Thirty million lying on the ground?
And twenty million being underestimated?
Caesar Clown was completely dumbfounded.
Looking at the figures appearing one after another on the deck, he couldn’t help but slap himself across the face.
This warship was practically crawling with monsters!
"Captain, how did these guys end up aboard a Marine warship? Could it be that the special combat-force recruitment that everyone on the sea regarded as a joke is actually real?"
Shachi, standing behind Trafalgar Law, spoke in disbelief.
They couldn’t identify the origins of the two Giants.
However, judging from their sheer size and the fierce aura radiating from their bodies, they were clearly no ordinary people.
More importantly, Shachi and the others barely recognized most of the people present.
But could anyone who stood alongside those two and was labeled a member of the so-called special combat force really be a nobody?
"Golden Emperor Gild Tesoro, Fujitora Issho—the special combat force whom the Fleet Admiral has praised as being comparable to a Marine Admiral—and three other unknown figures..."
Trafalgar Law’s expression became extremely solemn.
"If this lineup gets out, it’ll undoubtedly cause a sensation throughout the world."
"If the rumors are true and the newly appointed Marine Admiral can really gather eight or nine special combat-force targets, then the Four Emperors’ pirate crews will undoubtedly have a nightmare on their hands."
"We surrender. I’m Trafalgar Law, captain of the Heart Pirates and wielder of the legendary Op-Op Fruit. I should be worth at least ten million Beli."
"However, I hope you can let my crew go."
Ten million?
Caesar Clown froze.
After recognizing Fujitora Issho and Golden Emperor Gild Tesoro, he was naturally unwilling to compete for the thirty-million bounty lying on the ground.
As for twenty million Beli, a figure that would put him on equal footing with Fujitora Issho and Golden Emperor Gild Tesoro, he didn’t even have the nerve to name it.
It seemed that all he could do was call out ten million.
He had never expected Trafalgar Law to be even more ruthless than him.
The Op-Op Fruit was said to be worth a legendary five billion Beli, yet Law had only asked for ten million.
Was this guy following his path just to leave him with nowhere to go?
A jumble of thoughts flashed through Caesar’s mind.
He gritted his teeth and made up his mind.
"I-I’ll take five million! I’m at least worth five million. Count me in!"
Meanwhile, inside the Supreme Holy Land of Mary Geoise, the Five Elders’ expressions had become utterly livid.
The Den Den Mushi in Yamamoto’s hand was crushed to pieces.
Recalling everything that had just happened, they had never imagined that a mere Marine Admiral would dare behave so recklessly in front of the Five Elders.
"That damn brat! Does he really not take us Five Elders seriously?"
Yamamoto roared furiously.
The already-crushed Den Den Mushi in his hand was instantly pulverized into dust by the violent force emanating from his grip.
He drew the katana at his side and was about to stride out.
"That’s enough, Yamamoto. Come back."
Yi Si’s cold voice stopped him.
"Don’t forget what Lord Imu said. Without Lord Imu’s permission, none of us can go anywhere."
"That brat was indeed arrogant just now, but we also never expected Doflamingo to fall into his hands. It seems we underestimated that brat and gave him enough time to grow."
"The Heavenly Yaksha has been humiliated repeatedly. He must hate that brat to the bone by now. If we can take advantage of this opportunity, perhaps we can eliminate that brat."
"By the way, have you found the list of special combat-force candidates that brat mentioned? Could our people really be unable to infiltrate his warship?"
Yasosh, standing nearby, was tall and slender, with a beard that reached his chest and an unmistakably aristocratic air about him.
He shook his head.
"There’s no way. That brat never uses ordinary Marines to handle his affairs."
"Except for a few junior officers, the other Marines aboard are all under Smoker’s command. They’re regarded as the problem children of the Marines—soldiers with terrible reputations and all kinds of issues."
"Their personalities are far too distinctive, making them extremely difficult to infiltrate."
"As for observing them from close range or going aboard the ship to investigate, considering that brat’s tendency to attack at the slightest disagreement, that’s simply impossible."
"So, regarding this so-called list of special combat-force candidates, we haven’t obtained even a single name."
"Not even one?"
Yi Si’s expression immediately turned cold.
Yamamoto, who had stopped, let out a cold snort.
"Hmph. What special combat force? It’s nothing but a joke."
"Even Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral, was rejected when he extended invitations to those two. What makes that brat think he can convince them to become his special combat-force targets?"
"Besides, don’t forget that one of those two is still in our hands."
"He has a very strong opinion of that arrogant Marine Admiral because of the attack on the Celestial Dragons."
"That was the main reason he rejected the invitation from Marine Headquarters in the first place."
"If possible, perhaps we can have him teach that Marine Admiral a lesson in how to conduct himself."
The expressions of Yasosh and the other Five Elders changed slightly.
If someone else had proposed this idea, they might not have agreed.
But that man was known as a die-hard fan of the Celestial Dragons.
In Sengoku’s public statements, he had even been described as a top-tier combatant comparable to a Marine Admiral.
If they really sent him into action, perhaps this plan could actually succeed.
For a moment, Yamamoto and the others all turned toward Yi Si, who stood at the head of the group.
Yi Si’s expression remained grim for a moment before he finally nodded.
"All right. But make sure this is done naturally. Under no circumstances can we let Marine Headquarters notice anything suspicious."
"And don’t kill that brat."
"At most, severely injure him and make him understand that there is always someone stronger, and that there are always greater heights beyond the heavens."
"Heh-heh. Yi Si, you’re as cautious as ever."
Yamamoto gave a sinister laugh.
"But a severely wounded Marine Admiral will then have to face a war against the Four Emperors. I doubt there’s anything more torturous than that—even death."
"Besides, that brat is so arrogant and has offended quite a few people already."
"That bastard Spandam still hasn’t called us back. If he fails to get the job done this time, then there’s no reason to keep him around."
Five days later.
Several dozen nautical miles from the Sabaody Archipelago, a Marine warship was quietly waiting on the sea.
Standing on the bow was none other than Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
As Fleet Admiral, Sengoku was currently in the middle of a crucial period in which the Marines were preparing to wage war against two of the Four Emperors.
For him to leave Marine Headquarters at Marineford under such circumstances was an extremely rare occurrence.
Standing beside him were Tsuru and Garp.
Unlike the tense expressions of the other two, Garp showed absolutely no psychological pressure.
After picking his nose, he said,
"Sengoku, don’t be so nervous. That brat was personally trained by me. He’s very reliable. Nothing will go wrong."
"The people you asked him to invite? He’ll definitely bring them back."
"Hmph. I know exactly how that brat goes about inviting people."
Sengoku snorted.
"But that brat said my grandson is in his hands. Isn’t that complete nonsense?"
"When have I ever had a grandson?"
"If I really had one, I’d be his grandson!"
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT
◇ 1 bonus Chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus Chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70+ Chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789