Chapter 205: Rising Stars Taking the Stage
"So you kidnapped a twelve-year-old little girl and brought her back?"
At Sabaody Archipelago, in the White Wolf Pirates' temporary base, Lily, Ripley and the other women looked at Silas, who had kidnapped Shakky, their expressions those of looking at scum.
Even Amatsuki Toki couldn't help advising: "Shakky's still young, husband. Even if you really wanted to, you should at least wait five or six more years."
"How is even Toki saying this?" Looking at these wives who were practically pasting "lolicon" labels on him, Silas had to explain his thoughts once more. "I'm just bringing this kid around for sightseeing. I'll return her in a few days. Though she's still young, I think this child has the potential to become the next captain of the Kuja Pirates, the next Empress of Amazon Lily."
"Education should start from a young age. If the future Empress desires to see the outside world, she can drive Amazon Lily's reformation. The investment I make now will yield returns a hundredfold in the future. Then I can bring Amazon Lily under my control without firing a single shot!"
"..."
Though it seemed Amazon Lily wouldn't easily hand over their sea-snake taming secrets, if Amazon Lily's warriors could control the sea serpents themselves, that might solve the problem. As for forcibly conquering Amazon Lily, Silas never gave such a thought. Doing so would be no different from the World Government.
"But everyone in Amazon Lily really admires you, Uncle Silas. If you invited them, they definitely wouldn't refuse!"
Shakky suddenly poked her head out, saying this.
"Am I really that famous?"
"Of course!!!" Shakky said loudly: "Because Uncle, you're the most handsome, strongest, and most accomplished man we've ever seen!"
Silas never thought that nine out of ten who willingly became pirates weren't exactly handsome—the remaining one at best could be considered average-looking. Pirates mostly didn't care about appearance because they valued presence above all else. Was that because they didn't care about looks? Wrong—it was because if a hundred points were perfect, most pirates' appearances couldn't even reach a passing grade.
Just as males are attracted to beautiful females, females are equally attracted to handsome males. A man who was handsome, strong, and had achievements beyond everyone's imagination would captivate even Amazon Lily's female warriors.
"Amazon Lily is supposedly a female nation, right?"
"I heard it's full of beauties."
"Tsk tsk."
Hearing a group of women being sarcastic beside him, Silas helplessly shrugged his shoulders. "Believe it or not, anyway, I'm not interested in those female warriors from the Kuja Pirates. You know about the Kuja Pirates, right? All of Amazon Lily's beauties are already gathered there."
"You're not interested in Empress Gloriosa either?"
Though Silas knew the little girl in front was setting traps for him, he still nodded. "That's right. I have no interest in that woman called Gloriosa."
He initially had no interest in Stussy either, and now wasn't Stussy being sarcastic on the side? Anyway, he wouldn't take initiative, wouldn't refuse.
Though he didn't know if it was his illusion, after he finished speaking, the little girl seemed to have a noticeably lighter step. Silas thought it was an illusion because even his Observation Haki didn't seem to detect much change.
In the blink of an eye, a week had passed.
During this week, the World Government and the Marines demonstrated remarkable restraint, refraining from dispatching reconnaissance personnel to probe Silas's movements and maintaining only a minimal number of soldiers to keep order on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Although Silas stayed in the Sabaody Archipelago, he constantly monitored Mary Geoise's situation. He'd promised to watch the World Government's top fighters for Rocks, so naturally, he couldn't let them escape easily.
If the Five Elders truly disappeared, Silas wouldn't mind making another trip to Mary Geoise.
Don't look at the women surrounding Silas now. Linlin already possessed Admiral-level strength. Though Ripley fell slightly short, combined with Lily and Crane, they could still fight ordinary Admiral-level fighters.
Plus, with Silas present.
As long as Mary Geoise's top-tier fighters numbered below a certain threshold, Silas would be delighted to probe Imu's true nature before the decisive battle arrived.
However, even after this week passed, there was no movement from Mary Geoise's direction.
But news had arrived.
A week prior, the Rocks Pirates invaded Oss Island in South Blue, engaging the Marines stationed there in fierce battle. After destroying half the island, they vanished without a trace.
