Chapter 165: The Director Starts Writing the Script!
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"I’m not going."
Garp set the intelligence report down and casually reached for a senbei, popping it into his mouth.
"Ryuunosuke is there. I trust he’ll take care of the Golden Lion to protect the East Blue."
"You think he can defeat the Golden Lion?" Sengoku asked, frowning. "Even though Shiki was badly injured back then... it’s been twenty years since we last saw him. If he’s making a move now, he must be hiding so trump card."
Garp didn’t respond imdiately. He simply chewed, crunching down on the snack like nothing was out of the ordinary.
Sengoku stared at him. Sothing about Garp had changed after that trip to retrieve Ryuunosuke’s crew. He seed different—calr. And from the way he spoke just now, his evaluation of Ryuunosuke had clearly beco... positive. Maybe even a little proud.
That pissed Sengoku off.
He’d been so stressed over this entire situation that he couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, and his white hair looked even whiter these days. And Garp? This guy was just sitting there, snacking.
"Ryuunosuke has already awakened Conqueror’s Haki. His Armant Haki has reached the level of Ryuo. And considering the resurrection ability he demonstrated last ti... tell , Sengoku, what exactly should I be worried about?"
Garp grinned.
"Besides, we’re the Navy. Why should we interfere in a battle between two pirate crews?"
That, more than anything, explained why Garp had handed Urzi back to Ryuunosuke. Those people... when they fight, they’re the kind who don’t care about dying. Why? Because they can co back.
No one knew what kind of power or cost was involved, but resurrection changed everything. It gave them the confidence to fight without restraint.
Other pirates? They couldn’t afford to throw their lives away like that. Death was still permanent to them.
That’s also why Sengoku agreed to let Garp go retrieve them. If these monsters joined up with a force like the Whitebeard Pirates—and they weren’t afraid to die—it could be catastrophic for everyone else.
Sengoku exhaled slowly. "So... you’re sticking with your previous idea?"
"If we hand Blackbeard over to Whitebeard, the World Governnt will never allow it."
"And if they don’t agree, then what?" Garp shrugged. "They’re welco to co handle it themselves."
"I’ve already notified Kuzan and Borsalino. But don’t tell Sakazuki. That guy won’t play along, and worse, he might report everything straight to the Celestial Dragons."
Sengoku turned toward Tsuru. "What about you, Tsuru? Do you agree with them?"
"This might be our best option to minimize Navy casualties," she said plainly. "We’re being played, Sengoku. Blackbeard’s orchestrating this whole thing, and we’re dancing right to his tune."
She’d been neutral before. But ever since Gion returned and shared more details about the Dragon Hunter Pirates, Tsuru’s perspective began to shift. Once emotions were taken out of the equation, it beca clear—Blackbeard’s plot was deeper than it looked.
"If you both agree, then we’ll proceed." Sengoku made up his mind. "Start making the arrangents. Inform all combat units—except Sakazuki and his close subordinates. We’ll keep him in the dark."
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anwhile...
"Achoo!"
Sakazuki sneezed violently, again and again.
A rare thing for a magma-user—he’d never caught a cold in his life. But now? He was sneezing nonstop.
Sothing was definitely up.
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Elsewhere, deep within the Navy prison...
Shiryu of the Rain stood outside Blackbeard’s cell, arms crossed.
"So, you’re Blackbeard, huh?"
He gave the prisoner a sharp look.
"Give one good reason to join your pirate crew. If your answer doesn’t impress , I’ll kill you right here."
Blackbeard sat casually on the floor, that arrogant smile never leaving his face.
"No questions. I’m forming a crew of absolute freedom. If you want to co, then co. If not, get lost."
Shiryu burst out laughing.
"You’re crazy. But now I’m curious what this ’absolute freedom’ really looks like."
He turned away, voice fading into the shadows.
"Prove yourself. Survive this plan. If you do... I’ll board your ship."
The darkness swallowed him whole.
Blackbeard chuckled to himself.
"Zehehehe... Zehehehe..."
A jailer approached, scowling. "What the hell are you laughing at?"
"You should save it. You’re about to be publicly executed."
"Let’s go."
Blackbeard stood up, still smiling.
Being interrupted mid-laugh? That was seriously annoying.
"Next ti... I’ll kill you," he muttered, then walked out calmly.
Soon, a warship took him away.
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Two days later...
Ryuunosuke stood aboard his warship, just off the coast of Benkejes Island.
The currents were chaotic here—if the ship hadn’t been strong enough, they might’ve been torn apart already.
"Captain, are we really just going to wait like this?" Najenda asked, scanning the skies. "What if he doesn’t show?"
Ryuunosuke smirked.
"It’s a battle. You wait for your opponent."
Then he turned toward Chrollo.
"There are so ridiculously large creatures on that island. Your big ol’ magic pocket should be able to capture them all. Prep the specin tools and—"
"Captain, please stop talking," Chrollo cut in, trembling. "I’m already shaking from excitent."
The group chuckled, passing the ti with conversation.
And then...
The next morning.
A low rumble echoed across the waves.
A shadow fell over the entire coastline as a massive island ship drifted down from the sky.
It blocked out the sun, casting the sea into darkness.
"He’s here," Ryuunosuke said with a stretch, cracking his neck.
Behind him stood Najenda, Chrollo, Aka, Machi, Kuina, Hawkins, Mario, and Urzi—ready for battle.
---
On the sea, the news exploded like wildfire.
"What?! The Dragon Hunter Pirates are challenging the Sky Pirates!?"
"Who the hell are the Sky Pirates?"
"Idiot! That’s Shiki the Golden Lion’s crew—he was as infamous as Roger in the old days!"
"You an a rookie crew is fighting one of the strongest from the previous era?!"
"Holy shit—I don’t even know the full details, but I’m hyped!"
"This is it... the new era versus the old!"
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Around the world, governnts, underground powers, and pirates alike all turned their eyes toward Benkejes Island.
No matter the outco, the Dragon Hunter Pirates had officially stepped into the world stage.
They were no longer just upstarts.
They were challengers to history.
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