"The Red Hair Pirates are about to be annihilated!"
In the Underworld, various factions were closely watching the battle on Gotel Island. The scenes on the screen showed the Red Hair Pirates trapped in a desperate situation.
Once their officers were wiped out, even a Four Emperor like Red Hair, no matter how powerful, couldn't possibly stand against the entire Beasts Pirates.
Defeat was inevitable!
"Earth Calamity Gurd!"
The one who broke the stalemate in this war was undoubtedly Earth Calamity Gurd. Without him, even if the Red Hair Pirates couldn't defeat the Beasts, they wouldn't have fallen so quickly.
Even their ship had been destroyed!
"Why would such a powerful figure willingly serve under Kaido?"
The various factions couldn't comprehend it.
Given the strength Earth Calamity had displayed, even if he wasn't quite at the level of a Four Emperor, he wasn't far off. Logically, such a powerhouse would be too proud to submit to anyone else.
"Fufufufu, this is too entertaining!"
Mingo watched the screen, covering his face as he let out an eerily sinister laugh, his voice laced with unspoken envy and resentment.
The fall of a Four Emperor's crew would surely shock the world, but this war wouldn't end that way.
The reason was simple—he had received a mandatory summons from the World Government. However, since the enemy this time was the Beasts, he hadn't responded.
Just as he had anticipated, a Beasts warship on the screen suddenly exploded, followed by the appearance of numerous naval vessels.
Gotel Sea!
"Biu!!!"
A golden Laser Beam pierced through the ocean, obliterating a Beasts warship. The sudden turn of events brought the Beasts' offensive to a halt.
"Where did that attack come from?!"
"The Navy?!"
"That wasn't artillery fire—it was Admiral Kizaru!"
Through the thick fog, a fleet of warships emerged. Standing atop the bow cannon of the lead ship was a man clad in a yellow-striped suit.
Admiral Kizaru!
The Navy had finally made their move!
"The Navy?!"
Gurd lifted his head, glaring at the naval forces.
His expression darkened instantly.
Why would the Navy help Red Hair? What benefit did they gain from this? Even if the Red Hair Pirates survived this ordeal, they wouldn't be able to maintain their position as a Four Emperor!
The Beasts Pirates had already secured victory in this war. The current battle was merely about expanding their gains.
"Clang!!!"
A cyan Slashing Wave sliced across the sea, cutting through the furnace Gurd had constructed and creating an escape route for the Red Hair officers.
Deep within the fog, several green Will-o'-the-wisps flickered to life.
A solitary boat shaped like a coffin emerged from the mist. On it stood a man wearing a black top hat adorned with white feathers, with an extravagantly large black sword strapped to his back.
"The World's Greatest Swordsman"—Hawkeye!
"That's... Hawkeye!!!"
The pirates' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in terror!
Not only had a Navy Admiral appeared, but even a Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea had joined the fray!
And he wasn't the only one!
A ship pulled by two giant sea serpents emerged from the fog.
"Who dares place a mere puppy in this queen's path?!"
"Bam!"
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Such was the presence of this woman that even a stray dog on the roadside would get kicked!
"The Pirate Empress"—Boa Hancock!
The pirates' eyes turned into hearts as they instantly fell under her spell.
"So... so beautiful!"
"This is the most beautiful woman in the world!"
"She's utterly breathtaking—I'd give her anything she wants!"
It wasn't just the underlings; even the officers were left parched and hearts aflutter—especially a certain lustful man among them.
"Lord Gurd, the situation isn't looking good!"
"Ohhh, she's so beautiful!"
Gurd's eyes also turned heart-shaped, but he quickly snapped out of it under his subordinates' repeated reminders, hurriedly composing his expression.
The crew collectively booed.
"Lord Gurd, you're useless!"
"You bastards, you were all just as mesmerized by that woman! How dare you criticize me!"
Gurd glared down at his subordinates, shouting angrily.
"Besides, what's wrong with men appreciating beauty?!"
"Eh?!"
The pirates stood dumbfounded.
Truly worthy of Lord Gurd, boldly saying what they didn't dare to voice!
Gurd snorted coldly as his body shrank.
Though he didn't understand why the Marines would help Red Hair, the current situation was no longer favorable for continuing the battle.
With two Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea—and the most troublesome ones at that—plus Admiral Kizaru, the Beasts no longer held the advantage in combat power.
But he'd remember this debt!
He'd settle it one by one later!
"Strange."
Gurd frowned deeply.
The Royal Seven Warlords were all eccentric individuals. Hawkeye being friends with Red Hair and appearing here made sense, but what was the Pirate Empress doing here?
Wasn't this woman the most capricious, disliking being ordered around?
Could she have come specifically to deal with him?
Huh, that might actually be possible!
What man could resist such a radiant beauty?
Damn those Marines, how despicable!
After symbolically destroying one warship, Kizaru ceased his actions. The Marine fleet maintained a distant standoff with the Beasts.
Clearly, the Marines had no intention of engaging the Beasts in battle—their intervention was solely to halt this war.
"Wororororo, Marines!"
Kaido and Red Hair ceased their duel. Transforming into the Azure Dragon, Kaido soared into the sky, surveying both the Marine fleet and the two Royal Seven Warlords.
With victory nearly in their grasp, only to be interrupted by a third party, how could he not be furious? But the Beasts had already expended considerable resources in this war, and fighting the Marines now would only increase their losses.
"Big Brother Kaido!"
Gurd shouted upward, shaking his head at Kaido.
Their objective had been achieved—Red Hair Pirates' position as one of the Four Emperors was now unstable, and all their territories would soon bear the Beasts' name.
They were the true victors of this war. From now on, the Beasts' dominance in the Underworld would be unchallenged!
"Wororororo, let's go!"
Kaido turned to leave.
The Beasts' officers also boarded their ships to depart.
Before leaving, Gurd cast one last glance at the Red Hair Pirates—every officer bore heavy wounds, their morale at rock bottom.
And those Marines!
The Marines' unprecedented actions must have been driven by external factors. The only ones who could command the Marines were the Celestial Dragons—after careful consideration, this seemed the most plausible explanation.
Damn those privileged nobles!
Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's office.
"The war has ended. Red Hair lost!"
Sengoku hung up the den den mushi, turning to the man seated on the sofa—a man who bore an identical face to Shanks.
A member of the God's Knights, Figarland Shamrock Saint—the twin brother of Red Hair Shanks, one of the Four Emperors.
"What a failure."
Shamrock snorted coldly, deeply dissatisfied with this outcome.
No matter what, Shanks carried their family's blood in his veins. Yet now he'd been defeated by filthy pirates.
Shamrock commanded sternly, "Arrange it immediately. I wish to meet that foolish younger brother of mine."
"Understood!"
Sengoku nodded in acknowledgment.
This time, the Navy took action precisely because of Charlos' order—or more accurately, the command from his father.
Red Hair, as one of the Four Emperors, possessed overwhelming strength. The Figarland Family had long sought to bring him back to the Holy Land to elevate their status there.
This defeat presented the perfect opportunity.
But based on his understanding of Red Hair, the man would most likely refuse.
That man wasn't so easily broken!