Chapter 43 Glares
Garp and Kaido separated after a day of fighting. Bogard and Usimaru also stopped as they sensed the battle coming to an end. The tension in the air slowly faded, leaving behind only the destruction of their clash.
Garp and Bogard used Geppo to return to their warship. King and Marco also allowed Kizaru to retreat, even though he was still standing. A deep slash marked his chest, blood seeping from King's strike, and he was completely exhausted.
"Damn it… I need extra bonus and a long leave after this, or I'm not doing any more work," Kizaru complained.
Garp ignored him and turned to his men. "Oi, all of you, turn the ship around. We're heading back to Marineford."
"Yes, sir!" the Marines responded with relief.
Even with Garp present, if Kaido and Whitebeard had decided to attack together, defeat would have been inevitable. As the ship turned around, Kaido transformed into his dragon form and flew back to Wano.
The Whitebeard Pirates' ship also began sailing back toward Wano. The battlefield slowly emptied, but the impact of what had happened would shake the entire world.
On a distant sea, Big Mom read the news with clear irritation. Her expression darkened as she crushed the paper slightly in her hand.
"Damn it, Newgate…"
She wasn't foolish enough to charge into a battle against Kaido, the Beast Pirates, the samurai, and now the Whitebeard Pirates—especially with the presence of Kaido's mysterious captain.
"Turn the ship back to Totto Land," she ordered, her tone cold.
She immediately returned to eating sweets, though her irritation was still evident.
On the Sabaody Archipelago, Ren walked through the streets with Yamato and Ulti, casually shopping. Behind them, Page One and Jack followed, carrying multiple bags filled with clothes and items.
"Damn it! Why do we have to carry the bags?" Page One complained.
Jack nodded in agreement, clearly annoyed as well. Ren simply waved his hand dismissively.
"It's good training," he said calmly. "It will build your patience, which will help your observation Haki."
Page One and Jack looked at him suspiciously but chose to remain silent. Ren smiled as Ulti suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Ren! Let's go there! I want to try more clothes and shoes!" she said excitedly.
Ren followed as Yamato, Page One, and Jack moved along with them. Soon, Yamato and Ulti were busy trying on different outfits, completely immersed in shopping.
Page One and Jack also wandered off to pick out clothes for themselves. Meanwhile, Ren sat down, his eyes landing on a particular outfit displayed nearby.
The outfit had a bold and regal design, combining black, white, purple, and gold elements. A deep V-cut cropped top with gold trim and a serpent-shaped clasp formed the centerpiece. A long, flowing coat in rich purple and black with ornate gold patterns and structured shoulders added a commanding presence.
The lower half featured a sleek black skirt with a high slit, paired with a decorative gold belt set with purple gemstones and dangling chains. Large gold hoop earrings completed the look, giving it a striking and elegant finish.
Ren's eyes lit up. 'This suit is meant for Hancock.'
He turned to the shop owner. "Hey, how much for that?"
The owner smiled proudly. "Sir, that is one of our finest creations. The gold used is real gold. It's a premium design."
Ren smiled slightly. "I want it. Name the price."
"10 million Berries, sir," the owner replied. "As you can see, it's ma—"
Before he could finish, Ren threw the money toward him. "Pack it up."
The owner quickly complied, carefully packing the outfit and handing it over. Yamato walked over, curious.
"What are you buying?" she asked.
Ren used a small illusion to show her a miniature version of the outfit. "I liked it, so I bought it."
"Is it for me?" Yamato asked eagerly, her eyes shining.
Ren's mouth twitched as he lightly bumped her head. "Oi, aren't you getting a little too greedy?"
"Stupid Ren!" she huffed, sticking her tongue out while clutching her head.
Ren ignored her as they moved toward the location Shakky had mentioned. Ulti looked around curiously.
"Hmm, where is she?"
Just then, a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder. "Who are you searching for, girls?" Shakky asked teasingly.
"Waaaa!" Yamato, Ulti, Jack, and Page One all jumped back in shock.
Shakky grinned as she disappeared in a flash of lightning and reappeared beside Ren. "Well, did you miss me, darling?"
Ren placed an arm around her shoulders. "Of course I did."
Yamato and Ulti snapped out of their shock, their faces turning red in embarrassment. They glared at Shakky, clearly annoyed.
"Tsk… sneaking up on kids. This woman has no manners," Ulti muttered.
Yamato nodded in agreement. Shakky simply laughed at them.
Just then, Gloriosa approached from the other direction. Her once beautiful hair had begun turning white, and her youthful appearance was slowly fading.
Shakky winked at Ren.
"Nice to meet you," Ren said, waving casually. "Shakky talked about you a lot."
Yamato, Ulti, Jack, and Page One followed with their own introductions.
"Yamato," she said simply.
"Ulti—and this is my brother, Page One," Ulti added, grabbing him by the neck. He nearly choked.
"Jack," he said shortly.
Shakky chuckled. "Well, I'm Shakky, Ren's wife," she said, kissing his cheek.
Yamato and Ulti immediately glared at her again.
Gloriosa sighed at Shakky's behavior before speaking calmly. "I'm Gloriosa. Nice to meet you too. I was wondering who managed to steal Shakky's heart."
She looked at Ren seriously. He was young—far too young—but the aura around him was monstrous. She had only felt such presence from Newgate, Roger, and Garp.
Yet Ren looked like he was in his twenties. Just imagining his future strength made her nod internally.
He was a monster… a man capable of ruling an era.
Ren turned to Shakky. "Did you find the Boa sisters?"
She nodded. "Only two days left. They're already on the island."
Ren nodded. "Let's go. We'll rest at an inn."
Yamato and Ulti immediately clung to both of his arms, glaring at Shakky as they walked. Shakky ignored them and spoke casually.
"Amazon Lily can be moved. I spoke with Tritoma. It seems she's suffering from some disease—you might need to help her."
Ren looked at her speechlessly. 'Is she actively building a harem for me?'
"We'll deal with that soon," he replied.
They entered an inn, booked multiple rooms, and went inside to rest. As night fell, Shakky and Ren quietly slipped out alone.