Chapter 174 - Renji: I Am Here to End the War, Please Give Me Some Respect! \
"Mr. Garp, are we just going to sit here and watch?"
Kuzan, who had recently been promoted to Vice Admiral, was closely monitoring the pirates alongside Garp.
The Navy had long known that Golden Lion intended to issue his final invitation to Roger. In truth, it was no invitation at all—everyone was well aware Roger would never accept. Inevitably, it would end in a naval battle.
For such major events, the Navy always observed from the sidelines. On one hand, they could gather firsthand intelligence; on the other, they could see if there was an opportunity to annihilate both pirate crews at once.
Garp had been sent along partly because, as Roger's old rival, he was well acquainted with the New World, and partly because Kuzan's powers were extremely suited for sea battles. Since Golden Lion's abilities could stir up devastating waves, Kuzan's ability was the perfect countermeasure.
"Vice Admiral Garp, calm yourself!"
Bolt, seeing Garp growing restless, hurriedly tried to restrain him.
This would not do! Before the operation, Fleet Admiral Kong had made it clear they were not to take the initiative. The main task was surveillance, and only if an absolutely certain opportunity presented itself could they act. Otherwise, under no circumstance should they make the first move.
Bolt had not wanted Garp to come at all, but he couldn't refuse him. With Sengoku assigned to another mission, he had no choice but to hand this task over to Garp. Even so, he had repeatedly warned him, looking thoroughly uneasy.
"Hmph, this old man knows!"
Although Garp liked to fool around, he understood that in this situation he could not act rashly.
If he did, he would immediately become the prime target. He himself would not die, but others might, and he could not drag his fellow marines to their deaths.
Hearing Garp's words, Bolt finally breathed a sigh of relief. His greatest fear was that Garp might recklessly charge in without a thought.
"What a pity!"
A trace of regret flashed across Kuzan's face. At this time, he did not yet practice lazy justice. He was still full of passion, and if possible, he would rather fight pirates than simply watch from afar.
"Kuzan, sometimes the Navy and pirates don't need to clash every time they meet."
Garp glanced at Kuzan and offered this reminder. Right now, Kuzan was very much like himself back when he had first joined the Navy.
"So, Mr. Garp, are you speaking of yourself and Roger?"
Kuzan had heard stories about Garp and Roger. Though it was taboo now, he still knew that during the God Valley Incident, it had not been Garp alone who defeated Rocks.
The World Government did everything possible to conceal the Celestial Dragons' involvement, yet they never stopped praising Garp as the one who slew Rocks.
To this, Garp said nothing. He only grinned and looked toward Roger, who was at the heart of the battlefield. Since clashing with Golden Lion's fleet, the Roger Pirates had fallen into disadvantage.
"The weather really is foul."
Kuzan looked at the sky. Dark clouds pressed low, as though a torrential downpour was about to erupt. It matched the battlefield perfectly.
"The New World is like this," Bolt added. Only here could the weather be so unpredictable. Who knew how it might affect the coming battle?
"Roger, today you will die here!"
Golden Lion's elite fighters could not compare with Roger's, but in this environment he held absolute advantage.
The Float-Float Fruit allowed him to manipulate the sea itself. Even those who were not Devil Fruit users felt powerless before the vast ocean. With such powers, Golden Lion's destructive potential upon the sea was like that of a natural disaster.
The Oro Jackson rocked violently amidst the storm.
"Captain, we won't die, right!!?"
Buggy was nearly crying. He had never seen such a scene before. Was his dream really going to end before it had even begun?
As the endless waves crashed and the storm battered the Oro Jackson, threatening to crush it at any moment, Buggy wept uncontrollably.
"Buggy, can't you calm down a little?"
"How can I be calm, Shanks, you idiot! This time we're really going to die!!"
Buggy seized Shanks by the collar, gnashing his teeth. This fool spoke so lightly of it, but they were going to die—going to die!
That twitching red nose made the scene almost comical.
"Then let go of me, will you!!?"
Shanks was exasperated. Held so tightly, how was he supposed to fight? Yet after he shouted, Buggy only clung on tighter.
"Hey, if you interns are scared, just stay in the back!"
"Rayleigh, you bastard, I'm not afraid at all!!"
Buggy erupted with fury at Rayleigh's words. Damn it! No one was allowed to look down on him!
"Then fight, brat. This is life and death!"
Rayleigh smiled faintly. He could see Buggy forcing himself to muster courage, but the boy was still too green. Not that it was his fault—who would not be nervous before such a battle?
With a casual swing, Rayleigh split the oncoming waves. Yet his heart grew heavy. His words were meant to stir Buggy's fighting spirit. Fear now would only bring quicker death.
The battle had entered its most intense stage.
Roger was locked in combat with Golden Lion, trying to minimize the impact of his powers on his crew. But Golden Lion, well aware of this, would not give him the chance to stall.
Since Roger refused to join his fleet, he had no choice but to kill him.
Golden Lion admitted he admired Roger. Otherwise, he would never have invited him so many times. But Roger's repeated refusals made Golden Lion realize something.
Bootlickers never meet a good end.
When he first heard Renji explain this term back in the Rocks Pirates, he thought it made no sense. Who would pine after someone who kept rejecting them? Yet later, Golden Lion realized such people really existed. He just hadn't encountered it himself—until now.
He had truly become what Renji had called a bootlicker.
The more he thought about it, the more disgusted he felt. This battle was his way of laying it all bare. If Roger refused again, then he would send him to his grave.
