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Chapter 68 - One Piece: Legend Begins-Chapter 68: Four Billion Four Hundred Ninety Million Belly!

"Black Gun's" power had become even more terrifying.

This was the Five Elders' gut reaction after getting first-hand battlefield intel and footage.

They'd figured Aus could lay low on Sabaody for a while. Over these two years, they'd almost forgotten this threat existed on the seas.

Never expected that when Aus stepped back onto the world stage, he'd drop such a massive bomb on them.

Realizing they were entering negotiation mode, the Five Elders seriously ordered Spandine:

"CP9, all of you get out!"

The CP members receiving orders fled like they'd been granted amnesty.

Only Spandine remained, clutching the Den Den Mushi with a bitter expression, still kneeling before Aus.

Aus smiled, slowly extending his palm. The Den Den Mushi instantly appeared in his hand.

Only then did Spandine show grateful relief, respectfully vanishing from the warship in a flash.

"Aus, are you declaring war on the World Government?"

After clearing out irrelevant personnel, Saint Nusjuro spoke coldly. He was always the most ruthless of the Five Elders.

Aus just raised an eyebrow.

"Where's that coming from? I was already on this island before the Marines showed up.

If anyone's looking for war, that'd be you guys."

"But you clearly knew the Buster Call was coming to Ohara!"

"How do you know I knew?"

Saint Nusjuro found himself speechless.

How could he explain how Aus got that intel? He couldn't exactly say it leaked from inside the World Government—

that'd just embarrass himself.

"Enough. What's done is done—no point rehashing this!"

Saint Mars cut in. "You should understand, Aus,

when it comes to Ohara, the World Government has zero tolerance. Even with you here, nothing can change Ohara disappearing from the map."

That was the truth.

Aus might be powerful, but the World Government had experts coming out their ears. They couldn't catch Aus, but he sure as hell couldn't stop them either.

This was the foundation of the World Government that had ruled these seas for eight hundred years!

They thought smugly,

assuming Aus appeared here to play hero for Ohara, which explained his head-on clash with the Marines.

But they had no clue—Aus couldn't give less of a shit.

"I never had any grand plan to protect Ohara, gentlemen."

Aus shrugged. Sometimes people treated him like some master schemer, like everything he did had some deeper purpose.

Truth was, most of the time he really just did whatever the hell he felt like.

"???"

Now the Five Elders were the confused ones.

Their eyes showed shock, frowning at the Den Den Mushi like they'd heard something impossible.

"Fighting the Marines had exactly one reason..."

Aus's lips curved into a grin.

"To announce my return to this era!"

Madman...

That was the first word that hit the Five Elders' minds. They never imagined such a massive battle erupted just to announce he was back in business.

But they also caught the signal—"Black Gun" Aus had finally returned to this sea's stage now that he'd come of age!

The Five Elders had mixed feelings about this.

The good news: Aus was relatively friendly and manageable compared to other threats. Sure, his shitty personality gave them headaches—too damn unpredictable and casual—

but he was miles better than those uncooperative pirates who only knew how to burn, kill, and pillage.

Plus, that overwhelming potential and power would definitely crush the new era's pirates into dust.

After all, in their long-ass lifespans,

monsters on Aus's level had only appeared a handful of times.

The most recent one they'd already eliminated—

his name was Rocks.

The bad news: his actions were impossible to predict, making him a serious threat to the World Government.

Letting him run wild on the seas—who knew how many plans he'd fuck up down the line.

Just like this Buster Call situation.

"We get your feelings, Aus, but you need to understand—the Buster Call can't become your personal publicity stunt!"

Saint Peter's voice was dead serious: "This isn't like attacking Marine Headquarters. The Buster Call is the World Government's ultimate deterrent on these seas, not some subordinate's pride we can toss aside."

Translation:

Aus couldn't become a top-tier sea legend again by trashing the Buster Call. That was the World Government's red line.

After thinking it over,

Aus chose to back down.

Same as always—

if the World Government gave him face,

he'd generally return the favor.

Going back on his word and making enemies would kill his chances of becoming the next "Face-Face Fruit" user.

The Five Elders publicly tearing into Sakazuki earlier had definitely given Aus major face.

He wasn't stupid enough to miss good timing.

"Since you put it like that, I can't not give you face. Let's call it here.

I've got zero interest in Ohara's business. Do whatever you want."

Even after getting wrecked by Aus and Mihawk, the Buster Call's remaining forces could still flatten Ohara no problem.

Full CP squads, multiple warships and troops, plus Sakazuki—an Admiral candidate who was just banged up.

For wiping out Ohara, it made no difference.

Just the gap between lightning-fast and pretty damn fast.

Maybe not expecting Aus to cave so easily, the Five Elders were stunned for a second.

They'd figured a bastard like Aus would definitely use the Marines' attack as leverage to make all kinds of demands.

They'd been ready to make some concessions.

But this time Aus seemed weirdly reasonable...

After mulling it over, the Five Elders decided to throw him a bone:

"In that case, Aus, consider the World Government owing you one.

Long as you don't go overboard, the World Government stays friendly with you. Making this uglier than it needs to be hurts us both."

Just like that,

what could've become a brutal war got settled in a few sentences.

On top of that, at Aus's request, the Five Elders threw in an easy favor—issuing an order that meant jack shit to them:

"Effective immediately, update 'Black Gun' Aus's bounty to..."

"Four billion four hundred ninety million Belly!"

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