Chapter 314: I Did Raise a Dumb Elephant, After All
The speedboat was quickly prepared.
"My lord, isn't this a bit too risky? We've never fought the Red-Hair Pirates, but we're not exactly friends either. What if they…" the bearded officer began to protest, but Jack had already leaped over the railing and landed steadily on the speedboat. The "speedboat" was actually quite large, but it was small for Jack's stature.
"Cut the crap and get out of here!" The oar was like a toothpick in his hand. Jack gave up and used his two sickles as oars instead. "If you're really worried about me, then get as far away as possible! If the boss finds out I led you all to your deaths, he'll have my hide!"
So you know it's a suicide mission! Then why are you still going?! The bearded officer was dumbfounded. But Jack's speedboat was already cutting through the storm, heading straight for Raijin Island. The fleet could only watch as his massive figure disappeared into the rain.
"We need to inform Lord Shane as soon as possible," the bearded officer sighed.
"That's the only way," his deputy nodded and rushed to the communications room. "I'll contact headquarters right now!"
A few moments later, the deputy returned, his face grim. "No good, sir! The magnetic field from Raijin Island is too strong! The Den Den Mushi can't get a signal!"
"What a pain," the bearded officer muttered. "Then let's head back at full speed! We'll contact them as soon as we're out of the storm's range!" Not only is the sea blockaded, but even the communication is jammed? He felt a growing sense of unease. What are the World Government and the Red-Hair Pirates plotting here…
Meanwhile, on the shore of Raijin Island.
Shanks beached his small boat and stepped onto the island. Terrifying bolts of lightning struck down around him, but not a single one hit him. It was as if the lightning was deliberately avoiding him. Shanks looked up at the thunderclouds and shook his head.
"They really picked a good spot… Hey, Beckman, can you still hear me? If you can, have Buggy wiggle his ear."
The moment he spoke, the ear hidden in his chest wiggled, tapping against his skin, a signal that the communication was clear. Only then did Shanks relax and walk deeper into the island.
He hadn't gone far when a cloaked figure appeared at the foot of a black rock mountain. The man was tall, his red hair also flying in the wind. He looked up and revealed a face that, aside from the scar, was identical to Shanks's.
"Shamrock," Shanks frowned and stopped. "Just as I expected. Garling sent you."
"Long time no see, dear brother. You came alone. You're a man of your word," Shamrock said, walking closer, a polite smile on his face. "Speaking of which, the last time we saw each other was in the Holy Land, right? Back then, you were still…"
"There's nothing between us anymore. No need for pleasantries," Shanks interrupted, his voice devoid of emotion. "Why are you the only one here? Where is my daughter?"
Shamrock looked him up and down and smiled without saying a word.
"Answer me! Or I won't be so polite!" Shanks's eyes turned cold, his hand already on the hilt of his saber, Gryphon.
"Don't be so tense. A little girl who has never left the Holy Land, how could we make her wait in a place like this?" Shamrock chuckled and made a gesture. "Come with me. See that tallest black rock mountain? I've already had a simple palace built inside. Your daughter is waiting there. With your Observation Haki, you should be able to sense her, right?"
Shanks frowned. He scanned the area with his Observation Haki and did indeed sense a few very weak presences inside. The others were probably servants, and the weakest, most inconspicuous one was likely a child of only a few years old. It matched. But he still didn't move. He narrowed his eyes and looked around.
"What, afraid of an ambush?" Shamrock looked back at him, a hint of mockery in his voice. "The great Yonko, Red-Haired Shanks, whose strength surpasses even my own, can also be afraid?"
"Psychological tricks won't work on me," Shanks snorted. "The Holy Knights have ways of hiding their presence. I know that. I'll wait here. You have your men bring my daughter out."
"You bastard…" Shamrock's smile faded, and a cold glint appeared in his eyes. "You're as stubborn as ever."
"In that case," Shamrock snapped his fingers, his face impassive. "Plan change. We'll take him out here."
"Yes, sir!"
Before he had even finished speaking, several figures shot out from the rain. Their powerful auras were no longer concealed. Six elite Holy Knights, armed and cloaked, had surrounded Shanks!
"The six brothers of the Omi family, who specialize in coordinated attacks?" Shanks looked at them and sneered. "So it was a trap. But I didn't expect you wouldn't even let me see my daughter."
"Don't be a fool. The daughter was a lie too. You, a traitor to the family, are you still hoping for some kind of affection? And don't blame me for being ruthless. Not only did you expose your identity and disgrace the family, but you also had to get involved with our number one enemy, that Shane!"
"Involved with Shane?" Shanks's cold expression broke, and he looked at him in bewilderment. "Hah? Where did that come from?" Since they had parted ways in Blackstone City, he hadn't even seen Shane once!
"Hmph, don't try to deny it! You think the CP agencies are incompetent? You think they can't find out about your repeated attempts to rescue him?! Last time in the North Blue, over three hundred of our compatriots were slaughtered, and at the same time, you were attacking Impel Down! Helping the Curtain Call by relieving the pressure! Such an act, not only my father, but I also cannot tolerate!" Shamrock said coldly. He stepped back and stood with the Holy Knights. "Attack! Take him!"
"Yes, Commander!" The six elite Holy Knights attacked at once, a storm of fierce blows coming from all sides.
SWISH!