Even without being on-site, Silas knew the World Government's report definitely had plenty of exaggeration. After all, Saturn, one of the Five Elders, was on Oss Island, yet the newspaper didn't even mention it.
But Silas did understand why Rocks had retreated.
[Fleet Admiral Kong Leads Marine Superstars Garp and Sengoku to Repel Great Pirate Rocks. The Marines Welcome a New Dawn!]
Kong plus Saturn, then combined with gradually maturing Sengoku and Garp, indeed had the opportunity to repel Rocks, who wasn't yet at his peak.
Present-day Rocks was strong, but fighting one-versus-two wasn't so easy either. Plus, his crew members hadn't fully grown yet.
"Should we have Newgate go help?" The World Government would rather force open warfare with Rocks just to protect Baldimore's scientists, indicating Oss Island definitely held something they valued greatly.
"Garp, Sengoku?" At this moment, Crane appeared behind Silas. Seeing the two people printed in the newspaper, her eyes involuntarily showed nostalgia.
"Crane, you know them?" Silas asked knowingly.
"Mm." Crane nodded. "I knew them at Marine Academy. They're idiots who, despite being rookies, kept saying they'd capture this world's strongest pirate."
"And then?"
"Then I joined them."
"Pffft hahahaha—————"
Hearing Crane's words, Silas burst out laughing. His expression looking at Crane was somewhat teasing. "So how did you end up capturing me now?"
"Hmph~"
Crane gave a light snort, her body moving around Silas as her hand reached downward.
Though she'd recognized Sengoku and Garp, after spending so many years with the White Wolf Pirates, Crane's memories from Marine Academy had become incredibly hazy. For their sense of justice, they once said they'd capture Silas.
But later, Crane had understood.
Capturing Silas didn't equal justice. Although Silas was a lecherous old man, his actions were a true act of justice.
What was justice? Allowing ordinary people to live better lives—that was justice!
For this, she was willing to make small sacrifices.
Although it was initially a sacrifice, as time passed, Crane felt herself gradually being drawn in. If her body found satisfaction while her heart found happiness, how could that be called sacrifice?
No, it was still a sacrifice.
Only now had sacrifice transformed into something else—after each time, Crane had to deliberately keep herself clear-headed, forcing herself to break free from those warm arms, reminding herself that this wasn't for enjoyment, but for sacrifice.
Then Crane took charge of the White Wolf Pirates' administrative work.
Previously, this work was handled by Amatsuki Toki. But as more allied nations joined, Toki's workload suddenly skyrocketed, causing both Lily and Silas to be frequently dragged into reviewing documents.
But now with Crane, Silas regained his freedom again!
"Wouldn't Joy Boy eight hundred years ago have been backstabbed like this?"
The price of being a hands-off leader meant that if Amatsuki Toki and Crane intentionally concealed information, Silas would have no way of obtaining true intelligence immediately.
But the thought only flashed briefly. Silas chose to grant them trust.
If he couldn't trust even his most intimate companions whose origins he understood thoroughly, what was the point of overthrowing the World Government? He might as well find somewhere to retire.
At the same time, on an unnamed island in South Blue:
"Ouch ouch ouch ouch~"
Rocks endured pain while applying medicine, cursing: "That damn brat fought dirty, launching a sneak attack! If not for that old man's sake, I'd have killed him outright!"
Rocks cursed while extending his foot to kick Roger on the other side.
"How was I supposed to know you were on our side?"
Facing Rocks's abuse, Roger showed no deference. "I thought you'd captured Rayleigh!"
"Brat, have you ever seen a captured person freely moving around?"
Seeing the two about to fight, people around hurriedly rushed to mediate.
"Forget it, forget it. The enemies we faced this time really were difficult."
"Yeah, even without this brat, we probably couldn't have beaten that Marine group."
"Didn't this brat help us in the end anyway?"
"..."
Meanwhile, Rayleigh was also restraining Roger.
"You idiot, lie still! Don't forget where you are right now!"
Rayleigh gave Roger an exasperated look. Currently, the entire Roger Pirates was just the two of them, while everyone around was from the Rocks Pirates. If they actually fought, they couldn't even escape.
