Chapter 291: The Emperor Who Values Emotion and Righteousness

Blackbeard had never felt Whitebeard so close as he did at this moment, even closer than his own father, Rocks.

He had thought that being escorted to New Marineford meant only death, but Blackbeard never imagined that the scene he had fantasized about would actually come true—

The Emperors from his father's ship had personally arrived at the Navy Headquarters.

With the hope of life right before his eyes, Blackbeard used the most exaggerated acting of his life and the loudest voice, crying with a runny nose and streaming tears.

"Old Man!!!"

"It's me, Teach~ Old Man."

"I am Teach, the son of Rocks!"

"Old Man!!!"

Blackbeard's wailing was so moving that anyone who heard it would be heartbroken and shed tears.

Aokiji, who knew nothing, never expected that the bond between Blackbeard and Whitebeard was so deep.

To rescue the old captain's son, the Emperors had all come to New Marineford; even though their stances differed, Aokiji had to admit it.

The Emperors truly value emotion and righteousness.

Above New Marineford, hearing Teach's cries, Whitebeard blinked in surprise, and the curve of his mouth rose even higher.

The four Emperors of the New World exchanged glances, seeing deep surprise in each other's eyes.

The moral high ground... has arrived.

I ask you, what could better demonstrate the emotion and righteousness of the New World's four Emperors than going to the Navy Headquarters to rescue the old captain's son?

After all, this has already been proven feasible.

Two years ago, the Morning Star Group went to the Navy Headquarters at Marineford to rescue Buggy, the son of Roger, who was being publicly executed by the Navy.

Afterward, with the promotion by the News Coo, almost everyone on the Grand Line acknowledged: Barzab Seven values emotion and righteousness.

The Emperors never expected—

That they originally just came to the Navy Headquarters to cause trouble, yet such a good thing was waiting for the four of them.

Even Kaido, who does not care about reputation, had to admit that with the good reputation of valuing emotion and righteousness, the Beasts Pirates would definitely find it easier to recruit people than before.

Who does not want their own captain to value emotion and righteousness?

Even those who are themselves cold and unfeeling surely wish to be friends with those who value emotion and righteousness.

The Emperors exchanged knowing looks and reached an understanding: next, Shiki, who had once studied in the Morning Star Group, would lead the four Emperors in rescuing the old captain's son.

Shiki slowly descended, a cigar in his mouth.

"Jehahaha~"

"Big nephew, don't be afraid,

Uncle Shiki is here to save you."

Before the Navy could react, Shiki, Whitebeard, Charlotte Lingling, and Kaido had already surrounded Akainu, Aokiji, and the others.

"Hey, Navy."

Kaido had already switched to human form, carrying a spiked club on his shoulder and performing with the strongest acting of his life.

"Quickly release our big nephew."

Even the fierce Charlotte Lingling began to frantically assert her presence before the Navy.

"Yes, quickly release our big nephew."

"Don't force us to lose our temper."

As for what Blackbeard is actually called, Lingling and Kaido simply did not care; after all, rescuing Blackbeard was just an unexpected bonus done on the side.

Glancing at the island floating above New Marineford, Aokiji stepped forward.

"Everyone, how about we each take a step back?"

If that island above falls, the newly built Navy Headquarters at New Marineford will likely follow in the footsteps of Marineford.

Aokiji only hoped to stall the Emperors to give Fleet Admiral Sengoku time to prepare a response.

The Navy's intelligence department is truly a bunch of useless fools; how could such a major event as the four Emperors arriving at New Marineford have not shown even the slightest sign?

The Navy had not received even a whisper of news.

Spending so much military budget every year, only to raise a bunch of useless fools; accountability must be pursued afterward.

With the four Emperors arriving together, Kaido felt full of confidence: "Don't waste words with them; at worst, we can sink the Navy Headquarters."

If Barzab Seven could sink Marineford, the four Emperors could likewise sink New Marineford, so that no one would say in the future: the current Emperors of the Sea are inferior to the previous ones.

