Dealing with the Red-Haired Pirates

Shanks came alone.

He handed over his calling card at the gates of Mary Geoise. The Night Owl Guard on duty took it, glanced at it, looked up at him, and then nodded, gesturing for him to go in.

Shanks paused for a moment as he stepped through the city gate.

It wasn't nervousness, but rather a sense of disorientation.

He had been to this city before.

Many years ago, he went to Mary Geoise, took a different path, and met different people.

Back then, the city gates still bore the World Government's emblem, and uniformed guards stood on both sides of the street. The Celestial Dragons passing by would raise their chins and look at him as if he were looking at something dirty.

The emblem on the city gate has been changed to a black clan emblem with a vermilion Gunbai pattern.

Night Owl Guard in grey and white uniforms stood on both sides of the street; the Celestial Dragons who had passed by were gone, not even a shadow remained.

He walked along the stone path, his long black cloak swaying slightly behind him, his left hand resting on the hilt of Gryphon's knife, his long red hair blowing to one side in the corridor breeze.

Behind him were no Beckman, no Yasopp, no one from the Red-Haired Pirates.

The Killing Hall said he would come alone, and so he came alone.

Before he arrived, Beckman told him something on the ship, "Don't be reckless."

He said, "I know."

The road from the city gate to the temple was long. Shanks didn't walk fast.

He walked along, looking around. The walls that had been smashed, the windows that had been burned, the signs that had been half-demolished—all bore the marks of the battle.

Some of the stone slabs still have dark brown stains that can't be washed away completely. They've been washed with water, but not thoroughly, and they come back up again when the sun shines on them.

He looked away and continued walking.

The corridor outside the hall was wide, with stone pillars lined up one after another. The tops of the pillars were carved with patterns, which were covered with dust and had not yet been cleaned.

At the end of the corridor was a heavy stone door, closed, with a sliver of light shining through the crack.

Two Night Owl Guard stood at the entrance, their gray-white uniforms and crimson Sharingan glancing at him. They neither stopped him nor moved aside; they simply stood there.

Shanks stopped at the door.

He released his hand from the hilt of Gryphon's knife, letting it hang at his side, and flexed his fingers.

Then he tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the stone pillars on both sides of the corridor, over the profiles of the two Night Owl Guard at the door, and finally landing on the stone door.

It was quiet behind the door. So quiet it was almost unbearable; you couldn't even hear the echo of someone breathing.

He didn't know how long Natsu had been waiting inside, nor what he would face once inside.

He only knew one thing: the person sitting behind this door had taken Blackbeard's head within five days and sealed five of the Navy's top combatants into a stone sphere ten days ago.

He took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

After waiting for a while, the stone door was pushed open from the inside.

A Night Owl Guard emerged from the crack in the door and nodded to Shanks.

"Go in."

Shanks strode into the hall.

The hall was darker than the corridor.

Only the area around the throne was illuminated; the rest remained in shadow.

The first thing he saw was the throne.

It looks completely different from the photos he secretly took from a distance.

The handrails transformed into dragon shapes, the carpet turned dark red, and a yin-yang symbol rotated above.

The throne was placed on a stone platform, which was higher than the ground. Only then did he see Natsu.

Natsu stood beside the throne, not sitting.

A pale purple robe hung down on the stone platform, her long, jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her Mangekyō Sharingan shone somewhat abruptly in the dim light of the hall.

He was looking down at a scroll in his hand when he heard footsteps and looked up.

Shanks stopped at the foot of the stone platform.

He tilted his head back, his gaze falling flatly on Natsu's face. He didn't look down, nor did he deliberately tilt his head back higher; he just looked at her calmly.

"Lord Natsu."

Natsu placed the scroll on the armrest of the throne, took two steps forward, stood at the edge of the stone platform, and looked down at Shanks below.

He paused for a few moments, then did not speak immediately.

"Red-Haired Shanks." His voice was flat. "Figarland Saint Shanks. Your brother is in my hands."

"Shamrock is still alive?" Shanks asked.

"He's alive. His injuries have mostly healed," Natsu said. "I didn't touch him."

Shanks paused for a moment. "Thanks."

"No need to thank me. He'll be useful." Natsu took a half step back from the edge of the stone platform and leaned against the armrest of the throne. "Ten days. Have you thought it through?"

"I've figured it out," Shanks said.

Tell me.

Shanks withdrew his left hand from his pocket and placed it at his side. "The Red-Haired Pirates are disbanded."

Natsu didn't respond, waiting for him to continue.

"The pirate crew can't be scattered after it disbands. My brothers have followed me for so many years; I can't let them go their separate ways," Shanks said.

"I want to organize them into a maritime guild, doing legitimate business, trading between different seas. No robbery, no protection money, and no doing anything illegal."