"Roger, it looks like your crew is doomed today!"
A mocking glint appeared in Golden Lion's eyes. This was the price of rejecting him. Then, glancing at Roger and pointing to his crew behind him, he sneered, "Well? If you surrender now, your men can all live."
At the end of the road, surely Roger no longer had any reason to refuse, right? Even if he did not care for his own life, at this moment he should think of his crew.
"A fine proposal." Roger's words made Golden Lion's eyes brighten, but the next instant he felt mocked: "But I refuse!"
Even in death, Roger would never join another's crew, and those behind him were the same. There were no cowards among the Roger Pirates. If they wished only to survive by joining another's crew, they would have done so with Rocks long ago.
"Very well then, Roger, die!"
Golden Lion's last trace of patience was gone. He no longer hoped Roger would ever join him. He knew now it was impossible; before, it had only been his own fantasy. So it was true—dislike could be written clearly on one's face.
Renji… your thinking was too far ahead of its time. Golden Lion sighed inwardly, though he also felt a touch of admiration for Roger.
If Roger had truly accepted his demand just to save his life, Golden Lion would have despised him. That would not be the Roger he knew. Great pirates never surrendered. Even in death, they would not beg to live. Great pirates must have the pride of great pirates.
Thus, killing Roger would also be a form of respect.
"Kill!"
Below, the pirates clashed fiercely. The storm grew heavier, and the Roger Pirates, surrounded on all sides, were like trapped beasts. Even with warriors like Jaba and Rayleigh, they could not withstand Golden Lion's ceaseless assaults with the sea itself. Roger, for his part, could not quickly overcome Golden Lion.
The scene was one of utter desperation.
From afar, Garp considered whether it was time for him to enter the fray.
Buru buru buru buru. "Mr. Garp, your Den Den Mushi is ringing!"
Kuzan looked at Garp with admiration. Was this Fleet Admiral Kong's line? He had not expected Garp to ignore it outright. How full of character! At this time, Kuzan was utterly Garp's little fan.
"Tch!" Garp grudgingly picked it up. He already knew what Steel Bone intended to say. Though unwilling, he answered.
"Garp, Roger is about to be defeated, isn't he?!"
From the Navy Marshal's office, Kong had already learned from reports that Roger's fall was only a matter of time. Golden Lion's fruit was too powerful. They had to prepare for him becoming the sole force in the New World. Once Roger fell, the only rival left would be Whitebeard, who cared nothing for the Pirate King's throne. Thus, Golden Lion would certainly claim the title.
Sengoku and Tsuru, also present, understood: another alliance like the Rocks Pirates was about to arise.
"He will lose." Garp knew it clearly. As things stood, Roger could neither win nor escape. Such was the terror of Golden Lion's fruit.
"Garp, your mission is this: once Roger's crew is defeated, capture as many of them as possible. If they are all dead, then gauge Golden Lion's condition. If his forces are badly damaged, turn your target to him."
Kong issued the order directly. There was no need for the Navy to interfere in the pirates' struggle. They only needed to profit from the aftermath. But he knew Garp's nature. With his bond to Roger, he might step in. This call was meant to prevent that. The Navy must not again join hands with pirates. The last time against Rocks had been out of desperation.
"I understand." Garp gripped the receiver tightly, his heart heavy. His old rival Roger seemed destined to die here. He had long wrestled with whether to act. He did not want Roger to perish, yet the justice he bore forbade him otherwise.
"Kuzan, watch Garp!"
"Ah?! Me?" Kuzan gave a bitter smile. How could this task fall to him? How could he possibly restrain Garp? Still, with Kong here, Garp probably would not act… or maybe he would. After all, Garp never listened. Could he truly stop him then? Or should he not stop him?
For a moment, Kuzan himself was conflicted.
"Wait!! What is happening!!?"
On the battlefield, the Roger Pirates had already seemed certain to lose. Golden Lion had committed most of his fleet, pressing Roger into a corner. Yet then—the storm! The sea suddenly slipped from Golden Lion's control and swallowed him whole. Though brief, at the instant the waves touched him, his powers faltered. Everything that had floated crashed down.
Golden Lion's fleet faced utter destruction.
"No way, Golden Lion can lose like this?!" Garp stared wide-eyed in disbelief. Moments ago, victory had been his. In an instant, the tide turned. Such was the New World. Compared to the sea, man was nothing.
Within the storm, Golden Lion reeled in dizziness, a crushing sense of helplessness. Why? He had been about to win. Why did heaven side with Roger? He could not even understand how he had lost—yet the heavens had struck him down. The New World's bizarre weather annihilated his invincible fleet.
He was left dazed. Moments ago, triumphant, he had sought Roger to join him upon learning he held an Ancient Weapon. With it, he could have surpassed Rocks. But fate mocked him. Never had he imagined defeat—worse, to lose his fleet as well. And then—a broken ship's helm, swept by waves, hurtled straight toward his head.
A chill premonition gripped him. Golden Lion roared inwardly, Why must heaven treat me so?!
"Stop this! I am here to end this war—please, give me some respect!!!"
As the voice rang out, a cold sword light split the sea cleanly into two.
{Bro tryna be shanks!! please become member. i am in financial pinch. }
(End of Chapter)
Hey readers! If you're eager to dive into advanced chapters, consider joining our Patreon. By joining, you'll get access to 20 chapters ahead and enjoy 8 new chapters per week. Plus, we have 8 more exciting fics with the same chapter release rate, giving you a total of 64 chapters per week! Join now and keep the adventure going!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/anish_44