Chapter 601: The Elegia Island Incident

Luffy's eyes widened. No matter how carefree he was, he could see what the Navy was planning to do.

"Shanks, is the Navy preparing to capture us?"

Shanks shook his head: "No, the person the Navy wants to capture is me!"

Luffy clenched his fists, looked at Shanks, and then at Karl.

To him, Shanks was his guide, and 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 capture Shanks? He's a good person, I can prove that. Can you not capture him! If you want to capture someone, capture me!!!"

Karl chuckled and shook his head: "Luffy, you're 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've let you off intentionally or unintentionally several times, but don't forget."

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

"Since Kuzan took office, the Navy's 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, the Great Pirate Era started by Roger, should also come to an end. No one can stop it from happening."

Subsequently, Karl walked forward and looked at Shanks intently: "This is a battle between the Navy and the Red Hair Pirates. Are you sure you want the Straw Hat crew to join? 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 like back then: "Luffy, you are already a pirate captain who can stand on your own. It surprises me that you could stand on equal footing with me in less than three years."

"Next, continue to sail toward your dream!"

"But, Shanks!"

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

Luffy stood stunned in place, tears in his eyes. He had imagined meeting Shanks on the sea countless times, but he had never thought it would be like this.

"Sha, Shanks..."

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

"Go!"

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

On the other side, the awakened Straw Hat crew immediately rushed over.

"What happened?" Nami looked at Luffy standing between Karl and Shanks and asked somewhat 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 Navy and the Red Hair Pirates."

"Uta's concert was probably just a cover. The Navy's 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 looked at Karl, then leaned into Luffy's ear and whispered: "Luffy, the last Road Poneglyph is in 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 above, and immediately made a decision in his heart.

"Sha..." Before Luffy could finish speaking, his body went limp on the ground. Luffy lowered his head and saw that at some point, a pair of dark Seastone handcuffs had cuffed him.

"I'm sorry, Luffy."

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

"Admiral Karl!"

Karl reached out his hand, signaling not to act rashly, while he looked up and said with a smile: "Don't worry, Shanks won't run."

"You are Luffy's companions, right! I'll 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 the key to him, and then said: "The Navy's target is me, they won't stop you. Take Luffy and leave here!"

"Shanks, I'm not leaving!"

Bang~

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

"I'll leave Uta to you too, thank you very much." Shanks bent down slowly, showing his "bowing craftsman" spirit.

The Straw Hat crew was stunned in place, somewhat 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 smile and lowered his head to shout at the Den Den Mushi: "Have the civilians evacuated?"

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

"Is that so~ alright then. Notify me the moment the civilian evacuation is complete." ===== CHAPTER 603 =====