This is a bogus ranking, a completely bogus ranking! We Whitebeard Pirates will never accept it!

At that moment, Red-Haired Shanks also sensed something amiss, his hand unconsciously clenching into a fist.

He understood that if he did not do something soon, there really would be trouble.

"Brothers, I wasn't deliberately hiding my identity. I simply despise being a Celestial Dragon just as much."

"After Captain Roger brought me out of God Valley, I always lived as an ordinary person. That was what Rayleigh and Captain Roger wanted, too."

Seeing his crew look thoughtful, Shanks pressed on:

"In all fairness, the friendship we've shared has been pure and sincere."

"I truly care about you, my dear friends. I was afraid my identity would create distance between us."

Yasopp and the others fell silent.

Shanks was right.

They had come all this way from their days of weakness, gathering companions one by one.

Together, they had fought their way into the New World, defeated Loki, and ultimately become one of the Four Emperors.

Throughout it all, Shanks had always been utterly sincere with them.

At that thought, they were deeply moved.

"I'm such a bastard. I actually hesitated because of the captain's identity. That was disgraceful. The boss treats us better than anyone."

"Yeah, we Red Hair Pirates never came together because of anyone's identity. It was because of our friendship!"

"Boss Shanks, we won't resent you for your identity. We're actually excited!"

Those words made Shanks breathe a sigh of relief and smile.

"Hahaha, you bastards really had me worried."

For although he had been born a Celestial Dragon, the sea was where his freedom lay.

Otherwise, after returning to the Holy Land back then, he could simply have remained a Celestial Dragon instead of becoming a pirate again.

Just then, Benn Beckman solemnly interjected.

"I know everyone's happy to have recovered what we nearly lost."