A slap in Sengoku's face

A Marine Headquarters Admiral represented not only absolute justice, but absolute strength as well.

None of those who became Marine Headquarters Admirals were easy opponents. Aokiji, Akainu, and even Kizaru each possessed suffocating power.

Yet now, Sengoku had offered a young pirate who had only just begun to make a name for himself the chance to become a Marine Headquarters Admiral. This was undoubtedly enough to shock the world.

"Who exactly is this D?"

In distant Wano Country, a burly man watched the live broadcast through a Den Den Mushi with keen interest. The scene before him showed Sengoku offering Jiang Lin the chance to become a Marine Admiral.

"Heh heh... D, huh?"

"D! Interesting!"

"..."

Across the islands of the New World, imposing figures watched the live broadcast before them, some standing, some sitting, and others lying down. Though their expressions differed, every one of them had developed a strong interest in Jiang Lin.

"Hehehe... A Marine Headquarters Admiral! Sengoku! I'm... really... so... 'tempted'!"

Jiang Lin turned toward the Execution Platform and burst into crazed laughter.

"Heh heh! Whitebeard, let's have this pirate wear you down first!"

Satisfied with Jiang Lin's response, Sengoku lowered the Den Den Mushi. Naturally, he had no intention of actually granting Jiang Lin the rank of Admiral. He was merely using the offer to make Jiang Lin fight for his life.

After all, against Jiang Lin's copying ability, even Whitebeard, the World's Strongest Man, would struggle to defeat him without a scratch.

Once Jiang Lin and Whitebeard had beaten each other bloody, the Marines would sound the horn for their counterattack.

"How could you, Jiang Lin! Were you really lying to me—and to Luffy?"

Ace clenched his fists in fury. He was not worried about his own situation, but about Luffy, who had yet to appear.

Ace had entrusted Luffy to Jiang Lin's care, yet only Jiang Lin had appeared on the battlefield. Did that mean something had happened to Luffy and the others?

The moment that thought arose, Ace began trembling uncontrollably.

"Ace... Don't worry. That brat is no match for Whitebeard!"

Noticing Ace's emotional turmoil beside him, Sengoku assumed he was worried about Whitebeard. Little did he know that Ace's true concern was not his Pops, but Luffy.

After all, compared to Whitebeard, Luffy was the "weak" one.

"I... refuse!"

Just as Sengoku and the Marine soldiers were enjoying the spectacle aboard the Moby Dick as onlookers, Jiang Lin suddenly dropped his smile and shouted his true feelings to the Marines, to Sengoku, and to Ace.

"Oh..."

In the sky, Kizaru looked down in confusion. He genuinely could not understand what Jiang Lin was trying to accomplish.

If Jiang Lin were on Whitebeard's side, he would not have attacked him. By striking Whitebeard, Jiang Lin had clearly placed himself on the opposing side.

At this point, Jiang Lin seemingly had no reason to reject Sengoku's offer to make him an "Admiral."

After all, very few people in the world could resist the lure of an Admiral's rank. Aside from the Four Emperors and their second-in-command, those who could were limited to a handful of long-established great pirates and Garp.

A greenhorn like Jiang Lin clearly did not belong among those people, so his refusal took everyone by surprise.

"Hmph!"

Seeing Jiang Lin's response, Akainu raised his head and snorted coldly.

"What exactly are you doing?"

Biting cold radiated from Aokiji's body as he gave Jiang Lin a meaningful look.

"D! Do you think you can leave Marineford alive after making enemies of both a hundred thousand Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates?"

Sengoku raised the arm he had just lowered. This time, his words brimmed with anger and threats. Jiang Lin's refusal had turned his entire scheme into a joke.

It was a slap in the face not only to Sengoku, but to the Marines and even the World Government.

"Hahaha! What an interesting brat!"

Seated in a tavern, Rayleigh drank his beer without taking his eyes off the live broadcast before him.

At that moment, countless people around the world were watching the broadcast just as intently as Rayleigh.

The reporters originally drawn by the Whitebeard Pirates had shifted their attention and reporting to Jiang Lin after his repeated outrageous actions.

"A man challenging both the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates—what is his true purpose?"

"After appearing in Marineford, the mysterious pirate D has made enemies of both the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates. What fate awaits him?"

"..."

Reports bearing sensational headlines rapidly spread from the Sabaody Archipelago to the rest of the world. From that moment on, Jiang Lin had firmly left his own mark in the minds of people everywhere.

Across the world, countless people watched the screens before them with bated breath. All of them anticipated Jiang Lin's next move, waiting for him to do something that would shock the world once again.

"D! Well done! Gahahahaha..."

Just as the various factions sank into deep thought and irrepressible shock over Jiang Lin's actions, Whitebeard, standing behind him, suddenly smiled. He stepped forward, passed Marco, and wrapped an arm around Jiang Lin's shoulders.

"You have attacked Edward Newgate, the wielder of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. The system is copying his Devil Fruit. Please hold out for one minute."

"You are within one meter of Edward Newgate, the wielder of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. The system is copying his Devil Fruit. Please remain there for one minute."

As Whitebeard embraced Jiang Lin, Jiang Lin took the opportunity to drape his own arm over Whitebeard's shoulder.

Like old friends reunited after years apart, the two stood before more than a hundred thousand Marine soldiers, exchanged a glance, and laughed heartily.

"Hahahaha..."

Their thunderous laughter left everyone dumbfounded. How had two people who had just been fighting to the death suddenly laughed away their feud?

"D, I know you've come here to save my son. I can rest easy entrusting my power to you!"

Under cover of their laughter, Whitebeard whispered into Jiang Lin's ear, his voice so low that only the two of them could hear.

"Thank you, Pops!"

After hearing Whitebeard's words, Jiang Lin solemnly thanked the man beside him.

When Jiang Lin had seen Whitebeard approach, he had expected a fierce battle. Instead, Whitebeard had come straight over and given him a great big hug.

Clearly, Whitebeard had already guessed why Jiang Lin had attacked him. His actions plainly had something to do with his ability.

Whitebeard also knew the state of his own body. Entrusting the Tremor-Tremor Fruit to a young man like Jiang Lin would greatly improve their side's chances of victory.

"Sengoku! Your little tricks won't work on this young brother of mine! Gahahaha..."

Whitebeard's hearty laughter rang across the plaza. His words struck Sengoku's face like a heavy punch, instantly darkening his expression with fury.

"Attack! We can't let D copy Whitebeard's power! Everyone, make D your primary target! Attack!"

Now that his scheme had been exposed, Sengoku could hardly stand by and watch Jiang Lin copy the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power. At his command, every coastal-defense cannon swung toward Jiang Lin, while the two Marine Admirals, Aokiji and Kizaru, charged at him alongside all the Marine Vice Admirals.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Dense cracks appeared around Jiang Lin and Whitebeard as an earth-shaking aura suddenly erupted from the bow of the Moby Dick.