragons, right?
Garp didn't have much affection for that bunch. He had joined the Marines purely because he had seen the burning, killing, and looting of pirates; at the very least, the Marines were better than pirates. And the reason he refused to be promoted to Admiral was actually because Admirals were required to protect the Celestial Dragons, which he himself was completely unwilling to do.
"That bastard has appeared?!"
The originally irritable Kong calmed down instantly upon hearing that name.
The person who had disappeared for so long had appeared once again, and a sudden, ominous premonition arose in his heart.
"Yeah."
"What is he trying to do?"
Bai Ye had appeared during the decisive battle between Golden Lion and Roger. What was he trying to do?
After Garp told Kong about what was going to happen before Bai Ye arrived and his statement that he was there to stop the war, Kong on the other end of the Den Den Mushi fell silent.
"Retreat."
Kong stared seriously at the Den Den Mushi and immediately issued the order to retreat to Garp. It was no longer a question of whether they could pick up the pieces or not.
Bai Ye was here to stop the war, Golden Lion had already failed, the invincible fleet was gone, and Roger hadn't suffered much loss. Looking at it this way, a war that everyone originally thought Golden Lion would win had actually ended in such a ridiculous manner.
If Bai Ye hadn't arrived, Golden Lion might have even been in mortal danger just now?
Is this the shock brought about by the weather of the New World?!
Although they hadn't captured Golden Lion, this was close enough.
In fact, for them, Golden Lion's failure was the maximization of their interests. After all, Golden Lion's strength was too great right now; if Golden Lion won, then no one in the New World would be able to stop him.
And with Golden Lion's failure, since Roger followed an elite path, this was better for the Marines and the World Government.
Now that Golden Lion had lost, there was no great need for them to stay here; instead, they would have to bear the risk of being surrounded by pirates later.
Therefore, Kong made a prompt decision and immediately ordered Garp to prepare to retreat.
"Understood."
Without any hesitation, Garp immediately had them turn around and leave the New World.
Their fleet simply couldn't handle this; it wasn't just Bai Ye, he had also seen Whitebeard's flag. It looked like these four guys were all here.
And trying to monitor the other side was definitely impossible now; it was better to just retreat.
Back at Marineford, Kong also felt a headache as he dug out Bai Ye's wanted poster. Damn it, after disappearing for so many years, you should have just stayed missing! Appearing now undoubtedly filled the already treacherous sea with even more uncertainty.
"Tell the Five Elders this news; they are the ones who should be getting a headache over this."
Tsuru said calmly. Although Bai Ye was a pirate and it was the Marines' job to capture him, they didn't have that much spare capacity right now.
In the current New World, besides Golden Lion, Roger, and Whitebeard, there were also people like Big Mom, Bullet, and various emerging pirates entrenched there, not to mention that the Four Blues and the first half of the Grand Line required the Marines to deploy a large number of troops to maintain the current balance.
"In the end, aren't we the ones who will suffer?"
Sengoku grumbled. It was clearly the Celestial Dragons' own business, yet they were the ones who had to deal with it. Come to think of it, this mess was caused by the Celestial Dragons in the first place.
If you hadn't gone to steal the pirates' secret treasure back then, Rocks might not have even come.
Now look, the treasure is gone, and the people are gone. For a long time before, even the Marines' justice had been under serious suspicion.
"Alright, don't think about these things for now."
Kong dialed the phone and then stopped the two from speaking.
They could say this to him, but if the person on the other end of the phone heard it, there would be no escaping punishment.
"Gurarararara, Roger, it really has been a long time!" Whitebeard's voice came from afar, and immediately after, he turned his gaze to Golden Lion: "You lost really miserably, Shiki!"
Who would have thought!
His Face had truly been slapped swollen.
On the way here earlier, Whitebeard had vowed that Roger was basically doomed to lose.
After all, given this formation, no matter how much Whitebeard thought of Roger, he knew it was impossible for Roger to win.
But what Whitebeard hadn't expected was that he had actually won, and it was the changeable weather of the New World that he hadn't anticipated that had allowed Roger to win.
If Bai Ye hadn't intervened just now, Golden Lion probably wouldn't even know how he died, right?
"Tch, I didn't lose to that bastard Roger!"
Golden Lion roared unconvinced. He could admit defeat, but he absolutely could not admit that he had lost to Roger.