"Hmph!"
Knowing he was in the wrong, Roger just gave a cold snort and said nothing.
He'd stayed on Oss Island for several months. Originally, he'd finally grabbed an opportunity to escape in a small boat, but unexpectedly encountered Rocks attacking the island.
Roger had a decent understanding of his current strengths. Last time the three of them—him, Rayleigh, and Jabra—together couldn't even withstand one of Rocks's attacks. Even though these past months, he'd grown considerably, wanting to beat Rocks was still far too difficult.
So he'd originally planned to watch Rocks and the Marines fight, him eating popcorn on the sidelines.
But then he saw Rayleigh aboard Rocks's ship.
That settled it.
If his vice-captain got captured and he remained indifferent, what kind of captain was he? He might as well go back to East Blue and become a fisherman.
So when Rocks and two top-tier fighters were locked in fierce combat, Roger seized the opportunity and decisively launched a sneak attack on Rocks.
One possessed an immortal body: the Five Elder Saint Jaygarcia Saturn. One had become Fleet Admiral seven or eight years ago, having experienced countless battles both big and small, and grown significantly stronger compared to his initial self: Fleet Admiral Kong.
Rocks fighting one-versus-two was already falling into a disadvantage.
Roger's sneak attack instantly revealed Rocks's opening. Though he didn't immediately fall, he took severe injuries from both Saturn and Kong's assault.
After Roger's strike, Rayleigh discovered Roger and immediately explained the truth to him.
With the Rocks injured in this manner, the Rocks Pirates' defeat was sealed. Roger, however, proved straightforward—decisively choosing to stay behind as the rearguard.
With the passion of youth and spite, after wounding Kong, Rocks endured Rocks's attack, saving Rocks and diving away to escape with him.
Thus came the news of the Rocks Pirates's defeat and withdrawal from Oss Island.
Had it not been for Roger ultimately taking responsibility for his mistake and desperately saving Rocks, with Rocks's temperament, even Silas wouldn't have been able to help—he definitely would have made Roger pay for his stupidity.
"Forget it, stop arguing. I promised that old man I'd retrieve those scientists from that island. If I just retreat like this with my tail between my legs, I can't face that person!"
Rocks sat cross-legged on the ground.
Silas promised to pin down the World Government's main forces for him, and Silas genuinely delivered. Only two top-tier opponents showed up on Oss Island—exactly manageable for him.
Yet he still lost.
Though it was because of Roger, the fact that Roger, at his current level, could disrupt him, wasn't that proof he wasn't strong enough?
"Rocks, don't you think our strategy from the start was wrong?"
Patrick Redfield's voice sounded from the side.
"Our objective was to retrieve those scientists, not to fight the Marines. Even if we had to fight, it should've been after completing our objective!"
The cost of a direct assault meant facing the Marines and the World Government's ironclad defenses. They got pinned down by Saturn and two Marine rookies, fought for a day and night, then delayed until Fleet Admiral Kong arrived.
"Who knew that old bastard would be so hard to kill?"
The opponent didn't engage in direct combat from the start; instead, they used Baldimore's scientists as hostages, tying Rocks's hands completely.
However, Rocks didn't refute Patrick Redfield's words, meaning he accepted his assessment—just couldn't bring himself to admit it.
Patrick Redfield then looked toward Roger and Rayleigh.
"Roger Pirates captain, you came out from that island. You should know the situation there well, right?"
"So what?"
"We need you to guide us. We're launching another assault."
"I refuse to—"
Roger's sentence was cut short as Rayleigh covered his mouth, leaving only muffled sounds.
"No problem!"
Rayleigh directly agreed to Patrick Redfield's cooperation proposal on behalf of his captain.
In his view, now that they could avoid clashing with the Rocks Pirates, they should. If luck favored them, after this operation concluded, they might even bury the hatchet with the Rocks Pirates?
Facing the second-strongest pirate crew on these seas, they were still too weak right now.
However, Rayleigh quickly learned his hopes were impossible.
The next day.
Two wounded men fought over using the outhouse.