Natsu stared at him for a moment. "Where's the territory?"

"Hand them over," Shanks said. "The islands the Red-Haired Pirates have occupied in the New World are all yours to the Uchiha Clan. The people, goods, and resources on those islands are all yours to manage. My men will withdraw, leaving not a single blade of grass behind."

"You're quite decisive."

"We can't be indecisive," Shanks said. "I thought this through before I came. This sea is yours now, and if we want to stay, we have to follow your rules. Holding on and acting all high and mighty will only lead to our downfall and loss of face. It's not worth it."

Natsu took a half step back from the edge of the stone platform and leaned against the armrest of the throne.

"The Red-Haired Pirates once stopped the Marines on a deserted island and helped my people."

I remember this kindness, so I'm leaving you a way out.

New World will be given to you, a deserted island; go and explore it yourselves.

After you set sail, you will pay 10% of the tax annually, and the rest will be at your discretion.

Consider this a place for you to establish yourselves.

Shanks paused for a moment.

"Desert island?"

"A deserted island. Undeveloped, nothing there. You'll have to find yourselves," Natsu said. "If you think it's too tough, you don't have to."

"Yes," Shanks said, "We'll be lucky to have a place to stay."

"Okay." Natsu nodded. "Someone will coordinate the details with you regarding the naval group later. Personnel registration, route reporting, cargo manifests—go through all the necessary procedures. Once that's done, it'll be up and running."

Shanks responded.

Then he asked a question.

Where is Shamrock?

"Shamrock." Natsu tilted his head, his tone devoid of any particular emotion. "He's alive. His injuries have mostly healed."

"Can I...?"

"Yes. You can see him if you want, just come over every now and then," Natsu said. "But let me make this clear: Shamrock means nothing to me."

A Celestial Dragons, a remnant of the God's Knights, a slightly larger ant.

I didn't kill him because it wasn't worth getting my hands dirty, not because he was valuable.

If he stays put, I won't bother with him.

Shanks did not respond.

"But he has to carry a Den Den Mushi). It's 24/7 location tracking, so my people will know where he goes," Natsu said. "If he dares to do anything underhanded, or contact anyone outside to cause trouble, then there are two options."

Either you execute him yourself and bring his head to Mary Geoise as atonement for the Red-Haired Pirates.

"Either I take matters into my own hands and wipe out your entire fleet."

The hall fell silent for a few moments.

Shanks lowered his head, his red hair falling down and obscuring half of his face.

He remained silent for a moment.

The face of Shamrock flashed through his mind.

That face was almost identical to his.

The older brother who was knocked away by the combined attack of Yaoyu and Yakumi on the deserted island, fell into shallow water, and had Kunai stuck in his chest.

The older brother he once asked to stop Kaido, who went without hesitation.

His older brother, who looked down on his choice to become a pirate since childhood, but never really did anything for him.

He raised his head.

"Understood."

"Aren't you going to ask why?"

"No need to ask," Shanks said. "He's my brother. I keep an eye on him; that's better than anything else. If he dares to do anything, I'll take care of him myself. You don't need to."

Natsu looked at him for a while. "Okay."

Shanks turned and took a few steps toward the door, then stopped and tilted his head. "Natsu."

"Um?"

Is Blackbeard really dead?

"He's dead. His head's hanging at the city gate. Didn't you see it?"

"I saw it. I'm just confirming."

He pushed open the door and walked out. The stone door closed behind him, and the hall fell silent again.

Natsu stood by the stone platform, looking at the closed door for a while.

Then he turned his head towards the side door and said, "Come out."

The side door opened, and Izuna Uchiha walked out.

He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"That Red-Hair is a sensible person."

"At least you know how to adapt to the times," Natsu said.

"You really intend to let his naval fleet operate in the New World?"

"Let him run." Natsu took two steps toward the throne. "His running caravans will benefit this sea."

Goods can circulate freely, and goods can be transported between different places, which is better than each region acting independently.

Moreover, once his naval regiment is organized, it can also help maintain order on the shipping routes.

As long as we don't break the rules, I don't mind having another person doing legitimate business.

Izuna Uchiha nodded. "Who do you plan to have keep an eye on Shamrock's Den Den Den Mushi?"

"There are dedicated personnel in charge of the Earthly Chief Guard. Location information is compiled and sent to the Steward Hall; any problems are reported directly," Natsu said. "If Shanks can really bring himself to do it, that's his problem. If he can't, I'll handle it."

Izuna Uchiha straightened up from the doorframe and took a few steps. "Alright, let's not talk about that. I came here on important business."

Natsu turned her head to look at him.

"Over in the Ninja World," Izuna Uchiha said, "I'm almost done with preparations."