Chapter 85: The Suzaku Gang Reunited!
"You guys started the party without me?"
Suzaku's clear, relaxed voice cut through the heavy atmosphere like a sharp blade, reaching the ears of every powerhouse present in the ruins of Grove 9.
This voice instantly made Garp's face turn incredibly ugly. The excitement of battle vanished, replaced by a headache-inducing recognition.
He froze mid-step, his Haki-coated fist still clenched. His gaze sharply moved away from the regenerating demon, Ulquiorra, and fixed dead on the source of the voice.
That figure... that confident smile... that annoying air of superiority. There was no mistake.
It was none other than "Suzaku", the rookie captain he had been ordered to find weeks ago but had missed at every turn.
And behind him, standing like a dark angel, was the alluring woman with black wings. "Blackwing Demon" Albedo. Her bounty of 720 million Berries was already a headache, but her aura suggested she was worth far more.
However, what made Garp's left eyelid twitch uncontrollably wasn't the rookies. It was an old man standing slightly behind them, quietly shuffling his feet, trying to blend into the background of a broken wall.
That distinctive silver hair. That round glasses. That aura of a retired king.
"Rayleigh!"
Garp's voice was like a clap of thunder, full of disbelief and irritation.
"Why are you here?! Don't tell me you've come out of retirement! Mingling with these brats... have you joined them too?!"
This roar made Rayleigh stiffen. He stopped mid-step, his attempt to sneak away completely foiled.
"Ah..." Rayleigh scratched the back of his head, letting out a dry, awkward laugh. "Ah hahaha... Garp. It's been a long time. You look... healthy."
Caught red-handed, Rayleigh glared back at Suzaku, annoyed.
"You little brat," Rayleigh complained in a low voice that only Suzaku could hear. "You did that on purpose, didn't you? Walking out in the open like that. I was almost gone!"
Then, he put on an innocent smile and waved his hands repeatedly at Garp.
"Don't misunderstand, don't misunderstand! I'm not part of this mess. I just happened to be drinking nearby and noticed the island shaking. I purely came to watch the excitement! Old habits, you know?"
He pointed at the Marines. "You guys carry on. Pretend I'm not here. I'm just a spectator."
"As if I can ignore you!" Garp barked.
Before he could continue his tirade, a flash of golden light blinded the Marines.
Flash.
Admiral Kizaru materialized beside Garp. He had his hands in his pockets, his sunglasses reflecting the chaos.
"Oh dear, oh dear..." Kizaru pouted, looking at the new arrivals. "The trouble here hasn't been resolved, and now even more troublesome guys have arrived? This is turning into quite the party~"
His gaze passed over Garp and landed on Suzaku. A perpetually inscrutable, lazy smile appeared on his face.
"Little brother Suzaku... I haven't been able to find you before. You're quite elusive for a rookie."
Kizaru tilted his head.
"But now that you're here, I have some good news to tell you! A special offer from the top."
"Oh?" Suzaku raised an eyebrow in feigned surprise. He crossed his arms, looking amused.
"When the Marines see a pirate, usually they think about how to capture or kill them. But you have 'good news'? Tell me, I'm very interested. Is it a discount on handcuffs?"
"It's an order from the World Government," Kizaru said slowly, as if discussing the weather.
"The Five Elders have taken an interest in your... potential. They wish to recommend you to become one of the new Shichibukai (Seven Warlords of the Sea)."
A gasp ran through the ranks of the Marines. A Warlord offer? Here?
"If you accept," Kizaru continued, "the bounties on you and all your crew members will be frozen. You will be granted immunity. You will have the right to legal plunder, as long as you pay the Government's tribute. From then on, the Marines will look the other way."
"Oh, that sounds like a good proposal indeed," Suzaku stroked his chin, looking thoughtful. "Shichibukai... legal pirates? Money, power, immunity... For ordinary people, these conditions are indeed very tempting."
Hearing this, both Kizaru and Garp relaxed slightly. If Suzaku accepted, the battle would end. They wouldn't have to fight three monster-class enemies at once.
However, the next second, a hint of undisguised sarcasm curved Suzaku's lips.
"However," Suzaku smiled, but his eyes turned cold as ice. "I refuse."
"Please allow me to clarify. To serve those trash Tenryuubito (Celestial Dragons)? To bow to the World Government?"
He spat on the ground.
"Just thinking about it makes me sick. I don't want to be a dog on a leash, willingly barking for scraps like you Marines."
The word "dog" was like an invisible slap. It hit the Marines harder than any physical blow.
Kizaru's expression remained unchanged, though his smile became tighter. But Garp's face turned so gloomy it looked like a thundercloud.
He stared intently at Suzaku. His peripheral vision kept a wary eye on Ulquiorra, who had quieted down and was simply watching.
This brat... Garp thought, his fists clenching. He has the pride of a Conqueror.
But the situation was spiraling out of control.
To deal with Ulquiorra—a regenerator who could match his strength—he would have to use his full power.
Now there was also Suzaku, whose strength was unknown but certainly not weak. And Albedo, the Blackwing Demon.
Even if Kizaru could stop one, the remaining one would slaughter the Vice Admirals.
