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Will Rowen kill him?
If it were in the past, Lirisk would bet his life on it that Rowen wouldn't dare to do so!
He could tell that Rowen was an ambitious man, and this ambition required power and status to satisfy.
As a member of the World Nobles, just by this identity alone, he was a taboo that Rowen would absolutely not dare to touch.
Killing him would not satisfy Rowen's ambition at all; instead, it would plunge him into the abyss and cause big trouble.
For someone like him, who was bold and ambitious, emotions must yield to reason.
In simpler terms: he needed to be realistic.
But now...
Lirisk was very sure that Rowen truly harbored a killing intent towards him!
Lirisk... San?
Isn't this attitude obvious enough?! He deliberately deceived Rowen into forcibly awakening his abilities, and he knew exactly why.
Just like what he told his father, Orrick, the chariot of history doesn't need a second charioteer, and Rowen was stealing too much of the limelight!
Since his last plan to win over Rowen was thwarted by the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars), Rowen could no longer be their ally.
In the quagmire of political struggle, if you couldn't be friends, you naturally became enemies.
Heavy, cold, like a python hunting its prey in the rainforest, using its bone-chilling killing intent to lick at the prey's neck.
Sweat dripped from Lirisk's forehead, running down his browbone, making his eyes dry and sore.
But he dared not wipe it away at this moment.
He was afraid that if he lost focus for a moment, Rowen's Thunder Dragon Crescent-sided Halberd would come crashing down on his head.
In the distance, the members of CP0 noticed this scene and their expressions became hesitant.
"What's wrong with Vice Admiral Soryu? Is he going to attack Celestial Dragon Lirisk?"
"He shouldn't... right? That's a Celestial Dragon. Who would dare to attack a Celestial Dragon?!"
"Have you forgotten that Vice Admiral Soryu had a fight with Celestial Dragon Lirisk before? It was even in the newspapers."
"Is that comparable? According to Zero-Sama, they both knew the outcome of that battle very well. In other words, it was just a show for ordinary people."
"Huh? Why?"
"I... don't know."
"Alright! If something happens, we won't be able to escape responsibility!"
The leading small commander raised his hand to stop the discussion and made a decisive decision. "Everyone, go over there and protect Celestial Dragon Lirisk!"
"Yes!"
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
As the words fell, men in white suits flashed forward using Rokushiki "Soru", with the small commander taking the lead. His inhumanly broad body blocked the line of sight between the two, and he spoke in a deep voice.
"Vice Admiral Soryu, please... please step back!"
Phew...
Those cold, merciless eyes were blocked, and Lirisk breathed out a sigh of relief.
No one knew how much pressure Rowen had just given him. It was a kind of deathly silence that returned to nothingness!
As a Zoan Ability user who had perfectly controlled his beastly instincts after Awakening, Lirisk's innate keen animal intuition made him extremely uncomfortable.
Now, breaking free from it, he suddenly realized that his back had been soaked with cold sweat without him noticing.
"Vice Admiral Soryu" Rowen!
A hint of coldness flashed in Lirisk's eyes.
The name that had been engraved in his memory since he woke up, had grown from the obscure Rear Admiral he once was to a Top Level powerhouse that no one could ignore.
An Admiral in the making within the Marines!
Favored by the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars)!
Zephyr's disciple!
The Base Head of the G-10 branch, commanding the Aircraft Force, overshadowing all the Monster pirates of the New World, and making the entire sea tremble with fear— the Marine Vice Admiral Soryu!
His talent, his cunning, his strength— Lirisk saw everything.
He admired it... and felt afraid!
If he could be friends with him, who would be willing to have such an enemy?
Rowen silently locked eyes with the CP0 small commander wearing the weeping clown mask. The latter's heart tightened slightly, feeling somewhat relieved that he had made the right decision.
No one understood Rowen's killing intent better than he, who specialized in martial arts as a Zoan Ability user.
Fortunately, he chose to intervene; otherwise...
Seeing Lirisk's silence, Rowen was greatly disappointed.
"Is this your answer? Lirisk San..."
"I thought we were friends."
Inhale... exhale...
Taking a deep breath, the pride of the Nibelung Family made Lirisk raise his arm and push aside the CP0 small commander blocking him.
Staring into those eyes, Lirisk grinned. "You're a Marine, and I'm a Celestial Dragon... We can never be friends."
"In the past, it was only a partnership."
Rowen understood Lirisk's implication.
You are loyal to the government, and I am loyal to my lineage.
We have different paths and no common ground.
That's the answer to everything!
Orrick had already begun to act, no longer needing Rowen's help to establish the authority of the Nibelung Family.
He was a pawn, so he could be discarded.
Naturally, in addition to abandoning him, eliminating the wings of the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) was even better.
Why did Lirisk let Rowen forcefully awaken and lose control?
Because they needed to challenge the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) after Rowen caused damage out of control, formally intervening in politics!
The Thunder Thunder Fruit user's Awakening caused a devastating crisis when out of control was recorded in the logs, with a long history of offenses.
Rowen was sharp and understood everything.
However, being betrayed this time did not make him feel angry.
He had long understood this truth.
From the day he became a Marine, power and status were shackles on him.
Either break free and establish his authority, or remain like now, a pawn controlled by others.
"No wonder so many predecessors who crossed over chose to become pirates and overthrow the World Government... Being a good Marine is really troublesome."
Rowen sighed deeply in his heart.
But fortunately...
Zi Zi...
Pop!
The surging electricity dispersed as Rowen slung the Thunder Dragon crescent-sided halberd onto his back, gesturing with his chin towards the distance.
"So, farewell, Lirisk."
...
Lirisk left, taking the CP0 with him, leaving cleanly and efficiently.
He knew full well that Rowen was wary of his "Celestial Dragons" status, which is why he let him go. Now that both sides had torn their relationship apart, Rowen no longer had any protection. Orrick could easily challenge the Marines in the name of "harming Celestial Dragons" and "provoking World Nobles", demanding strict punishment.
That was certainly not what Rowen wanted, so he let him go.
But the frightening thing about Rowen lay here!
He appeared to have a bottom line and be rational, but in reality, he had no patience whatsoever.
Lirisk, vouching for his own dignity, decided to stay here and wear down Rowen's patience. His fate was sealed!
After all, in Alabasta, where the sky was high and the Emperor was far away, there was simply no one who could stop Rowen from rising up and causing trouble.
Silently watching Lirisk walk away, Rowen closed his eyes.
But fortunately...
His goal was never something that could be satisfied by just "being a good Marine."
The living Nibelung Family was more valuable than being dead.
"It's time to push forward with the extinction plan for the Celestial Dragons..."
Rowen muttered to himself.
Rowen closed his eyes to hide the uncontrollable raging fury in his eyes.
"Vice Admiral Soryu."
At this moment, a miner approached, trembling, and said, "According to your treasure map, we've found the treasure trove."
"Oh?"
Turning calmly, Rowen collected his scattered thoughts and asked, "Then bring the stuff out... You're not suggesting I do it myself, are you?"
"Well... We're extremely sorry!"
The lead worker knelt down, sweat pouring down, "We just can't push open that stone door. We thought about using explosives, but we're afraid of damaging the treasures inside."
"A stone door?"
Rowen raised an eyebrow, looking up.
Sure enough, not far below the cliff, in the excavated pit, stood a huge stone door, ten meters high and of unknown thickness.
Exhausted workers lay scattered in the depths of the mine, their lips turning white.
"It's not just treasure, but a relic?"
A gleam flashed in Rowen's eyes, piquing his interest.
(End of this chapter)