Because the incident happened suddenly, Sengoku, not even wearing his Navy hat, rushed from the Fleet Admiral's office to the port.

At just one glance, Sengoku felt his scalp go numb, and strangely felt a chill on the top of his head.

Sakazuki and Kuzan were already surrounded by the four Emperors of the New World who had descended, with a clear trend of starting a war at the slightest disagreement.

Sengoku was actually not afraid of going to war with the Emperors; he was afraid of fighting the Emperors at the Navy Headquarters.

Five years ago, Shiki caused a great disturbance at Marineford.

Causing countless Navy casualties and nearly destroying half of Marineford; only the combined efforts of Garp and Sengoku managed to capture the exhausted Shiki alive.

Two years ago, the Morning Star Group attacked Marineford.

The Headquarters Navy was nearly wiped out generation by generation; officers and soldiers were nearly annihilated, and Marineford was even erased from the map.

Now, the four Emperors have arrived together at New Marineford.

Shiki is much better prepared than last time; this time he brought an entire island with him.

Moreover, Garp has returned to his hometown to visit relatives and has not yet come back; Borsalino is guarding Punk Hazard; Sakazuki is blind in both eyes; and Zephyr is away on a mission.

The Navy Headquarters' top combat power is left only with Sakazuki, Kuzan, and himself.

With what can the Navy fight?

Almost instantly, Sengoku realized: we cannot fight; this battle absolutely cannot be fought.

If war breaks out, not only will New Marineford repeat the fate of Marineford, but countless naval families and soldiers living at headquarters will also suffer death and injury.

Sengoku took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the humiliation filling his heart.

"Everyone, let's talk reasonably."

"We can negotiate."

Even the irritable and tough Akainu, unusually, raised no objection to the weak words Sengoku blurted out.

The Four Emperors' surprise attack on the Navy headquarters was too sudden; if a real fight broke out, the Navy's hard-won recovery would return to the state of two years ago.

Even though Akainu always firmly believed no sacrifice was too great to accept, truly pointless sacrifices were not worth it.

Today's humiliation will be returned a hundredfold.

"Negotiate?" Shiki smiled brilliantly: "Fine, then hand over the great-nephew to us first."

"Let's sit down and talk slowly."

During these years of training with the Morning Star Group, Shiki had learned a lot from Seven.

For instance, before being fully prepared to completely tear up the relationship, one should secure the benefits through negotiation first.

What is in hand is real.

The Four Emperors never actually intended to truly fight the Navy; they only wanted the Navy to know who holds the power in the New World.

Sengoku did not hesitate.

"Release Blackbeard."

As soon as Blackbeard was untied, he immediately knelt before Whitebeard, clutching Whitebeard's legs and wailing, as if to release days of grievance and unwillingness.

"Father, Father."

"Your son has brought shame to the Whitebeard Pirates."

Crack~

The sound instantly attracted everyone's attention; Smoker hurriedly put away his photo-taking Den Den Mushi and pretended nothing had happened.

Whitebeard rubbed Blackbeard's head.

"My son, it's alright."

"Father is here."

Such a scene of fatherly kindness and filial piety should have been infinitely warm and moving.

But in the eyes of high-ranking Navy officers like Sengoku, Akainu, and Kuzan, it was Whitebeard sticking his face in the Navy's face to start mocking them.

I saved the people of the Whitebeard Pirates; what can you Navy do about it?

Seeing this, Kaido muttered discontentedly.

"Are we negotiating or not?"

"If I'm not satisfied, I'll also lose my temper."

It was too satisfying; Kaido finally experienced the thrill Barzab Seven felt when he personally came to Navy headquarters and cancelled the Morning Star Group's bounty in front of all high-ranking Navy officers.

It was simply more satisfying than booking over a dozen oiran in the Flower Capital of Wano Country in one night.

Indeed, copying Barzab Seven's homework on the Grand Line is absolutely never wrong.

"Everyone, please come this way."