The pinnacle of pirates begins with deceiving fate!

The dog-headed warship suddenly sank, and a red light rose from it, sweeping across the sea and heading straight for the warship where John was.

This action startled the officers and soldiers on the warship, who quickly formed a protective circle around John Saint, watching the approaching red light warily.

The leading vice admiral drew his sword, his armor covered in Haki, ready for battle at any moment.

"Garp! What do you want to do?!"

"fine."

John stepped over the wall of guards, raised his hand and pressed down the sword the lieutenant general had raised, looking at the falling red light with a smile.

As the red light crashed down, the warship suddenly sank, creating waves four or five meters high. Karp clenched his fists and strode toward John, only stopping when he was two meters away.

He was afraid that if they got too close, he wouldn't be able to resist making a move.

With veins bulging on his forehead and twisted in anger, Karp stared intently at John's hypocritical smile, gritting his teeth.

"Do you even know what you're doing?!"

"of course I know."

The word "Justice" fluttered in the wind behind his coat, and John's long golden hair shone with a sacred light in the sun.

"I am exercising justice, eliminating evil elements who attempt to threaten the world government, and protecting countless poor and innocent civilians on the high seas."

"fart!"

Karp could no longer hold back and rushed forward, grabbing John's collar tightly amidst the pointing swords and spears of the generals.

"Those scholars from Ohara can't even lift a sword, how could they possibly threaten the world! What are you Celestial Dragons hiding? Are you so afraid of your deeds being exposed?!"

"Let go."

In response to a barrage of questions, John only uttered two cold words.

Then, to Karp's astonishment, he smiled and said...

"Otherwise, I might have to classify you as a pirate and set your bounty at two billion Berries, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, Garp's hand, gripping his collar, trembled involuntarily. Not from fear, but from anger.

He couldn't believe that in just a few years, the guy he knew, who wasn't too much of a jerk, had become so wicked.

"Kapu, let go! You mustn't disrespect St. John!"

Taking advantage of the moment, the vice admiral rushed forward and held a knife to Garp's neck, constantly winking at him.

He only hoped that his colleague could calm down and not do anything foolish that would implicate the entire navy.

Indeed, attacking Im and attacking the Celestial Dragons are two completely different things.

Im is the behind-the-scenes mastermind who does not exist in the public consciousness, while the Celestial Dragons are the real world nobles who are the objects that the Navy needs to protect and are at the pinnacle of power.

Attacking a Celestial Dragon in full view of everyone, even if the Five Elders didn't want to break ties with Garp, such a powerful figure, they had no choice but to put a bounty on Garp as a pirate in order to maintain their dignity and status.

After much struggle, Karp, persuaded by his colleagues, finally had to loosen his grip on John St.'s collar.

John smoothed out the wrinkles on his collar, but wasn't about to let Karp off the hook. He gave a mocking order:

"Garp, you'll be the one to do it and prove your loyalty to 'justice' to the World Government."

He wanted to force Garp to recognize his own limitations, to enjoy the reputation and benefits of being a "naval hero" while simultaneously condemning the Celestial Dragons' despicable actions. How could someone have such a double standard?

Either completely degenerate into a Celestial Dragon's lackey, or join him as a pirate and strike Mary Geoise at the opportune moment.

You can only choose one of the two!

"What did you say?!"

Karp angrily reached for John's collar again, but this time John raised his hand first and grabbed Karp's wrist instead.

"Ohara is not a member state of the World Government, yet it is secretly researching the secrets of the World Government. This is a terrorist act that seriously threatens the World Government's political system."

"As everyone knows, non-member states are on the opposite side of the World Government. The opposing camp is researching our secrets and attempting to overthrow our regime, which is tantamount to declaring war!"

"If you, Garp, still carry the burden of 'justice,' then you must shoulder the responsibility of protecting the interests of the World Government and annihilate the evil elements of Ohara."

"Given your current wavering attitude, I, the Celestial Dragon Shepard John, grant you an opportunity to prove yourself."

"Prove that you, Garp, are on the side of 'justice'."

"Otherwise, I will exercise the power of the Navy's Grand Inspectorate to remove you from your position as Vice Admiral, label you as an accomplice to pirates, and make you a target of the World Government and the Navy!"

"Choose, Garp!"

Chapter 156 Falling from the Bottom of the Sea!

"Garp!"

Fearing that Garp might make the wrong decision in his anger, the vice admiral once again held the sheathed sword to Garp's neck.

"Ohara is trying to overthrow the World Government. They are not innocent people. Don't let your compassion lead you to do something foolish!"

"Shut up! You cruel butchers!"

