Chapter 21

Private chat messages came one after another.

Straw Hat cracked his knuckles, clearly wanting to test his skills against Su Lin.

Kaido dragged his spiked club, sparks flickering along 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.”

“Garp, Zhanguo , Whitebeard, Kaido, Mihawk—don’t stare at me like that either. I wasn’t referring to you.”

“Buggy, don’t be upset—I wasn’t talking about you. You’re pretty strong, in a certain sense.”

“Alright, seems I got a bit too arrogant—I’ll tone it down.” Su Lin shrugged, unconcerned.

He casually used Aokiji’s Devil Fruit ability to create an ice throne, then swept his right hand, raising molten rock to elevate the ground around him above everyone else’s eye level.

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

“In short, I ask all of you here to grant Su Mou a favor.”

“Do you think my weight isn’t enough?”

Su Lin smiled at those present. True, no matter how strong one was, they were still just a single warrior—here at Marine Headquarters, the diversity of Devil Fruit abilities still held a chance of victory, though at the cost of potentially heavy casualties.

“Look over there—isn’t Red-Haired coming?”

Su Lin pointed toward the sea.

Though Su Lin’s words sounded absurd, everyone now focused only on his power and the threat he posed.

“Red-Haired?!”

Aokiji squinted toward the horizon.

Several dark dots appeared in the distance.

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

“Didn’t Red-Haired just have a standoff with Kaido in the New World yesterday?” a Marine vice admiral exclaimed.

“If Kaido showed up, Red-Haired likely will too,” Toki mused, biting her finger.

“Another Emperor has come….” The junior admiral wanted to say they should just stop fighting, but feared his comrades would kill him first.

He wasn’t the type to die for Marine honor—his job was just a job.

Duludulu .

Duludulu .

The phone worm in Zhanguo ’s coat pocket rang. Zhanguo reverted to his human form as a soldier sprinted over with his coat.

He pulled out the phone worm.

“Report!”

“Marshal Zhanguo ! The Four Emperors’ Red-Haired Pirates’ ship has appeared five kilometers out and is heading toward Marineford!”

“Keep monitoring!”

Zhanguo hung up, glaring at Su Lin, then at the dark dots emerging on the horizon.

“Even Red-Haired is coming to join?!”

Zhanguo suddenly felt exhausted. Everything had been planned—even with the Straw Hat kid as a wildcard, they’d been prepared.

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

Even if his power had inexplicably surged to Emperor-level, 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 tipped the balance.

If they kept fighting, even if he and Garp could still fight, victory was unlikely—half their top combatants might be lost today.

But if they agreed to cease hostilities, Ace would be rescued—what then of Marine honor?!

This wasn’t a burden 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 Dragons’ lives would it take to earn a ceasefire, Zhanguo ?”

Su Lin smiled warmly; a beam of sunlight fell upon the spot where he stood.

At that moment, the paparazzi on Sabaody Archipelago were too terrified to speak.

In the eyes of most 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 legitimate military force.

“I’ll change my appearance and these copied abilities—the Flash Flash Fruit, among others.”

“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, eyes wide.

“I’ve copied the Gura Gura no Mi’s ability before—I can go anywhere. 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.”

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

“I’ll go fetch a few Celestial Dragons’ 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 man’s Devil Fruit ability is far too threatening,” said the bald Five Elder.

“With him around, CP0 must not only contend with the Nika Fruit’s power, but also this man,” said the bearded Five Elder.

“Have Zhanguo agree to the ceasefire first—check the surveillance from Impel Down.”

“That’s the only option now—the Celestial Dragons have already called.”

“But this man and the Straw Hat kid must be eliminated.”

“Plan carefully—send CP0 to gather intelligence on him.”

“The Marines have already lost this War of the Summit.”

Su Lin had read One Piece. Though he’d forgotten some plot points, he knew the personalities of Zhanguo and the Marines—and what they were worried about now.

I’ve shown off enough. I’ve racked up enough points.

Face? You give me face, I give you face—that’s fair.

As for excuses? I’ve already thought of one for you.

“ Zhanguo , for the sake of those trash, you’ve got no choice but to cease fire~,” Garp said cheerfully, picking his nose as he trotted over to Zhanguo , grinning.

“Shut up, Garp!” Zhanguo snapped at him—but he knew Garp was right: if they didn’t stop, no one could hold onto this man. He glanced at the phone worm in his hand.

He knew someone else was even more panicked right now.

‘It should be coming soon.’

Duludulu .

Duludulu .

“This is Zhanguo ,” Zhanguo picked up the phone worm.

“Hmm, I understand.”

He hung up.

Then, none of this responsibility falls on the Marines.

Zhanguo closed his eyes, thought it over, then raised his loudspeaker.

“All Marines!”

“Cease pursuit! Regroup and regroup!”

“Marshal?!” a Marine asked, confused.

“It’s a World Government order! Everyone, follow commands—rescue the wounded, tally the losses!”

Not the Marines’ decision—this was a World Government directive?

Ceasefire?!

Marine elites and pirates alike instantly turned their eyes to the man standing at the center of the battlefield.

Did his threat actually work?!

Someone had dared threaten the Marines—and even the World Government—using Celestial Dragons!

“Cheer, Whitebeard.”

“This time, you’ve won,” Zhanguo lowered the loudspeaker and said to Whitebeard.

Then Zhanguo and Garp turned and walked away, leaving everyone still stunned.