170 With the Justice System

"Let who go?"

Tsuru blinked, countless strands of intelligence flashing through her mind like streaks of light.

She raised a finger and pointed into the distance at the massive fleet exuding chaos and brutality.

"Beasts Pirates, led by Kaido, about twenty thousand strong. Many Devil Fruit users—a true war monster in every sense."

Tsuru's finger shifted, now pointing toward the Red Force.

"Red-Haired Pirates. Their numbers are few, but every one of them is an elite. Their officers' strength is well-balanced, making them the so-called most stable pirate crew."

Her voice paused, before suddenly turning.

"But, Garp..."

"Hm?"

"The Whitebeard Pirates have come out in full force. Fifty thousand elites, a display so grand it will make every soldier of Headquarters taste the feeling of true war!"

"But what about the Navy's high-end combat strength?"

"Whitebeard is old... sick..."

"Among his commanders, aside from a single Phoenix, none can truly bear the weight of responsibility."

"You think just one Whitebeard Pirates crew is enough to satisfy Sakazuki, Borsalino, Kuzan, and that little monster Hawke? To fill the gap between their teeth?"

Her voice was soft, but her words cut straight to the heart of the battle.

"They definitely haven't had enough fun yet!"

"..."

Garp's breathing hitched slightly.

He understood.

A Whitebeard, already aged and ill, was not enough to show the world the Navy's determination to crush everything.

Then... add one more!

Add one more Yonko crew in its prime, balanced and powerful, the true Iron Wall of the sea!

Under the eyes of the entire world, bury two emperors of the sea—together with their fleets—in Marineford!

With the heads of one old and one young Yonko, hold the grandest coronation ceremony for the Navy's new era!

"So that's how it is..."

Garp grinned, revealing a wicked smile.

His gaze passed over the surging waves and landed on the bow of the Red Force.

That man—Shanks—was staring back with a grave expression, his breath still slightly uneven from the earlier clash.

Blocked here, the red-haired brat might not necessarily die.

But if he went to Headquarters... he would definitely die!

No suspense. No luck. Only death!

Sooner or later, it would happen anyway, but...

"..."

From the corner of his eye, Garp glanced behind him.

There, Luffy was clutching his straw hat tightly. The crisp, straight Marine uniform on his body now felt unbearably suffocating, like needles against his skin.

Head lowered, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, his expression was twisted with painful conflict, almost wringing tears from his face.

He didn't dare look at the man who had given him the hat, the one who had set his dream into motion.

"Hmph—"

Garp snorted coldly through his nose.

Go on then, red-haired brat. Go to Headquarters and die.

Consider it the price for luring my grandson onto the path of piracy!

He gave Tsuru a firm nod.

Tsuru saw the resolve in Garp's eyes and slowly raised her arm.

"All fleets, turn!"

Her voice rang clear across every warship.

"Target: Beasts Pirates!"

"Vrrrrr——"

Led by the Dog-Head warship, the steel fleet began slowly turning its bows.

They ignored the Red Force as if it were nothing but an insignificant reef.

Ten giant battleships formed a steel wall, passing directly by the Red-Haired Pirates, heading straight toward the massive fleet of savage pirate ships!

"!!!"

"???"

On the Red Force, every member of the Red-Haired Pirates froze.

Beckman had already set his finger on the trigger. Yasopp's sniper rifle was raised, ready to fire.

They had been prepared to fight the Navy hero to the bitter end.

But now...

The Navy ignored them?

"This..."

The grave look on Shanks' face turned into one of utter bewilderment.

He watched as the Dog-Head warship sailed slowly past.

Then suddenly, his gaze froze!

Behind Garp, he saw a familiar figure. He saw that familiar straw hat.

"Luffy...?"

Shanks' pupils shrank sharply.

Why?

Why was Luffy on Garp's ship?

Why was he wearing a Marine uniform?!

A storm of questions crashed in his mind.

But now was not the time to dwell on them.

"Whoo—"

Shanks took a deep breath, suppressing all doubt in his heart.

The war at Marineford was the key.

He had to go and stop it!

"Full speed ahead!"

Shanks roared, "Target: Marineford!"

"Vrrrrr——"

The sails of the Red Force swelled once more with the roaring wind.

It turned and sped at full pace toward Navy Headquarters.

"..."

"???"

"What the hell is the Navy doing?!"

Kaido stared at the approaching Navy fleet.

"They let the Red-Haired Pirates go?!"

A faint irritation rose in his chest.

If he wanted to leave, even Garp couldn't stop him.

But...

He glanced back at the massive fleet behind him. If he left, the Beasts Pirates would be finished!

He regretted it...

Regretted listening to that crazy woman Linlin's nonsense, letting her rile him up so easily into marching out with everything, planning to storm Navy Headquarters.

Now, that old man Whitebeard was already fighting...

And Linlin was definitely already seizing Whitebeard's territory...

Whether he led his fleet to clash with her over territory, or simply flew alone to Headquarters to wreak havoc and then leave at leisure—either would have been better than this: being blocked here by the Navy hero.

What a miscalculation!

Kaido's mind drifted back thirty-eight years.

God Valley.

The place that changed his life forever.

He inhaled deeply, the breath carrying the stench of sulfur.

Forget it.

The Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon form...

That was a debt too great not to repay.

At this thought, the irritation faded from Kaido's eyes, replaced by pure, unrestrained battle lust.

He looked at Garp, lips splitting in a grin.

"Wororororo——!"

"Garp, huh? Now this is interesting!"

"Brats! Prepare for battle!"

Before his words even finished, Kaido's form expanded and stretched. Azure dragon scales burst from beneath his skin. Majestic dragon horns pierced into the sky.

The weather shifted violently, thunder and lightning splitting the heavens!

Just as Kaido was about to fully transform into a dragon and turn the sea into a battlefield—

"Puhahahahaha——!"

An even more carefree, unrestrained laugh rang from the Dog-Head warship.

A black dot shot into the air from the ship, arcing high before slamming precisely into the center of the Beasts Pirates fleet!

"Luffy! Didn't you say you wanted to get stronger?!"

"One of the most ferocious pirate crews on this sea is right in front of you!"

"Survive, and you'll become strong!"

"BOOM——!!!"

The black dot smashed down hard onto the Mammoth—the ship of Jack the Drought, one of the Beasts Pirates' All-Stars. The deck cracked, a massive pit blasted into the thick timbers.

"Ugh—"

Luffy struggled to climb out of the pit. Shaking his groggy head, he looked up... and saw a mountain.

A mountain of muscle, tusks, and an aura of endless ferocity in human form.

Jack the Drought loomed overhead, glaring down at the uninvited intruder who had dropped from the sky.

"How... did you get here?!"