Chapter 198: Because I Am Here
Lvneel Kingdom.
This country is the hometown of the famous Admiral of North Blue exploration team, 'King of Liars' Mont Blanc Noland.
Although the great adventurer was executed by the king of that time for deceiving the monarch, similar to how Roger's execution started the Great Pirate Era.
Although Noland's influence wasn't as great as Roger's, his story still circulated throughout North Blue.
This led to the Lvneel Kingdom being known for producing adventurers even today.
Every year on Noland's death anniversary, adventurers gather on Noland's hometown island, 'Mont Blanc Island'.
They drink fine wine in the island town and start their journeys—this once became the liveliest event in today's Lvneel Kingdom, called the 'Adventure Festival'.
But today, the situation was special.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The entire Mont Blanc Island was trembling.
Port buildings collapsed under massive impacts.
Dust soared; strong winds blew away fluttering festival flags; intense shockwaves came continuously from the town center.
"Truly... monster-like, those two guys!"
"Hey hey, Admiral Noland's monument was shattered!"
"More than the monument, the whole town will disappear if this continues—why is the former Marine Admiral fighting an already confirmed Warlord? What happened?"
"I heard after the joint military exercise, former Admiral Zephyr retired?"
"What organization is the 'Pirate Guerilla'? Never heard of it!"
Now, adventurers originally here for the Adventure Festival and massive numbers of reporters had gathered.
They looked at the source of vibration in panic.
There, a battle beyond most people's cognition was ongoing.
"Woo, hurts... Mama—this purple-haired old man's fist hurts."
"Weevil is obedient! I hit him!"
A huge, ugly man with a crescent mustache and stitches all over his body was wielding a surprisingly large naginata.
He wailed meaninglessly, words incomprehensible to others.
BOOM!
Every slash was accompanied by extremely intense Armament Haki, creating piercing shrieks tearing the air, cleaving deep gullies in the ground.
One strike even cut a merchant ship in the distant port in half directly!
That bulky body wielding the naginata moved with unexpectedly flexible and extended motions, like a true taijutsu master.
Undoubtedly—that was monster-like power.
With Whitebeard not fallen yet, his title wasn't 'Whitebeard Jr.'.
But the power he possessed was shocking enough.
He was the new Warlord, 'Huge Pirate' Edward Weevil.
But...
CLANG!
Next moment, his naginata was blocked by a pitch-black fist.
The power enough to destroy a merchant ship only made a piercing metal collision sound against the fist—the fist grabbed the naginata, immobilizing Weevil.
Then...
BOOM!
Silently, the huge pitch-black mechanical arm 'Battle Smasher' spewed hot steam, punching Weevil in the face.
"Ah!"
Weevil cried out in pain.
This punch almost distorted his body—his neck skewed visibly, body almost folded and blasted away.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
After crashing through several buildings.
"Hurts... Mama hurts..."
His distorted body continued wailing; some stitches broke.
"It's Mama... I... I will endure!"
But the next moment, he twisted his skewed neck hard, straightening his folded body.
Whoosh!
Grabbing the naginata, he stood up again.
His ignorant eyes looked at the man walking toward him expressionlessly.
Wearing sunglasses, eyes under the lenses held no emotion, only pure coldness and hatred.
Purple short hair rose in the wind like an angry lion.
Hoo!
Zephyr adjusted the Battle Smasher, inhaling asthma medicine.
Then...
BOOM!
Next moment, the ground under his feet shattered!
No interest in talking, he turned into a blur like a cheetah, the huge mechanical arm tearing the air toward Weevil again!
BOOM!
Shockwaves spread again.
At the same time...
"Grow · Vine Wall!"
"Retreat · All Repair!"
Around the town where the two fought, huge vine walls and constantly reformed walls blocked most shockwaves, ensuring the battlefield and people outside weren't directly harmed.
Figures were moving efficiently.
Wearing dark combat uniforms, armbands depicted a pirate skull being punched by a black gauntlet.
That symbolized the [Pirate Guerilla].
"Blockade of Zone A and B complete, civilians confirmed fully evacuated—two children on the east avenue sent out."
"Three blockade walls and defense lines built."
A tall, dark-skinned man reported with a Den Den Mushi.
He was former Marine Headquarters Commodore 'Shuzo', now a cadre of the Pirate Guerilla.
While completing tasks from the other end, he couldn't help asking puzzledly, "Binz, Ain—Teacher Zephyr clearly suppressed that guy completely, really need to be this cautious?"
He didn't understand.
Yes.
Even laymen could see.
Although Edward Weevil was indeed strong, facing Zephyr, he was clearly no match.
Haki, combat skills, speed—even old Zephyr crushed him absolutely.
According to Shuzo's judgment, the battle would end in ten minutes at most.
So he didn't quite understand why his two colleagues were so formal.
"Don't underestimate that guy, Senior Shuzo."
On the other end of the snail.
Ain and Binz, having just used abilities to block shockwaves, stood on a high platform outside the town.
Their gazes looked at the town gradually turning into ruins, at the pirate who was like a nightmare in their memories.
"You weren't on that ship, so you can't understand exactly... that Edward Weevil's body isn't normal."
Unlike Shuzo who joined Marines earlier, they were the only two survivors among the trainee Marines on that ship.
So they knew better.
Edward Weevil indeed couldn't beat Zephyr—since back then.
But...
"His physique and vitality aren't like a 'Living Creature'."
Binz said deeply. "Teacher Zephyr already told us, this will be a protracted battle."
After his words fell, Ain beside him dispersed the 'Return Fire' in her hand, saying softly, "And—this guy's action this time is very abnormal."
"That old hag beside him disappeared, and he was clearly avoiding us before, but this time appeared on this island actively waiting for us."
