"Phew~"
Anger surged in his chest for a moment, but Kong eventually suppressed it forcibly. His fingertips clenched the Den Den Mushi, and he dialed Garp's line.
In the Marine Headquarters office, the scattered wood chips still bore the imprint of his fist. Tsuru was silently ordering people to clean up the mess, her eyes carrying a bit of accustomed helplessness.
"Moshi moshi? Kong, what's up?" The compound eye of the Den Den Mushi lit up, accurately replicating Garp's grinning appearance.
"That bastard Fazte left his post without authorization!" Kong's voice carried suppressed anger, "Where are you now? Hurry to the G-14 Branch to stabilize the situation!"
"Me? I'm almost at Elbaf."
Garp's voice was casual, and the roar of waves hitting the hull could be faintly heard in the background.
In the second half of the New World, the sea breeze whistled across the deck of the Marine warship.
Garp looked at the behemoth connecting the sky and the earth in the distance.
The outline of Elbaf pierced through the clouds. Dense giant trees and branches crossed to form a multi-layered structure, several times more shocking than the drawings in the Marine archives.
He couldn't help but grin, his tone full of admiration: "Kong, Elbaf is even taller than depicted in the archives, just like the Red Line."
"Elbaf?!" Kong's voice suddenly rose, "Are you crazy? Why go to Elbaf at this critical moment? Your destination should be the G-14 Branch!"
Garp, having expected this, moved the Den Den Mushi away, picked his ear, and said unhurriedly: "It's been five days since the surveillance unit was destroyed. If Elbaf wanted to attack G-14, they would have done so already."
"Instead of us speculating about Elbaf's movements for half a day, why don't I just go ask Harald?"
"Garp, we don't know the depth of Elbaf's hostility, you..."
Before Kong could finish the second half of his sentence, Garp ended the call directly and looked at the increasingly clear Elbaf.
As he got closer and closer, Garp saw a tall figure standing on the coastline.
It was Harald, who had rushed over after receiving notification from the Homie surveillance.
In the next instant, Garp's aura suddenly surged.
He bent his legs slightly, and with the sinking deck, his figure leaped into the sky like an arrow from a string. His right arm was wrapped in rich black-red Haki, electric arcs crackling around his fist peak, smashing towards Harald with the momentum to split mountains and collapse seas: "Galaxy Impact (Fist Bone Impact)!"
"Galaxy Impact!!"
At the same time, Harald held his sword with both hands and swung heavily: "Ikoku!!!!"
Two massive shockwaves collided with a bang in mid-air. The terrifying airwaves instantly stirred up waves of ten thousand tons, and seawater splashed to both sides like waterfalls.
Amidst the swaying wind and waves, Garp landed back on the deck, his clothes fluttering loudly. Staring at Harald, he laughed loudly: "Harald, is this the greeting etiquette of your Elbaf? Ordinary people can't stand it; better change it."
"Stop right there, Garp!"
Harald looked serious, his long sword planted in front of him, his tone complicated, not picking up the conversation.
Realizing the change in Harald's attitude, Garp's smile faded a bit, asking: "Harald, have you given up your dream? You said you wanted to connect and communicate Elbaf with the world. What's with this appearance now?"
Harald: "Never gave up, it's just that my current duty is to protect Elbaf."
"Duty. Harald, you are not the King anymore." Although it was a question, Garp used an affirmative tone. In some aspects, Garp had amazing intuition.
Harald was silent: "..."
But silence itself is also an answer.
Garp continued to pursue: "Are you really going to be a pirate with Rocks? If you unite, this world will become very bad, and countless people will lose their lives at sea."
"Elbaf will not walk the old path of plunder again." Harald denied.
He would never act like Rocks.
As for Loki, he has a disdainful attitude towards pirates.
No, not just towards pirates.
Marines, World Government, nobles, kings.... Regardless of identity, Loki treats them all equally, or rather, with disdain?
He doesn't need definitions from the outside world either.
"Then what exactly happened in Elbaf?" Garp pursued relentlessly, unwilling to give up.
