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

Moreover, she had a close relationship with the late "Fire Fist" Ace.

Now he clearly has a great fondness and longing for Luffy and the Straw Hat crew, and his words and actions reveal a strong desire to set sail.

A terrifying scenario took shape almost simultaneously in the minds of Captain Law and Captain Kidd, two captains with exceptional ambition and strategic vision:

If... Yamato really did join the Straw Hat Pirates...

Captain: Monkey D. Luffy: Having just defeated Kaido, the "strongest creature in the world," his bounty will inevitably soar to unimaginable heights, making him a new "Four Emperors" without a doubt.

Roronoa Zoro: Disciple of the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk. He wounded Kaido on Onigashima, demonstrating unfathomable strength, definitely at the level of a Yonko's first mate.

Jinbe: "Knight of the Sea", former Shichibukai, Fishman Karate Master, helmsman and top combatant, with experience and strength at the level of a quasi-first or first-in-command.

Sanji: Germa technology has been used to enhance his bloodline, and with the addition of his battle suit, his speed and defense are astonishing. He performed brilliantly on Onigashima and has enormous potential, making him a potential Yonko Vice-Captain.

In addition, Yamato, who may join the fray, is a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit user with Conqueror's Haki, who has directly confronted Kaido, and is at the level of a Yonko's first mate!

This configuration...

On a ship, there is one newly crowned Yonko, and at least three others (Zoro, Jinbe, and Yamato).

A top-tier fighting force that has clearly reached or is close to the level of a Yonko's first mate, plus crew members with great potential such as Sanji...

This is no longer just a "powerful pirate crew".

This is enough to establish a vast sphere of influence in the New World, forcing the other established Four Emperors to take it seriously, and even requiring them to unite in defense...

A truly genuine, unadulterated "Four Emperors" level force!

The landscape of our times is likely to be completely rewritten by this group of people starting today.

Luo silently cut off a piece of meat, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly.

Kidd also took a big bite of the meat.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the heavy sense of urgency in each other's eyes.

Wano Country was liberated, but the struggle for the seas remained unresolved.

At the heart of all this is that Straw Hat boy, still carefree and indulging in his gluttony.

Seemingly oblivious to this, he simply patted his stomach and yelled at Yamato.

"Yamato! Do you also want to go on a sea adventure?!"

"Yes!!" Yamato's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously. "I want to go with Luffy and the others to see Father..."

"No, we're going to see just how vast this ocean truly is! To fulfill Oden's dream!"

"No problem!" Luffy laughed heartily, extending his hand: "Let's go!!"

Chapter 613 Luffy, he is the 'you' from back then

In Wano Country, Gurn stands on a huge ice floe drifting with the current.

Before my eyes, the iconic Wano Country's ring-shaped waterfall, like a giant curtain hanging from the sky, roared.

The rushing water plunges hundreds of meters from the sky, creating a perpetual white foam and mist on the sea below.

This magnificent natural barrier isolated the entire country from the world, making it extremely easy to defend and difficult to attack.

"What a wonderful place," Gern murmured to himself, his gaze sweeping over the majestic water wall.

"Natural fortresses, endless resources, legendary weapons and history..."

After sighing, Gern turned away and stopped looking at the waterfall.

Instead, they looked towards the center of the ice floe, where two figures lay barely breathing.

The revolutionary leader, Monkey D. Dragon, still had his eyes closed, appearing as if I had completely lost consciousness.

However, the tension between his brows betrayed that he was only pretending to be dead.

In contrast, our Four Emperors, "Red-Haired" Shanks, was much more direct, lying on his back without saying a word, staring blankly at the sky.

"Hehe." Gern half-squatted down, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two of them, a slightly regretful smile suddenly appearing on his face.

There was no smugness in his smile; instead, there was a detached, mocking tone.

"What a pity," he clicked his tongue, as if complaining about the weather, "because the two of you blocked the way, which delayed us quite a bit."

"Now..." He pointed towards the Wano Country area, which appeared much calmer than usual and was faintly visible above the waterfall.

"I'm afraid I won't even get a hot bowl of soup."

As soon as these words were spoken

Shanks' pupils suddenly contracted!

The meaning behind Gern's words couldn't be clearer: the battle in Wano Country is very likely over!

And now, Gern appears here, captures them, but does not rush into Wano Country...

Could it be that Kaido and Big Mom have already...?

Thinking of this, Shanks let out a suppressed snort, which aggravated his injuries, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

“Gern…” Shanks kept his eyes fixed on the sky, his voice hoarse.

"The tide of the new era... is unstoppable!"

Luffy… he is the 'Roger' of yesteryear, the 'key' to unlocking the next era!

"No, I should be more direct, he..."

He paused for a moment before slowly turning his gaze toward Guern.

"He is the 'you' from back then!"

"That 'Tianzhen' who dared to challenge all established rules and tear open the veil of the old world!"

