HST: Chapter 323/324

Chapter 323: Feeling Desperate

Even the top brass of the Navy, who knew something about the Five Elders, were shocked. Let alone the ignorant pirates around the world.

"Those five old men are actually as strong as an admiral?"

Pirates across the globe stared at the image of the Five Elders in disbelief.

They had always thought these were just five useless old men. No one expected that they were actually powerful figures standing at the pinnacle of the world.

"Then how are we supposed to deal with a World Government like this?"

The pirates couldn't help but ask themselves.

The Navy has three admirals and nearly a hundred vice admirals. Its strength is second to none.

No matter how arrogant the so-called Yonko are, they only rule over a corner of the New World.

To put it nicely, they're separatists.

To put it bluntly, they were pushed into the New World by the Navy.

Most of this world remains under the Navy's control.

And just one branch of the Navy had been enough to drive pirates to the New World.

Now, the Five Elders of the World Government have revealed power on par with an admiral. How are they supposed to fight back?

"The era of pirates is over."

That thought truly sank into the hearts of pirates.

The fall of the Yonko and the end of the Pirate King's bloodline had only shaken their confidence.

But the appearance of these five old men nearly crushed all their hope.

The three admirals of the Navy Headquarters, plus these five old men, and also Sengoku, Garp, and the former Fleet Admiral Kong.

No one even knows what other powers the World Government hides in the shadows.

There are more than ten admiral-level powerhouses altogether. Who in this ocean could stand against such a lineup?

"Wait, did you hear what that old man called Red-Hair just now?" a pirate suddenly noticed something odd. "He called Red-Hair… Saint Figarland Shanks!"

"That's how the Celestial Dragons name themselves! Could it be that the Yonko, Red-Haired Shanks, is a Celestial Dragon!?"

"Impossible, right? How could Red-Hair be a Celestial Dragon? Aren't they all a bunch of useless pigs?"

"Don't be so quick to insult the Celestial Dragons. As the descendants of the twenty legendary kings, their bloodline can't be weak."

"Besides, aren't those five old men Celestial Dragons too? And they're clearly powerful warriors!"

"But Red-Hair being a Celestial Dragon is just ridiculous! He's a pirate who stands for freedom, and the Celestial Dragons are tyrants who rule the world. It doesn't make sense at all!"

One after another, the pirates noticed the title and were both shocked and unsettled.

It was truly ironic. The king of pirates was actually one of the Celestial Dragons, the so-called noble rulers of the world.

Pirates who once worshipped Shanks felt as if their entire world had collapsed.

They had believed Shanks was the heir to Roger's will and the symbol of freedom for all pirates.

Now, that symbol had been tainted.

The Celestial Dragons were the embodiment of cruelty, ignorance, and arrogance. Everyone hated them, except for their own dogs.

And now Shanks, a Celestial Dragon, had become a Yonko suppressing countless pirates. It was as if the Celestial Dragons were stepping on their heads.

Despair crept into their hearts. The World Government, ruled by the Celestial Dragons, was far too powerful for pirates to resist.

They stared at Shanks on the screen, hoping he would stand up and deny it.

Even if Shanks claimed he was Roger's son, or just a commoner, or the son of a Marine, they would believe him without hesitation. Anything was better than being a Celestial Dragon.

Aboard the Wind Rider.

Shanks stared at the Five Elders with a dark expression. This background was a stain on him.

But the fact that Celestial Dragon blood flowed through his veins was undeniable.

It was precisely this physical potential that helped him achieve what he had today.

"Five Elders, even if I have that blood flowing through me, I've never seen myself as a Celestial Dragon," Shanks said grimly. "From the moment I can remember, I've lived aboard Roger's ship. It was Captain Roger who raised me."

"Other than a trace of bloodline, I have nothing to do with the Celestial Dragons. Don't lump me in with them."

He didn't deny the bloodline, and he refused to lie.

But he absolutely could not accept being grouped with the Celestial Dragons by the Five Elders.

He would never acknowledge those cruel, arrogant fools as his own.

"We don't know any Celestial Dragons. We only know our Boss Shanks!" Lucky Roux said with a hearty laugh.

"That's right. There's only one Yonko, Red-Haired Shanks, in the Red Hair Pirates! There's never been any Saint Figarland!" Yasopp added, standing beside Shanks.

