Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Don't Let Me Take Them Away?
Navy Headquarter, Marineford!
At this time, the island that once symbolized Naval justice was devastated by an unprecedented war. There were dead and wounded Marines and pirates everywhere, and blood stained the icy battlefield.
When the words of the Emperor Red-Haired Shanks spread throughout the battlefield, the atmosphere among the warring parties suddenly solidified. After a long period of intense fighting, both the sailors and the ordinary pirates were exhausted physically and mentally. But they knew it was not up to them to decide whether the war would end.
War, for the soldiers at the bottom, is a huge meat grinder.
"Whitebeard, Fleet Admiral Sengoku the Buddha, I hope both of you can give me face," said Shanks. "End this war! If we continue to fight, there will only be more meaningless casualties!"
At this moment, the Emperor Red-Haired Shanks had cold eyes, and though he spoke of "giving face," the meaning was obvious. If anyone refused to give face, he would unite with another to destroy them!
As soon as these words came out, both Whitebeard and Sengoku the Buddha fell silent at the same time. Red-Haired Shanks was right—the ongoing war had become meaningless for either side.
And Shiro, standing amidst the scene in front of him, couldn't help but chuckle. The Emperor Red-Haired Shanks truly lived up to his reputation as a "face fruit" user. This time, his timing was impeccable.
At this point, whether it was the ordinary sailors or the pirates of the Whitebeard Fleet, none wanted to continue fighting. If Sengoku the Buddha or Whitebeard insisted on continuing the fight, it would definitely backfire. Even if the high-ranking Marine officers, including Sengoku the Buddha, were unwilling to accept the outcome of the war, without the support of the World Government, it was clear that neither the Whitebeard Pirates nor Shiro could be stopped.
Therefore, ending the war temporarily, preserving as much strength as possible, and waiting for an opportunity to reclaim honor in the future was the best choice.
"Whitebeard, Shiro, get out of Marineford immediately, or the Navy will fight to the death!"
As predicted, after a brief moment of hesitation, Fleet Admiral Sengoku the Buddha took the lead in giving "face" to the Red-Haired Shanks.
"Gu la la la, Red Hair kid, I'll give you this face," Whitebeard laughed loudly, his old eyes firm. "However, you forgot one thing. It's not just two sides fighting—it's three sides. If Shiro wants to continue the fight, the Whitebeard Pirates will stand by him until the end!"
The Emperor Whitebeard laughed, but his old eyes were very firm. Now, he and Shiro were allies. Since they were allies, it was only natural to advance and retreat together. As for whether they would become enemies in the future, it didn't matter now. What was important was not breaking the agreement.
"The war... three sides?"
At this time, Red-Haired Shanks was clearly taken aback by Whitebeard's words. He immediately turned his attention to Shiro.
At this time, Shiro stood with one hand holding the hilt of his sword, exuding an extraordinary aura. Around him stood two powerful women: one was the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and the other was Admiral Candidate Momousagi!
Behind these three stood a strict formation of Marines, their momentum far surpassing the tens of thousands of "elite seamen" from other parts of the Navy!
At this moment, even Red-Haired Shanks felt a bit shocked. It seemed he had underestimated the man named Shiro. From this perspective, it must have been Shiro who split the Navy and caused the huge reversal in the war situation. Such a man—the Navy would let him become a so-called "Navy traitor"!?
"Hello, Shiro. So, do you want the war to continue?" Red-Haired Shanks turned his attention to Shiro and asked very seriously.
[Ding, it is detected that the Emperor Red-Haired Shanks is trying to save face, system triggered!]
[Option 1: Reject the proposal of the Emperors Red-Haired Shanks, refuse to give face, continue the war, and fight to the death with the Navy. Reward: Perfect Navy Rokushiki (Six Powers).]
[Option 2: Accept the proposal of the Emperor Red-Haired Shanks, give face, and lead your large army to leave Marineford as soon as possible. Reward: One SSS-class battleship.]
. . .
Just as Red-Haired Shanks asked Shiro, the system was triggered. Shiro didn't care too much about it. He had no deep hatred for the Navy, and after achieving his goal, there was no need to continue fighting. Besides, he wanted to take away the 30,000 elite Marines who had pledged allegiance to him and form his own force.
So, there was absolutely no need to continue fighting the Navy. As for whether to give face to the Red-Haired Shanks, it didn't really matter. But the reward of an SSS-class battleship sounded enticing, though he wasn't sure just how powerful the SSS level would be.
"The war... it's time to end."
Now, Shiro's voice echoed throughout Marineford. At that moment, a ray of sunlight penetrated the clouds, seemingly heralding the end of the war. Among the ruins, Admiral Akainu, who had finally climbed out of the crack in the ground, passed out due to his severe injuries. Before he completely lost consciousness, Akainu, who had lost an arm, was still chanting Shiro's name.
"Shiro, you can go, but you can't take the 30,000 Marines!"
Just when everyone thought the war was over, and the Whitebeard fleet slowly began to retreat, Fleet Admiral Sengoku the Buddha suddenly stood up and spoke. For a moment, the situation became tense again, even causing Red-Haired Shanks to furrow his brows.
However, Sengoku the Buddha clearly made up his mind. Transforming into a golden Buddha, he glared at Shiro. After all, if Shiro were to take 30,000 elite Marines away, it would be the heaviest blow to the Navy, with repercussions far exceeding the defeat on this battlefield!
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, if you don't want the war to end, just say so. But let me tell you—if you think I'll leave behind the 30,000 loyal Marines to be handed over to the World Government for trial and execution, you must be out of your mind!"
At this moment, Shiro was equally resolute. He knew that the Navy would not easily let go of the 30,000 elite Marines who had followed him. But, in the same way, he was determined to take these 30,000 men away today! If they stayed behind, their fate would surely be tragic.
"The old man can promise you that I will never betray these Marines!" Sengoku the Buddha was still unrelenting, and the tense atmosphere escalated once again.
"Hahaha, stop being funny, Sengoku! Let them go? Can you guarantee the World Government's decision?" Shiro laughed mockingly. "In the eyes of the World Government, the Navy is just a front. Do you think the World Government will spare a group of Marines who have the mentality of resisting the rule of the Celestial Dragons?"
Shiro's tone became more forceful, instantly igniting the resolve of the 30,000 elite Marines behind him. There was no doubt—this was their true commander!
"Navy, if anyone wants to stop us, let them try!"
At this moment, Shiro stopped speaking. An electric arc crackled around him, and wind and thunder surged. With his hands clasped, the entire Marineford shook violently once again!
"Sengoku, if you want Marineford to disappear completely, then come and stop me!"
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