He had already forced him into a desperate situation!
"The tables have turned now, Shiki!!"
Although doing this was somewhat underhanded.
But Roger was very clear now that his side no longer had the previous disadvantage.
Although Golden Lion hadn't suffered too much damage, this fleet was completely gone.
He didn't have many crew members left who could fight, and Golden Lion himself didn't follow an elite path. Roger could fight Golden Lion, not to mention that his two lieutenants, Rayleigh and Gaban, were both here.
So naturally, Golden Lion had become the disadvantaged party.
"That's right, don't get cocky!!"
Buggy, holding his throwing knives, also began to clamor at this moment.
Earlier, he had thought he was done for today, but he hadn't expected that this weather would actually save them.
It's just a bit of a pity. Those waves had already swept toward Golden Lion Shiki. If nothing unexpected happened, he probably would have lost his life in the sea, right?
"So, continue!"
A cold glint flashed across Golden Lion Shiki's Face. As a great pirate, he wouldn't be afraid of this. Even without his fleet, he could still fight Roger!
"Who's afraid of whom!"
"I said, give me some Face. If you two want to fight, then let me be your enemy!!!"
Seeing that the two were about to fight again, Bai Ye was a bit speechless. Looking around, he realized he didn't want Roger to die right now.
At the very least, the Great Pirate Era needs someone to start it; he couldn't possibly be the one to sacrifice his own life to open it, right?
Then, he could only let Roger die.
After he dies, he would take his corpse away to prepare for a future Edo Tensei.
Roger was still useful to him for the time being, and as for Golden Lion Shiki, Bai Ye was also interested in seeing if he could recruit him.
Back when they were in the Rocks Pirates, Bai Ye had considered it, but eventually gave up on the idea.
After all, given the situation back then, it was absolutely impossible for Golden Lion Shiki to follow him. At that time, Golden Lion Shiki possessed immense ambition; he wanted to surpass Rocks, so naturally, he wouldn't have agreed.
That was why Bai Ye had extinguished the idea of recruiting Golden Lion Shiki at that time.
But the situation was different now. Having experienced the complete destruction of his invincible fleet, Bai Ye felt he could try to make contact with Golden Lion Shiki.
However, this old lion still had great ambition. But then again, how many powerful people didn't have big ambitions?
Take Kaido, for instance; wasn't that guy thinking about becoming a Captain every single day?
As for Whitebeard, that guy would never join his pirate crew. And as for Big Mom, it was highly unlikely she would either; she had her own firm dreams, otherwise, she wouldn't have turned herself into a breeding machine and started popping out children.
"Tch, you've been gone for so many years, and you've become much stronger than before!"
Golden Lion Shiki didn't actually want to fight either.
He just couldn't swallow this anger. He also knew clearly that without the support of his fleet, he was simply no match for the Roger Pirates.
But being provoked in his Face by an enemy, Golden Lion Shiki naturally couldn't say nothing; otherwise, if it got out, wouldn't his reputation be ruined?
Although this naval battle also made Golden Lion Shiki realize that, given his reputation, it was highly unlikely he could ever pull together such a fleet again.
Back then, didn't all the pirates join him because they saw he was calling the shots in the New World and possessed the greatest strength?
Among the three legendary pirates, he was the most powerful, so naturally, there would be a constant stream of pirates joining his Flying Pirate Crew.
But now he had clearly become the weakest, and having been defeated by Roger at his Peak, how would others view him?
"Haha, I still have to give you some Face. Well then, see you if fate allows!"
Roger didn't want to fight Golden Lion Shiki anymore either. Continuing to fight probably wouldn't yield any results. Besides, with three people from the Rocks Pirates here, Whitebeard definitely wouldn't fight him, but he also wouldn't help him.
If Bai Ye and Golden Lion Shiki were to team up against him, along with the remnants of Golden Lion Shiki's fleet, he certainly wouldn't be able to win. Therefore, retreating at this moment was the wisest course of action.
"Mm."
Bai Ye nodded. Watching Roger set sail and prepare to leave, Bai Ye didn't stop him, and then turned his head to look at Golden Lion Shiki.
"What? Do you want me to leave too?"
Facing Bai Ye's gaze, Golden Lion Shiki was actually feeling a bit displeased in his heart.
