Chapter 549: The Impact of the Warlords (Part 2)
A fierce wind howled, appearing suddenly over the sea and gradually forming several tornadoes.
"Damn it!" Buggy's ship rocked violently from side to side. He quickly grabbed onto a nearby railing, watching the storm gather around them.
Mihawk plunged his blade into the deck to brace himself against the howling wind. Crocodile raised his golden hook, his eyes narrowed as he watched the figure floating in the air before them. The few CP0 agents also hunkered down, struggling to resist the gusts of wind.
"He's gotten stronger!" the CP0 agent in the lion mask said, his eyes fixed on the figure in the air as he stood firm against the wind.
Swish!
The sound of a sword being drawn rang out. Everyone turned to look. Mihawk had pulled his longsword from the deck and swung it downwards. A green slash of unparalleled power shot towards one of the tornadoes. But the moment the slash touched the tornado, it was instantly torn apart by the howling wind. Seeing this, Mihawk's hawk-like eyes narrowed. He abandoned any further attempts to attack.
Time trickled by. The Buggy Pirates' fleet of over a hundred ships was tossed about by the seven or eight surrounding tornadoes, like a small boat in a raging sea, in constant danger of sinking.
Dragon floated in the air, his green robes whipping about. He quietly watched the Buggy Pirates' fleet. He glanced back over his shoulder. Seeing that all the Revolutionaries had withdrawn, his figure flickered and disappeared from the sky.
The sea's turbulence gradually subsided, and the ships stopped rocking. The ocean once again became calm and peaceful. But no one breathed a sigh of relief. Instead, they all stared grimly at the island ahead, which was now shrouded in smoke but completely empty. Aside from the crackling of flames, it was eerily quiet.
Mihawk and Crocodile stood together, staring ahead without a word, their thoughts unknown.
Dragon's rear-guard action had allowed the Revolutionary Army to preserve the bulk of its forces. He hadn't sunk a single one of the Buggy Pirates' ships. The level of control he demonstrated was beyond that of ninety-nine percent of the people in the world.
Buggy watched the Revolutionaries leave and did not give chase. He wasn't a fool. There was no need to offend such a powerful individual for the sake of the World Government. The fact that his opponent had left without causing him any losses was already giving him plenty of face. To pursue them would be tactless.
"Return to the ships!" Buggy waved his hand and turned back towards his cabin. Hearing the order, the Buggy Pirates, as if they had found their backbone, immediately sprang into action. This was likely the grandest scene the Buggy Pirates had encountered in their five years of existence, far more intense than being bombarded by Garp in the East Blue.
After returning to the Revolutionary Army's ship, Dragon bowed his head in thought.
"Dragon, they didn't follow us, did they?" Ivankov asked worriedly.
"No. It seems the Buggy Pirates don't care much for the World Government's orders," Dragon replied, his mind constantly working. "What do you think about having Kuma become one of the Seven Warlords?" he suddenly asked Ivankov.
"Kuma? A Warlord of the Sea? Would that work?" Ivankov asked, stunned.
"Why not? Kuma is also a pirate. Besides our own people, only a few of Rockefeller's top commanders know that he's a revolutionary. He's currently in the New World. As long as he causes a big enough stir, he can attract the World Government's attention. There are still plenty of Warlord spots left," Dragon said pointedly. "We revolutionaries need to plant a nail inside the World Government."
Dragon's words were a revelation for Ivankov. "That could actually work. It just depends on how Kuma handles it," he nodded.
"I will inform him," Dragon said, nodding in return. The Revolutionary Army had successfully escaped the crisis, but in their hasty retreat, they had left behind a considerable number of weapons.
In the West Blue.
"Captain, that childhood friend of yours has really made it big. He actually became one of the Seven Warlords. That means he's joined the World Government!" Benn Beckman said, looking at the newspaper.
Shanks looked at the paper as well. "Haha, Buggy would never join the World Government. He's probably just planning to use their banner to go treasure hunting." As someone who had grown up with Buggy, Shanks saw through his intentions at a glance. He smiled, not taking the matter too seriously.
"Captain, your friend is doing better and better. We're still starving three days out of nine following you. It's pathetic!" Lucky Roux commented.
"Hahahahaha! Can't be helped! We're the most free pirate crew, after all," Shanks laughed good-naturedly. His hand rested on the hilt of the longsword at his waist. It was one of the twelve Supreme Grade Swords, "Gryphon," which he had found after stealing Buggy's treasure map. If Buggy knew, he would probably hate me to death, Shanks thought, stroking the blade.
"Let's go! On with our journey! To find our nakama!" Shanks declared, standing at the bow of their newly built pirate ship.
"Captain, when are we going to the New World?" Yasopp asked.
Shanks touched Gryphon's hilt. "It's still too early. This is not our era yet," he said meaningfully. The members of the Red-Haired Pirates all looked at their captain, standing at the bow wearing his straw hat.
The world continued to move along its original trajectory.
On the Sabaody Archipelago, at Shakky's Rip-Off Bar.
"My, my. That red-nosed brat from your old ship has really done it now. He's caused another big stir," Shakky said, leaning on the bar and looking at Rayleigh, who was drinking.
"Hahahaha! I never thought the World Government would actually invite Buggy to become a Warlord," Rayleigh laughed freely.
"The appearance of the Warlords means the pirates are out of control again. I wonder when the person you're waiting for will appear," Shakky said, taking Rayleigh's glass to wipe it.
"I don't know. But the prophecy will not be wrong," Rayleigh said, his belief in this unshakable.
Shakky shrugged.
Bang!
The door was suddenly thrown open. A figure appeared anxiously in the doorway, panting as she looked at Shakky behind the bar. Her appearance stunned Shakky, who never expected to see her here.
"Elder Nyon!" Shakky exclaimed.
"Huff... huff... Shakky, it's terrible!" Elder Nyon panted. "Three of our children from Kuja Island have been captured by slave traders!"
Hearing this, the expressions on both Shakky's and Rayleigh's faces instantly turned serious. Shakky immediately closed and locked the bar door, leading Elder Nyon to a table. Forgetting her thirst, Elder Nyon quickly explained what had happened.
After a long while, Rayleigh drained his glass. "I'll go investigate this," he said, slinging his coat over his shoulders and heading for the door. "Slave traders usually take their prey to the auction house."
"Be careful," Shakky called after him"
---
Read up to 35 Chapters ahead on patreon.com/Fanglin
[Please leave a 5 Star review and power stone for this novel]
*Thank you*