Chapter 21: Chapter Twenty-One: Threatening a Ceasefire

Private chat messages came one after another.

Straw Hat broke his finger joints, clearly wanting to test his skills against Su Lin.

Kaido gripped his spiked club, sparks trailing behind him as he dragged it across the ground.

Whitebeard grinned, three old-timers glaring sideways at him.

"Luffy, I wasn't talking about you, don't look at me like that."

"Capone, Sengoku, Whitebeard, Kaido, Blackbeard—you too, stop staring at me like that. I wasn't talking about you."

"Buggy, don't be upset—I wasn't talking about you either. You're pretty strong, in a certain sense."

"Alright, seems I got too arrogant—I'll tone it down." Su Lin shrugged, speaking with utter indifference.

He casually used Kuzan's Devil Fruit ability to create an ice throne, then swept his right hand, causing molten rock to rise and elevate the ground around him to eye level with everyone else.

He sat down slowly on the chair, his face calm despite the cold seeping through his seat, and lazily crossed his legs.

"In short, I ask all of you here to grant me, Su, some face."

"Do you think my weight isn't enough?"

Su Lin smiled at those present. True enough—no matter how strong one was, one was still just a single warrior; the diversity of Devil Fruit abilities here in the Marine headquarters still held a chance of victory, though it would require weighing whether too many lives would be lost.

"Look over there—is Red-Haired coming?"

Su Lin pointed toward the sea.

Though Su Lin's words sounded absurd, everyone present was now only considering his power and the threat he might pose.

"Red-Haired?!"

Kuzan squinted toward the horizon.

Several dark dots appeared out there.

A messenger on the communication tower spotted the distant image and immediately notified the Marines.

"Wasn't Red-Haired still facing off against Kaido in the New World yesterday?" a Marine vice-admiral exclaimed.

"If Kaido showed up, Red-Haired is likely here too," Toki mused, biting her finger.

"Another Four Emperor..." the Marine captain wanted to say they should just stop fighting, but feared he'd be killed by his comrades first.

He himself wasn't the type to die for the Marine's honor—work was just work.

Ring ring.

Ring ring.

The telephone bug in Sengoku's coat pocket rang; Sengoku reverted to his human form as a soldier sprinted over to hand him his coat.

He pulled out the telephone worm.

"Report!"

"Marshal Sengoku! The Four Emperor Red-Haired's fleet has appeared five kilometers away and is heading toward Marineford!"

"Keep monitoring!"

Sengoku hung up, gritted his teeth, glancing between Su Lin and the dark dots emerging on the horizon.

"Even Red-Haired is coming to join?!"

Sengoku suddenly felt exhausted. Everything had been planned perfectly—even with the Straw Hat kid as a wildcard, they could handle it.

After all, the Straw Hat kid had originally seemed insignificant.

Even though his power had inexplicably surged to the level of a Four Emperor, they still had a chance to win this battle.

At the very least, they had to leave Whitebeard behind.

But Su Lin and Red-Haired had become the tipping weights that shattered the balance.

If they continued fighting, even if he and Capone could still fight, their chances of victory were slim—and they might lose half their top-tier combatants today.

But if they agreed to stand down now, Fire Fist Ace would be rescued—what then of the Marines' honor?!

This was not a responsibility he could shoulder alone.

"Ah, right," Su Lin's loud voice once again drew every eye.

"Aren't the Celestial Dragons' lives important?"

"How many Celestial Dragon lives would it take to buy a ceasefire, Sengoku?"

Su Lin smiled gently; under his control, a beam of sunlight fell upon the spot where he stood.

When Su Lin spoke those words, the paparazzi on the Sabaody Archipelago were too terrified to speak.

In the eyes of most people in this world, the Celestial Dragons' status was an unshakable, untouchable hierarchy.

Now, Su Lin had declared this before the entire world—it was tantamount to declaring war on every regular army on Earth.

"I'll change my appearance, along with the copied Flash Fruit abilities I've acquired today."

"Here's the deal—if you don't accept my demand, I'll leave this battlefield and go assassinate Celestial Dragons."

"You all keep fighting here—I'll see who's left to guard those pig-like trash."

Su Lin spoke calmly as everyone stared at him, eyes wide.

"I've copied the Teleport Fruit ability before—I can go anywhere I want. Don't believe me? Check the surveillance footage from Impel Down—see if I didn't suddenly appear there."

"My patience is limited. If you don't agree, I'll kill one... no, five Celestial Dragons to show you how serious I am."

"You keep fighting your battle."

Su Lin extended one hand, gesturing for them to continue.

"I'll go fetch a few Celestial Dragon heads to kick around as a little entertainment?"

In the World Government's conference room.

The bald Five Elders smashed the table in fury, roaring: "How dare he?!"

"This guy's Devil Fruit ability is far too threatening," said the bald Five Elder.

"If he's here, CP0 must not only deal with the Gura Gura no Mi's abilities, but also worry about this guy," said the long-bearded Five Elder Star.

"First, get Sakazuki to agree to a ceasefire—check the surveillance at Impel Down."

"There's no other choice; the Celestial Dragons have already made the call."

"But this guy and the Straw Hat brat must be eliminated."

"We'll plan this carefully—have CP0 gather intelligence on this man first."

"The Navy has already lost this Marineford War."

Su Lin had watched One Piece; though some plot points were forgotten, he knew the personalities of Sakazuki and the other Navy officers, and what they were worried about now.

I've shown off enough; I've racked up the points.

Face? You give me face, I give you face—that's how it should be.

As for reasons, I've already thought of one for you.

"Sakazuki, for the sake of those trash, we have no choice but to cease fire~," Karp chuckled, scratching his nose and trotting over to Sakazuki with a grin.

"Shut up, Karp!" Sakazuki barked at Karp, but he knew Karp was right—if they didn't cease fire, no one could hold onto this guy. He glanced at the phone worm in his hand.

He knew someone was even more panicked than he was right now.

'It should be coming soon.'

Ring ring.

Ring ring.

"This is Sakazuki," Sakazuki picked up the phone worm.

"Hmm, I understand."

He hung up the call.

Then, all responsibility has nothing to do with us Navy.

Sakazuki closed his eyes, thought for a moment, then pulled out the loudspeaker.

"All Navy personnel!"

"Cease pursuit! Stand down and regroup!"

"Admiral!?" a Navy officer asked in confusion.

"It's a World Government order! Everyone, follow commands, rescue the wounded, and tally the damage."

Not the Navy's decision—it's a World Government directive?

Ceasefire?!

The Navy elites and pirates immediately turned their gazes toward the man standing at the center of the battlefield.

Did that guy's threat actually work?!

Someone actually dared to threaten the Navy—and even the World Government—using the Celestial Dragons.

"Cheer, Whitebeard."

"This time, you've won," Sakazuki lowered the loudspeaker and said to Whitebeard.

Then Sakazuki and Karp turned and left, leaving the stunned crowd behind.