As the Minks wiped out all of the Eight-Treasure Water Army and cleared the battlefield, Nicholas approached Hitsugisukan .
"You must have realized by now that we are not members of the Kozuki Family, right?"
"Is it really that important whether you're from the Kozuki Family or not? Since you've managed to reach here and even mentioned the relationship between the Kozuki and the Minks, it means you already know that thing is in Zou. Moreover..."
Hitsugisukan 's gaze turned towards where the Sea sovereign that was parked as he chuckled, "Those hermits who've isolated themselves for hundreds of years can't produce something like that, can they? And, most importantly, you're quite powerful, strong enough that all the warriors of the Furry Kingdom combined may not be your match. So, is it necessary to sacrifice lives needlessly?
I am the king elected by all the citizens of the Furry Kingdom. As a king, I am responsible to all my citizens!
Moreover, that thing only becomes useful when all four pieces are gathered, right? Since the Kozuki couldn't even hold onto the piece they had, why should we sacrifice the lives of our citizens? Although I also look forward to seeing the dawn of the world, it's only meaningful if all the citizens of the Furry Kingdom witness it together."
Upon hearing the words of Hitsugisukan , Nicholas fell silent, acknowledging that compared to his successor, Inurashi "Dog Hurricane" and Nekomamushi "Cat Viper", this one was a qualified king.
"Don't worry, once we obtain the true historical texts, we'll leave."
For Nicholas, there were two pieces of historical texts he could acquire now: one from the Whale Forest in Zou, and the other from the current Undersea Dragon Palace. As for the one from Wano Country, it was only a matter of time, but the trickier one was the piece in Big Mom's possession, as Nicholas wasn't sure when she had obtained it.
"Thank you, sir."
...
In an unknown sea area, thousands of meters above the sky.
Islands floated in the air, surrounded by clouds, exuding a unique charm under the sunlight.
It was a scene that ordinary people would find hard to imagine, gigantic islands floating thousands of meters above the ground.
At the center of the most prominent medium-sized island stood a magnificent group of buildings.
"Damn it, how is this possible? How could Roger...!"
Inside the palace, numerous prominent pirates sat cross-legged on the ground, and at the top sat a man with thick golden hair, resembling a lion's mane, staring at the intelligence in his hand, smashing the table beside him with a punch.
Yes, this man was Shiki, a great pirate who rivaled Gol D. Roger and Edward Newgate, known as the Golden Lion.
A man who dominated the skies.
"This can't be true."
Looking at the intelligence in his hand, veins popped on Shiki's forehead.
"Captain, what's happening?"
Pirates below couldn't help but ask, seeing Shiki's rage.
After all, not long ago, Shiki had started sending people to secretly gather certain information after receiving a mysterious call.
And what he held in his hand now was the intelligence that had been returned.
"Is it true? I will confirm it myself! Everyone, prepare to set sail, find me Roger's location!"
Tearing up the intelligence in his hand, Shiki's face was filled with anger, and his eyes were full of ferocity, his golden hair even fluttering without any wind, indicating his extreme rage.
...
On the sea surface, gunfire roared, and the pungent smell of gunpowder made it hard to breathe.
"The deck's been hit, repair it quickly!"
"Counterattack, counterattack now!"
"Damn it, is that guy Shiki out of his mind!?"
"That guy has always been crazy!"
"Gaban, go watch the stern, don't let those guys steal from our behind!"
"Shanks, take Buggy and get into the cabin. We don't have time to look after you in this level of battle!"
"Hahaha, all hands of the Flying Fleet, mobilize! Shiki really knows how to make a grand move! Divine departure!"
The voices resounded on the deck of the Oro Jackson, almost entirely filled with pirates under Shiki's banner.
This was a large-scale fleet, with a total of fifty to sixty ships of various sizes, all angrily pouring their firepower towards the central Oro Jackson, but facing the overwhelming elites of the Roger Pirates, their attacks were almost ineffective. Since the start of the battle, they had already lost several ships.
"Captain, the Roger Pirates' defense is too strong, we can't break through!"
Anxious voices echoed from one of the ships in the middle.
"Continue the attack, that guy Roger must die in my hands! Let him submit!"
A man with lion-like golden hair, sitting in the middle of the deck, looked at the distant battlefield like a general, exuding an aura of majesty and dominance.
"Yes, sir!"
The pirates gritted their teeth and responded loudly, but they felt helpless.
The Roger Pirates were not ordinary enemies. Even their ordinary crew members were enough to match the captains on their ships.
To break through their defense line and launch an attack was an extremely difficult task.
They also had to beware of the counterattacks from the Roger Pirates at any time. However, Shiki had long established his authority in the Flying Fleet, and they had no choice but to obey.
Sweeping his gaze over the battlefield ahead, watching the cannonballs falling into the sea, causing waves, and the burning and sinking ships, Shiki's face was dignified, his eyes full of anger.
Originally, on the sea, there was a tripartite balance between Whitebeard, Roger, and him. The three of them propped up this entire era.
Nicholas, Charlotte Linlin, and even the emerging Beast pirates were not enough to compete with the three of them in his eyes.
But gradually, Shiki realized that Whitebeard's goal was just to turn his pirate crew into a big family, without any ambition to dominate, and the same went for Roger, who just wanted to explore the undiscovered things on the sea, similarly lacking any ambition to dominate.
Looking at it this way, his ambition to see the birth of the king of the sea among the three of them seemed foolish.
Moreover, the person he had considered his lifelong enemy, Roger, was actually on his deathbed, which made Shiki even more furious.
If he didn't defeat Roger and Whitebeard, then even if he became the king of the sea, he would feel like it was something bestowed upon him by others.
"Roger! I will definitely defeat you with my own hands! Make you submit!"
With a deep voice echoing, Shiki's presence surged, rushing towards the sea ahead, and for a moment, the wind and clouds changed, ripples appeared in the space, and the sea surged with monstrous waves.
The Flying Fleet pirates all widened their eyes, shocked by this powerful presence, their minds trembling.
"Hahaha, Shiki, haven't you woken up yet!?"
With laughter echoing, four equally powerful auras emanated from the Oro Jackson.
"Hey, Buggy, wake up!"
Feeling the overwhelming will outside the cabin, Shanks sweated profusely, trying to wake up his comrade, who was rolling his eyes and fainting with a white nose, inside.