Golden Lion Shiki

After all, this was Marine Headquarters. Marineford was guarded by Admirals and the Fleet Admiral, while the strongest member of the entire Flying Fleet was only Golden Lion Shiki himself. There had to be a problem. They could not completely abandon the rear.

After hearing Mu Chen's words, Qi Yuan began to ponder as well.

Mu Chen raised his head to look at the sky, his brow tightly furrowed. Golden Lion's Flying Fleet could not possibly be this small. If I were Golden Lion, I would have the fleet attack from both the front and rear to draw fire, rather than launch a frontal assault. Golden Lion would gain no advantage from a frontal assault.

There was another point. Mu Chen knew of the existence of the ICO Drug. Since Golden Lion had appeared at this time, deviating from the timeline of aid, anything could happen.

He just did not know whether the current Golden Lion had developed the ICO Drug. Even if it was only a prototype or a half-finished product, they had to be on guard. After all, the Pirate World now existed on its own. Sometimes things could change in ways no one could predict. Even if there was no ICO Drug, what about the entire Flying Fleet?

There could not possibly be only one flagship.

As the introduction appeared, Qi Yuan turned to look at the serious-faced Mu Chen. She did not know how Mu Chen knew these things, but what he said made a great deal of sense. She also understood that the few of them would indeed be of little use on the front lines right now. But if, as Mu Chen had said, another Flying Fleet appeared in the rear streets, it would be different. There were hundreds of thousands of civilians there.

Kid, did you analyze all of this yourself?

Sakazuki and Borsalino walked over. They had also heard Mu Chen's analysis, and after hearing it, they felt that Mu Chen made sense. They could not deploy every Marine at the harbor. But if Mu Chen was wrong, that would not work either. They were Vice Admirals now, the backbone of the Marines. Their combat strength could influence the course of the battlefield.

Borsalino looked at Mu Chen, then at the Floating Island in the sky. He frowned and said lightly, "Oh my, I really underestimated you, Mu Chen. If things are really as you say, then this Golden Lion is truly terrifying."

"I merely analyzed it based on the intelligence I know."

Mu Chen wore a solemn expression, without any of his previous easygoing demeanor. In a situation like this, he could not be easygoing.

Although he knew that Golden Lion would ultimately be defeated by Garp and Sengoku and then imprisoned in Impel Down, the plot was different now. Garp was not here, so Mu Chen had no idea what would happen next.

Still, Mu Chen believed that Golden Lion would be locked up in Impel Down. It was just that Marineford's casualties would certainly be severe.

Mu Chen knew the Marine soldiers here. Every one of them was kind and hardworking, along with Qi Yuan, Kuzan, Tokikake, and countless others.

Mu Chen also knew the tavern owners, restaurant owners, and uncles and aunties selling vegetables. They were all full of hope and yearning for life and the future.

Without realizing it, Mu Chen had developed a sense of belonging here, something he had never felt during those years in East Blue. So he did not want anything to happen to these people.

Sakazuki studied Mu Chen carefully with a grave look in his eyes. "Kid, I think you really have a lot of secrets."

But he did not dwell on it too much.

Sakazuki turned to Borsalino and said, "Borsalino, let's go over there. Let Mu Chen and the others stay here."

Sakazuki was a battle maniac. He could not possibly pass up an opportunity to fight Golden Lion Shiki, and bringing Borsalino along would give them better odds of victory.

However, Borsalino was still thinking and did not answer Sakazuki.

Mu Chen frowned deeply, glanced at Sakazuki, then turned to look at Borsalino.

"Vice Admiral Borsalino, I think it would be better if you stayed behind. With the power of your Glint-Glint Fruit, you can provide support at any time. But if something suddenly goes wrong here, tens of thousands could die in an instant. So you can wait a little longer and see."

Mu Chen spoke very calmly, but what was with those words?

Tokikake was dumbfounded. A mere Commodore was actually ordering a Vice Admiral to stay behind, and that Vice Admiral was one of the Marine monsters.

"Borsalino."

"Oh, kid, you don't seem much younger than me. How did I fail to think of something like that?"

"Mm, you seem really amazing. How impressive!"

The way Borsalino looked at Mu Chen had changed. His previously narrowed eyes had opened much wider.

But Borsalino was right. Mu Chen really was not much younger than Borsalino, probably only seven or eight years or so. Sakazuki should be a little older than Borsalino, right?

Who knew? In any case, Mu Chen thought Sakazuki looked older.

"Mm, with such thinking ability, I knew I had not misjudged you. I'm definitely taking you as my adjutant!"

Like Borsalino, Sakazuki's eyes lit up as he looked at Mu Chen. He spoke with great seriousness, but after saying that, he did not say anything more and quickly rushed toward the harbor.

When Borsalino saw Sakazuki leave, his eyes narrowed slightly and the corners of his mouth rose. "The troublesome one has finally left. Then let's wait and see. But while we wait, let's talk more about you becoming my adjutant!"

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Marine soldiers had gathered at Marineford Harbor, and every cannon was aimed at the sky. The cannons aboard the dozens of warships in the harbor were aimed skyward as well.

On the rooftop of the Marine Headquarters building stood two men: Zefa and Sengoku, both Marine Admirals.

Capes of Justice fluttered in the wind.

"I never expected my arrival to be welcomed by two Admirals!"

Following the voice, Golden Lion Shiki slowly descended onto the rooftop. Less than a hundred meters separated them as the three men stared each other down. Golden Lion Shiki's expression, however, was relaxed, even carrying a hint of a smile.

"Golden Lion, coming to Marineford is nothing but courting death!"

Sengoku's gaze was grave, and his words were utterly unrestrained.

Golden Lion threw back his head and laughed.