Chapter 243: Tower of Sealed Demons!

"Hongfa Xiangkesi is going to destroy the Navy family's stone monument!"

Albatrosses circled overhead, continuously recording the live footage.

Morgans pulled his hat brim low, his face flushed with excitement, taking a thoroughly trouble-stirring attitude, broadcasting the very latest battle developments to the entire world.

The world was fermenting.

A suppressed yet surging emotion, like magma blocked by volcanic rock, needed only the tiniest crack to erupt completely.

On the bustling, lively Sabaody Archipelago,

because it was the only route to the New World, pirates, bounty hunters, and an endless stream of merchants going in and out could be found everywhere.

They watched the Image Den Den Mushi with feverish excitement,

"Even the Leader of the Revolutionary Army failed, couldn't break through the Navy's defenses—the Navy has grown强大 beyond imagination."

"If this keeps up, is there any way left for pirates to survive?"

Inside the chaotic tavern, some pirates felt despair in their hearts.

The stronger the Navy, the more stable and peaceful the entire ocean becomes, and the more dire the situation grows for pirates like them who rely on force to burn, kill, and plunder.

Even the strongest pirate crew, Whitebeard's, returned defeated,

Does this mean the Navy will truly begin to patrol and hunt across Si Hai from this moment on?

"Damned Revolutionary Army, spouting big talk about defying the World Government, yet they couldn't even beat the watchdogs kept by the Five Elders!"

Some pirates cursed viciously, transforming their fear of the Navy into anger at the Revolutionary Army for failing to defeat them.

These scenes kept appearing in tavern after tavern,

"Madmen."

Amid the laughter and cursing, a calm voice of rebuke suddenly rang out.

A disheveled white-haired old man, wearing glasses, paid no attention to the gradually chilling atmosphere around him, and sipped the beer he had traded all his money for.

"Did you just… call me a madman?"

A burly pirate Captain stood up, his head nearly touching the ceiling, and slowly walked over to the white-haired old man.

The surrounding people retreated in panic,

"A bounty of two hundred million Beli, the rising pirate known as the Bloody Butcher!"

Some merchants recognized him and hurriedly slipped out of the tavern.

"How dare you insult the Captain! I'm going to scrape every bit of flesh off your body!"

A brutal Captain naturally had brutal pirates under him.

The white-haired old man didn't even blink, still speaking in that calm tone: "My apologies, this old man didn't make himself clear, and you've misunderstood."

"I'm not only saying you're a madman…"

"To be precise, I'm talking about this chaotic era—even Whitebeard, who was once the Pirate King's rival, and outstanding figures like Sengoku and Garp of Marine Headquarters, can't control themselves and are driven mad by it."

Though cursing aloud, the white-haired old man's lips couldn't help but curl up,

"You're asking for death!"

The Bloody Butcher clenched his fist, about to bring it down,

Hum.

Haki erupted, and every single person in the tavern fainted.

The white-haired old man… or rather, Rayleigh, who had once been the Pirate King Roger's right-hand man and was known as Pluton, the Vice Captain, returned to his secluded little cottage.

"Running out causing trouble again—if this keeps up, the identity you've worked so hard to hide will be exposed. Is that really alright?"

"It's fine."

Hearing Rayleigh's flat reply, Shakky was momentarily stunned, but not overly surprised, and asked: "Have you made up your mind?"

"I have."

Ever since the Samsara Game appeared in the East Blue, Rayleigh, who had lived under a false name for many years, began frequenting the Sabaody Archipelago, starting to plunder the assets of pirates and evil merchants.

Shakky said nothing, nor did she try to dissuade him; she simply watched everything in silence.

"Then go ahead. Honestly, you're nothing but a bag of old bones and you still can't sit still."

Shakky complained with her mouth, but began packing Rayleigh's luggage.

Rayleigh scratched his head and laughed heartily: "Even those two old fellows Garp and Whitebeard can fight with the youngsters of the new era—surely I'm not older than them, right?"

Even when the Pirate King's crew lived under false names, they never truly retired from the world.

All along, Rayleigh had been waiting for a great event that could set Si Hai boiling,

thinking perhaps such a situation would be triggered by Whitebeard, or by some new-era spark who had grown up, but he never expected it to be the least likely person.