"Your era... no matter how glorious or powerful."

Ultimately, it will be completely swept away by this younger, more passionate wave, carrying the dreams of even more people!

Shanks' words resonated powerfully, sounding exceptionally clear and prophetic against the backdrop of the roaring waterfall.

He was vindicating Luffy, and even more so, he was shouting for the future that he firmly believed would surely come.

Gern listened quietly, the teasing smile on his face gradually fading, but he did not get angry.

He merely raised an eyebrow, shifting his gaze from Shanks' stubborn face to Dragon, who was still "playing dead" beside him.

"Is that so?" Gern's tone was unreadable, then he stretched out his foot and gently kicked Dragon's drooping arm.

"And you? Mr. Monkey D. Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army."

Do you think so too? Do you believe your son is the 'chosen one' destined to overthrow the old order?

When his act of feigning death was exposed, Dragon's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.

A few seconds later, he slowly opened his eyes.

Those eyes, which were always filled with hardship and scheming, were now brimming with complex emotions.

It wasn't the joy of his son defeating the Four Emperors, but a father's worry.

“Gern…” Dragon’s voice was weaker than Shanks’s, “Luffy… he’s not a ‘pirate’.”

This statement, rather than correcting Shanks' analogy, is more of an emphasis on Luffy's true nature to Guern, and even carries a plea.

He wasn't relieved that Luffy might have defeated Kaido; his heart was filled with worry that his son was about to face this terrifying man!

This man is the one who could drag him and Shanks, two of the world's strongest warriors, here like dead dogs!

No matter how strong Luffy becomes or how much he awakens, is he truly ready to face such an existence?

“He is indeed not a pirate.” Gern nodded, acknowledging Dragon’s statement, his tone flat. “At least, not entirely.”

"There was no looting on his ship, his dream was not treasure or hegemony, he just wanted to be the 'Pirate King'... the freest man."

Isn't that interesting?

As Gern spoke, he slowly straightened up.

Instead of looking at the two people on the ground, he turned his gaze back towards Wano Country.

The atmosphere became somewhat still for a moment, with only the eternal sound of the waterfall.

Just then...

"Wow!!!"

A clear and penetrating cry came from the high sky in the direction of Wano Country!

The three of them looked up at the same time.

A huge wing burning with a ghostly blue flame streaked across the sky and took flight from behind the waterfall!

The flames were not scorching hot; they took on a dreamy blue hue under the sunlight.

It's Marco transformed into a phoenix!

He completed his mission of providing support in Wano Country (mostly for his former comrade Izo and for Luffy, whom he admired).

They are currently preparing to return to the island where Whitebeard's hometown is located.

The reason I was able to come earlier was because Edward Weevil, who called himself "Whitebeard II," was defeated by the Cross Guild.

His temporary disappearance relieved him of his worries.

The three men's spying drew Marco's attention to the unusual sight on the ice floes below.

Fleet Admiral Gern, and two figures on the ground whose terrifying aura lingered even from a distance.

Especially one of them had red hair and the other had a dark green coat...

"Red hair?!"

He didn't recognize the dragon, but the red-haired figure made his flight speed noticeably pause.

The dark blue flame wings fluttered slightly, circled halfway, and cast a solemn and probing gaze.

But Marco did not stop.

The battle in Wano Country is over, and it's clearly not a place for him to wade into.

Especially after Gern's navy became independent, Whitebeard's hometown was also included in the navy's tax collection scope, so he had no reason to continue arguing with Gern.

After taking a deep look, Marco let out a soft, ambiguous cry and flapped his wings.

It accelerated and flew towards the distant horizon, quickly turning into a small blue dot and disappearing into the clouds.

"Marco has really retired!"

On the ice floe, Gern watched Marco sail away and smiled faintly.

Shanks and Dragon's hearts grew even heavier with Marco's arrival and departure.

Marco's departure seems to have officially brought the Wano Country arc to a close.

Gern withdrew his gaze and looked back at the two people at his feet, his eyes calm.

"It seems the celebration banquet has already begun," he said casually. "We...should go and say hello."

"Otherwise, I, a dignified admiral of the navy, would come all this way only to find that I have nothing to eat!"

Chapter 614 Jin: I'll lead the way!

In Wano Country, victory celebrations don't end in just a day or two.

Rabbit Bowl, located behind Changying Port, was once a prisoner quarry.

This place was once filled with the cries of laborers and the cracking of overseers' whips, but now it is shrouded in a deathly silence and despondency.

Rough rocks, abandoned mine carts, and rusty shackles are scattered everywhere.

The remnants of the Beasts Pirates were almost all huddled behind the ruins.

Most of them were wounded, their eyes were empty, and the ferocity of their past burning, killing, and looting had vanished, leaving only the numbness of surviving a catastrophe and the uncertainty about the future.

The news of Kaido's defeat and fall into the lava extinguished the last embers of resistance in everyone's hearts.

In the very center of the quarry