Chapter 176 - At this moment, in Golden Lion's eyes, Renji's back seemed to radiate brilliance!
"Back then at God Valley, we parted ways. I never thought the next time we met would be in such a scene."
On the Moby Dick, Golden Lion, Renji, and Whitebeard sat together in a circle.
Behind Renji, Toki was curiously observing the other two. When she had followed Renji earlier, she fainted instantly from the clash of Conqueror's Haki between Renji and Whitebeard. It took her a long time to wake up, and upon waking, she saw Renji and Whitebeard drinking while she lay beside Renji.
Later, when Renji intervened to end the war between Golden Lion and Roger, Toki also learned much from Marco. It turned out these three had all come from the same pirate crew.
Back then, Renji had even killed many Celestial Dragons and boldly issued provocative words against the World Government where they resided. He was challenging the Celestial Dragons and the World Government! Such actions further deepened Toki's impression of Renji as carrying the label of Nika.
Enemy of the gods!
"Old lion, do you still plan to rebuild your fleet?"
Whitebeard asked curiously.
Indeed.
After the Rocks Pirates disbanded, they had all become great pirates. It was just unfortunate that today had marked the fall of Golden Lion's fleet.
"Of course! How could I possibly give up just like that?"
Golden Lion took a deep draw of his cigar, clearly unwilling to accept defeat. Unlike in the anime, his head had not been injured, so his strength remained intact. In his eyes, with his power, he could still gather a new group of pirates.
His ambition had not diminished.
"Tch, you'll probably fail again!"
"Whitebeard, you bastard, are you looking for a fight?"
He hadn't even formed a new crew yet, and Whitebeard was already predicting his failure. Wasn't this wishing for him to fail?
"He's right. You can't rebuild a fleet on the same scale anymore. Against the truly powerful pirates, you've already failed."
Renji understood Whitebeard's point. Golden Lion had indeed failed. If it had only been that his strength was inferior to Roger, then losing would be acceptable. But he had lost despite holding overwhelming advantage.
"You—damn it!"
Golden Lion felt exhausted. Why did no one believe in him?
"So you also think I will lose?" Golden Lion suddenly thought of something, turning to Renji with eager eyes. "Renji, let's join forces! If we work together, we can surely conquer the world!"
Since he couldn't handle Roger, Golden Lion naturally shifted his hopes to Renji. Though Renji didn't know about the Ancient Weapons, he himself was a human weapon. His performance at God Valley had even shocked Golden Lion.
In truth, Renji had always been Golden Lion's first choice. At God Valley, Renji had already rejected him, and later Renji had vanished, leaving Golden Lion no choice but to approach Roger instead.
Now that the man himself was here, Golden Lion felt the chance had come.
"Do you know what you sound like now?"
"Like what?"
Golden Lion asked instinctively, only to hear the most disgusting words he had ever heard.
"You're like a lovesick dog rejected by a goddess, who, after suffering a huge blow, settles for another woman."
Damn it! Was he actually ranked behind Roger?
So Roger was the succubus of the pirate world? Whitebeard had high regard for him, Garp had chased him across the seas, Golden Lion had stormed Marineford to save his beloved after Roger's capture, and even Oden had left Whitebeard's crew for him.
"My first choice has always been you!"
"No! Absolutely not!"
Renji waved his hands repeatedly, horrified. His evasive expression made Golden Lion feel an urge to punch him. This bastard must be doing it on purpose!
Yet despite his frustration, Golden Lion felt that old familiar sense again. This man hadn't changed at all. He sighed inwardly.
"Seriously, let's work together."
"And then?"
Renji didn't reject him immediately. He intended to present his own ideas to Golden Lion later. If he refused too bluntly now, Golden Lion might feel humiliated and refuse him in turn.
"Then, of course, we conquer the world!"
Golden Lion's face lit up with excitement, thinking Renji was tempted. Even Whitebeard looked at Renji in surprise—surely he wouldn't agree? There was no reason; Renji had never cared for such things.
Toki was equally doubtful. Didn't Renji say he wanted to liberate the world? Why would he rule it?
"So is your goal ruling the New World, or liberating the entire world—overthrowing the World Government and the Celestial Dragons?"
Renji smiled as he asked. There was a fundamental difference. Ruling just the New World was simple, but liberating the world meant war with the World Government and the kingdoms within its system.
Golden Lion froze at his words. Clearly, he hadn't thought that far. He wanted to rule the world, yes, but had never considered whether that meant the entire world or just the New World.
As he pondered, his face kept shifting. He didn't want to admit it, but in his heart, he leaned toward the New World rather than the whole world. Yet the truth was undeniable.
So in Renji's eyes, his ambitions seemed small. Would Renji even look down on such a narrow goal?
"You see, you already know. What you really want is just to become Pirate King. But what then? Even as Pirate King, aren't you still the puppet of the World Government?"
Just an unruly puppet. Perhaps even a role intentionally created by the World Government.
"And you failed this time. Next time, you will still fail. Your mistake lies at the root: quality is more important than quantity. If your crew had more true powerhouses, even that disaster at sea couldn't have stopped you from defeating Roger's crew.
Likewise, with more true powerhouses, your pirates could have eliminated them before the disaster ever struck."
Did Golden Lion's fleet have any powerful people?
It seemed that aside from Golden Lion himself, Renji really had no impression of anyone else. What use were so many small fry?
"Facts prove that the elite strategy doesn't work, or rather, strong people won't gather together!"
