If Sengoku doesn't pull back his net soon, I'll become the Pirate King!

Chapter 261 Rift

Chapter 261 Rift

"Hello!!"

The door was kicked open with force!

Shiki the Golden Lion's angry, twisted face was revealed.

"What are you doing?!"

"You're a pirate, a great pirate who can stand shoulder to shoulder with me!"

"Why bother doing that kind of thing? Do you know what those scumbags say about you?!"

Bazel, who was resting inside the house, put down his teacup and waved to Espagu and Kokoro.

After solidifying the sea with his awakened golden power, Bazel remembered Tom's request.

The matter concerning the water gods had just concluded, and he had no intention of setting sail immediately.

After thinking it over, they decided to secretly move to Shipwreck Island to visit Tom's students and friends.

Bazel remained indifferent as Shiki barged into his house and grabbed his collar.

"So, Shiki, is this your kind of spirit?"

"You only get angry over trivial things; do those people's opinions make you angry?"

Shiki's eyes widened, his expression still one of extreme anger.

"I'm asking you why you tried to stop the water gods!"

"You're a pirate, pirates should stick to pirate stuff!!!"

Bazel chuckled softly, his gaze toward Shiki becoming more intriguing.

"Pirates are the freest, Shiki."

"Since it's the freest thing to do, why should I care what I do?"

"Don't even mention saving Water Seven today. Even if I open an orphanage tomorrow, it's none of your business."

After staring at the man for a long time, Shiki suddenly let go and slowly backed away.

"I misjudged you, Bazel. A disgusting bastard like you doesn't deserve to be my companion."

"Hypocritical, disgusting! Someone like you doesn't deserve to be my companion!!"

"Boss Bazel isn't that kind of person!"

Perhaps it was because the two consecutive "unworthy" sounds were too unpleasant to hear, that the still young Espagu suddenly spoke up at this moment.

"He's the great hero who saved Water Seven. Not all pirates are bad, at least our leader isn't!"

Shiki glanced at the speaker: "Kid, you're saying he's a good guy?"

"Do you know how many people he killed? The number of people who died at his hands is equivalent to half of Water Seven!"

Bazel didn't argue; he had indeed killed quite a few pirates, and there would only be more in the future.

This is a fact.

And it's not something shameful.

I picked up the teacup and took a sip of the inferior tea that had no aftertaste whatsoever.

"I'm different from you, Shiki."

"Although I also like to do things my way, at least my way is based on human touch, unlike your way."

"You're just doing whatever you want."

"

Shi Ji stood near the door frame, the sunlight casting a golden outline on his body.

"I'm stronger than them, so they deserve to have their lives and deaths controlled by me."

"This is the law of the world, Bazel."

"Back then, Rocks was stronger than me, so he could decide my fate. It's the same principle."

"I don't deny what you said, Shiki, but..."

I took another sip of tea.

Those who only dare to wield their swords against the weak will never reach the top.

"I'm different, Shiki. Since I set sail, every punch I've thrown has been aimed at an enemy stronger than myself."

"You, Rayleigh, Roger, Whitebeard, and this sea—"

"I know I couldn't beat you back then, but being unable to beat you is one thing, daring to fight is another."

"They don't believe I can defeat the water gods, but I'm going to prove them wrong!"

Bazel put down his teacup and slowly stood up, his two-meter-tall figure exuding a sense of oppression even stronger than that of a giant.

"If one day there are no more guys in this world worth my challenge, Shiki."

"I will definitely stand in a place where no one can find me, and quietly watch the rise of a new era."

"After that, the era of Bazel will become an unsurpassable legend."

"This is the ending I've planned for my own life. How about it? Isn't it cool?"

"—You're a madman."

Shiki left the house, taking one last look at Bazel.

"I've figured it out now, you're the real lunatic."

"He's a man even crazier than Lao Tzu and Roger, Bazel. We're not on the same path, and we're destined never to be together."

"Next time."

"Let's settle this at our next meeting; the loser loses everything."

"The winner takes all," Bazel continued. "Get out of here, Skeeter. Next time we meet, let's settle this with the Davy Backfight."

Shiki said nothing more and flew into the sky with the faintly glowing piece of wood beside him.

Kokoro breathed a sigh of relief once Shiki's figure disappeared.

"I thought you guys were going to fight."

"Shiki won't make a move here."

Bazel opened the window and leaned on the windowsill to look at the azure sky outside.

"He knew that what had just happened had been broadcast live to the whole world."

"If I stay here any longer, the World Government and the Navy will only find an opportunity, so I can't stay any longer."

"Espago, Kokoro, are you two sure you're not coming with me?"

"Tom probably won't be able to come back anytime soon."

Kokoro and Espagu exchanged a glance. "We're not going. We'll wait here for Tom to come back, right, Espagu?"

"That's right!" Young Espagu nodded vigorously. "When Mr. Tom returns, I want to continue learning shipbuilding from him!"

"I see. That's a real shame."

Bazel asked Espagu for paper and pen and wrote down his Den Den Mushi number on them.

"If you encounter any problems that you can't solve in the future, contact me and I will come to your aid as soon as possible."

"If it's too late, I'll have a friend come over to help you."

"Then I'll take my leave now."

Stepping out of the door that Shiki had left open, Bazel transformed into Yamata no Orochi and flew toward the golden eyes hidden in the clouds.