Not to mention... Dark King Rayleigh was standing right there. Even if he claimed to be neutral, if Garp attacked Suzaku, would the old legend really just watch? Rayleigh was a variable they couldn't afford.
Today's situation... was extremely tricky. A stalemate.
"Suzaku, you brat!" Garp finally couldn't help but let out a loud shout, stepping forward.
"Whether you accept the Shichibukai position or not is your business! But don't think you can insult the Marines and walk away!"
Garp pointed a finger at him.
"I'll let you off the hook today because I have bigger fish to fry. Now get out of here immediately! Today's matter has nothing to do with you! Everything that happens here is our Marine's official duty to capture the criminal Ulquiorra!"
He was determined to divide and conquer. If he could get Suzaku to leave, he could concentrate all his strength on taking down Ulquiorra, the confirmed threat who had defeated Akainu.
However, in response to Garp's "ultimatum," Suzaku merely returned a playful, mocking smile. He didn't move an inch.
Seeing this, Garp's heart sank. He sharply turned his gaze to Rayleigh.
"And you, Rayleigh! Are you interfering too?!"
As soon as Rayleigh met Garp's furious gaze, he immediately raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"Whoa, whoa! Don't look at me, Garp!" Rayleigh laughed nervously. "Nothing here has anything to do with me! I'm just a ship coater now. I'm just watching the show! I'm leaving now, I'm leaving now!"
No sooner had he spoken than his figure flashed.
Swish.
Rayleigh vanished from his spot, reappearing on top of a distant mangrove root, sitting down to watch comfortably.
Garp cursed under his breath. "Slippery old fox..."
He knew Rayleigh too well. The man wouldn't fight unless forced, but he wouldn't leave either. He was the audience.
Seeing Suzaku and Albedo still standing still, with no intention of retreating, Garp finally lost his patience.
He turned his full pressure toward Suzaku.
"Suzaku Yareon!" Garp roared. "Are you planning to interfere with our Marine's official duties?! This is a Buster Call level operation!"
"Official duties?"
Suzaku chuckled as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. Then his eyes turned cold, glowing with a faint red light.
"Wouldn't that be saying it backward, Mr. Garp?"
Suzaku took a step forward.
"It's clearly you Marines, relying on your numbers and power, maliciously besieging my companion."
He pointed at Ulquiorra.
"You gang up on him with two Admirals and a fleet. And now you're trying to turn the tables and say I'm interfering? There's no such logic in this world!"
"Your... companion?"
Upon hearing this word, the ominous premonition in Garp's heart grew into a certainty. A drop of cold sweat uncontrollably slid down his temple.
Don't tell me...
Then, he witnessed a scene he would never forget.
Suzaku didn't even look at Garp again. He just casually waved his hand in the direction of Ulquiorra in the distance.
"Ulquiorra. Come here."
The next instant.
ZWOOP.
The black figure, who had just been standing in the crater a hundred meters away, vanished.
He reappeared silently behind Suzaku.
Ulquiorra stood on Suzaku's left. Albedo stood on Suzaku's right.
The demon who defeated Akainu. And the demoness who terrorized the skies.
They stood silently, flanking the young captain like two loyal guardians protecting their King. Ulquiorra bowed his head slightly in deference.
"Lord Suzaku," Ulquiorra said softly.
"What?!"
Despite his internal guesses, Garp's pupils still sharply contracted upon witnessing this visual confirmation. The Marines around him gasped in horror.
"Oh dear, how terrifying... I really didn't expect this!" Kizaru's lazy voice chimed in, breaking the suffocating silence. But even his tone held a rare note of genuine surprise.
His gaze scanned back and forth between Ulquiorra and Suzaku.
"The newcomer pirate who just made a name for himself... 'Wing of Disaster' Ulquiorra Cifer, with a bounty of one billion Berries... is he also one of your crew members?"
Kizaru adjusted his sunglasses.
"And the Giant Warrior Pirates over there... have they also come under your command?"
"Tsk tsk," Kizaru shook his head. "So many dangerous monsters. Are they all your subordinates, little brother?"
Kizaru's glasses reflected a cold light as he stared at Suzaku, his voice dropping its lazy drawl for a moment.
"What exactly do you want to do with such power?"
"Huh???"
Suzaku let out a short, cold scoff.
All expression on his face instantly vanished. His eyes suddenly became sharp as blades, and an invisible aura—Conqueror's Haki—shot skyward, making the air vibrate and the weaker Marines foam at the mouth.
"You Marines... secretly dealing with my companions behind my back," Suzaku's voice was not loud, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness that froze the blood.
"And now you still have the nerve to ask me what I want to do?"
He took a step forward. His gaze swept over Garp, over Kizaru, and finally settled on the terrified faces of the thousands of Marine soldiers.
"Of course..."
Suzaku grinned, a cruel, predatory smile spreading across his face.
"I'm here to seek justice for my crew!"
"You guys ganged up on us because you had more people? That's fine! That's the way of the world!"
"But since I'm here... today I'll let you all witness firsthand..."
He spread his arms wide, flanked by his monsters.
"Even if we are few... we are enough to make you Marines understand one simple fact."
"We are not like others. We are not beings you can hunt."
"If you touch one of mine... I will break the world to break you."
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