"Hiyori… is it?"
Shanks's gaze lingered on the young girl's face.
To be honest, he couldn't recognize her at all.
When the Roger Pirates disbanded, this child hadn't even turned two. That was twenty years ago.
He couldn't even remember what she looked like back then, let alone connect the toddler from his memories to the girl before him.
But the moment he saw her, he understood—she truly was Oden and Lady Toki's daughter.
She resembled them so much. Far too much.
Her features were almost identical to Lady Toki's, while the differences carried traces of Oden's traits.
After all, he had sailed with the Kozuki couple for a year or two. The instant he laid eyes on the girl, the connection struck him like lightning.
His heart wavered.
"Oh?"
Ian raised a brow, amused.
Things had just become far more interesting.
"Hiyori…"
Whitebeard watched the girl stumble out from the crowd. Just her posture alone told him exactly what she intended to do.
"Shanks!"
Kozuki Hiyori's beautiful eyes brimmed with tears. "Please… help me! My father, my mother, my brother—everyone died because of the Beasts Pirates. I don't want my foster father to die at Ian's hands too!"
The more she spoke, the more her emotions spiraled out of control. Tears streamed down like rain, and her slender body collapsed before Shanks. Her pale forehead struck the ground with a harsh thud.
"Shanks, please… help me!"
Shanks' body stiffened.
"Tch."
Mihawk pulled the corner of his mouth into a crooked line.
Who would have thought Whitebeard had Kozuki Oden's daughter aboard his ship?
Shanks had once sailed under Roger alongside Oden. The two had been close comrades.
Now, with Oden's daughter kneeling and begging him… what choice would Shanks make?
Mihawk hesitated, then spoke quietly.
"Don't do anything stupid."
Even if everyone here—except Ian—joined forces against him, Mihawk still didn't believe Ian would lose.
He would never forget that day.
Ian, serious for only a single strike, had completely crushed him.
Ian wasn't just strong.
He was something far beyond that.
He was already approaching the realm of the unbeatable.
Shanks stared at Hiyori, who knelt before Ian with her slender frame trembling, and he couldn't help falling into deep thought.
The chance to inherit Joy Boy's will from eight hundred years ago, overthrow the World Government, and reshape the world… it might already be right in front of him.
But back on Roger's ship, Oden and Lady Toki had taken great care of him. Naturally, a deep bond had formed between them.
Turning a blind eye to their deaths and choosing to cooperate with the Beasts Pirates had already left him uncomfortable.
Now, faced with the heartfelt plea of Oden and Toki's daughter, he hesitated even more.
Such was the nature of emotion—it tied people down with things others might consider trivial.
"What are you all hesitating for?!"
Seeing Shanks falter, Marco's heart lit up with hope. Seizing the moment, he shouted toward Charlotte Linlin and Redfield, "Even Shanks is wavering now! If the two of you attack together, how could Ian possibly withstand it?"
"Do you really want to be Ian's cannon fodder, thrown at the World Government? Or even if you survive by sheer luck, do you want to wait for Ian's vengeance later?"
Big Mom and Redfield both turned to look at Ian standing before them.
A dangerous spark flickered in their eyes.
What Marco said made sense.
If they could eliminate Ian here and now, who among those unruly top officers of the Beasts Pirates could keep them in line?
Could Kaido and Bullet coexist peacefully? Would Yamato and Hancock tolerate each other's presence? Would Aokiji still remain with the Beasts Pirates?
Even Mihawk—would he stay in a Beasts Pirates crew that no longer had Ian?
Marco noticed the shift immediately. He clenched his fist, unable to hide the joy rising on his face.
They could win.
Redfield, Charlotte Linlin, and the old man together…
Even if Shanks refused to fight, with Hiyori here, he couldn't very well help Ian attack the Whitebeard Pirates.
If that's the case, it's already enough to defeat Ian!
Although Ian still had Mihawk, Teach, and that unknown giant standing beside him.
But as the sons and daughters of Whitebeard, they weren't going to sit back and do nothing. Even if they had to risk their lives, they would at least stall these monsters!
"Sigh."
Ian let out a helpless breath. "So in the end, I still have to resort to force."
"My lord Ian!"
Teach clenched his fists instantly, shouting his loyalty with full force. "Let me take the lead!"
What a joke. So what if Big Mom and Redfield rebelled? He had personally witnessed Ian's battle against Mihawk.
As long as this man was willing, there wouldn't be a shred of suspense in this fight.
But Ian simply waved his hand and turned back to look at Aunt Linlin and Redfield. "This won't do."
He said, "This really won't do. If you're half-hearted when fighting the World Government, won't that be troublesome?"
"Well then. Today, right here, we'll settle this problem you weren't even aware existed."
"Ian!"
Aunt Linlin felt every pore on her body contract. Her hair stood on end.
A formless, indescribable fear welled up from deep within.
But the fear quickly vanished, replaced instead by burning anger that flushed her entire face.
What a joke!
This brat hadn't even done anything yet—was she seriously about to feel afraid of him?
Sure, that bastard Kaido had said that even the two of them together couldn't defeat Ian. But right now, it wasn't just the two of them!
"So what exactly are you trying to say, brat?"
Aunt Linlin's voice rose sharply.
"Redfield, Aunt Linlin, and Shanks," Ian looked at the three comrades he had invited from across the seas and said seriously, "I'll give you a chance. A chance to stand against me."
"What?"
Redfield's brows tightened in an instant. "Ian, what are you talking about?"
"I mean," Ian smiled lightly, "I'm going to show you personally that what Marco said is completely meaningless."
**********
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