Shanks — Red-Haired Shanks — stepped onto the deck, one foot still clad in a sandal.
Conqueror's Haki surged out from him, filling the entire space.
The moment it hit that brash, inexperienced crew member from earlier, his eyes rolled back, and he fell face-down onto the deck.
THUD… THUD… THUD…
As Shanks walked further in…
Many of the crew members who lacked sufficient strength collapsed to the ground one after another, overwhelmed by the sheer pressure.
Shanks walked up to Whitebeard.
Compared to Whitebeard's colossal frame, Shanks looked quite small in stature.
Yet, his presence and aura were in no way inferior.
They stood face to face as absolute equals.
While they exchanged greetings…
Marco stood to the side with his arms crossed.
"Shanks came here… and he brought a show of force with him," Marco thought to himself.
Otherwise, there was no reason to unleash his Conqueror's Haki so openly.
He couldn't help but recall his meeting with El not long ago.
Back then, El had simply stood there casually, without any intention of intimidating anyone…
Yet the aura of a conqueror radiating from him had filled Marco's heart with genuine awe and respect.
Although both were recognized as Emperors of the Sea…
Compared to El, Shanks was still very much immature and green!
Shanks had brought wine from the West Sea as a gift.
Whitebeard paid no mind to his own fragile health and drank deeply from the jug.
"After traveling all across the world… this flavor is the most familiar and comforting of all," Shanks said with a smile. "Taste this — it's wine from my hometown!"
"Not bad at all!" Whitebeard replied.
Looking at Shanks standing before him, Whitebeard felt a deep sense of nostalgia wash over him.
"Twenty-two years have passed… and there aren't many left who truly understand the history of those days."
"Roger… Garp… El…"
"Those of us still standing… we are all old men now!" Whitebeard said with deep emotion.
Back then, Shanks had been nothing more than an apprentice aboard Roger's ship.
Now, he too had become an Emperor whose name shook the seas.
Shanks smiled. "It's not only old men left, you know!"
"For example… I've heard that Lord El has already achieved the feat of eternal youth."
He spoke casually, unsure if the rumor was actually true.
Whitebeard laughed heartily.
"Oh, it's true… every word of it."
"I went to visit El some time ago… and he looked exactly the same as the very first day we met. Just a young man in his early twenties."
"The world truly favors that man far too much!" Whitebeard complained, half-joking and half-serious.
But Shanks, standing opposite him… was absolutely stunned.
"The rumors about the Immortality Operation… they are actually real!"
Countless thoughts raced through his mind in an instant.
With El's immense power combined with the Immortality Operation… living forever…
Eventually… he will undoubtedly become the eternal ruler of the seas!
Just thinking about it sent a cold shiver running down Shanks' spine.
For decades, El had remained low-profile and hidden, stepping out only for a few major events…
As a result, most rumors about him across the seas were treated as legends or exaggerated tales…
Even Shanks, despite having excellent information networks, always felt the stories were too extreme — like obvious boasts or myths.
That was… until Whitebeard confirmed they were reality.
---
### Chapter 372: This Era… Is Named El
Whitebeard looked at Shanks' shocked expression and chuckled.
"Shanks… you always keep such a cool head. I didn't think there was anything left in this world that could frighten you!"
Shanks didn't waste time on pleasantries; he immediately pressed Whitebeard for answers.
"If the rumors about the Operation are true… then what about the story of El defeating the four strongest Marines single-handedly…?"
"Ah… that is true as well," Whitebeard replied calmly. "I have to say… El's strength is truly terrifying."
"The word 'monster' isn't even enough to describe him."
"It would be more accurate to call him… a being akin to a god."
Whitebeard spoke casually.
He had long since grown accustomed to El's incredible feats…
So saying such things came naturally to him.
But for Shanks…
Hearing this confirmed was like a thunderbolt striking right beside his ear!
"But… those four men… they were no ordinary figures!" Shanks exclaimed in shock.
"Sengoku… Garp… Tsuru… and Zephyr…"
"Every single one of them… absolute legends…"
Shanks couldn't even finish his sentence.
Whitebeard looked at him meaningfully. "You want to say that every one of them was a top-tier master, right?"
"Putting others aside… Sengoku and Garp were men capable of fighting me — an old man like myself — to a draw."
Whitebeard watched Shanks, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction.
Ever since Shanks became an Emperor… he had developed this attitude that 'everyone in the world owes me respect'.
Wherever he went, he was treated with awe and deference.
Now that he finally realized there existed a man like El — who could look down on him completely and treat him as insignificant… it would surely be quite a shock to his pride.
At this moment, Shanks' mindset was completely different from when he first boarded the ship.
Before arriving… he truly believed he was a figure crucial to maintaining world peace…
That his every move could influence and shift the course of the entire world.
But now… he finally understood.
The person truly capable of shaping and dominating the world was not him… it was El!
This realization caused his confidence to crumble slightly.
"Shanks… I am old. I don't expect to live much longer," Whitebeard said calmly. "The future belongs to young men like you now."
"But there is one thing I must tell you."
"No matter what you plan to do… never, ever provoke or anger El."
"Among all the old legends still alive today… El is without a doubt… the strongest of them all!"
He finished speaking and set down his wine goblet.
"Shanks… what was the real reason you came here today?"
Finally, the moment came where the true purpose was revealed.
Shanks shook his head slowly.
"I was far too arrogant and self-assured."
"Originally… I came here today to tell you not to rescue Ace… and not to make a move against Blackbeard…"
As he spoke these words, Whitebeard's expression darkened visibly.
"I came to warn you… that your actions would send the entire world into chaos and madness."
"But…"
Shanks paused, and his tone shifted completely.
"…after hearing what you've told me… I finally understand."
"This world… is not truly ruled by men like us."
"It is ruled by El!"
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