The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

"Hahaha!! That's more like it!!"

"Elbaf! The Kingdom of Giants..."

"I, 'Skyquake' Gern, have arrived!"

Chapter 597 "The Nine Red-Sheathed Swordsmen"

Meanwhile, deep within Wano Country, in a secret room of a temporary base.

The flickering candlelight cast uneasily swaying shadows on the wall, illuminating nine figures seated in a circle, each with a different expression.

The Nine Red Scabbards, Oden's most loyal retainers, after twenty years of time and life-and-death struggles...

They finally reunited here.

Kin'emon, the leader of the Nine Red Scabbards, knelt in the main seat, leaning slightly forward, his hands firmly resting on his knees.

He had closed his eyes to rest before the decisive battle, but at this moment his jaw was clenched and his forehead was covered with fine cold sweat.

The hellish scene from Dressrosa a few days ago kept replaying in my mind.

The young master Momonosuke, who once innocently called out "Father," was tossed into the air like trash by that man, followed by a flash of a blade...

Two small, blood-splattered remains of the body fell limply to the ground.

And then there were Gern's final, chillingly calm words.

The things I shot down...shouldn't they be mine?

"Young Master...!!"

Kin'emon suddenly opened his eyes and let out a heart-wrenching growl.

He fell forward, head hitting the ground, his hands digging into the earth.

His entire body was trembling violently, adopting the standard Orz pose, and his back was soaked with cold sweat.

"Kin'emon!"

"Lord Kin'emon!"

Denjiro, Kikunojo, Kawamatsu, Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, Izo, and others immediately gathered around, their faces full of concern.

Raizo and Ashura Doji also cast heavy glances from the side.

"It's nothing... I'm fine..." Kin'emon gasped, forcing himself to sit up straight again, but the pain and dejection on his face were undeniable.

He glanced around at his companions, his voice hoarse: "But... the young master's tragic state... and that man..."

"The look in Tianzhen Gen's eyes... whenever I think of it, it's like a nightmare..."

"Earthquake! It's that earthquake again!!"

Inuarashi and Nekomamushi almost simultaneously growled, their furry faces simultaneously contorted with barely suppressed rage and shame.

Inuarashi gripped the sword at his waist, and Nekomamushi's claws involuntarily extended.

"Back then, he defeated Lord Oden in such a humiliating way!" Inuarashi's voice trembled slightly with anger.

"Now... he actually... he actually did such a cruel thing to the young master!"

"This man's existence is a disgrace to the Nine Red Scabbards!"

The cat viper gritted its teeth: "That's right! First it was Lord Oden, and now it's young master Momonosuke... This is an irreconcilable feud!"

"Once we defeat Kaido, I will definitely settle this score with him!"

The two of them had a falling out after Kozuki Oden's death due to the butterfly effect of Gern, and returned to the "Foggy Principality" of Zou.

The two, who were at odds, were driven away separately, and then he stayed with Marco in Whitebeard's hometown.

This time, he also came to Wano Country with Marco, allowing the "Nine Red Scabbards" to unite.

The tragic death of Momonosuke has reignited this old and new grudges to an extreme.

Hearing Inuarashi and Nekomamushi's hateful declarations, the other Akazaya Nine's reactions were not entirely the same.

Denjiro (Kyoshiro) frowned, his eyes filled with grief and indignation, but even more so with a deep sense of worry and helplessness.

As "Ugly Boy" who had been lurking by the Serpent's side for twenty years, he had witnessed far too much darkness and complexity.

I know that simple anger is often powerless in the face of absolute power and cruel reality.

Kawamatsu silently gripped his sword, "Peerless," remaining silent.

Kikunojo (Kiku) subconsciously looked at her older brother, Izou.

Raizo and Ashura Doji, one skilled in ninjutsu and trickery, the other a former ruthless bandit leader.

Although there was hatred, at this moment there was more focus on the life-or-death battle before them.

A terrifying alliance between the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates.

Compared to these two emperors of the sea, Gern, far away at the Navy Headquarters, seems to be a slightly more distant threat.

"Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, I share your anger." Kin'emon took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging emotions, his voice serious.

"But... that man, Tianzhen Gen, he will definitely come to Wano Country."

"Hmm??" All eyes were once again focused on him.

"In Dressrosa, before I lost consciousness, I clearly heard his words and saw his eyes."

Kin'emon's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly. "That's not about caring about the so-called 'Kozuki lineage,' nor is it about respecting the history of Wano Country..."

It was a pure and undisguised possessiveness.

In his eyes, Wano Country was not an ally's homeland that needed to be 'liberated,' but rather...

A 'trophy' that was about to be added to his possession.

He raised his head and glanced at each of his companions: "This is also what I'm most worried about."

Even if we risk our lives to defeat Kaido and Big Mom, and drive away the enemy...

The person we'll be facing next is likely to be a Marine Admiral who is even more unfathomable than Kaido, with clearer goals and more... ruthless methods.

"At that time, how will we, exhausted and battered, cope with Wano Country?"

The atmosphere inside the sealed room became even more oppressive.

