The Red Hair Pirates disbanded, "Yonko" Shanks surrendered himself to the authorities!
Just as Admiral Aokiji was busy creating massive ice formations across the seas to force the Poseidon into the open, the world, having only just begun to shed the smoke of war, was immediately shaken by this heaven-shattering news.
Countless pirates screamed in disbelief, rushing into the streets to vent their rage, denouncing Shanks as unworthy of the name pirate. Yet no matter how they railed, they could not change the fact that the era of the "Yonko" had become a legend of the past.
On a desolate island, Kaido, living a savage, primal existence, stared at the crumpled newspaper in shock. He tossed it carelessly into the roaring bonfire.
"Tch… that brat got off easy!"
If Shanks hadn't disbanded his crew, this act would have represented nothing more than his personal defeat. But precisely because he dissolved the Red Hair Pirates beforehand, Shanks' subsequent surrender symbolized something far greater:
The New World, once dominated by pirates, had completely submitted to the authority of the Holy Land.
To borrow the words of maritime pundits, the first half of the Grand Line was called "Paradise," while the second half was the true "New World." The vast gulf in strength and quality among pirates was what forged the New World's supreme, almost sacred status in pirate hearts.
This had not changed for hundreds of years.
But now, It was over.
Simply put, the backbone of piracy was broken.
And it was broken by their own kind.
As for what the future era would look like, no one knew. But in the present era, pirates no longer had any room left to mount serious resistance.
In sharp contrast to the pirates' madness, the Marines and ordinary civilians erupted in cheers.
Even those who didn't initially understand the significance of Shanks' surrender came to grasp its monumental implications after the news agencies spared no effort distributing pamphlets and spreading the message.
This wasn't a victory on a single battlefield, it was a definitive victory across the entire war.
For a time, emotions ran dangerously high. Countless cheers and countless curses rose and fell in waves, boiling the seas into deafening chaos.
And yet, as the central figure of this global storm, Shanks was at that very moment sitting calmly in a bright, tranquil office within Pangaea Castle, facing Rowen across a table, drinking tea.
The clamor of the outside world had no effect whatsoever on the two men standing at the pinnacle of the Holy Land. Here, everything was quiet and harmonious.
Clink.
Setting down the silver spoon with a crisp sound, Rowen, under Shanks' slightly twitching gaze, lifted his milk tea and took a slow sip.
"Milk from North Blue cows really is excellent, fragrant without being cloying."
Shanks: "..."
'I understand the gravity of the situation, but why milk tea?!'
With a wry smile, Shanks shook his head and took a sip as well.
'…It was indeed too sweet.'
"I usually drink plain tea or black coffee," He said mildly.
Setting his cup down, Rowen replied, "But considering we'll need to use our brains today, replenishing sugar is very important, so I changed drinks."
'Here it comes.'
Shanks' expression slowly sobered as he looked at Rowen seriously.
Sure enough, Rowen continued, his voice devoid of emotion, "By the way, should I call you Nibelung Shanks, or Shanks·Rocks?"
Shanks' name was intriguing. When he was still aboard Roger's ship, his bounty poster bore the original name 'SHANKS·ROUX'. Later, after Roger disbanded his crew and Shanks set out from the West Blue to form the Red Hair Pirates, only 'SHANKS' remained.
The problem was what was removed: ROUX, the official pronunciation of Rocks.
"Just call me Shanks."
Recalling past absurdities, Shanks smiled faintly.
"When I was young, I wasn't proud of being his son. That's why I put the name 'Shanks' before 'Rocks' on my documents."
Just like Ace, who rejected his father, Roger, thus Portgas D. Ace was born.
"But later, as you know, the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) found me. They demanded that I make a choice, which I refused. So, to avoid drawing attention from those with ulterior motives, they had me remove 'ROUX' and live solely as 'SHANKS.'"
"As for Nibelung…"
Shanks met Rowen's eyes with absolute certainty.
"If I truly cared about having Celestial Dragon blood in my veins, do you think I would have agreed to their proposal to remove my birth name?"
After all, if Shanks had desired wealth and glory, the Gorōsei had countless ways to arrange for him to enter the Holy Land.
But he didn't want it.
He would rather abandon privileges that were within easy reach and live freely under his own name.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Rowen couldn't help but applaud slowly.
"Impressive. Putting myself in your shoes, I don't think I could be that free-spirited."
If Rowen himself had transmigrated into this world starting as a Celestial Dragon, he knew he wouldn't have let go. For what he intended to do, that starting point would have been terrifyingly advantageous.
But then again, if he had transmigrated as a Celestial Dragon, would he eventually have grown tired of the endless loyalty tests and schemes, and thus developed thoughts of rebellion?
The answer, of course, would differ from person to person.
"Just like how you freely disbanded your pirate crew."
Suddenly, Rowen changed the subject, the playful tone gone.
"Weren't you afraid I'd send people to kill them?"
"Not at all."
Shanks shook his head. "Because doing that would bring you no benefit other than venting momentary anger."
"On the contrary, if you don't kill them, then all the infamy will fall on me alone."
Things like spreading the news that the Celestial Dragons had been exterminated, or revealing the true location of ONE PIECE, if Rowen did it himself, the consequences would be endless.
But if pirates did it, what did that have to do with the man who now ruled the World Government?
It sounded unbelievable, yet the reality was exactly so.
To dismantle pirates' worship of ONE PIECE, it was actually very simple, just tear away its veil of mystery.
Even Imu had already been placed on the kill list. As for so-called historical taboos, Rowen truly didn't care.
Standing on the shoulders of giants, Rowen understood that once people spent a few dozen or a hundred coins touring the Forbidden City until their legs ached, their reverence for imperial power would completely vanish.
All worship is born of the unknown. Once people know it and become familiar with it, even a lofty god will eventually be treated as something ordinary.
And so, Rowen genuinely had such plans.
It was just that now, the initiative lay in Shanks' hands.
After a moment of silence, Rowen nodded. "That's true. I can't afford any unnecessary stains on myself."
"But the news of the Celestial Dragons' extermination can't be made public yet."
"I know."
At this point, Shanks actually relaxed, leaning back. "I only told Yasopp and Lucky Roo. Until you completely stabilize the situation, those suspicions will remain nothing more than suspicions."
"As for Laugh Tale, there's nothing that can be done… everyone knows I followed the Captain there. Even if you claimed ignorance, no one would believe it."
"I underestimated you…" Rowen glanced at him sharply. "But do you realize how many of them will die unnatural deaths because of this? The infamy and the subsequent hunt will be brutal."
"So what?" Shanks showed no awareness of being a prisoner at all, smiling calmly. "Don't underestimate a pirate's resolve, Soryu (Azure Dragon) ."
When Roger disbanded his pirate crew, did he think about this?
He did.
When Shanks disbanded his pirate crew, did he think about this?
He did as well.
Joining a pirate crew is not like joining some merchants' guild in search of protection and stability. What it truly means to be a pirate, these warriors of the sea understand better than anyone.
Plunder, conquest, slaughter, the pursuit of dreams, writing courage with blood and death. That is what pirates are.
They are not noble, but neither are they lowly.
The greatest difference between them and ordinary people is that they are all desperados.
Will people die?
Do pirates not die the moment they declare themselves pirates?
If someone were to betray Shanks' will because of this, the Marines would applaud with both hands and feet.
Pirates, however, would see it as a disgrace, because it wouldn't just be betrayal, but the abandonment of a pirate's fundamental dignity.
In short: You may have no shame, but we do.
(End of Chapter)
This novel is finished, and I have posted all the advanced chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395