"Lorne, I admit I came too late."
He adopted a humbler stance, his tone sincere.
"I can't stop you from taking revenge, and I have no intention of becoming your enemy. I just don't want to see this war spread any further."
"The Navy has already collapsed, and the Whitebeard Pirates have lost their captain. Kaido and Big Mom have suffered devastating losses. You've already won. You've won everything."
The red light flickered in Lorne's eyes, his killing intent undiminished.
"Won?" He sneered. "My companion is still lying aboard our ship, her life hanging in the balance, and you call this winning?"
"Saint Garling deserved to die, but Kuina was innocent." Shanks sighed, knowing all too well what Lorne's sore spot was. "I know all you want right now is to kill every last enemy. But look around you. Look at those Navy soldiers still bleeding. Look at those bewildered pirate remnants."
"This war, started by the World Government, has claimed too many lives. Whitebeard's era has ended, and you've swept away the remnants of Rocks. Now someone needs to bring all of this to a close."
Shanks's gaze grew more serious than ever. He stepped forward and looked Lorne straight in the eye.
"I alone don't carry enough weight to make the Navy and all the pirates stop fighting. Even Fleet Admiral Sengoku's orders might not work now."
"So I need your help."
"Lorne, you must serve as the guarantor of this ceasefire."
Everyone present was stunned by those words.
Have the very "culprit" who had just slaughtered the Holy Knights and dealt crushing blows to three of the Four Emperors serve as the guarantor who would end the war?
It was utterly absurd!
"Shanks! Have you lost your mind?!" Akainu was the first to roar. "Make him the