Chapter 523 - 363

Chapter 364: At Daggers Drawn!However, amidst this feverish celebration, the shadow of an uninvited guest quietly loomed over the harbor that had just welcomed the dawn.Rumble...Accompanied by the heavy roar of engines, a grand warship several times larger than an ordinary naval vessel, with a giant seagull emblem carved on its bow, slowly sailed into the port like a silent steel beast, forming a distant confrontation with the thousand sunny.On the deck of the warship, elite Marines clad in "Justice" coats stood in dense ranks.And at their very front, two figures drew the gaze of everyone present.One of them was a burly man wearing glasses that matched his iconic seagull hat, with a graying braided beard reaching his chest, and he was holding a small goat that was leisurely munching on grass.He simply stood there silently, yet a majestic aura of a high-ranking official, commanding without being angry, naturally emanated from him.He was none other than the former Fleet Admiral, Sengoku "The Buddha"!!!Beside him was an elderly woman with gray hair, a serious expression, and a face lined with the wrinkles of time.The Great Staff Officer of Marineford, Vice AdmiralTsuru!These two legendary Marine veterans had actually appeared here at the same time!The harbor, which had been boisterous just a moment ago, instantly fell into a deathly silence.The smiles on the faces of the people froze, replaced by deep fear and unease.The Revolutionary Army and the pirates were even more on edge, clutching their weapons tightly and warily staring at the massive warship that radiated an ominous aura.Fujitora and Aramaki also stepped out from the crowd and approached their two seniors with complex expressions.The tense atmosphere was on the verge of exploding!However, in the midst of this daggers-drawn silence, a discordant, surprise-filled voice lazily broke the deadlock."Oh! Isn't that Grandpa's friend who likes to eat senbei!"Luffy looked at Sengoku and grinned, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth. He waved his hand vigorously, as if greeting an old acquaintance he hadn't seen in a long time."Why did you come to Dressrosa too? Are you here for a banquet? I'm hungry! Let's eat meat together!"This heartless, and even arguably treasonous, remark caused everyone present to nearly pop their eyes out in shock.Even Nami and Robin beside him couldn't help but hold their foreheads, looking completely helpless.This idiot Captain really dares to say anything!That's the former Fleet Admiral!Sure enough, Sengoku's serious face instantly darkened upon hearing the words "Grandpa's friend," and the veins on his temples throbbed uncontrollably."I am NOT friends with that bastard grandfather of yours!!!"Sengoku practically roared these words. He felt his blood pressure spiraling out of control the moment he saw Luffy's smiling face, which was a carbon copy of Garp's.He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to punch this brat into oblivion, and began to carefully scrutinize the Luffy before him.With this look, however, a tidal wave of shock surged through Sengoku's heart!In those eyes that had seen a thousand storms, the expression of "shock" appeared for the first time.The youth before him stood there quite casually, with no outward display of aura, looking like an ordinary boy next door.But it was precisely this "ordinariness" that was the most extraordinary!Sengoku's perception as a top-tier powerhouse was frantically screaming warnings at him!He could clearly "see" what a terrifying, profound, and condensed monarch's spirit lay dormant within Luffy's seemingly thin body!That Haoshoku was no longer a wildly leaking torrent, but a perfectly controlled, freely retractable Absolute Territory!Every wisp, every thread, was precisely submissive to the master's will, with no waste or leakage whatsoever!This level of control over Conqueror's Haki...Sengoku was certain that even Red-Haired Shanks, who was hailed as the "strongest in Haoshoku" for his ultimate application of it, could absolutely not achieve such perfect restraint!This kid... has already transcended common sense!"Garp... you bastard... just what kind of monster have you raised..."Sengoku let out a weak groan in his heart, looking at Luffy with eyes filled with extreme complexity.Beside him, Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed and spoke slowly in her calm voice that seemed capable of cleansing all sins."Sengoku, calm down. He's still a child.""A child?!"Sengoku pointed at Luffy, his anger flaring up."You call this guy, who could punch a hole in the heavens, a child?!"However, at that moment, Fujitora Issho leaned on his Cane Sword, stepped forward, and bowed deeply toward Luffy."Lord Straw Hat Luffy."Fujitora's voice, through the Marine soldiers around him, spread throughout the entire harbor."I, on behalf of the innocent people of Dressrosa, express my most sincere gratitude to you.""It was you who ended this country's ten-year nightmare and accomplished what we, the Marines and the World Government, failed to do."These words caused an uproar throughout the scene!A dignified Marine Admiral actually thanked a pirate in full view of everyone!This was undoubtedly a public slap in the face to the Marines and the World Government!Aramaki stood to the side, his face turning pale and green, looking extremely unsightly.He wanted to retort, to denounce Fujitora's behavior of debasing his own status, but when his gaze met Luffy's seemingly clear yet actually bottomless black eyes, a fear originating from the depths of his soul instantly gripped his throat, making him unable to utter a single word.He was afraid.After personally witnessing the duel between Luffyand Kaido that transcended the Emperor class, his pride as an Admiral had been completely shattered.He had no doubt that if he dared to make any move now, in the next second, that seemingly harmless Straw Hat boy would use his silver fist to completely erase him from this world!"Oh, it's you, old man!"Luffy looked at Fujitora, scratched his head, and grinned."No need for thanks. I just found that Flamingoannoying and blew him away while I was at it."Luffy's matter-of-fact tone brought a wry smile to Fujitora's face.Perhaps only someone with such a pure heart could carry the power sufficient to change the world.Just as the atmosphere of the harbor became somewhat subtle due to Fujitora's stance...Sengoku's gaze bypassed Luffy and landed on the cold-looking young man holding a long sword not far behind him.Trafalgar D. Water Law!Upon seeing Law, Sengoku's pupils contracted sharply.That face...That look in his eyes...And the forbidden "D" in that name!Countless memories from thirteen years ago, regarding his most beloved subordinate Corazon, surged into his heart like a tide.He could clearly feel Corazon's aura on Law.That was the final will that Corazon had protected even with his life!Law also noticed Sengoku's gaze.Their eyes met.The air seemed to freeze at this moment.Law's gaze was as cold as frost.He naturally recognized the old man before him.Corazon's most respected and trusted superior during his lifetime.His hand unconsciously tightened around the kikoku at his waist.A complex mix of hatred, gratitude, and confusion surged in his chest.Sengoku didn't speak; he just took a deep look at Law and then slowly withdrew his gaze.Some things were not suitable to be said here.He turned back to look at Luffy, his voice becoming more serious than ever before."Straw Hat boy, I didn't come here to capture you this time.""The Marines will give the whole world an explanation for the events in Dressrosa.""However..."Sengoku's tone shifted, and the majesty of a former Fleet Admiral burst forth."Your actions have completely crossed the World Government's bottom line. From today onwards, your Straw Hat crew will become the highest-level targets on the World Government's most-wanted list!""Take care of yourselves!"Having said that, Sengoku didn't stay any longer, turning around and walking into the ship's cabin.The military order had been issued.As for what would happen next, it was no longer something for a retired old man like him to worry about.The only thing he wanted to do now was to find a quiet place and have a good talk with the youth who had inherited Corazon's will.Vice Admiral Tsuru gave Luffy a deep look and turned to follow.With the departure of the two pillars, the massive warship did not leave immediately but slowly sailed to the other side of the harbor and dropped anchor, like a silent giant beast monitoring everything on the island in the shadows.A fierce conflict that should have erupted was temporarily set aside under this eerie, unspoken understanding.