Back when they were in the Rocks Pirates, Bai Ye was just an insignificant guy, but now it was different. This guy's strength seemed to have approached, or even surpassed, his own.
Yet, at this moment, he had absolutely no Face in front of Bai Ye, especially since he had just saved him.
[Ding! Changed Golden Lion Shiki's fate. Reward: one lottery chance!]
Very good!
Bai Ye felt a wave of joy in his heart.
Just as he had thought, once Golden Lion Shiki's helm was stopped by him, regardless of whether Golden Lion Shiki joined his pirate crew, his fate had actually been changed by him.
Why was Luffy able to defeat Golden Lion Shiki in the movie?
There was the meme that even if Roger came, he would lose in the movie, and secondly, Golden Lion Shiki couldn't use Haki.
Like those who fought their way through the era of the three legendary pirates, Whitebeard couldn't use Haki due to his physical condition, Golden Lion Shiki couldn't because of the helm, and Roger was dead, but their mastery of Haki was all very high!
In that era when Luffy didn't know Haki yet, defeating Golden Lion Shiki was really a bit forced. The combat power displayed by the elderly Golden Lion Shiki was essentially nerfed; perhaps it was because of the helm that caused Golden Lion Shiki's battle IQ to drop.
Use!
[Ding! Used one lottery chance. Congratulations on obtaining: Haoshoku Luck.]
[Haoshoku Luck]: The possessor is the Four Emperor Buggy. After obtaining this ability, the user will receive a luck buff and will not be affected by the Luck-Luck Fruit. At the same time, it will increase the other three types of Haki by 10% and comes with a certain "worship aura" effect, allowing those with strength lower than the user to develop blind worship. It has little effect on the strong.
Holy crap!?
You've got to be kidding me!?
You even gave me that meme ability, Haoshoku Luck!?
Thinking about it carefully.
It seemed he had collected all the Physiques of the Four Emperors.
The former Four Emperor Kaido's Oni Physique and Big Mom's Iron Balloon, the current Four Emperor Blackbeard's abnormal body, and Buggy's Haoshoku Luck.
So, you're just giving all the Four Emperors' abilities to me, huh?
Besides, today everyone gave me some Face, so doesn't that mean I have all the Four Emperors' abilities except for Whitebeard's?
"Hey! What the hell are you looking at me for?"
Whitebeard was puzzled. You're not talking to Golden Lion Shiki, so why are you staring at me?!
"Nothing, just happened to run into you. Want to have a drink?"
Happened to?
Didn't you come over here on purpose, you bastard?
Whitebeard felt a wave of speechlessness in his heart, but he didn't refuse. He didn't know when he would see this old lion again.
On the other side.
The Roger Pirates.
After this naval battle ended completely, many people present were still lingering in fear.
"Captain, what's the plan now?"
They had actually finished traveling through the New World, and Roger had actually been diagnosed with a terminal illness before fighting Golden Lion Shiki. Only Rayleigh and Gaban knew about this.
"Let's go to Twin Capes. There's still one place I haven't been to yet!"
Although he had basically visited all the islands he could, there was still one place Roger hadn't been to!
Laugh Tale!
This place, rumored to hold the Great Treasure, didn't interest Roger. He just wanted to see Laugh Tale, the ruins of the once Great Kingdom.
But before that, he needed to find Crocus at Twin Capes, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to continue this voyage at all.
The recent battle with Golden Lion Shiki also made Roger realize that his physical condition seemed to have worsened.
"Captain, what about your condition right now?"
"Don't worry! I'm not that fragile. Besides, we are pirates! Who doesn't want to become the Pirate King!!"
Roger's words instantly inspired everyone present.
"But before that, we need to find someone who can read the Poneglyph!"
Although Roger could hear the voice emitted by the Poneglyph, he couldn't understand the content of the Poneglyph.
If they wanted to go to the final island, they had to find someone who could read the Poneglyph. At least for now, this was a problem for them.
"It seems there is someone in Wano Country who can understand the Poneglyph. Recently, I seem to have heard that some samurai from Wano Country have left the country!"
Roger's eyes were filled with excitement; he now felt that he was getting closer and closer to the truth of the World.
What he had seen and heard back at God Valley, as well as what Bai Ye had said back then, all made Roger feel an urgent desire to understand this World.
Therefore, he was determined to become the Pirate King!
....
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