Under extreme pressure, Garp suddenly broke free of his restrained wrists and ripped off the Justice Coat draped over his shoulders.

Then, Garp clenched his right fist, crimson lightning crackling around it, and slammed it down heavily on John, who was standing directly in front of him.

However, John easily dodged this angry punch, which was so close to him, by simply turning his head to the side.

The surrounding naval officers were blown away by the explosive force of the punch, which was as solid as a physical object. John's long golden hair fluttered, and a triumphant glint flashed in his eyes.

But that's not enough, we need to go all out!

"Buster Call activated! Wipe Ohara off the map completely!"

The order was relayed with the sound of thunder, and the remaining nine warships that had already surrounded Ohara began to spew fire, unleashing a barrage of shells at the island.

"John! Tell them to stop!"

After missing his punch, Karp, his eyes bloodshot, threw another punch, mercilessly slamming it into John's face.

John, however, left with a meaningful smile, then transformed into lightning and streaked across the sky, flying towards the blazing Ohara Island.

Meanwhile, another warship.

On deck, Junko witnessed the conflict on the warship and reported it to the Den Den Mushi she was talking to:

"Hero Garp has attacked John Saint. We request that Garp be removed from his position as Vice Admiral and listed as an accomplice to pirates with a bounty on his head!"

"..."

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

Saint Satan is organizing the Celestial Dragons' triennial campaign to destroy the kingdom of Felose in the East Blue, resulting in only four people remaining in the power structure.

Upon hearing this news, all four of them looked grim.

If Garp were classified as a pirate, the World Government would not only lose a powerful fighter, but would also be contradicting itself.

If even a "naval hero" betrays the World Government, the World Government's credibility will be severely damaged, and the public will question the World Government's "justice."

But Garp has become so arrogant that he dares to throw a punch at a Celestial Dragon, which is absolutely intolerable.

After a long while, the sound of four people arguing came through the phone.

"Who was it that suggested making Garp a naval hero in the first place?"

"Is there any point in bringing this up now? Besides, wasn't it to set an example for the Navy, to let them know that protecting the Celestial Dragons makes one a 'hero'?"

"But now this 'hero' is throwing punches at us, setting an example for those lowly people so they can learn from him!"

"Stop arguing. There's no point in saying all this now. The decision to make Garp a 'hero' was unanimously approved by us. Don't try to shirk responsibility."

"Military Palace, please convey this to John Saint: remove Karp from all his posts now, and execute or arrest him on the spot. Do not let Karp escape!"

"We must suppress the news of Garp's betrayal of the World Government; it absolutely cannot be allowed to get out!"

"Yes!"

"..."

After hanging up the phone, Junzi picked up the warship's microphone and shouted to the fleet to relay the Five Elders' instructions.

Ohara Island

The enormous Tree of Omniscience burned fiercely under the gunfire, billowing black smoke rising and filling the sky. Scholars screamed and wailed as they fled in all directions, but there was nowhere to hide.

"Fist-Bone Impact!"

With things having come to this point, Karp had no choice but to chase John to the island, determined to capture him and use that capture to threaten the navy into stopping the bombardment.

A crimson cross-shaped starlight flashed on the fist, carrying a terrifying shockwave as it smashed towards John's head.

"You're so weak, Garp."

John stood with his hands in his pockets on the ravaged lawn, letting the crimson fist smash through his face and smash his head.

However, no blood spilled out. The severed head and neck were smooth and flat, with faint flashes of lightning visible at the cut.

It was easily evaded by being pre-elementalized.

In just a few years, John's Conqueror's Haki has surpassed Garp's, making it impossible for Garp's Conqueror's Haki to suppress his Devil Fruit ability.

Completely consumed by rage, Garp was unable to use Observation Haki and could not detect John's aura.

As a result, Karp could only create empty, thunderous holes in John's body with each punch, failing to strike any solid part of him.

"but……"

John changed the subject, a smile playing on his lips.

"Now you can truly be called a 'hero,' no longer that stray dog ​​whose spine was broken by pathetic 'justice.'"

"Ah! John!"

Unable to grasp the deeper meaning behind his words, the enraged Garp simply swung his fists wildly, creating a dense barrage of afterimages that rained down on John.

Fed up with this boring attack, John suddenly tilted his head to dodge the next punch, and his left hand shot out from his pocket, striking Karp in the abdomen like lightning.

"Uh...wow!"

With a single blow, Garp's abdomen caved in, and he spat out hot blood.

Those bloodshot, deep red pupils also flashed with clarity amidst the excruciating pain, gradually regaining their rationality from their anger.