Shanks.

The one most certain that fate would end well, the one most wanting to maintain the stability of the sea, had actually taken the initiative to stir up the winds of change.

Rayleigh didn't understand, nor did he wish to understand.

Because he was different from Shanks—Shanks believed in fate, while he upheld another of Roger's words.

If there's a chance, one must turn this world upside down.

And now, the time had come!

"On the seas, there are the Revolutionary Army attempting to overthrow the World Government, chaotic pirates, and the Four Emperors…"

Rayleigh's gaze was uncommonly sharp as he laughed heartily: "If that's the case, how could the freest Pirate King be missing from the picture?"

"Captain Roger's legacy isn't something that brat Shanks could understand—let this bag of old bones be the one to cry out to the world!"

……

The eyes of Si Hai were all focused on the Navy family's territory.

"Damn!"

Vice Admiral Tsuru frowned deeply, watching the Red Hair Pirates who had already drawn close to the stone monument.

Borsalino transformed into a golden light, intercepting several bullets fired from Yeshubu's sniper rifle and protecting the stone monument.

In his hand he held a weapon condensed from golden radiance.

A Golden Hunting Spear.

Kizaru revealed a look of lingering fear, patting his chest repeatedly, and pouted: "Fortunately, if I hadn't become a Magic Lancer and transformed into even stronger light, I would have almost had the Navy family that I painstakingly built destroyed by you, Shanks."

"Kizaru, hm?"

Yeshubu frowned slightly, but didn't find it strange.

On this ocean, when it came to speed, Admiral Kizaru was absolutely in the top tier—the innate advantage of the Glint-Glint Fruit was right there.

"You want to stop us?"

Shanks raised his arm, the tip of Gryphon pointed at Kizaru.

"Not even a shred of room for negotiation? Vice Admiral Tsuru still wants me to talk terms with you."

Kizaru hadn't expected the other side to leave no room for negotiation at all, and to draw a blade directly.

This doesn't match what Vice Admiral Tsuru said,

Didn't she say Shanks is the Pirate who hates chaotic situations the most, that he'd definitely be willing to negotiate with the Navy? What's going on now?

He could clearly sense,

Shanks wasn't putting on an act—his attitude was very direct; he simply wanted to destroy the Navy family stone monument.

"Having the family stone monument destroyed by Pirates would be a great loss for the Navy, but I probably can't beat you—what a pain."

Although he'd exchanged for new game abilities, there was still no way to contend with the entire Red Hair Pirates crew.

If it weren't for the two hundred billion in debt hanging over his head, Kizaru would really want to pretend he hadn't seen anything,

The family stone monument, the Pirate raid—whatever…

Troublesome.

Kizaru kept scratching his head, trying to stall for time, but Hongfa Xiangkesi simply gave him no chance.

Shura Evil Light Slash!

Two intersecting wave Jiangji, like a falling giant crescent moon, charged toward the family stone monument.

"Troublesome, troublesome!"

Kizaru sighed deeply, and five golden light spears resembling a Barrier suddenly appeared behind him.

Hunting Spear!

Golden flames flickered; Kizaru swung the golden spear in his hand, firing golden light toward the sky.

A golden Barrier appeared,

But it was shattered by the Shura Evil Light Slash. With the wave Jiangji Reinforced by 【Shadow's Fury】, Kizaru alone simply couldn't stop it.

"No choice!"

Kizaru's figure vanished, reappearing in front of the Navy family stone monument, and slammed both hands onto the ground.

【Do you wish to place building 【Demon-Locking Tower】?】

Tip: Once placed, a building cannot be easily moved; a 【Building Relocation Scroll】 must be consumed to change the map tile.

"Yes."

Kizaru confirmed without hesitation.

Boom—

The Navy family's territory began to tremble, a powerful oppressive force sweeping out in all directions.

Everyone who was not a member of the Navy family felt a twinge of heart-pounding dread.

A tower flickering with golden light rose up from the ground,

Incomplete, with only the first floor's base.

But the majestic aura it exuded—though clearly an inanimate object—made everyone feel as if they were facing a solemn, stately divine statue, under the statue's gaze.

(End of this chapter)