The entire Red Hair Pirates crew stood firmly behind Shanks.

They wouldn't create distance because of his bloodline.

The man they followed had always been the fearless and domineering Shanks.

No matter what bloodline he carried, he was the one and only leader of the Red Hair Pirates.

"Is the bloodline of the Celestial Dragons really that powerful?"

"If you stay within the World Government, you become one of the Five Elders. If you venture out to sea, you become a Yonko who suppresses countless pirates."

"The World Government is invincible. How do we fight them?"

Pirates around the world didn't feel reassured by Shanks' explanation.

Just among the Celestial Dragons they knew, there were already six individuals with admiral-level power or higher.

There were still a vast number of Celestial Dragons living on the Red Line. Who knows how many strong ones were hidden among them?

How could they possibly resist a World Government like this?

The Whitebeard Pirates had been destroyed by the Navy, and the Beasts Pirates had been wiped out by Caelan.

Of the original four Yonko, only two remained.

One was the lunatic Charlotte Linlin, obsessed with sweets and prone to erratic behavior.

Her Big Mom Pirates were widely considered the weakest of the Yonko.

No one expected her to lead a resistance against the Navy.

The true number one pirate now was Red-Haired Shanks, known as the most domineering man in the world.

Shanks was generous, powerful, and a symbol of the elite among pirates.

There was no doubt that if any pirate could lead a battle against the World Government, it would be Shanks.

But Shanks… he was a Celestial Dragon!

The strongest pirate left, one of the last two Yonko, was a Celestial Dragon!

It was too absurd. Their leader turned out to be of enemy blood. What else could they do?

People couldn't help but wonder—should this world be ruled by the Celestial Dragons?

Cruelty, greed, arrogance, ignorance, bloodlust... every negative trait imaginable applied to the Celestial Dragons.

They had long been the subject of ridicule, mockery, and resentment.

But now, no one was laughing anymore.

The Celestial Dragon bloodline had already produced at least six world-class powerhouses in this generation alone.

The Marines, controlled by the Celestial Dragons, were the most powerful military force on the seas.

But the strength of the Celestial Dragons themselves was even greater than that of the Marines.

It felt like the world was destined to be ruled by the Celestial Dragons, with no room left for resistance.

For a time, the entire world was shrouded in the oppressive shadow of the World Government.

The might of the World Government left the weak trembling, the strong shaken, its supporters elated, and its enemies in utter despair.

Countless people stared at the Five Elders on the screen with expressions filled with fear and hopelessness.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 324: Extremely Pleased Five Elders

"Whatever you say, Shanks."

Saint Jaygarcia Saturn didn't care about Red-Hair denying his identity.

On the contrary, Shanks' response was exactly what he wanted.

As long as Shanks admitted he had Celestial Dragon blood, it proved the nobility of the World Nobles. This would only help further spread the majesty of the World Government.

"Whether you fight or flee is your choice." Saint Nusjuro held the First Generation Kitetsu and said coldly, "If you want to stay, we don't mind killing you before killing Caelan."

"…"

Shanks looked out over the devastated battlefield.

The Whitebeard Pirates had been completely wiped out. Except for a few captains who were taken alive, the rest of the 50,000 men had all died in battle.

The bodies of Ace and Whitebeard were already growing cold.

There was no point in continuing to fight, other than venting anger.

"Shanks, don't worry about us. If you want to fight, go for it."

Beckman smoked his pipe calmly.

"That's right, Boss. If you want to fight, bring it on!" Lucky Roux, Yasopp, and the others laughed wildly. "They're just Marines. No match for us at all!"

They and Shanks were brothers in life and death. If Shanks gave the word, they would charge, no matter who stood in the way.

"This war is meaningless. Continuing it will only waste lives."

Shanks shook his head and sighed.

His brothers, Yasopp and Beckman, would absolutely obey his orders. They wouldn't mind dying in battle together.

But he couldn't allow them to fight a hopeless, meaningless war just to vent his own rage.

"Shanks, you made a wise choice."

Saint Jaygarcia Saturn said with approval.

If possible, he didn't want to fight a Celestial Dragon. It would only cause unnecessary complications.

"Listen, Saturn." Shanks drew the famous sword Griffin with his right hand and said coldly, "Give us the bodies of Whitebeard and Ace. Otherwise, we fight."