"No matter what!" Denjiro said in a deep voice, breaking the silence, "The primary enemies are still Kaido and Orochi!"

If we don't defeat them, Wano Country will never have peace, let alone a future!

As for the earthquake... things will work themselves out!

We, the retainers of the Kozuki family, will never hand over the country entrusted to us by Lord Oden to anyone!

“That’s right!” Kawamatsu echoed in a deep voice, “Let’s win this battle first! Protect Lady Hiyori! Carry on Lord Oden’s will!”

"Hiyori-sama..."

When Kozuki Oden's other child, Kozuki Hiyori, was mentioned, everyone's eyes hardened again.

That was what they had to protect—the last hope and orthodoxy of the Kozuki bloodline.

"Yes! Protect Lady Hiyori! Let her inherit the position of Shogun and revitalize the country!" Kikunojo nodded vigorously.

"Then...we'll figure out a way to deal with that Marine!" Inuarashi and Nekomamushi added through gritted teeth.

Everyone expressed their belief that only by uniting could they have a chance of survival.

However, amidst this fervent atmosphere, one person remained unusually silent.

Izo, former captain of the 16th division of the Whitebeard Pirates, was also one of Kozuki Oden's earliest retainers.

He leaned quietly against the wall, his fingers unconsciously stroking the handle of the revolver at his waist, his brows slightly furrowed, and his eyes looking at his emotionally charged companions with a complicated expression.

His experience is different from others.

He was not only Oden's retainer, but also experienced the peak of the Whitebeard Pirates and witnessed the world-shaking event of the Marineford War.

He had personally witnessed his father, Edward Newgate, the "strongest man in the world," in his invincible state when he briefly regained his peak condition.

He also witnessed firsthand the man known as "Skyquake," Gern Reginald Sigmar.

How did he manage to confront Whitebeard head-on at the end of the Marineford War, and even gain the upper hand?

That power, that unfathomable depth, that oppressive aura that even the white-bearded old man took seriously…

It is etched in my heart.

So he gently tugged at his younger brother Kikunojo's sleeve.

"Xiaoju".

"Brother?" Kikunojo turned to look at his brother in confusion.

Izang shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with an almost pessimistic warning.

He didn't say much, but that head-shaking gesture conveyed so much.

Chapter 598 I Bet Garp on the New World (Part 1)

(This isn't about a lazy bum speeding up time; it's about how, within the One Piece timeline, Luffy's time is only a month and a half.)

They fought their way from Dressrosa to Onigashima, and they even finished it! Otherwise, Doflamingo wouldn't have been laughing hysterically while reading the newspaper.

The battle on Onigashima has begun, and on the other side, Pirate Beehive Island is experiencing an unprecedented tremor today.

It wasn't a naval fleet attack, nor was it a consequence of the conflict between the Four Emperors; it stemmed from the rage of an old man.

And his simple and brutal "iron fist" that he carried throughout his life.

Garp is here.

There were no warships clearing the way, no large army pressing in.

There was only one warship and a handful of people on deck—Kap himself and a few elite members of the "SWORD" force.

Their goal was clear and direct: to rescue Koby.

Garp's "leave of absence" was not just talk from the beginning.

He couldn't stand by and watch Kuzan go further down the wrong path, nor could he tolerate the person he once admired.

However, after the new navy became independent, Koby became increasingly extreme and even showed signs of separatism.

They could fall into the hands of Blackbeard or Kuzan and become bargaining chips or puppets.

He wanted to personally awaken one of his two misguided "disciples" and bring the other back to the right path.

Intelligence indicates that Blackbeard has already traveled to an island in the New World.

Intending to profit from the chaos of the battle between the two Emperors and the Worst Generation, they waited for the three captains who came out of Wano Country, but they probably didn't expect to end up meeting Law.

Therefore, those remaining on Beehive Island are led by the newly joined "Aokiji" Kuzan, supplemented by "Curse Doctor" Samuel Kronos and San Juan Wolf.

"Shiryu of the Rain", "Evil King" Avaro Pizarro (the island itself) and several other key figures.

This was exactly what Garp wanted.

Avoiding Blackbeard's troublesome abilities and facing Kuzan head-on is one of the core objectives of his trip.

Infiltrate, raid, erupt, fall from the sky!

Garp's tactics, like his personality, are unpretentious and go straight to the heart of the matter.

By the time Kuzan sensed something was wrong, Garp's iron fist had already shattered the core area of ​​Hive Island.

Then, landing was as easy as going over a speed bump, instantly killing San Juan Wolf!

The battle was one-sided from the very beginning.

The ordinary pirates and low-ranking officers who remained behind were no match for Garp's pure physical skills and top-level Haki, which were like those of a humanoid Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Even those pirate captains with bounties exceeding 100 million and notorious reputations often couldn't withstand a single punch from Garp in this state.

Wailing cries and the sound of bones shattering echoed through the alleyways and fortresses of Beehive Island.

"Parasitic bacteria!!"

"Curse Doctor" Samuel attempted to interfere and erode the enemy using his fungal abilities, but Garp directly shattered them with his more ruthless and pure domineering aura.