"You must come back, Boss Bazel~~~"

Aisbagu rushed out of the house, waving and shouting at the departing Yamata no Orochi.

"Next time!"

"We'll definitely treat you well next time!"

Inside the Golden Eyes—

Loki, who had returned early with the Shandians, was lying on the ground, carefully playing with a hero doll.

"Brother, welcome back. These things were given to you by everyone in Water Seven."

1

Bazel sat down next to Loki and casually picked up a bottle cap that looked brand new.

Loki immediately began to explain the origins and donors of these items.

"That old man insisted that you go to Water Seven again. He said he would beg well and then treat you to a meal of Water Meat."

"I never expected that doing good deeds would be rewarded."

Bazel chuckled self-deprecatingly, shifting his gaze from the pile of gifts to the Shandians beside him who were sorting through the voyage supplies.

"What are they doing?"

"The Shandians have never seen those things before and are trying to compare them with items from their memories."

Loki continued to play with the seemingly low-quality hero doll.

"Oh, right!!"

Setting down the doll, Loki called out to the three inconspicuous figures kneeling in the corner, "Hey, you kids, stop standing there and come over here to thank my big brother!"

"This is a life-saving favor, you better thank me properly, otherwise I'll definitely beat your asses to a pulp!!"

"Yes, Boss Loki!"

The three giant imps bowed to Bazel in a very proper manner to express their gratitude.

Although the words of thanks were rather dry, Bazel could still feel the gratitude of the three men.

"Speaking of which, how did you end up being captured by a human slave group?"

The giant imp who was the leader of the three was named Val, and he had short, golden hair that reached his shoulders.

The ends of the hair are slightly curled.

"The three of us went on an adventure outside Elbaf—"

bang~

"pain!"

Loki, expressionless, retracted his fist: "Tell the truth."

With his hands pressed against the large bump on his head, Val blushed and whispered, "I...we actually ran away from home. We originally planned to go to the underworld to hide for a few days, to make our parents worry for a few days, and then go back."

"We never expected to run into a group of human slaves who had sneaked in, and then we were defeated by them and captured and brought to this place."

After hearing the reason why the giant brat was captured, Bazel was both amused and exasperated.

So it turns out that this was entirely their own doing.

He said, "How dare the human slave group sneak into the mortal realm and kidnap the giant imp?"

"What about capturing their slave groups?"

"I killed him, and I threw the body into the sea. It's probably been frozen in some wave by your ability, brother."

After a brief pause, Loki's expression suddenly became somewhat strange.

"Big brother,"

"Did you really turn the ocean into gold?"

Bazel reached out and tapped Loki's forehead lightly as he leaned in. "How could that be, you idiot? You were only temporarily turned into gold, just like ice."

"The ocean will return to normal after a while."

Immediately afterwards, Bazel told Loki about the new ability he named "Beast King".

"This condition is really demanding, but once it's achieved, it will be an incredibly powerful ability!"

"The awakening of the Golden Power sounds amazing!!"

"That's a very good ability."

Bazel acknowledged Loki's praise and looked at Nora, who was fast asleep again.

Once the fusion was broken, Nora took several deep breaths and, unusually, fell into a deep sleep.

"Loki, let's set sail. The fishmen are still waiting for us."

Several days after the Water Seven incident—

The Grand Line, Marineford, Marine Headquarters

dong dong——

"Enter!"

The gate, bearing the plaque of "Marshal," was pushed open from the outside.

Borsalino, wearing sunglasses, slowly walked into the room.

"Oh my god, I'm just going to take up my post, why are so many superiors seeing me off?"

"Stop talking nonsense and come sit over here!"

Zephyr crossed his arms and, with a stern face, made Borsalino sit next to him.

Borsalino's eyes flickered behind his sunglasses. He didn't say much and sat obediently next to his teacher.

"Marshal, I suggest that the matter concerning Water Seven be put on hold."

Borsalino's expression turned very strange as he watched Zeffa, who was unusually involved in government affairs.

How long has it been since Professor Zephyr stepped into the main building?

"What Bazel did was something even our navy couldn't do; there's no need to increase his bounty!"

Increase the bounty on Barzel?

Borsalino frowned slightly: "Something's not right, Marshal. Bazel didn't just destroy a country and kill people; he's the great hero who saved Water Seven."

"Why increase his bounty? That's strange."

Sitting behind his desk, Kong looked at the teachers and students who were unusually friendly.

"The bounty must be increased. Bazel's strength that day was remarkable, and coupled with the death of a Celestial Dragon, if the Navy and the World Government do not take action, it will only arouse suspicion."

"There's something even more important."

"Warring States Period, you explain this matter."

Sengoku, sitting on the other side, coughed lightly: "Zefa, you must remain calm after I tell you this."

"I have been designated as the sole candidate for the next Admiral of the Navy."

Zefa looked strange: "What does this have to do with me? If you want to be the marshal, then be the marshal. Do you think I'm going to steal your position?"

"——"

Sengoku, Sora, and Tsuru exchanged a glance and swallowed.

"I intend to..."

"After becoming Fleet Admiral, he thoroughly implemented a plan called the Seven Warlords of the Sea, aimed at winning over pirates to fight against pirates —"

boom--!

The teacup shattered, and Zephyr stared intently at Sengoku, his expression gradually fading.

"What did you just say?"