Golden Lion

Seeing Momousagi leave, Carlos had no intention of going over to strike up a conversation. She was indeed an absolute beauty, but being a simp was impossible—absolutely impossible in this lifetime. He was the Boss of a Mafia family, after all. Did he not have any pride?

He tore off a large skewer of grilled baby octopus, took a sip of chilled rice wine, then strode away in his stylish clothes beneath the gazes of quite a few people.

Hmm... First, he would find an inn or hotel to stay in and wait slowly for Golden Lion Shiki's arrival. Counting the days, Golden Lion should be coming soon, right?

Although he could not participate in a battle of this level yet, nor was there any need for him to do so, it was still a rare opportunity!

Watching a battle of this level was a great way for someone with the Byakugan and Sharingan to improve his strength. Garp and Sengoku's Body Techniques, Golden Lion's swordsmanship, and Haki were all sights rarely seen!

The next day, Golden Lion did not come, but Carlos was not anxious. He continued wandering around town, playing with fun things and eating delicious food, not slighting himself in the least.

Nothing special happened during that time. There was no one coming to cause trouble, no face-slapping after showing off, nothing like that. Aside from running into Momousagi and Chaton on the first day, everything was utterly ordinary, though he had a very enjoyable time.

On the evening of the third day, Carlos finished a spicy, appetite-stimulating seafood feast and prepared to stroll through the night market. Do not tell him that spicy flavors ruined the seafood's natural taste or freshness.

Carlos had been from Sichuan Province in his previous life, and his tastes were rather heavy. He especially loved spicy food. He could eat other flavors too, but love was love. Every so often, he had to eat a spicy meal, or he would feel terribly annoyed and might even become bad-tempered.

The moment he stepped out of the restaurant, Carlos heard a thunderous boom. His relaxed, leisurely, even somewhat carefree expression instantly vanished. The civilians enjoying the wonderful nightlife on the streets also froze, all looking toward Marine Headquarters.

"Ahahaha... Marines, I'm here! Get the hell out here and let me see what skills you trash have that allowed you to capture Roger..."

Above Marine Headquarters' grand plaza stood a man with lion-like golden hair, a ship's wheel embedded in his head, and a cigar clenched between his teeth. A wild and dangerous smile stretched across his face. He wore a dark-yellow cloak patterned with pale-yellow stripes, a blue-black belt around his waist, loose light-yellow trousers over his legs, and wooden clogs on his feet. Holding the twin swords Sakazuki and Kiyomizu, he stood proudly in the air, roaring like a wounded lion!

As soon as he finished speaking, Golden Lion casually slashed with both swords. Two intersecting arcs of Sword Qi fell like Heavenly Punishment, stretching for over a thousand meters before crashing into a section of Marine Headquarters' buildings.

The highest-quality concrete structures were sliced in half by that strike. A huge cross-shaped scar was carved into Marine Headquarters, and the Sword Qi erupted violently, instantly reducing an entire cluster of buildings to ruins!

Golden Lion was not at his peak now, but he was far, far stronger than when he had faced Luffy. He was still one of the world's absolute strongest, most skilled in swordsmanship and the Float-Float Fruit's power!

Golden Lion's peak had been before the Battle of Edd War against the Roger Pirates. Back then, there had been no ship's wheel in his head, and he had not suffered that bizarre, crushing defeat that seemed as if even the heavens were targeting him. Both his physical condition and his willpower had been at their peak. That had been Golden Lion at his strongest, with the greatest influence in the New World!

His lion's roar shook the Four Blues, his spirit swallowed the world, and he feared no one!

In the era around One Piece, every legendary Pirate in the New World had their own greatest specialty. Golden Lion excelled most at Devil Fruit powers and swordsmanship. He was among the strongest ability users and Great Swordsmen!

Whitebeard was among the strongest ability users and Body Techniques masters. Before Red Count Redfield obtained a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, he excelled most at Body Techniques and Haki. One Piece Roger excelled most at swordsmanship, Body Techniques, and Haki, with Roger's Conqueror's Haki being the strongest of all!

These were merely the differences between the four legendary Pirates. It was not that Whitebeard and Golden Lion did not know Haki. On the contrary, their Haki was also extremely powerful, surpassing most people in the world.

They were currently in their prime, and their overall strength was terrifying. Moreover, given their mastery in their respective fields, they generally only used Haki when facing opponents of the same level.

Take Golden Lion's swordsmanship, for example. As one of the world's top Great Swordsmen, someone qualified to contend for the title of the world's greatest swordsman, he could kill even Logia ability users of a lower level with a single slash without using Haki. His attack power had long surpassed its limits; even natural elements could be cut apart!

Golden Lion's voice echoed across Marineford. The entire Marine Headquarters immediately seemed like a slumbering beast awakening. High-powered searchlights shot into the sky, while countless Marine officers and soldiers wearing Cloaks of Justice rapidly gathered from every part of Marine Headquarters!

This force had originally been prepared in case Roger's Crewmates came to break him out of prison, but now Golden Lion was the one receiving it. Deep within Marine Headquarters, Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp, who had been occupied with their own affairs, swiftly left their rooms and rushed toward the grand plaza.

"Erhahaha... Let me slaughter all you trash!"

As if provoked, Golden Lion dove down from the sky. He did not unleash any devastating Sword Qi, seeming instead to want to vent his anger through close-quarters combat!

His twin swords swung, and the two Meito, Sakazuki and Kiyomizu, gleamed with chilling cold light. Golden Lion charged into the crowd like a mad lion entering a flock of sheep. No one he passed could withstand a single exchange. Weapons broke, blood flew, and screams never ceased. It was a naked massacre—the gap was simply too great!

In the blink of an eye, perhaps only a minute or two later, by the time Garp and Sengoku arrived, an elite force of over a hundred Marine Headquarters officers and soldiers had already been slaughtered by Golden Lion. Corpses lay scattered beneath his feet, piled into a small mountain. Blood seeped out and formed a crimson stream, while the stench of blood was so thick it made people feel sick and nauseous!

Carlos found a high mountaintop and stood atop a tree there, activating his Byakugan and Three-Tomoe Sharingan. The first thing he saw was the Marines being brutally abused and massacred...

Too brutal!

Too bloody!

Too badass!

Though it was the courage of a reckless brute, and he was a little too single-minded to invade Marine Headquarters alone, his soaring spirit, disdain for all beneath heaven, and overwhelming strength still commanded respect!

Sengoku and Garp looked at the scene before them, their expressions turning extremely ugly. Their gazes met, and with perfect understanding, they grasped each other's intentions. No matter the cost tonight, they had to keep Golden Lion here!

One Piece Roger was about to be executed. If they could capture another legendary Pirate as well, the Pirates' prestige and morale would plummet to rock bottom, while the Marines' reputation would soar. Perhaps this would be their opportunity to eliminate the Pirates!

Rumble... Thunder echoed as, at some unknown point, the sky became blanketed by dense leaden clouds. Dark clouds pressed down upon the city as though threatening to crush it, while blue-white lightning snakes occasionally writhed within them.

Drip, drip. Raindrops began to fall...

Carlos raised his head and looked around. He had been so focused on what was happening in the plaza that he had not even noticed the weather changing.

Seeing this, Carlos took an umbrella from the Kamui Space and prepared to move somewhere else. Standing so high up beneath a tree would make it far too unfair if he got struck by lightning!