"My daughter won't be recruited by you."
Red Hair twitched his ear, turned his head, and said coldly, "Sage, you've burned a lot of islands I was sheltering."
Sage stood on a black cloud, looking down at the ship with a sinister grin, "Who told your people not to be as agile as Teach's people? To achieve what you have as a pirate, it's hard to tell if it's a blessing or a curse."
The frontline kept advancing, strictly following Sage's orders without the slightest slack.
He had already sent out his demands to the entire world, especially the latter half of the New World, which was a key focus. While he couldn't guarantee that every island received it, advancing from Sage's territory surely covered most. The closer to Sage's territory, the more islands received it.
Three lines moved in parallel for indiscriminate attacks on all islands flying two pirate flags.
Islands with the Blackbeard flag were relatively agile, even somewhat welcoming the royal army. After all, those who wished for a peaceful life wouldn't long for chaos. Sage's reputation was well-known in the New World.
Although many also feared Blackbeard and didn't dare lower their flags immediately, they cleverly sent people to patrol the surrounding areas. As soon as they saw the Disaster Pirates' flag, they would signal immediately.
Then the locals would happily take down Blackbeard's flag, even burn it in front of others, and joyously welcome the Disaster Pirates' takeover.
Except for places that were chaotic by nature, like towns on some islands that resembled Demon Valley Town, which would resist until the end.
And then... they were all slaughtered.
The situation was completely reversed on Red Hair's side.
Maybe those people were trying to save face for Red Hair, as only a few quickly changed their flags due to fear of the Disaster Pirates, while the rest...
also resisted to the end.
The most reports Sage heard were that on islands flying the Red Hair flag, people were shouting, 'Red Hair will avenge us', 'Get out, this is Red Hair's territory', 'Red Hair is the greatest pirate', and 'Show some face for Red Hair, leave now' and the like.
As if they had face themselves, thinking that merely opening their mouths would make people leave.
Who knows who they learned it from.
In such cases, the Disaster Pirates strictly obeyed Sage's orders...
Kill them all!
Flatten the islands!
Face?
Truly doing it that way would sure give Red Hair the face, but Sage's face would be ground into the dust.
"From the moment you stepped into O'hara, the war had already begun."
Sage said, "Of course, I will repay you in kind for whatever you did. You didn't kill my subordinates back then, so I'll give you the same opportunity. I can save her, it's just exhaustion, I can extend her life until she recovers and live much longer. Or I'll give you time to say your goodbyes, allowing her body to remain. How about on this island? Although it's gone, there are still some small places left that are suitable for burial."
"So should I say thank you?"
Red Hair shook his head with a smile, turned again to look at the barely breathing Uta, prayed silently for a moment, then turned back, drew the sword from his waist.
The famed sword, Gryphon 'Griffin'.
"Our daughter, we will of course decide what to do ourselves, you don't have the right. Defeating you will be enough; the rest will be up to us!"
As if a torrent, haki flowed out with Red Hair's words, turning the surroundings into a substantial red ocean.
"Oh~ so frightening."
Kizaru said surprisedly, "Still such a powerful presence, Red Hair."
Ben Beckman, standing on the rear side, spat out his cigarette butt, holding a long gun with one hand, aiming it, "Are you going to make a move too, Kizaru? For the Navy and Pirates to join forces, our threat has risen to the level of Rocks."
"Oh~ Ben Beckman, also quite scary."
Kizaru raised his hands obediently, pouting, "I'm just here to resolve Tot Musica, now that the mission's complete, no reason to interfere. Besides, battling two of the Four Emperors is something we need permission from above to do, and two Four Emperors fighting is good for us."
"Is that so..."
Beckman responded, then turned his gaze to Lily on the reef. Her murderous intent was strong, but there was no intense willingness to fight sensed from her. Though holding a sword, she seemed uninterested in joining the battle.
"Not necessary."
Before Beckman could ask, Lily said, "Sage's hope is to defeat you all single-handedly, I'm not the finale, just a safeguard of the plan."
The plan was to deal with Red Hair, but not fight like that. Sage indeed wanted to take down the entire crew solo to test his current strength.
Lily followed to step in and help if things didn't work out alone, making sure to leave the entire crew there.
As for being defeated...
It never crossed the mind.
Back then Sage alone could make Red Hair's entire crew flee; this time he could as well.
"Even Mihawk is here too."
Red Hair noticed the approaching Death Star and Cross Guild ships, after having dealt with Tot Musica, they awakened too.
"Hey! Hawkeye!"
Red Hair shouted loudly, "Which side are you helping?"
"Neither."
Mihawk said calmly, "I'm quite satisfied with life in the Cross Guild, changing places wouldn't make it better. Besides, if I oppose the Disaster Pirates, I'll lose a retreat, this isn't an ordinary fight. I'm surprised you're here, my advice is to withdraw now, it's very dangerous."
The life in the Cross Guild was quite good, but it also counted as being on the public stage, existing as a major enemy to the World Government, so not a retreat.
For a quieter life, there was still a path, namely living in O'hara.
Though his strength might draw attention anywhere, he knew Sage wouldn't force anyone into the Pirates, maybe request a task, but it would be relatively peaceful.
Especially recent events have made him believe this more.
Fujitora also joined O'hara, not entering the Pirates, but serving as Chief Security Officer for O'hara, responsible solely for maintaining peace across the territory.
If the Cross Guild struggles to fulfill its plans, Crocodile would likely willingly abandon his dreams and join Sage, achieving them indirectly.
Boa Hancock might do the same, seeing Sage as another kind of Heavenly Celestial Dragon, but at least no slavery and no discrimination, treating everyone equally.
If the Cross Guild fails, with Red Earth Continent opened, Kuja Island will also accept Sage's protection.
What Sage has achieved as a pirate is unprecedented.
He and Red Hair are indeed friends, but not to the extent of sacrificing his peaceful life. Otherwise, he would have joined the Red Hair Pirates back then.
Great Pirates, each tougher and harder to serve than the last.
He preferred enjoying fine wine and a quiet, clean life, even in a dilapidated castle, it had to maintain style.
Living as a wanderer with Red Hair...
He couldn't physically accept it.
Advising him was already going far enough.
"Hahahaha, Hawkeye, you actually suggest I withdraw. Under normal circumstances, perhaps."
Red Hair laughed heartily for a while, then gripped the hilt tightly, voice deepening, "But this time Sage went too far, all those people died, the islands were flattened, I need an explanation!"
"That's great! I love that attitude! Fight to the end, whoever retreats is the clown of the seas!" Sage grinned showing teeth.
"Eh? Who's calling me?"
Just having spit out seawater, Buggy came to himself hearing this, quickly looked over, "Shanks?!"
"Buggy is here too..."
Red Hair smirked, but quickly became solemn again, seeing the black cloud beneath Sage's feet rising with airflow, making the not-yet-dissipated blackened sky more ominous. He hesitated for a moment, gently picked up Uta's body, and threw it towards Buggy.
"Buggy!"
"Eh? Eh eh eh!"
Buggy instinctively threw out both hands, catching the person Red Hair threw, hurriedly stabilizing.
"Take care of her for a while for me."
Red Hair exhaled, then looked at Sage, "Come on."
"Very well, if you die in the allotted time, I'll keep her alive. If she dies first, I'll ensure a burial, a favor I'll return."
Sage chuckled low, stretched a finger, "Next, you all don't leave!"
Whoosh!
An extremely fast Spiral Light Beam, before anyone reacted, rapidly struck the Red Fos ship!