One Piece: Surrounded at Marineford? Just kidding!

Upon hearing this question, the color that had just returned to Shanks' mother's face due to their reunion vanished.

Her pupils dilated suddenly, and her body began to tremble.

My fingertips trembled slightly at first.

Then the arms.

Finally, he trembled on the soft chair, like a withered leaf in a storm.

"I...I..."

Shanks' mother's lips trembled, and her teeth chattered. Her eyes were unfocused, her gaze falling on Shanks' face, yet also piercing through him, seeing the hell of thirty-eight years ago.

That name.

Shanks could feel the cold sweat and trembling in his mother's palms, and his heart clenched, a pain sharper than when he lost his arm.

"It's alright, Mother."

Shanks quickly raised his hand and gently patted his mother's thin back, the warmth of his palm seemingly trying to dispel the chill from her bones. He lowered his voice, gentle yet firm, as if coaxing a child.

"Don't be afraid, really don't be afraid. Look around, look at your son."

Shanks straightened his back, pointed to the group of pirates behind him who were full of murderous intent but also concern in their eyes, then pointed to himself, his tone carrying a confidence that could make the world tremble.

"Speak boldly. Your son is very strong now, truly very strong. Everyone on this vast sea calls me 'Emperor.' No matter who the other party is, no matter where they are in the world, as long as you name them, no one will dare to harm you again."

"Yes, Auntie!"

Yasopp was the first to jump out, ripping off his goggles, his sniper eyes burning with fury. He pounded his chest, gritting his teeth.

"Say whatever you want! Whether he's a naval admiral or a deep-sea monster, even if he's the King of Heaven himself, at the boss's command, I, Yasopp, will be the first to shove a bullet into his head!"

"That's right! Tear him to pieces!"

Raki Lu stopped gnawing on the meat; his fat bulged like the hardest armor. He swung his fist, the force of the blow causing the campfire to flicker.

"Dare to bully the boss's mother? He's an enemy of the entire Red-Haired Pirates! We'll chop him up and feed him to the Sea Kings!"

"Kill him! Kill him!"

"A blood debt must be paid in blood!"

The members of the Red-Haired Pirates drew their swords and guns. This group of great pirates, who roamed the New World, revealed their most protective and ruthless side at this moment.

Ben Beckman spat out his cigarette butt and placed his right hand on the long gun at his waist. He didn't shout, but the cold glint in his unfathomable eyes was more dangerous than anyone else's.

Shanks' mother looked at the group of pirates before her, the pirates who were willing to fight the world for her, a madwoman. A warm feeling washed over her. These were her son's companions, the family he had found on the high seas.

She opened her mouth, wanting to respond to this kindness and tell her son the truth.

But as that name slipped onto her tongue, a deep-seated despair gripped her throat once more.

No.

That person's status was too prestigious, too terrifying.

He is a "god" who reigns above all living beings, and is the true ruler of the sea.

If these passionate young people were to speak out, could they withstand the devastating repercussions? Wouldn't her words destroy everything Shanks had?

"No... I can't say..."

Shanks' mother closed her eyes in anguish, tears streaming down her face and dripping onto the back of Shanks' hand, burning hot and frightening.

"I...I can't remember...Shanks, please don't ask, please don't ask..."

His mother's pleas were a dull knife, cutting into Shanks' heart. He was lying; he was concealing immense fear. This only fueled his anger and his desperate need to know the truth.

Who is it?

What could possibly terrify a mother so much that she wouldn't even dare to mention her name?

Just as Shanks was about to ask another question, and just as Shanks' mother was struggling painfully, a cold voice interrupted.

"Shanks, I advise you not to know."

The entire room fell silent.

All eyes were focused on the source of the sound.

Chen Ye toyed with a gold coin in his hand, the coin twirling between his fingers and reflecting the moonlight. He looked down at the mother and child below, a half-smile playing on his lips, his eyes devoid of pity, only condescending, as if watching a tragedy with a pre-written script.

Shanks suddenly turned around and stared intently at Chen Ye.

The gratitude in his eyes was gone, replaced by the ferocity of a wild beast whose wrath had been provoked.

"What do you mean?"

Shanks slowly stood up.

A suppressed aura of domineering power swirled around him, making the air thick and heavy.

"Do you know who the killer is?"

Since Chen Ye was able to bring his mother back from the past, and he knows everything about the Valley of the Gods, he must know who the murderer is.

Chen Ye didn't avoid his murderous gaze. He chuckled lightly, casually flicked the gold coin into the air, and the moment it fell, he vanished like a ghost from the tree trunk.

The next second, he appeared beside Shanks, so close they could hear each other breathing.

"Of course I know."

Chen Ye's voice was eerily calm. He put his hands in his pockets, ignoring the wary gazes of the red-haired executives around him, as well as the dangerous aura emanating from Shanks.

"But I advise you not to listen. Your mother is protecting you. Because the truth is a million times more disgusting than you can imagine."

Chen Ye turned his head and glanced at the trembling Fiona. Pity flashed in his eyes, but more so, a mischievous anticipation.

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Shanks growled, his right hand grabbing Chenye's collar. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Tell me! Chenye! This is a debt I owe you, but I must know! No matter who it is, no matter how disgusting, I have the right to know who harmed my mother like this!"

The two looked at each other.

One of them is a Yonko who reigns over the new world, and he is burning with rage.

One is the mysterious and unpredictable Time and Space Emperor, seemingly indifferent and detached.

The air seemed to freeze, even the sound of the waves subsided. Ben Beckman's finger was on the trigger; he would fire without hesitation should Chen Ye make the slightest move.

Not far away, the white-bearded man, who had been silently drinking, also put down his wine bowl. His eyes, which had seen the vicissitudes of life, narrowed slightly, and a complex light flashed in his golden pupils. He seemed to have guessed something, but he didn't say anything.

Chen Ye looked at Shanks, who was so close to him, and sighed softly as he gazed into those vengeful eyes.

"Since you insist so much..."

Chen Ye slowly raised his hand, making a shushing gesture, but did not push Shanks' hand away.

He didn't speak loudly, but instead leaned close to Shanks' ear.

The entire room fell silent; everyone held their breath.

Chen Ye leaned down and spoke slowly in a voice only the two of them and Whitebeard could hear. Each word was like a carving knife, etched into Shanks' eardrums.

"The one who killed your mother was none other than someone else."

Chen Ye paused for a second.

That second felt like an eternity to Shanks. His heart was gripped tightly by a hand, leaping into his throat.

Chen Ye tilted his head slightly, observing Shanks' tense face and trembling pupils, and then, with a judgmental coldness, threw out the bomb.

"That's your biological father."

Shanks' pupils suddenly shrank to pinpoints, and his breathing stopped.

But Chen Ye didn't give him a chance to catch his breath.

"Supreme Commander of the Knights of God. Figarand Garin Saint."

boom--!

These words struck Shanks like a bolt from the blue.

It's not a metaphor.

It's real dizziness.

Shanks froze instantly, his grip on Chen Ye's collar loosening limply. His mind went blank; all his thoughts, all his logic, all his anger were shattered before this name.