Shanks' expression remained unchanged upon hearing Akainu's words, and he responded in a deep voice.
"Ah, there's Grandpa Rayleigh over there, and... Yi Xiao, who controls an entire island and a six-kilometer-long ship at the same time."
Oh, and there's also your old friend from the Navy, the World's Strongest female swordsman, Momousagi Gion.
And then there's you, Sakazuki...
It seems we really can't win a fight!
But if it means we don't even have the right to escape...
Sakazuki, your joke went a little too far!
As soon as he finished speaking, the Red-Haired Shanks gently raised the knife in his hand. In an instant, five or six more figures suddenly sprang out from the Red Force in the distance.
Lucky Roux, Yasopp, and the others all rushed across the sea onto the Magma Continent. Some of them carried knives, some carried guns, and there were even monkeys carrying sticks.
They all smiled excitedly, looking towards Akainu, and even more so towards the islands of different sizes in the sky behind Akainu, which were large enough to block out most of the sunlight, and the Dark Bird Ship!
As he watched, Yasopp showed an excited smile.
"This is so exciting! Haha, I can finally have a good fight with the Admiral and all those monsters under the Celestial Dragon!"
"That's right, I thought of that a long time ago!"
Lucky Roux, while gnawing on a pig's leg, laughed as he continued Yasopp's words.
"We are the team of the Four Emperors, and the flag of Red-Haired Shanks flies on our ship. We are already big shots, haha."
Even if people like us secretly returned to the Grand Line, we were destined to cause a huge mess like this. How exciting!
As he spoke, Lucky Roux looked up at the sky expectantly, and at that moment, he also saw the figurehead of the Dark Bird Ship Lucky Roux!
It's on the figurehead that resembles a black Dark Bird with its head held high.
Right at the highest point of the feathers on the head of that Dark Bird.
Lucky Roux saw clearly the figure sitting lazily.
The man was dressed in an extremely formal black and gold military uniform, with intricate and mysterious badges and ornaments. He wore a sharp overcoat with sleeves and lapels that swayed in the wind, engraved and embroidered with black and gold Dark Bird.
His face was incredibly handsome, yet his expression was extremely calm. His gaze, which seemed to remain gentle at all times but also held a superior air, calmly focused on everyone.
For some reason, the moment the Red Hair Pirates members, including Benn Beckman, saw Gawain, they felt an immense increase in pressure!
As for Red-Haired Shanks, gazing at the figure in the sky, he pursed his lips slightly.
"His Haki aura is undeniable; no wonder he's the one who has won over Grandpa Rayleigh!"
After all, Rayleigh was once the man who followed the strongest Pirate King of this era. If he couldn't be stronger than the Pirate King, why would Rayleigh have returned to the scene?
At this point, Red-Haired Shanks turned and glanced at his companions.
"How about it, guys?"
This trip was definitely worthwhile after seeing this guy!
He's definitely... someone who can raise most people's expectations!
Red-Haired Shanks had barely finished speaking when his companions hadn't yet responded.
Unexpectedly, Akainu on the other side responded to Red-Haired Shanks' words.
"No wonder that ever since they met him, Borsalino, Kuzan, that narrow-minded lazybones, and even Sengo and Tsuru have all spoken highly of him!"
Add to that what Saint Gawain did in Mock Town, haha, I'm almost completely impressed by this extraordinary World Nobles!
If someone like that could become one of the Five Elders, the ocean would be so much cleaner than it is now!
Even if he can't completely eradicate pirates, if he takes over, he can at least thoroughly clean up the Lawless Zone around the world!
This is truly... truly something I can't wait for!
As soon as he finished speaking, Akainu looked at Gawain with immense excitement. In his eyes, Gawain was no ordinary Celestial Dragon.
What he saw was clearly another voice from the highest levels of the World Government!
At the same time that Akainu looked over, Gawain was also looking at Akainu.
To be precise, Gawain was looking at the scorched earth that had spread across almost a third of the Mock Town, completely turned into lava!
As he watched, Gawain let out a leisurely breath.
"My huge Mock Town... just gone like that?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain sat on the figurehead of the Dark Bird ship and looked towards the group of reporters in the distance.
They should have finished filming by now, right?
After all, the closer they are to the ground, the larger the God's Island and the Dark Bird Ship appear, and the less footage the reporters can capture.
Thinking this through, and assuming the reporters had finished taking pictures...
Gawain looked back at the Magma Continent.
He simply raised his right hand slightly, and without turning his head, he spoke to the crowd behind him.
"Smile, continue placing the Dark Bird Ship and Jaya, using gravity to grab enough reefs from the seabed to build up and support the new foundation of Jaya."
Everyone else, those skilled in Armament Haki, come with me to that place where Akainu and Red-Haired Shanks me the gift.
