Several hours before the Marines declared war.
The Red Force slowly approached the coast of Elbaf.
Shanks leaped down from the bow first, with Rayleigh close behind him.
On the other side of the harbor, Gaban had been waiting by an anchor for some time. Several empty barrels lay at his feet.
Beckman looked up at the giant city built against the distant mountains, raising an eyebrow.
"Rayleigh."
"Gaban."
"And Dorry and Brogy."
Lucky Roux hugged a huge slab of meat, his face slick with grease as he chewed. "That lineup still isn't enough?" he mumbled.
"No."
There was no trace of a smile on Shanks's face. He stared grimly toward the Red Line.
Beckman glanced at him. "You still think Rock is moving too fast."
Shanks did not deny it.
"The Holy Land can fall."
"But it can't take the whole world down with it."
If Rock was determined to attack Mary Geoise, this would be no ordinary war.
The World Government's reserves, the Marines' strongest fighters, the Revolutionary Army's hidden moves, the cards held by God's Knights, and whatever had lain buried deep within the Red Line for eight hundred years.
No one could say what might come bursting out in the end.
That was why Shanks needed a third force, a neutral one belonging to neither the Marines nor the World Government.
Rayleigh, Gaban, the entire Red Hair Pirates crew, and the two giant captains, Dorry and Brogy.
If everything truly spun out of control, at least someone would still be there to hit pause.
"Let's see them first."
With that, Shanks headed inland.
But after only a few steps, Beckman slowed and swept his gaze around the harbor.
"Something's off."
Ordinarily, Elbaf's harbor had more barrels of ale than people, and feasts ran from sunrise until