"What?"
Aunt Linlin's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. She felt more and more lost about what Ian was trying to say.
"You'll understand soon. There's no need for things like abandonment after use or settling scores later."
Ian's smile was bright.
"Whew—"
Aunt Linlin exhaled slowly. She still didn't know what this kid was thinking, but since he put it that way—
"So you're saying that no matter what happens next, you won't hold us responsible. Right?"
Ian's lips curved upward. "So go ahead and give it everything you've got. Don't hold back."
He deliberately looked toward the Shanks man. "Especially you, Shanks. The matter regarding Kozuki Oden never had a proper conclusion back then. Let's use this battle to settle it once and for all."
"Are you serious, Ian!?"
Shanks' expression grew unnaturally grave.
He truly believed Ian was the one Roger had been waiting for.
The one capable of changing the world.
If Ian were to fall here, who knew how many years it would take before someone like him appeared again?
Such a thing must never be allowed to happen.
"It doesn't matter. Just do what you have to, Red Hair. You'll understand soon enough—there's no point."
It was Mihawk who said this.
He stood with his arms crossed, looking completely unfazed.
He had been worried about Shanks at first.
But since Ian himself said so, there was nothing left for him to worry about.
No matter how impossible the problem seemed, once Ian decided to use his strength, everything would be resolved with ease.
"In that case, mama mama! Then this old lady won't hold back!"
Big Mom raised her hand toward her hat. When she lowered it, she was already gripping a massive longsword. "Ian! Don't you dare regret this!"
"Regret?"
Ian scratched the back of his head lightly. "Didn't I already say? There's no need."
Redfield tightened his grip around his umbrella-sword in silence.
If Ian was taken down here… would Shiryu still remain loyal to the Beasts Pirates?
And Perona's safety—wouldn't that finally be resolved?
"Lord Ian seems to have already decided. So what should we do…?" Teach whispered.
He didn't believe Ian would lose, of course. But at a moment like this, showing loyalty was the right move.
"Mihawk, Kuma, Teach—stand back." Ian smiled. "Let me stretch my body a little."
What arrogance.
Vista gritted his teeth hard.
Even if he was facing an enemy—an enemy he despised from the bottom of his heart—he had to admit it: Ian was truly a man of extraordinary courage.
"Then so be it."
Shanks lightly nodded. "Ian, I'm sorry."
The matter of Kozuki Oden had always been a thorn in his side.
Since Ian had proposed settling it through this battle, he wouldn't refuse.
After all, even if Ian were to lose, with him, Mihawk, and Kuma present, nothing would happen to Ian.
"There's nothing to apologize for."
Ian simply smiled. "I think this battle is coming at just the right time."
A faint smile curved Shanks's lips.
Indeed, it was better to deal with these hidden dangers now than to let them explode when the war finally broke out.
"Hiyori, stand up."
Shanks stepped beside the girl, then turned, back to the Whitebeard Pirates, facing Ian. Slowly, he drew his beloved sword from his waist. "This is all I can do now."
There was nothing more he could do.
He couldn't betray Ian's trust, not now.
"Thank you… Thank you so much! Thank you for helping me, Shanks!"
Kozuki Hiyori sobbed.
This should be enough.
Father… you have to win!
Not just to protect the Whitebeard Pirates, but also to avenge my father, mother, and brother!
"Father!"
Marco looked back, toward the father he respected most.
There was no better opportunity than this!
Ian was practically seeking death himself—there was no reason not to grant him that chance.
Otherwise, if he waited until the All-Beasts Pirates' top officers arrived, there would be no way to fight back.
"Thud!"
The wrapped hilt of a naginata slammed into the ground, leaving a deep crater.
"Kurararara!"
The man who had once held the title of the world's strongest stepped forward, his crescent-shaped mustache quivering as he laughed. "Arrogant little brat… you mean to take on all four of us alone?"
Even Whitebeard was amazed by Ian's audacity.
He himself aside, Charlotte Linlin had once been known as a pirate emperor, and Redfield had been a world-renowned figure in the previous era.
Only Shanks's fame was slightly less, but under Whitebeard's observation Haki, his strength was no less than Charlotte Linlin's.
"If you think it's not enough, Whitebeard, you can have your sons and daughters join in," Ian said with a smile. "I'll go easy on them."
"Mama, Mama! Isn't that perfect?"
Aunt Linlin hoisted her great sword onto her shoulder, grinning. "Whitebeard, wouldn't having more people just give you a better chance?"
"If we can't win ourselves, what use would it be to have the kids fight?"
Whitebeard just snorted coldly.
Then, the four of them split into two directions—two in front of Ian, two behind him—effectively trapping him in a pincer attack.
"This is going to be the climactic battle," Mihawk said with a smile, "Honestly… I really want to go help Ian."
Being able to fight these guys all at once? That alone would make dying worth it.
But.
There's no need.
Mihawk knew perfectly well that helping Ian was completely unnecessary.
How could Ian possibly lose?
All they needed to do was sit back and watch the show.
"I bet Lord Ian will win in half an hour," Teach murmured quietly.
"Half an hour?"
Mihawk let out a cold laugh. "At most… ten minutes."
The gap in strength was just too huge.
It was like the Pirate Emperor facing four Shichibukai back in the day—how long could it even take?
"Pops! Go for it! Take him down!"
The Whitebeard Pirates were already cheering on their captain.
Marco and Vista's eyes burned with intensity.
Finally, a chance to take down Ian had appeared!
"Hmm… truly moving,"
Ian glanced ahead, then looked back, "This should be the strongest lineup in the current pirate world outside of the Beasts Pirates."
No kidding. Apart from the Beasts Pirates, all the top-tier pirates were here, standing across from Ian.
"Then," A golden flame surged instantly, forming a tornado of gold that shot into the sky.
"Let's begin."
**********
Support me on my patreon and read upto 20 early chapters.
patreon.com/PirateKing24