The once-grand Golden Town is gone just like that, and my development plan for Jaya, which I just finalized less than ten days ago, will probably have to be revised again!
Even if the other party is Red-Haired Shanks, I deserve a satisfactory answer to this matter!
As soon as Gawain finished speaking, the people behind him immediately nodded. As for Shirahoshi, the little girl looked fearfully at the Magma Island below.
"Oh dear, the island and the original town have all turned into Magma. Will Uncle Chestnut, those Masira, and the women and children in the orphanage be alright?"
At this point, Shirahoshi quickly opened her arms.
"Gawain! Gawain! What a terrifying volcanic eruption! I'll get some Sea King friends to help put it out!"
"Okay, you should first gather your Sea King friends who are nearby, Shirahoshi."
However, you must wait for my instructions regarding when to start extinguishing the fire. I will let you know when the time is right!
Gawain said to Shirahoshi with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Shirahoshi nodded slightly.
"I understand. I'll ask them for help right away!"
As she spoke, Shirahoshi closed her eyes and used her Observation Haki to communicate with the Sea King in the nearby sea.
At the same time, Gawain continued to look down at the group of Red-Haired Shanks, and saw him gently wave his right hand.
Let's go!
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain transformed into lightning and vanished from the figurehead of the Dark Bird Ship in an instant.
At the same time, between Akainu and Red-Haired Shanks' group, bolts of lightning, each over three meters thick, kept crashing down!
Amidst a deafening clap of thunder that seemed to make the air tremble, Gawain appeared with a smile between Akainu and Red-Haired Shanks.
Before Red-Haired Shanks and his group could be surprised by Gawain's lightning abilities, Gawain glanced at both Akainu and Red-Haired Shanks' group.
After reading it, Gawain glanced at the Red-Haired Shanks and smiled.
"Please, everyone, give me the honor of ending today's battle here!"
After all, you guys have already destroyed my Golden Town!
So, are you all going to destroy my entire Jaya next?!
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain's expression darkened, and he looked at the Red-Haired Shanks's slightly narrowed eyes.
At the same time, Gawain and Gion landed beside Kuma.
Immediately afterwards, Jinbe, Shiryu, Hancock also stood solemnly on the lava.
On the other hand, seeing everyone return, Rayleigh, who had finished his work rescuing the children, also appeared beside Gawain using Geppo.
Upon seeing this scene, before the Red-Haired Shanks side could even speak, Akainu had already rushed towards Gawain with great haste.
As they walked, Akainu spoke to Gawain voice.
"Saint Gawain, how can the war stop here? Opportunity knocks but once!"
If we miss today, the price we'll have to pay to take down the Red-Haired Pirates will be many times greater!
I can completely spread out the Magma field to keep them there. Anyway, Jaya is already partially damaged, so a little more damage won't matter.
However, if Red-Haired Shanks is allowed to return to the New World, then for countless years to come, while pirate forces continue to run rampant, even more islands will be firmly ruled by pirates!
Regarding the destruction of Golden Town, I will do my best to provide compensation!
But at this moment, the death of the Four Emperors Red-Haired Shanks is the key thing we should grasp!
Saint Gawain!
"Haha, stop fooling around, Sakazuki."
Upon hearing Akainu's words, Gawain suddenly laughed, and Akainu felt a chill run down his spine after hearing Gawain's laughter.
Could it be that even Gawain...
Just as Akainu was pondering angrily, Gawain continued with a smile.
"On one hand, you're in the Navy, and they're pirates. What's wrong with the Navy fighting pirates?"
On the other hand, Red-Haired Shanks wants to see me, while you are a friend who has come from afar to assist me.
How could I possibly do something to disappoint my friends? And how could I possibly ask them to compensate me with anything?
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain pointed at Shanks and continued to laugh.
"Shanks, your arrival has almost wiped out the entire town I had just acquired!"
Regarding this matter, you should give me a...!
"Wait, Gawain, Gawain, Gawain! Me too! Me too! Count me in!!!"
Just then, a clear sound suddenly came from the Dark Bird Ship, which was landing in the distance.
The moment the sound rang out, Shanks and his group all froze and looked toward the source of the sound!
Suddenly Uta, standing on the gunwale of the Dark Bird Ship, leaped up and, in the blink of an eye, jumped from a height of over 500 meters towards the Magma!
Upon seeing this, Shanks' heart clenched immediately. He stepped onto the Magma and charged directly towards Uta.
But Gawain was much faster than him. In just a moment, Gawain transformed into Inazuma and caught the falling Uta!
The next moment, when Shanks saw Uta curled up in Gawain's arms, his expression broke down for the first time!
Shanks suddenly drew his sword and slashed directly at Gawain!