Shanks's eyes narrowed. Gryphon was instantly drawn, and with a flash of his blade, he parried the attacks. Then, with a sudden change of pace, he slashed, cutting the Holy Knight in front of him in two. But in the next moment, the Holy Knight just shook his head, and a large amount of black mist erupted, and he was whole again.
"It's useless, Shanks!" Shamrock's voice came from the side. "You were once a Holy Knight. You know how terrifying this immortality is. And of all the Yonko, you're the only one not known for your stamina. These six can wear you down to death."
"Don't talk big. This immortality is annoying…" Shanks snorted, deflecting a joint attack from two of the knights. "And with these six helpers, you are indeed qualified to fight me. But… is this all you've got? You think you can trap me?" He could just leave!
"Who said it was just the six of them? Of course there are others. And it's about time they arrived," Shamrock chuckled. He was about to say more when a thunderous roar came from the sea. "RED—HAIR—!!!"
The voice was so loud it was like a clap of thunder, for a moment even drowning out the storm. Shanks and Shamrock both turned to see a speedboat cutting through the waves. A massive man stood at the prow. He grabbed two giant sickles, leaped into the air, and crashed onto the island.
"'Earth Rumble' Jack?" The other person Shamrock was talking about was this guy? Shanks's face changed, and he roared, "You bastards, since when have you been working with the Curtain Call?!" Or had this Jack betrayed Shane and joined the Holy Knights?
"Don't slander us, you idiot!" Shamrock roared, turning to his men. "What's going on?! The surrounding waters were supposed to be blockaded! How did this guy get here?!"
"The sea is indeed blockaded, and we have a surveillance ship watching Beckman and the others. We haven't seen anything unusual," a Holy Knight said, confused. "Strange, this shouldn't have happened…"
"I've finally caught you!" Jack's booming voice rang out again. He charged forward, sending a Holy Knight flying with a scream. He stopped in front of the two of them, pointed one sickle at Shanks and the other at Shamrock, and roared, "Just as I thought! The two brothers, meeting in secret… Hey, Red-Hair! As long as I'm here, you're not getting away with your dirty deal with the World Government!"
Me, making a deal with the World Government? "Don't slander me, you idiot!" Shanks was stunned for a moment, then he too exploded with anger. "You big oaf, can't you see?! I'm being ambushed! Ambushed!" Though he was angry, he immediately understood Jack's position. He suppressed the urge to beat the idiot up and covered his face with his hand. "This is a real mess…"
"Is that so?" a faint, old voice said. "Then may I join in the fun?"
CRACK!
A purple-black, five-pointed star sigil, which had appeared on the ground at some point, suddenly expanded. The once-raging thunderclouds in the sky above froze. In the center of the swirling dark clouds, a deep, abyssal rift opened, and the night quietly descended. A massive crescent moon appeared. In the next moment, in the pale moonlight, a massive figure, nearly a hundred meters tall, stepped out, its face impassive, and looked down on them like a god.
"What is that thing?!" Jack's eyes widened. Even he was like a small child in front of this newcomer. Even the giants of Elbaf weren't this big! "Hey, Red-Hair! What is this thing?! This has to be a Devil Fruit ability, right?" he asked, turning his head.
"So even you, an Elder, have come down to the lower world in person?" Shanks stared at the figure, his face grim. "Yes, of course it's a Devil Fruit ability. To be precise, it's the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Tsukuyomi…"
Tsukuyomi??? He had heard of it as a child, a powerful figure from mythology, but he couldn't remember any of the details. Oh well!
"An Elder, huh? Then you're even more worthy of being cut than Red-Hair!" Jack snorted, gripping his giant sickles. He looked up at the massive figure and let out a savage laugh. "Hey, old fossil, stop pretending to be a god! I've beaten an Elder before! If you've got the guts, come and fight me!"
Hmm? The massive, divine figure's gaze shifted to him, and it frowned slightly. "An insignificant ant," the indifferent voice boomed like thunder in the night sky. "A mere low-life pirate, you are not worthy of speaking to me."
Before he could finish, Garling waved a hand. SWISH! A brilliant, blinding white moonlight, carrying an invisible, terrifying pressure, descended. Jack screamed, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and was sent flying like a broken puppet.
Dawn Island.
Shane, having just finished his training, had just gotten out of the shower when Angewomon blocked the bathroom door.
"Red-Hair is making a secret deal with the World Government on Raijin Island," he said, looking up in surprise after hearing the report. "And Jack went there all by himself?"
"Yes, it's probably been a few hours now," she said.
He refused the towel Angewomon offered and, using his mastered Life Return, shook his head, and all the water droplets were instantly flung from his hair. After quickly getting dressed, Shane went to the window, a hint of helplessness on his face. "If it wasn't for this, he would have completed his mission perfectly… Has Jack's Vivre Card changed?"
"Here, not yet," Angewomon handed him the Vivre Card. But the moment he took it, the card suddenly shrank slightly.
Hmm? The two of them were stunned. This was a sign that the life force was weakening. If it returned to normal, the card would also return to its original size. But if it started to burn… it would mean that the person it represented was on the verge of death…
"Looks like Jack's getting beaten pretty badly," Shane said, looking out at the endless sea. "If I remember correctly, the closest territory to Raijin Island is Dressrosa, right?"
"Yes, Master… are you going yourself?"
"What else? If you raise a dumb elephant, you have to be prepared to clean up his mess," someone sighed.
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