The Empress had decided to join Jiang Lin's pirate crew. The news might not have been as explosive as Ace joining him, but it was more than enough to catch the attention of the reporters waiting on the Sabaody Archipelago.
"The Pirate Empress has announced that she's joining the crew of D. Jiang Lin, a pirate newcomer with a bounty of 800 million Beli! What waves will this formidable alliance make in the New World? Stay tuned!"
"Shichibukai Boa Hancock has renounced her title and announced her decision to join D. Jiang Lin's crew right here on the Marineford battlefield! Will Amazon Lily face challenges from the World Government and the major pirate crews? We'll keep watching!"
"..."
The moment the Empress announced her decision, the reporters on the Sabaody Archipelago put pen to paper. Within a single minute, they had written a stream of detailed reports with sensational headlines and sent them across the world.
Thanks to their efforts, Jiang Lin's pirate crew had drawn the attention of powers throughout the New World before it even had a name.
"Hahaha... Good! Good! Good! He reminds me of myself when I was young!"
Whitebeard looked at Jiang Lin and the Empress beside him. He could no longer hold back his grin.
"Hey, Jiang Lin! Are you starting your own pirate crew?"
Luffy sent a Marine Soldier flying with a punch, then grinned at Jiang Lin.
"I'm thinking about it. But until I've gathered enough crewmates, I'll need to travel with you a while longer. Would you welcome the Empress and me?"
Jiang Lin smiled at Luffy. He wanted to form a pirate crew and venture into the New World, but he didn't have enough crewmates yet, and he knew little about the place. Rather than wander through it with only the Empress, he was better off staying with Luffy's group for now.
If they traveled together, Jiang Lin and Luffy could look out for each other and share the risks when danger struck. The New World was nothing like the seas they had crossed before. Even Jiang Lin could be caught off guard and meet his end.
"Welcome? Of course! Jiang Lin, you'll always be my friend!"
Luffy's arm stretched toward them and wrapped around Jiang Lin and the Empress, pulling them into a tight embrace.
"Mm..."
"Luffy! You..."
Luffy meant no harm, and Jiang Lin hadn't expected him to do it. His arm squeezed Jiang Lin and the Empress until their bodies were nearly pressed together.
Luffy had surely meant to hug all three of them. Instead, he had pressed Jiang Lin and Boa Hancock right up against each other.
Whoosh!
Fortunately, Luffy didn't keep them wrapped up for long. He gave a goofy laugh and quickly pulled his arm back.
Luffy had let go, but the strange tension between Jiang Lin and the Empress lingered.
"Uh... I didn't mean to do that. It was all Luffy! That's right, it was entirely his fault!"
Jiang Lin spoke to the Empress with righteous conviction. He would never admit that he had enjoyed it. But that had nothing to do with the fact that Luffy was to blame. A wrong was a wrong, and punishment was unavoidable!
"Luffy! Take this! Mero Mero Mellow!"
Boa Hancock formed a heart with her hands before her chest and fired a barrage of pink hearts toward Luffy, flushed with embarrassment and anger.
"Empress..."
As Boa Hancock attacked, the surrounding Marine Soldiers blushed and turned to stone.
"Hm... What just happened? Hey, thanks!"
The one person Boa Hancock had meant to hit saw the Marine Soldiers turn to stone and thanked her with a goofy grin.
"Come with me!"
Jiang Lin glanced across the battlefield, then stepped forward and took the Empress's hand.
An Ice Path appeared beneath them, carrying them swiftly toward the edge of the bay.
"Be careful. I'm going to save another crewmate."
Jiang Lin released the Empress's hand after bringing her near the main force of the Whitebeard Pirates. He knew she was strong enough to survive this battle. Once he had taken her away from the Admirals and Shichibukai, he could focus on the situation ahead.
"Mm!"
The Empress watched Jiang Lin walk away and answered softly, her face red.
By now, the Whitebeard Pirates had begun their all-out assault. They drove the Marines back step by step. The pirates' faces burned with fighting spirit, while the Marines looked close to defeat.
"Luffy, let's go save your brother!"
Jiang Lin was in high spirits after gaining his first crewmate. He rushed back, grabbed Luffy's arm, and became a streak of yellow lightning racing into the distance.
"Wahaha! Zombie Soldiers, get them!"
Moria saw Jiang Lin charging forward and sent his zombies to block the way.
Boom!
As the Zombie Soldiers staggered toward Jiang Lin, a column of water blasted in from afar and crashed over them.
"Sea... seawater!"
Moria stared furiously at the Zombie Soldiers, now sprawled helplessly on the ground. His mouth fell open.
"Moria, your Zombie Soldiers can't stand salt, can they?"
A blue figure raced in from afar and stopped beside Jiang Lin, fixing his gaze on Moria.
"Jiang Lin, Luffy, leave the Zombie Soldiers to me."
Jinbe turned to Jiang Lin and Luffy. As a former Shichibukai, he had no trouble taking on Moria.
"Thanks!"
Jiang Lin wasted no time. After thanking Jinbe, he charged ahead with Luffy. Just then, a Marine Giant swung a massive club down toward them.
Clang!
Jiang Lin switched Devil Fruit Cards and thrust a hand toward the giant. Fine cracks spread through the air. Though the giant towered many times above Jiang Lin, his eyes rolled back, blood spilled from his mouth, and he collapsed.
"Vice Admiral!"
The Marine Soldiers beside the giant stared in horror. Their hands shook as their will to fight drained away, and they looked at Jiang Lin with naked fear.
"No... No way... We can't beat him!"
Some Marine Soldiers dropped their weapons and fled. They didn't want to die. If a Marine Vice Admiral couldn't survive a single move against Jiang Lin, what chance did ordinary soldiers have?
"What are you doing? Don't let one mere rookie decide the battle!"
Just as their lines threatened to collapse, Sengoku's impassioned voice rang out through the Den Den Mushi. The fleeing Marine Soldiers heard him and stopped in their tracks.