Golden Lion spoke coldly. He admitted he had failed this time, but was the elite strategy Renji mentioned really effective?
How had the Rocks Pirates failed? In the end, it was disunity. With so many powerful people, if Renji had acted back then, perhaps Rocks would not have died.
He had considered it before, but in the end abandoned the thought. Though he hated to admit it, Golden Lion now understood he was far inferior to Rocks.
"Shiki, you're still limited. Back then, Captain Rocks only shifted his goal midway. If he had followed the plan from the start, wouldn't we have still fought together as one?
Unfortunately, his ambition swelled. If he had shown it from the beginning, everyone would have been prepared to fight."
In Renji's view, if Rocks had only wanted to seize treasure, they likely would have covered each other's retreat. But what was Rocks thinking then? He wanted to kill the Celestial Dragons and become King of the World.
Yet none of them wished to see Rocks become King of the World. His failure was thus inevitable.
"Heh, I understand now. You're trying to invite me into your crew, aren't you?"
Golden Lion glanced at Renji's side, at Toki. He had once thought she was just Renji's woman, but now it seemed she was likely a crew member. Over the years, Renji hadn't simply been hiding.
"That's right. Shiki, if you want to become Pirate King, then we have no reason to walk the same path. But if you want to become someone who liberates the world, then we can talk."
Renji had a pirate crew now, but in truth, he thought of himself more like a revolutionary army. In the end, they would face the World Government. Pirates fought the navy, but the navy was only one arm of the World Government.
"You want to become King of the World?"
Golden Lion scrutinized Renji. Was he the same as Rocks? Had these years only added to his ambition?
"No, I want to liberate this world. Shiki, do you still remember why you became a pirate?"
Renji shook his head. He had no interest in becoming King of the World. Finally, he asked a soul-piercing question. Golden Lion fell silent, recalling why he had become a pirate.
"To survive!"
Golden Lion spoke faintly. No one's dream was to be a pirate from the start. His homeland had been poverty-stricken and ravaged by war. If he wanted to live, he had no choice but to go to sea.
Whitebeard, too, felt the same. He had been a war orphan himself.
"So you became Pirate King, yet nothing changed. What use is being Pirate King? It's just an empty title. But if this world were changed, if war no longer consumed it, wouldn't that mean more than Pirate King?"
A so-called Pirate King was still just a thief. So-called freedom mostly came through others' sacrifice. But creating a just world would reduce countless tragedies.
At Renji's words, Toki's eyes sparkled with stars. She clearly agreed with him. It was just like when Renji had told her he wanted to build a nation where all races were equal. Wasn't this the Great Kingdom itself?
"So Shiki, think carefully. Understand the meaning of your existence in this world. Decide whether you want to be Pirate King, or a partner of justice."
"Such lofty words!"
Golden Lion curled his lip but said nothing more. In truth, he felt uncertain. Did he really need the title of Pirate King?
Before, he would have answered yes without hesitation. He had been proud, strong, and commanded vast forces. The title was his proof he had surpassed Captain Rocks and become the first Pirate King in history—at least, he had never heard of one before.
But now he knew he could never become Pirate King. He had squandered his last chance. Of course, if Renji had joined him, it might have been possible. But Renji cared nothing for Pirate King.
To seek the meaning of his existence in this world?
Perhaps. With his fleet destroyed, he could roam the world to see for himself.
Yet he was a ruthless pirate. He would never be the savior Renji envisioned, nor did he wish to be a partner of justice.
Thinking of this, a mocking smile crossed Golden Lion's face. Since when could a pirate like him become a savior?
Still, compared to the Celestial Dragons, perhaps he truly could be called one.
"By the way, I owe you another favor this time. But don't think I'll join you because of it. If that's all, I'll take my leave. Newgate, you really are damn annoying!"
"Shiki, you bastard!"
Whitebeard grabbed Cong Yunche and clashed with Golden Lion's Sakura Ten and Kura Osa.
Another burst of Conqueror's Haki erupted, knocking out many of Whitebeard's pirates again. Even Marco and the others, who had resisted before, fainted once Renji joined the clash.
The collision of their three powerful Conqueror's Hakis was beyond what they could withstand.
Shockwaves, surging seas, flashing lightning—this sea became like an Asura hell.
"You really are a monster!"
Golden Lion gasped, glancing at Renji. He had thought he was stronger than Renji, but now it seemed Renji might surpass him.
"Gurararara! The World Government must be tearing their hair out!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily and drank, knowing Renji would bring great upheaval to the World Government.
"Well then, I'll go. Next time, I'll come drink with you."
Golden Lion gave Renji a deep look before taking the remnants of his fleet with his Float-Float Fruit powers and departing.
He needed time away to see the world.
Renji did not stop him. He knew Golden Lion would not agree so soon.
Watching him leave, Renji turned, lifted the unconscious Toki into his arms, and looked at Whitebeard. "Newgate, I'm leaving too. You can clean this up yourself."
The words fell, and Renji vanished from the ship.
Left behind with the mess, Whitebeard felt thoroughly displeased. These bastards had dumped everything on him!
"Let's talk. That man has appeared again."
Holy Land Mariejois.
With Renji's reappearance, the Celestial Dragons fumed once more.
After his disappearance, they had raised his secret bounty by two hundred million in hopes of finding him, but to no avail. Now he had shown himself again, breaking up the battle between Golden Lion and Roger.
His reappearance seemed far from ordinary!
(End of Chapter)
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