At that very moment, just as Shanks drew his sword, Akainu was about to rush into the sky to block the attack for Gawain.
Just as he was about to take off, Rayleigh grabbed him!
Seeing the hand pulling at his arm, Akainu flew into a rage!
"Rayleigh, are you betraying Gawain...?"
"Pooh!"
Before Akainu could finish speaking, Rayleigh couldn't help but spit out a curse.
"Can you at least get some information first? Do you even know who that girl is?!"
This is not something you or I can get involved in, haha, let Gawain and Shanks talk it out themselves!
As soon as he finished speaking, Rayleigh pulled Akainu aside, and at the same time, Gion whispered something beside Akainu.
"That girl is Shanks' daughter and also the musician on our ship. Gawain treats her like his own daughter, completely regarding her as his goddaughter!"
So this is a conversation between two fathers, and it's not appropriate for us to get involved!
"Ha?!!!!"
Gion finished speaking, Akainu was completely stunned. This was... this was the reason why Saint Gawain refused to fight Red-Haired Shanks to the death!
As Celestial Dragon, he actually raised a goddaughter who wasn't even Celestial Dragon —and that daughter was none other than the biological daughter of Shanks, one of the Four Emperors of the Sea!!!
What kind of bizarre relationship is this?!
Akainu is indeed resolute, and he is Admiral upholds Absolute Justice, but he's not stupid!
He has always considered himself a pure soldier, and Akainu has always been the most obedient to the orders of the World Government and the World Nobles!
He is the world's finest, true soldier!
Therefore, at this moment he almost knew that he was destined not to kill Red-Haired Shanks today!
Thinking of this, Akainu was filled with resentment. He really wanted to raise his fist and tear apart the special atmosphere created by Gawain and Red-Haired Shanks' daughter!
Akainu knew that as long as he found an opportunity to personally kill a member of Red Hair Pirates...
In that case, given Red-Haired Shanks's pirate culture where loyalty is paramount, Red-Haired Shanks, himself, and everyone else present would truly be locked in a life-or-death struggle!
But Akainu also had other considerations, namely, his expectations of Gawain!
Putting aside the matter of the Red-Haired Shanks daughter, Akainu was extremely satisfied with Gawain's personality and way of doing things!
This is a great man who never treated marines as mere dogs or horses; he is also a great man who is willing to cleanse pirates and other evils!
Most importantly, this important figure will not interfere with the methods by which he carries out justice, unlike the Five Elders and Sengoku.
This important figure might be even more extreme than himself!
So...
After pondering for a long time, Akainu pursed his lips tightly, temporarily abandoning his plan to worsen the situation.
Compared to the current Yonko (Four Emperors of the Sea), Akainu values Gawain more, who has the potential to support him, Sakazuki, in becoming the future Fleet Admiral and wiping Gawain all pirates!
After all, although Shanks is famous, he has only been one of the Four Emperors for a year. In Akainu's heart, his importance is not as great as the future that Akainu hopes for!
Shanks, Four Emperors for a year, didn't have a particularly huge impact on pirates!
Of course, if the person in front of him were Whitebeard, Akainu would definitely fight to the death to make a move, even if he was to be executed afterward.
After all, Shanks' status in One Piece is... Oh, Shanks, isn't he just a young man who recently became one of the Four Emperors?
Whitebeard's status in One Piece is: Whitebeard! He is the strongest pirate after Pirate King Roger, the world's number one man, the banner and faith of pirates!
So after much deliberation, Akainu let out a heavy sigh and looked up at the sky.
Meanwhile, on Shanks' side, the moment Uta appeared...
Even though a deadly battle was about to unfold, they all cheered!
"Ah, it's Little Uta, long time no see!"
"Long time no see, Miss Uta! How have you been?"
"Uta has become much braver! She actually jumped from such a height!"
"Haha, Shanks went to pick it up. In that case, I won't move."
"Uta, do you still remember Luffy- kun? Haha!"
With Uta's appearance, the atmosphere in the Red Hair Pirates immediately became intense. Benn Beckman and his group completely ignored everyone else on the other side, focusing their attention solely on little Uta.
But the next moment, they saw incredulously that the Celestial Dragon Gawain had actually pulled Uta into his arms before Shanks could react!
Uta didn't seem to have any dissatisfaction at all, as if the little girl's real purpose in jumping down was to get Gawain to catch her!
It turns out that things weren't as everyone thought at all; Uta never intended to cheer and go find her biological father Shanks, after all!!!
It was only at this moment that everyone suddenly remembered the words Uta had uttered when she jumped ship.
The girl's voice did indeed sound like Gawain's!
For a moment, Benn Beckman and his group silently mourned for Shanks without hesitation.