It Was Time to Make a Move!

"Huh?" Ian froze, thinking he had misheard.

"I'm here to invite you to become one of the new Seven Warlords of the Sea!" Yellow Monkey repeated.

Ian narrowed his eyes at those words, deep in thought.

As a transmigrator, Ian naturally knew exactly what the title Seven Warlords of the Sea represented.

"Legal" pirates who could act freely without any government interference, even legally plundering the wealth of other nations!

Even the Marines would not take the initiative to hunt them down. In a sense, they were an organization recruited under the World Government.

They were a force aligned with the World Government!

Becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea represented strength, influence, and reputation. It could be said that becoming a Warlord was a symbol of power and status!

No matter which pirate it was offered to, this would be something worth celebrating!

The fact that they would no longer be hunted by the Marines alone was enough to make countless pirates scramble to become Warlords!

Of course, every gain came with a loss. After becoming a Warlord, one had to obey the World Government's orders at certain times and become a blade in its hand!

Overall, becoming a Warlord had more advantages than disadvantages, especially for pirates already wanted by the World Government...

But for Ian, becoming a Warlord did not seem particularly tempting...

Ian looked at Yellow Monkey and shook his head. "Sorry, I'm not interested in becoming the World Government's lapdog."

Lapdog!

That was right. Among pirates, becoming a Warlord meant becoming the World Government's lapdog. They were clearly pirates who committed every evil, yet they had become a force under the World Government. In the eyes of some pirates, the Seven Warlords were the World Government's lapdogs...

Of course, not just anyone could be a "lapdog."

So, most pirates both envied and resented the Warlords while secretly looking down on them...

These pirates were deeply conflicted.

Hearing Ian's words, Yellow Monkey could not help but frown. He did not even want the title of Warlord?

This guy...

Taking a deep breath, Yellow Monkey's tone turned cold. "Is that so? Do you know what consequences you'll face if you refuse to become a Warlord? With the strength you've displayed, the World Government will not allow you to remain in the first half of the Grand Line!"

Ian narrowed his eyes as well, a dangerous gleam flashing within them. His tone also became icy. "Admiral Yellow Monkey, are you threatening me?"

"Threatening?" Yellow Monkey shook his head, his expression turning solemn. "Not exactly. I'm merely stating a fact. The World Government will not feel at ease with a strong man like you remaining in the first half of the Grand Line!"

Yellow Monkey then softened his tone. "Sir, becoming a Warlord would bring more benefits than drawbacks for you, the World Government, and the Marines alike. We Marines do not wish to make an enemy of such a powerful individual either..."

His words were quite skillful, combining pressure and persuasion. He had laid out the consequences and presented both the benefits and the downsides.

Yellow Monkey believed that anyone with even a little sense would not refuse such a proposal.

After all, becoming a Warlord was not something shameful. Countless people were desperate for the chance!

"And you still say you're not threatening me?" Ian glanced at Yellow Monkey and said indifferently, "Before this, I don't think I did anything harmful to the World Government or the Marines, did I? Donquixote Doflamingo died by my hand because his men attacked me first. I was merely defending myself."

"You killed a Warlord. Do you think the World Government will simply let that go?"

"So what? I won't become a Warlord, and I have no interest in becoming the World Government's lapdog. If that makes the World Government and you Marines dissatisfied with me, then let them come and cause trouble for me!"

To be honest, Ian did dislike trouble somewhat. It was not that he feared the World Government or the Marines; he simply found it bothersome.

If possible, he preferred to travel the world and properly admire its strange and wondrous scenery.

The sights of this world were things Ian had never seen in his previous life. They were fresh and fascinating, especially the countless islands with their distinct customs. Ian wanted to see more of this world!

Of course, if the World Government and the Marines were too blind to know better, Ian would not mind clashing with them and seeing whether they were stronger, or whether he, the cheater, was stronger!!

Hearing Ian's words, Yellow Monkey sighed inwardly. His lips twisted as he said, "Looks like we can't reach an agreement?"

"I'm not interested in becoming a Warlord. I bear no ill will toward the World Government or the Marines, but that is on the condition that you do not come disturb me. Otherwise..." Ian took a sip of wine and snorted.

Then he looked at Yellow Monkey calmly. "If Admiral Yellow Monkey wants to test my strength now, you can try it right here!"

That statement made his stance perfectly clear!

He simply did not want to become a Warlord. If they wanted to put out a bounty on him, if Yellow Monkey wanted to arrest him, then they could come and try!

"This is truly making things difficult for this old man, sir..." Yellow Monkey sighed helplessly.

Ian's tone remained flat. "Difficult? I think you're the ones making things difficult for me."

"Ah, if I'd known, I wouldn't have slacked off. To think I'd run into such troublesome business..." Yellow Monkey sighed again and again, grumbling inwardly. If I'd known, I never would've eaten this damn Glint-Glint Fruit. Whenever something happens, Fleet Admiral Sengoku always comes to me first.

What a pain. I really wish I could trade abilities with Aokiji...

"You're making it hard for me to report back, sir..." Yellow Monkey narrowed his eyes at Ian as his aura began to emerge.

There was no avoiding a fight. Even if it was only for show, he had to put on a display for others.

He could not tarnish the reputation of a Marine Admiral.

Although Yellow Monkey was incredibly lazy, he still valued the Marines' honor greatly!

Besides, if he did not fight, it would be difficult to explain himself to Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the World Government after returning...

"Which is why it was time to make a move long ago!" Ian glared at Yellow Monkey. With a hum, Conqueror's Haki suddenly crashed down upon him, suppressing him like Mount Tai bearing down from above!

With a series of cracks, the ground suddenly split apart, countless tiny fissures spreading outward from beneath Yellow Monkey's feet!

Conqueror's Haki... and Conqueror's Haki capable of affecting matter... Its control is nearly on par with those monsters in the New World... What a headache... As an Admiral, Yellow Monkey naturally could not be taken down by Conqueror's Haki, but sensing Haki of such intensity still made his heart tighten.

He had only ever felt such overwhelmingly powerful Conqueror's Haki from the Four Emperors of the New World!

With the abilities of the Glint-Glint Fruit, Yellow Monkey's reflexes were among the finest in the world. Without exceptional reflexes, one simply could not adapt to the Glint-Glint Fruit's extreme speed!

In the blink of an eye, Yellow Monkey's body suddenly turned into a flash of light and vanished, leaving the area suppressed by Ian's Conqueror's Haki before reforming from golden light elsewhere.

But how could such a trick possibly escape Ian's Observation Haki?

Ian raised his hand and swung his sword. It looked light and casual, as though he had merely flicked his wrist, but Yellow Monkey's expression changed drastically in an instant. His Observation Haki screamed wildly, warning him of approaching danger!

Without hesitation, Yellow Monkey transformed into golden light and disappeared once more.

At the very instant Yellow Monkey vanished, a nearly thousand-meter-long slash came crashing down with a whoosh, tearing across the ground and obliterating everything ahead of it!

The next moment, a bottomless, enormous ravine appeared, stretching into the distance!

The might of a single sword strike was like splitting the island apart, permanently altering its terrain and appearance!