"Shut up!"
Raideen walked out from behind Harald, glared at Harald, stared at Garp, and said fiercely: "Elbaf is not a member nation of the World Government. The World Government has no right to know anything about Elbaf. You World Government lackeys, leave here."
"The Marines are not the World Government, nor are they dogs of the World Government. We are Marines harboring justice!" Garp explained stiffly.
"Heh~" Raideen sneered: "Just because you say so doesn't make it so. Even if you aren't, when the World Government orders your Marines to capture people as slaves from non-member nations, don't you still have to go? Maybe you can refuse, but can others refuse?!"
"..." Garp was speechless, veins on his clenched fists bulging unconsciously.
Having served in the army for more than ten years, he had seen too much of the dark side of the World Government.
Those dirty deals and mandatory orders, he was also powerless to change.
He could only do his best to protect more innocent people within his capabilities.
"Vice Admiral Garp, what should we do now?"
"Retreat first." Garp made a decision, leading the group to retreat slowly.
He couldn't disregard everyone behind him and rashly start a war with Elbaf.
After retreating a certain distance, Garp took out the Den Den Mushi and called Kong back. Without waiting for the other party to ask, he directly stated all the intelligence.
"I was intercepted by Harald and couldn't enter Elbaf."
"Harald's throne was taken by an unknown person. Elbaf's attitude has indeed changed, and their hostility towards the World Government and our Marines is very great."
"Trouble. Elbaf has indeed reached some kind of connection with Rocks."
The worst guess came true.
At Marine Headquarters.
Kong, already irritable, was even more annoyed, his fingers unconsciously scratching his scalp.
"Garp, you go to guard the G-14 Branch first to guard against Elbaf's next move."
After making arrangements for Garp, Kong sent the news to Cook.
Mariejois.
Room of Authority.
"That's roughly the situation." Cook stated the intelligence to the Five Elders.
"Giants and Rocks." Saturn became serious.
They had personally experienced Rocks' power. In a short time, he directly caused irreversible injuries to a Marine Admiral.
Harald was also on par with him. The aftermath of their sword clash could send elite agents and soldiers flying within a radius of 5km.
Not to mention how powerful the unknown giant who could defeat Harald must be.
Take the initiative to attack?
The few looked at each other, all hesitating.
Lord Im has always known Elbaf very well but has always been unwilling to have too much contact, obviously having scruples about this race.
They dare not violate Lord Im's implicit attitude, let alone initiate a war.
This time, maybe they have to move out too.
"Let Kong strengthen vigilance. Don't just stare at the Four Blues and Paradise. Closely monitor the tracks of the Rocks Pirates. The New World is the next battlefield."
"Yes!"
...
Meanwhile.
Near Hachinosu in the New World.
A huge pirate ship was lowering its sails, letting the ocean currents push it.
Wang Zhi ended the call, a smile full of pleasure on his face, and said to Rocks: "The money is in hand."
"Wahahahaha~ The World Government paid up, little ones!"
Rocks stood up abruptly, laughing and drawing his sword: "Let the World Government see our efficiency. Remember not to kill too many; these are all our strength."
After speaking, Rocks disappeared from the spot with a bang.
With a "Boom," like a meteor landing, he smashed onto the coast of Hachinosu.
"I am Rocks."
His voice resounded through the entire Hachinosu like thunder. Violent Conqueror's Haki was released unreservedly, "Either kneel and submit, or die!"
"You can kneel, or die!"
Wherever the Haki swept, the pirates on the island were hit as if by invisible giant hands. Most people rolled their eyes and fell unconscious on the spot before they could react.
A few stronger pirates barely supported their bodies, but their faces were pale, their bodies trembling, without even the courage to lift their heads.
The smoke dissipated, and Rocks' figure stood in the center of the deep pit, scanning the surroundings with cold eyes.
On the deck behind him, tall and strong figures jumped down one by one.
Their auras intertwined, almost crushing the entire sky.
<><><><><
Read Advaned Chapters on : patreon.com/Kaizo247
~ Evey 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]