Chapter 263

After the commotion, Karl and Garp took their men and left. Of course, it was only a superficial departure; in reality, they went to Water 7 to hang out.

This was to avoid making Luffy and his crew uncomfortable, and to keep the Marine soldiers at ease as well.

In the evening, egged on by Franky's underlings, a grand banquet began, and everyone had a great time.

Robin leaned against a wall with a drink, smiling as she watched Chopper and the others doing their bizarre dances. She felt a sense of relief that was hard to put into words.

From now on, she was no longer alone.

"Just listen Move Move Like this, Nico Robin." Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan's voice came from behind the wall Robin was leaning against.

"Aokiji?!"

Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan asked calmly: "Why didn't you run away Move Move Like you used to? You should have been able to escape from CP9 on your own."

*Hoo~*

Robin let out a long sigh and said earnestly: "Things are different now than they were in the past."

"I cannot watch them die for me."

Evening, Water 7 harbor.

"Are you done talking to Robin?"

Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan nodded: "Yeah! We're done. It seems that from today on, I don't need to look after her anymore."

"Yeah! She has her own companions now. You need to work hard too! Strive to become the Fleet Admiral as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan couldn't help but show a bitter smile: "It's not that easy. Sakazuki has the support of the World Government. With my current achievements, it's too hard to decisively beat Sakazuki."

"Hahaha! Keep it up. As long as you make the World Government shut up, you'll win for sure. And the opportunity... uh, the Den Den Mushi is ringing, hold on."

Karl took out the Den Den Mushi: "Moshi moshi?"

"Karl, we just received news that Shanks and Whitebeard met during the day. It's unclear exactly what they were talking about, but the underlying reason definitely isn't simple."

"They met so soon? But Shanks is a generation younger than Whitebeard; there's no way Whitebeard would agree to form an alliance with Shanks, right?"

"Based on my understanding of Newgate, that should be the case. Regardless, with Whitebeard around, the Whitebeard Pirates are the strongest pirate crew in the world. If they were to form an alliance with Shanks, it would be troublesome."

"Mhm, what do you need me to do?"

"Is Aokiji with you?"

Karl turned his head to look at Aokiji: "Yeah, I was just talking to him."

"That's great, saves me from calling him again. The situation on the seas hasn't been very stable lately. You two had better not go too far; try to operate near Marine Headquarters and be on standby at all times."

"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."

After hanging up, Karl smiled at Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan: "See, didn't the opportunity just arrive?"

"What opportunity?"

Karl shook his head: "Don't pretend you don't understand, Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan. It's not been a day or two that Fleet Admiral Sengoku has wanted to move against the Whitebeard Pirates. As an Admiral, it's impossible you didn't know."

"The only thing missing now is a catalyst—a catalyst that would make Whitebeard lose all caution."

Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan nodded silently, then sighed: "Is the sea, which has been calm for so long, finally about to become chaotic?"

"Nonsense, since Roger died, when has the sea ever been calm? Alright, enough talk. Where's that old man Garp?"

Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan looked toward the direction of Water 7: "Not sure, but he's definitely not on the warship."

Karl rubbed his chin: "Can't be bothered with him. Let's spend the night here today! By the way, I heard there's a great bar in Water 7. I'm planning to go check it out. Do you want to come along?"

"No, it's better not to drink during this period."

"Tch, who goes to a bar just to drink? Forget it if you're not going, I'll go myself."

Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan suddenly thought of something and grabbed Karl's sleeve: "Hey, you aren't planning to go looking for trouble with women, are you? Does Ain know about this?"

"Hey, it's just a bit of fun. If you don't say anything, how would she know? Besides, I'm just giving back to my fans. They might get my body, but they will never get my heart."

Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan silently gave a thumbs up.

The next day, Banaro Island.

Fire Fist Ace and Blackbeard's group encountered each other.

"I've been looking for you for so long! Teach." Ace crouched on the eaves, looking coldly at Teach on the ground. He naturally ignored the others; in his eyes, only Teach was the most important.

"Ze-hahaha, isn't this Commander Ace?" Teach grinned and walked a few steps toward Ace.

"Shut up! As things stand, I am no commander. Don't think I'll let you go just because of that!"

Laffitte, behind Teach, gave an evil smile and said in a sarcastic tone: "Oh my, you must be the famous Fire Fist, Ace!"

Ace replied perfunctorily: "Yeah, yeah, that's me." Then he turned his gaze back to Teach.

"You're quite the captain now, aren't you? Blackbeard Pirates, Captain Marshall D. Teach..."

"Ze-hahahaha, what's this, Ace? Long time no see! What's wrong? Why do you know I'm here?"

"Teach, let's stop with the nonsense. You, who have lived so many years longer than others, can't possibly not understand the current situation, right..."

Teach waved his hand: "Hehe, I know. Talking about this is meaningless. By the way, Ace, do you want to become my companion and conquer the world with me?"

Teach raised his hands high and shouted in a seductive tone: "I have already planned the path to supremacy!"

"The era of Whitebeard is over. I should be the one to become the Pirate King!"

"First, let's go kill Straw Hat Luffy in Water 7 as a gift for the World Government!"

Hearing this name, Ace's gaze hardened: "Luffy? What are you talking about?"

"Ah! Do you know him?"

Ace slowly stood up from the eaves and said calmly: "I have even less reason to let you go now! The Luffy you speak of is my brother!"

*Click~ Bang!*

Van Augur raised his musket, and a bullet instantly pierced Ace's forehead. Unfortunately, Ace was a Logia user; ordinary bullets could only hit empty air.

"There really is a rude guy here... Fire Gun!"

This also signaled that the battle between Ace and Blackbeard had officially begun!

Water 7.

"Old lady, this is delicious sea salt, right! You've gathered so much, why don't you sell me some?"

"Sure, young man. I'll give you a bag then! Pay whatever you think is fair!"

Karl said without hesitation: "Old lady, I'm not short on money. Can you sell it all to me?"

The old lady shook her head. This was delicious sea salt she had painstakingly scraped from the eaves and sifted clean; she didn't want to sell it all.

"Young man, if you want delicious sea salt, there's still plenty on the roofs over there. You can go get it yourself. I need to keep these for myself to eat!"

Karl shook his head helplessly, turned to the pedestrians on the street, and shouted: "I am Marine Vice Admiral Karl. I need to purchase a batch of delicious sea salt as military supplies to be sent to Marine Headquarters. I want as much as you have!"

"The purchase price is 30,000 Berries per catty!"

"What! Is that for real?"

"There's such a good deal?"

Everyone suddenly felt they had encountered a legendary sucker. Merchants had purchased it before, but the price was only around 10,000 Berries. This Marine was offering 30,000 Berries; if that didn't make him a sucker, what did?

Karl didn't care what others thought; he wasn't short on money anyway.

Soon, the people on the street spread the word, and one after another, they climbed onto the roofs and tore off the tiles. It was quite a lively scene.

*Brrr, brrr, brrr.*

"Hey, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what? Ace was defeated? When? Just now?"

"Okay, okay, I understand. I'll go escort Ace to Impel Down immediately."