Kong stood there stunned.
He had never imagined that this operation would be difficult to this extent.
Forcing two Admiral-level Marines to this point, one injured, one possibly severely wounded and dying.
"Get out of the way!"
Kong roared, forcibly pushing back Silas and rushing toward the ground consumed by explosion. His injuries were truly severe, so Silas had no intention of stopping him.
Taking advantage of Kong going to rescue Sebastes, Silas hurried to Roya's side.
"Are you alright?"
"Cannot die yet."
Lying on the ground, the old pirate, who had already reverted from werewolf form to human appearance, grinned, his mouth full of blood, yet still showing a smile.
One hand had already been broken by Sebastes, and that final strike had used every ounce of his strength. Roya could not move a single finger now.
But he was happier than ever before.
"Captain, we won, right?"
"Yes, we won."
Hit by his Conqueror's Haki-infused strike, then smashed down by Roya, and finally taking a concentrated Dynamite Rock bullet explosion, even if Sebastes did not die, he was crippled.
And for Sebastes, compared to death, losing his power and becoming a cripple might be even more painful.
Especially seeing Silas rise to power by stepping on his reputation.
"Did you see Kureha when you came back? Get me two 'secret medicines.' Do not forget there is still an Admiral candidate besides the Marine Admiral."
"Captain, in your current condition, can you still take 'secret medicine'?"
"Nonsense!"
Silas smiled confidently.
"Even without 'secret medicine,' I can still fight Kong until tomorrow!"
The so-called 'secret medicine' was a special stimulant developed by their ship's doctor that could comprehensively enhance a person's physical condition.
But Silas only used this medicine before age sixty because the burden on the heart was too heavy. Combined with Silas's combat style that already used many abilities that increased bodily strain, once the load became excessive, the user might die on the spot.
Ever since Silas, at age sixty, had taken the secret medicine and laid bedridden for half a month, even Kureha had almost failed to save him. Kureha had forbidden Silas from taking secret medicine again.
But now, Silas felt he could do it again!
"I met Kureha when I came, but she only gave me one. Captain, are you sure you want to use it now?"
"Of course!"
Silas looked at the ground melted by the explosion. In the firelight of the blast, he could vaguely see two figures, one tall and one short.
His initial goal had not been to defeat Kong and Sebastes.
But to repel them.
Achieving this would actually be easy.
Just holding them off long enough, the Marines' losses alone would make Kong issue a retreat order.
Even if Sebastes objected, it would be useless.
On this point, Silas believed Kong was definitely more principled than Sebastes.
But the situation had changed.
The White Wolf Pirates' return had altered the circumstances.
What was originally planned as repulsion had become defeat.
Sebastes lay on the ground with an unknown fate. Without the help of two Admiral-level fighters, the Marine forces faced heavy losses against the pirates on Sphinx Island.
The Marines' operation had completely failed.
The only way to reverse this failure was to defeat him!
So at this moment, Kong absolutely would not retreat.
If he retreated, this operation would truly fail.
He could only bear the hopes of all Marines in this operation.
But I also have reasons not to lose!
Silas looked toward his former crew members. Roya was no longer able to fight, and Lily had exhausted all her ammunition, her stamina long since depleted.
They could have found somewhere to hide and spend their twilight years in peace.
Yet to help him, they had stepped back into Sphinx.
If Kong bore the hopes of all Marines in this operation, then Silas bore the hopes of all White Wolf Pirates members.
Those who came, and those who did not.
He had to step forward and tell the world that starting today, Marine Admirals would no longer be their obstacle!
Sebastes was dying.
For the first time, he discovered how weak his body was.
Flames burned his body.
But the physical pain could not compare to even one ten-thousandth of his spiritual defeat.
He had lost.
Lost to White Wolf Silas.
That man he had always deeply disliked.
But what was the root of this dislike? Because Silas was handsome? Because Silas had better relationships? Or because Silas was a pirate?
A pirate?
That was it.
He disliked Silas because Silas was a pirate.
Clearly a pirate, yet always liked to meddle in affairs, liked to interfere with World Government operations, and liked to stand up for the weak.
Why?
Was this not what we Marines should be doing?
What right did a pirate have to do these things?
The things that should have been done by Marines were done by Silas instead.
And when he wanted to restore the Marines' reputation, he was horrified to discover that those things Marines should do, things he should do, were things the World Government did not allow.
Freeing slaves, driving pirates from non-affiliated nations, and protecting slaves in non-affiliated countries. These were things the White Wolf Pirates would do and had already done, yet their Marines could not.
Because it was not allowed!
If they freed slaves, where would the Celestial Dragons go to buy slaves?
If they helped non-affiliated nations drive away pirates, would true member nations still obediently pay Heavenly Tribute seeking protection?
So it was not his fault, nor the Marines' fault.
It was Silas's fault!
Being a pirate yet doing things that did not match a pirate's identity.
That was why he disliked Silas.
Every time Silas acted, it was like smearing dirt on his cape representing "justice," like silent mockery.
He envied Silas.
Clearly a pirate, yet able to obtain freedom.
"Admiral!"
"Horse Admiral!"
"Crimson Horse Admiral!"
Kong's voice came from far to near. Seeing Kong's young, anxious face, Sebastes seemed to remember his former self.
Why had he become a Marine?
Sebastes placed his hand on Kong's chest.
"Sorry."
When all memories fell into silence, in the final moment of life, Sebastes had forgotten Silas, forgotten the White Wolf Pirates.
"Please tell Aina and Aria that I am sorry."
Those were the names of the two female slaves he kept on his warship.
Silas disliking him was justified!
Sebastes's life slowly ebbed away before Kong's eyes. Since becoming a Marine, this was the first time Kong felt so helpless and lost.
Sebastes's reputation within the Marines actually was not good.
His corrupt lifestyle had always made Sebastes subject to criticism within the Marines.
But on one point alone, Sebastes was serious.
In operations to capture pirates, Sebastes always led from the front.
He could become a Marine Admiral not just because of his strength, but because of those pirates imprisoned in Impel Down, criminals whose crimes were too numerous to record.
But now, Sebastes was dead.
Regardless of what problems his lifestyle had, when facing pirates and fighting them, he had never retreated a single step.
This operation had already failed.
The death of a Marine Admiral would definitely nail his name to the pillar of shame in Marine history.
But none of that mattered anymore.
Admiral Crimson Horse was dead, and White Wolf Silas was still alive.
There was only one thing he could do now.
"SILAS!!!"
Terrifying momentum dispersed the thick smoke rising from the explosion.
Both Kong and Silas saw each other.
Bearing the hopes of all Marines.
Bearing the hopes of White Wolf Pirates members.
Kong and Silas crossed a thousand meters, their fists colliding.
"I absolutely will not lose!"
"I absolutely will not lose!"
(TL NOTE: Unfortunately, my LOTR: Playing Minecraft in Middle-earth book was mistakenly flagged as spam on Webnovel and removed. I'll re-upload it under a different title by today at the latest. Thank you for your patience!)