Ain gritted her teeth.
Correct—just as Roy knew.
Since establishing the Pirate Guerilla, while hunting pirates, they constantly searched for Weevil's traces.
In fact, shortly after the joint military exercise, they locked Weevil's whereabouts and started tracking.
They also discovered Weevil often moved with an old hag he called 'Mama'.
Of course, they had no clue about her identity yet.
This chase continued for some time.
Until recently, hearing news of Weevil becoming a Warlord, they found Weevil's traces on this island—precisely, like he was waiting for them actively.
And the old hag beside him was gone.
So without Roy's reminder, they smelled conspiracy.
But...
They had no choice.
No matter what, they wouldn't let Edward Weevil go—this was something they absolutely couldn't compromise on.
So even knowing it was likely a trap, they chose to dive in.
Unexpectedly, no ambush.
Edward Weevil was truly on this island, so the situation developed like this.
"Situation has spread, others in World Government and Marines will definitely stop us from attacking a Warlord—building defense lines is to prevent this!"
Ain said deeply. "If someone really comes to stop, we are responsible for delaying time for Teacher Zephyr, absolutely cannot let them disturb Teacher Zephyr's battle!"
She knew well.
From the moment they chose to ignore World Government orders and attack Weevil—even Marine colleagues were no longer trustworthy.
The only exception was...
"Where is Roy?"
On the other end, Shuzo asked deeply. "He will definitely help us!"
"..." (x2)
Hearing this, Binz and Ain looked at each other.
Then, they said deeply, "Teacher Zephyr told us before the battle—no matter what, don't notify Roy, nor answer his calls."
"...Is that so?"
Hearing this, Shuzo realized the reason immediately.
"Yeah... Roy is 'Kuroyagi' (Black Goat), the hope of future Marines."
"Dragging him down because of our matter... that won't do."
He said.
They didn't feel Zephyr's action was biased—on the contrary, Zephyr asked them to leave before action, but they chose not to.
But Roy was different.
All three knew Roy was Zephyr's true chosen 'Successor'.
Judging by the current situation, Roy would almost certainly be promoted to Admiral, even high chance of becoming Fleet Admiral.
He had to bear the Justice of the future sea, the Kuroyagi against The Zodiac.
So Zephyr didn't want to drag this disciple down because of his own matter.
But just then...
Click! Click! Click!
Binz, Ain, and Shuzo clearly heard intense static noise in their Den Den Mushis.
Then...
"Hey!"
Not just their snails—all snails on the island emitted the same voice at this moment.
"This is World Government Special Patrol Ship 'North Blue Cross Star'."
It was a cold voice.
"I am the new Vice Commander of the World Government Holy Land Guard Legion 'Klaymiller', responsible for guarding the great Celestial Dragon, World Government Inspection Special Envoy 'Saint Thatcherz M. Pierre' inspecting North Blue nations."
"We already know the situation on Mont Blanc Island—former Marine Admiral 'Zephyr', stop attacking the Royal Warlord immediately."
"Repeat, stop attacking Royal Warlord Edward Weevil immediately."
"Otherwise... this ship will arrest and execute you for 'Rebellion' in the name of the World Government."
Accompanying that voice.
Also appearing was the massive warship at the end of the distant sea.
Ain and others could see the huge cross star flag and the emblem symbolizing Celestial Dragon family 'Thatcherz Family' on that warship.
"It... It's Celestial Dragon!"
"World Government envoy inspecting nations? Indeed heard they were nearby!"
"Former Admiral Zephyr, initiating rebellion?"
"Hey hey, still looking, run! People will die!"
With the panicked voices of the crowd gathered on the island.
Binz and Ain's faces turned pale instantly.
"World Inspection Envoy..."
Although guessing the World Government would send someone to stop their action, even preparing for battle.
According to their thoughts, the nearest Marine branch would take at least half a day to send people.
But they didn't expect—the World Government patrol ship happened to be nearby.
"No, not coincidence... was this arranged too?"
Ain murmured, but then shouted to the clearly panicked Pirate Guerilla members below through gritted teeth, "Everyone, prepare for battle!"
But now, she and Binz knew—situation was bad.
Said that huge 'World Patrol Ship' North Blue Cross Star had over twenty ships nearby, each elite responsible for guarding Celestial Dragons!
Their force and strength couldn't stop them at all.
But just then...
"Hey... what happened—my Den Den Mushi! Eh!"
They heard the voice on the other end change.
First the panicked voice of the Holy Land Guard Vice Commander, then whistling wind and waves.
They could almost visualize the situation from the sound—the snail flew up, crossed the sea surface, then...
Thud.
Landed in someone's hand.
"Hello."
Next moment, they indeed heard a new voice from the other end.
"Binz, Ain, Shuzo, and Old Man Zephyr—"
It was a familiar voice, seeming annoyed.
"You bastards, who do you take me for!?"
The person growled.
"Roy!?" (x3)
Ain and others naturally recognized the voice.
"Clearly promised me that day, right?"
They heard Roy say so.
They naturally understood Roy's meaning.
Before the joint military exercise, when Zephyr gave his Battle Smasher to Roy, Roy made a request—when hunting Edward Weevil, he wanted in.
Back then, Zephyr didn't refuse.
And now...
"Trying to go back on your word... I didn't agree!"
As words fell, they seemed to hear the snail being thrown away again.
Amidst whistling wind, Roy's residual voice still transmitted through the snail.
"Let the old man relax, just focus on dealing with that guy."
Just then, Ain and others seemed to see.
On the distant sea, a figure blocking the massive hull of 'North Blue Cross Star'.
"No one will come to stop him."
"Because... I am here."
☆☆☆
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