In both the pirate and Marine worlds, newcomers hold the least status. Yet, the words of these twenty-odd new recruits of the Red-Hair Pirates struck Lucky Roux, Yassop, and even the senior crew, Vice Captain Beckman and Captain Shanks, dumbfounded.
Because they were right.
After attacking Kaido, they had a chance to climb the ranks step by step, perhaps even sitting on the seat of a new Yonko. If Shanks hadn't decided to save Luffy midway, they wouldn't be in this desperate situation now.
Shanks had just said it: he didn't regret his choice. His only regret and guilt were toward the crew members who followed him, especially the young ones.
"I'm sorry," Shanks lowered his head, able to utter only these two words. "We don't need your apology, Captain."
The first young man to speak shook his head, his face etched with pain. "We refuse! We refuse to die like this! If we were to die in a battle to claim the Yonko position, we wouldn't have a single word of complaint. But, but..."
He couldn't hold back his tears as he spoke. "Waaah... But to die like this, to die so shamefully!"
As he cried, the new recruits of the Red-Hair Pirates all broke down in tears. This was the honest truth coming from their hearts.
Were they afraid of death? Yes and no.
Dying gloriously in a Yonko battle—they weren't afraid of that. But dying in the process of saving a child, only to face such brutal retribution? This kind of death frightened them. They were unwilling. Unwilling to end things this way.
Their voyage had only just begun!
As the newcomers wept, tears welled up in the eyes of some of the older crew members, too. Yes, they thought. Dying like this is too pathetic.
The more the newcomers expressed their pain and unwillingness, the greater the anguish in Shanks's heart.
Five minutes later, the weeping gradually subsided. Shanks suddenly pulled out his beloved saber and plunged it into the dirt before him. He addressed the remaining hundred-plus crew members, "It's alright. My voyage is over, but yours is not."
To the astonishment of the crowd, Shanks continued, "Anyone can take my head and use it to beg for favor from Alucard, asking him to spare you. Or joining the Immortal Pirates. I'm sure that won't be a problem."
"Shanks!" Beckman yelled, deeply agitated.
"This is my responsibility, Beckman. Don't stop me."
Shanks pushed the sword, positioning the hilt right in front of the newcomers who had been crying. "Anyone can do it."
The hand of the man closest to the hilt trembled as it reached out. When it was just inches away, he let out a painful scream and pulled his hand back.
"I'm sorry, Captain. I respect you very much, but I am even more unwilling for my journey to end like this." The leading new recruit knelt heavily before Shanks and bowed his head before walking away.
Next came the second, the third...
In the end, almost all the new recruits who had never met Luffy left. Over thirty people departed in one go, leaving the Red-Hair Pirates with less than eighty members.
Later, Ivalis, the swordsman of the Red-Hair Pirates and a senior officer, also walked up to Shanks. When he knelt before his Captain, the hearts of many old crew members were shaken.
Because Ivalis had not only met Luffy but was also a veteran and a command-level figure! "I've been following you for almost ten years, haven't I, Captain?" Ivalis said with a sigh.
"Ah, those were the days. I heard about a very stubborn swordsman in your hometown and had the idea of recruiting you," Shanks laughed carelessly, seemingly forgetting the desperate situation he was currently in.
"I liked that brat Luffy well enough, it's a shame..."
Ivalis's expression turned serious. "But I don't want to sacrifice my life for him."
With that, Ivalis drew Shanks's saber and placed it at his own waist, while handing his own personal saber to Shanks. "I will fight with you until the end, but if I am captured, I will surrender."
Exchanging weapons is the highest expression of trust and respect between enemies or comrades. Shanks let out a hearty laugh, accepted Ivalis's saber, and stood up. "After I die, none of you need to worry. You can all surrender! I won't blame any of you!"
Meanwhile, one of the new recruits who had left took off his white coat, tied it to a five-meter- long branch, and erected it beside him, signifying surrender.
Over ten hours passed. Alucard's ship gradually approached. Viola, who had been observing the Red-Hair Pirates with her clairvoyance, reported, "Internal conflict has erupted among the Red- Hair Pirates. Nearly forty newcomers have surrendered. The remaining numbers are around eighty."
Alucard looked at the isolated island surrounded by Sea Kings in the distance and commanded, "Shirahoshi, recall the Sea Kings."
Shirahoshi withdrew her power, and countless Sea Kings submerged into the water. As the dozen-odd warships of the Immortal Pirates gradually closed in, Shanks, Beckman, Ivalis, and the others picked up their weapons.
Shanks walked to the front of the line and shouted, "Alright! The battle that will decide the fate of the Red-Hair Pirates is about to begin!"
When the Dragon Ship, carrying Alucard, arrived before Shanks and his crew, Shanks tilted his head back and laughed. "We've known each other for over fifteen years now, haven't we, Immortal!"
"Roger would surely be heartbroken if he knew one of his crew members died for a reason like this," Alucard scoffed.
A silly, smiling face Shanks remembered seeing in Foosha Village flashed through his mind. His lips curled into a smile again. "It doesn't matter. I've already met the person who will inherit the Captain's will, even if they haven't met each other."
Zephyr, Shirahoshi, Hancock, Wolf, Matthew, Stragus, Law...
Countless Immortal Pirates crew members walked to the bows of their respective ships, looking down at the Red-Hair Pirates. Shanks glanced around, then burst into laughter. "What a grand display! This is the strength of a Yonko crew pouring out its entire force, isn't it?"
Finished speaking, Shanks drew the saber he had exchanged with Ivalis and shouted, "I have one request, Immortal! If I fall in battle, I hope you will spare my subordinates if they surrender!"
Alucard took out his twin black and white pistols, his fangs visible. "That depends on how much strength you can show me!"