He hadn't come all this way just to take a look and leave. Even if he couldn't save the son of his captain, he would at least give Ace a proper burial.

"That's no problem. Consider it our coming-of-age gift to Saint Figarland Shanks." Saint Saturn smiled gently.

"Even among the Celestial Dragons, your accomplishments are extraordinary."

Saint Mars followed up, further attributing Shanks' strength to his Celestial Dragon bloodline.

He knew it wasn't true. Shanks' achievements came largely from his own efforts.

But if they could make the world believe it, it would further elevate the Celestial Dragons' sanctity.

"I told you not to lump me in with those bastards!"

Shanks suddenly swung Griffin at the Five Elders.

A crescent-shaped slash tore through the air.

The blood-stained battlefield was instantly split apart.

In a flash, the attack reached the Five Elders.

"Too impulsive, Shanks."

Saint Nusjuro pulled out the First Generation Kitetsu.

An eerie black aura covered the blade.

He raised his sword and met Shanks' slash, shattering it before it could reach them.

The other Five Elders didn't react with anger to Shanks' strike. Instead, they ordered, "Send those two bodies to Saint Shanks."

Sengoku and Aokiji were just about to respond when Akainu stepped forward first.

"I'll do it."

Akainu lifted the two bodies and began walking toward Shanks.

This was a big moment. He was already in the spotlight, but he didn't mind shining a bit more.

"Good."

The Five Elders nodded in satisfaction at Akainu's actions.

They appreciated Akainu's obedient, efficient style—far better than Sengoku's more cautious approach.

Akainu walked forward with a proud and confident look, not as someone making a compromise, but as if demonstrating power to Shanks.

He had personally killed both Whitebeard and Ace. Now, this act was also a form of provocation.

The Marine officers, who had been stunned by Shanks' presence, had now recovered. They silently watched Akainu walking toward Shanks with a bold stride.

This was their admiral, who had just slain one Yonko and now stood face to face with another.

One Yonko had died at Marineford, and another had bowed his head here.

This was an unprecedented, glorious victory.

Words couldn't express the Navy's pride.

"Those who joined the Neo Navy should take note. They'll never have a day like this."

The Marines thought to themselves.

They used to envy their colleagues who joined the Neo Navy, thinking they had chosen a better path.

But after witnessing this overwhelming victory, they no longer felt envy.

The Neo Navy had taken down one Yonko. The official Navy had not only killed one, but also subdued another.

With three admirals in the Navy, and the World Government behind them with the Five Elders, they were backed by overwhelming power.

They were the true justice, the real victors.

"Go back, Saint Shanks. Thank you for helping us with the corpses."

Akainu placed the bodies of Ace and Whitebeard in front of Shanks and sneered coldly.

He was seriously injured and absolutely could not beat Shanks right now.

But behind him stood Kizaru, Aokiji, and the Five Elders. That was his confidence.

"It's no trouble. One day, I'll help clean up your corpse too."

Shanks looked at Akainu coldly.

Facing the man who killed Ace without hesitation, he truly wanted to strike him down here.

But behind Akainu stood Kizaru, Aokiji, and the Five Elders. Before he could kill Akainu, he would have to face a siege from all sides.

"I look forward to that day."

Akainu wiped the blood off his scarred face and gave a smug smile.

Then, he turned and walked away, his back exposed in Shanks' attack range.

He headed straight toward the execution platform.

"Admiral Akainu is mighty!"

"Long live the World Government!"

"The Navy will win every battle!"

The Marines erupted in cheers.

On the execution platform, the Five Elders stood in suits and leather shoes, faces full of smug satisfaction.

This great victory was being broadcast live to the world.

All those who opposed the World Government were now filled with helplessness. Compared to the Navy and the World Government, their strength meant nothing.

They silently watched the World Government's moment of glory, drowning in despair at its unstoppable dominance.

"Mission accomplished." The Five Elders scanned the crowd, including Shanks, who was silently preparing to leave, and laughed heartily. "It went even better than we planned."

"Roar!"

A furious dragon's roar echoed from the sky.

A majestic, six-hundred-meter-long green dragon came swooping down, aiming straight for the execution platform where the Five Elders stood.

The Five Elders looked up and saw a tall figure standing proudly atop the dragon's head.

Saint Saturn's pupils shrank, and the calm in his heart was instantly broken.

"He's here!"

(To be continued.)