Chapter 681: SFDI - 681
The Red Hair Pirates’ lineup could be considered quite luxurious; all these executives were top powerhouses on the sea.
And the strongest, of course, was their captain, Shanks.
Shanks originated from the Roger Pirates, having grown up alongside the Pirate King. At the same time, he is the most mysterious and complex of the Four Emperors.
He is suspected to be a Celestial Dragon rescued by Roger during the God Valley Incident and still has ties to the World Government.
Later, he was entrusted with a secret and a mission by Roger, maintaining the stability of the sea while awaiting the arrival of the "New Era."
Therefore, his stance and motives are bound to raise suspicion. Regardless, Shanks is one of the few people in this world Drake is unwilling to deal with.
Even though his expressed ideals are quite admirable, interacting with someone like him is simply too exhausting.
But setting aside other factors, Shanks’s strength is undeniable.
Keep in mind that Shanks became an Emperor of the Sea after losing an arm. He is not a user of any powerful Devil Fruit; he relies on the sea’s top-tier Haki and swordsmanship.
Therefore, Shanks’s statement, "Only Haki reigns supreme," seems more convincing than Kaido’s, who ate a top-tier Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.
It is for this reason that his words, "Give me some face," were taken seriously.
Akainu snorted coldly: "Just a pirate, don’t think you can be arrogant just because a bunch of fools call you an Emperor of the Sea. Our Navy’s business is not for you to interfere with."
Although Drake remained silent, he didn’t seem swayed by the "Face-Saving Fruit."
It was a joke; how could a fight initiated by Fairy Tail stop just because of some inexplicable person?
Shanks gave a wry smile. Among the Navy, Akainu was the one he least wanted to encounter.
Akainu was notoriously extreme, leaving no room for negotiation. On the other hand, although Drake was meeting him for the first time, he could sense that he was a person of strong will, making him difficult to persuade.
Shanks said calmly: "Akainu, look around! If the battle continues, which side do you think will lose?
Imagine the consequences yourself!"
Akainu turned his head and looked. Most of the Navy Vice Admirals were in disarray, and some had even fallen.
And his secret weapons, Fujitora and Ryokugyu, though their combat strength remained intact, had not managed to turn the tide.
Most importantly, his own situation was not good. The place where Drake had hit him earlier ached severely, clearly indicating a serious injury.
If the battle continued, even if he sacrificed his life, the chance of victory would be slim.
Seeing Akainu hesitate, Shanks struck while the iron was hot: "Of course, I’m only offering advice. Whether to stop here or not is entirely your decision.
However, if you wish to continue, then consider us opponents as well!"
With that, Shanks unleashed his terrifying Haoshoku Haki again, demonstrating that he wasn’t just talking.
Akainu’s expression turned even more grim. Being threatened by a pirate like this was a profound humiliation.
He adhered to absolute justice; Shanks’s threat only strengthened his resolve to fight to the last drop of blood.
Just as he was about to give the order, Fujitora descended from the sky and landed beside him.
All the Red Hair Pirates moved instantly, forming a formation that surrounded Akainu and Fujitora.
Fujitora paid them no mind, instead raising his staff sword to block Akainu, who was about to advance, and said: "Admiral Akainu, please calm down!"
Akainu asked: "Fujitora, what are you doing?"
Fujitora replied: "I’m merely asking you, as the commanding officer, to consider whether this battle should continue.
If we lose here, justice and the Navy will truly lose all face!"
Akainu glared at Fujitora, gnashing his teeth, while Fujitora met his gaze unflinchingly.
Ryokugyu also walked over and said: "Admiral Akainu, I will follow your orders. As long as you command it, I will continue to fight, even if it costs me my life!"
Unlike Fujitora, Ryokugyu clearly expressed his support for Akainu. However, his support paradoxically calmed Akainu down.
Clenching his fists, Akainu said: "We... retreat!"
Shanks loosened his grip on his renowned sword Gryphon, a smile appearing on his face.
But just then, Drake spoke: "Did you perhaps overlook my opinion! You want to end the fight? Have you asked us?"
Saying this, Drake looked at Shanks, his vertical pupils filled with burning fighting spirit.
"Why should I stop and let victory slip through my fingers? Threatening us... Fine then, what if we have the Red Hair Pirates as an additional opponent!"
All the members of Fairy Tail gathered behind Drake, confronting the members of the Red Hair Pirates.
Shanks gave a wry smile and retracted his Haki, saying: "You will likely accept my suggestion because you are not a madman like Kaido.
I can sense how much you value your companions, so you wouldn’t lead them into a meaningless death match!"
"Tch!"
Drake clicked his tongue and simultaneously reverted from his dragon form to human.
Admittedly, Shanks was right. Including Drake, everyone in Fairy Tail, while eager to fight strong enemies, were not bloodthirsty lunatics.
As mages, everyone’s magic power stems from the strength of their heart. Meaningless battles cannot unleash their full power.
Under Akainu’s leadership, all the Navy personnel boarded the intact warships and began to retreat.
The balance of power shifted from three sides to a two-sided confrontation, and the atmosphere immediately became tense.
Although it had been decided that Drake’s side would not continue the fight, facing the Red Hair Pirates who had interrupted the battle, it was strange if they didn’t react favorably.
Shanks seemed oblivious to the awkward atmosphere, smiling as he sat on the ground opposite Drake.
Drake also sat on the ground, meeting Shanks’s gaze.
Shanks produced two sake cups from somewhere, placed them between them, and then took out a bottle of sake from under his cloak.
After filling the cups, Shanks picked up one of them and said: "Let this cup be a thank you for giving me face!"
With that, Shanks heartily drank the sake in the cup.
Drake, however, was not in the mood to share a drink with him. He said: "I know you’ve been looking for me, so let’s get straight to the point. What exactly do you want?"
Shanks put down the empty cup and said: "You’re a straightforward person, so I won’t beat around the bush.
Since your appearance, you’ve already influenced too many things. This world has been waiting for a new era for too long.
No matter who it is, I won’t let them interfere with the arrival of the new era!"
Drake raised his hand to interrupt: "Enough, we’ve said enough!
I’ve met arrogant and conceited guys like you before. I’m not in the mood to waste words with you. You can rest assured, I have absolutely no interest in your new era, nor do I care about how this world will develop.
So you don’t need to worry about us disrupting your plans! But I must also warn you, this is the only time you’ll interfere in our affairs."
With that, Drake raised his cup in a gesture, then drank it down in one gulp. After putting down the cup, Drake stood up and led his companions away.
Shanks looked up at Beckman, pointed at himself, and asked: "Am I truly arrogant and conceited?"
Beckman glanced at his captain sideways, saying nothing, yet conveying a great deal.
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