Chapter 348: Elegia Island Incident

Luffy widened his eyes. No matter how carefree he was, he could see what the Marines were planning to do.

"Shanks, are the Marines planning to capture us?"

Shanks shook his head: "No, the person the Marines want to capture is me!"

Luffy clenched his fists, looking at Shanks, then at Karl.

To him, Shanks was his guide, while Karl was his friend. Of course, the weight of Shanks in his heart was naturally higher than Karl’s. After all, Shanks had lost an arm to save him.

Although they didn't have much interaction, Karl had saved Nami, taught Zoro, helped Chopper, and was also one of Robin’s most cherished friends.

He really didn't want to fight Karl.

"Uncle Karl, why do you want to capture Shanks? He is a good person, I can prove it. Can you not capture him! If you want to capture someone, capture me!!!"

Karl chuckled and shook his head: "Luffy, you are one of the Emperors of the Sea, how can you still be so carefree."

"You and I have a good personal relationship, and I know you inside and out, so I have intentionally or unintentionally let you off several times. But don't forget."

Karl pointed to himself: "I am a Marine, and you and Shanks are pirates! We have always been on opposite sides."

"Since Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan took office, the Marines’ primary goal has been to eradicate the remaining Emperors of the Sea."

"Big Mom is dead, Kaido has been executed, and only Shanks is left."

"The curtain of the Red Hair Pirates, and the Great Pirate Era started by Roger, should also come to an end. No one can stop it from happening."

Subsequently, Karl walked forward, looking intently at Shanks: "This is a battle between the Marines and the Red Hair Pirates. Are you sure you want to let the Straw Hat crew join in? Shanks?"

Luffy just wanted to speak, but was stopped by Shanks.

"Shanks?"

Shanks reached out and placed his hand on Luffy’s straw hat, just Move Move Like in the old days: "Luffy, you are already a pirate captain capable of standing on your own. To be able to stand on equal footing with me in less than three years is already surprising enough to me."

"Next, continue to sail toward your dream!"

"But, Shanks!"

Shanks shook his head: "Luffy, you have your path, and I have mine. Take your partners and leave here!"

Luffy stood in place, tears welling up in his eyes. He had imagined meeting Shanks on the sea countless times, but he had never thought it would be in such a situation.

"Sha, Shanks..."

Shanks sighed and patted Luffy’s head: "Luffy, go! This is a battle between the Red Hair Pirates and the Marines. I will not allow anyone else to interfere."

"Go!"

Luffy just stood there, refusing to leave, looking stubbornly at Shanks.

On the other side, the Straw Hat crew who had woken up immediately rushed over.

"What happened?" Nami looked at Luffy, who was standing between Karl and Shanks, and asked uncomprehendingly.

Sanji lit a cigarette, looked around, and said faintly: "War is about to begin."

Chopper shouted nervously: "Is Mr. Karl going to capture Luffy? Is there some misunderstanding here?"

"Chopper, you misunderstood. The war I’m talking about is the war between the Marines and the Red Hair Pirates."

"Uta’s concert was probably just a cover. The Marines’ true purpose was to lure Red Hair Shanks through Uta, thereby capturing him."

"Then what should we do? Shanks is Luffy’s guide, he definitely won't sit idly by. Are we going to intervene in this dispute too?"

Sanji shook his head: "I don't know. Let’s see... how Luffy chooses!"

Everyone fell silent and looked worriedly at Luffy, who was at the center of the storm.

Shanks glanced at Karl, then whispered in Luffy’s ear: "Luffy, the last Road Poneglyph is on Elbaf. Go find it. When you reach Laugh Tale and find the One Piece, you will naturally know everything. Please, don't stay here."

After speaking, Shanks looked at Uta on the side, then at the Straw Hat crew on the high ground, and immediately made a decision in his heart.

"Sha..." Before Luffy could finish speaking, his body went limp and fell to the ground. Luffy looked down and saw that at some point, a pair of pitch-black Seastone handcuffs had been cuffed on him.

"I’m sorry, Luffy."

Swish~ Shanks grabbed Luffy with one hand and Uta with the other, disappearing from the spot instantly. The next second, he appeared in front of the Straw Hat crew.

"Admiral Karl!"

Karl reached out, signaling not to act rashly, while he himself looked up at the high ground and said with a smile: "Rest assured, Shanks won't run."

"You are Luffy’s partners, right? I leave Luffy to you. This is the key to the Seastone handcuffs. When the time is right, you can open them for him!"

Shanks glanced at Zoro, handed him the key, and then said: "The Marines’ target is me, they won't stop you. You take Luffy and leave here!"

"Shanks, I’m not leaving!"

Boom~

With a clean and neat hand chop, Luffy, who was already weak, passed out directly.

"I leave Uta to you as well. Thank you very much." Shanks slowly bent down, showing his "bowing craftsman" spirit.

The Straw Hat crew was stunned in place, a bit surprised. To be honest, they didn't expect that one of the Emperors of the Sea, Shanks, would be so... "approachable"?

Swish~ Before they could react, Shanks had already disappeared from the spot.

Seeing Shanks standing in front of him again, Karl revealed a faint smile and lowered his head to shout into the Den Den Mushi: "Have the civilians evacuated?"

"Report to Admiral Karl, 20% of the civilians have not yet had time to evacuate. Please give us a little more time."

"Is that so~ Alright then. Notify me the moment the civilian evacuation is complete."