"I am just here for a visit, so there was no need to bother the ruler of Qin's Nation." Sengoku's gaze was heavy as he spoke in a low voice.
He scanned both sides, and finding no one else, he felt a slight relief.
"Since you've come, why not stay in Qin's Nation for a while? It would give me the chance to show a little hospitality." Qin Yi's eyes held a faint smile as he spoke softly.
Behind him, the Three Generals looked serious. Uchiha Madara's expression was cold, and Crocodile watched them quietly with a hint of mockery.
"You want to keep us here? That's rather arrogant of you, Ying Zheng!!" Sengoku's expression darkened instantly, his voice thundering.
"Sengoku San, you worry too much. Honestly, whether you came to rescue Aokiji or he was delivered to me, I don't have much interest either way. Starting a war with everyone present here is not my intention either. In truth, both sides are well aware that even if we desired war, now is not the right time." Qin Yi's calm voice made Sengoku's pupils contract.
A heavy weight settled in their hearts. This man's cunning and strategy surpassed anything they could have imagined. Every step he took seemed planned, deliberate, leaving the Marines trapped, restrained, unable to act freely.
For the first time, Sengoku realized that the Marines could also feel helpless in certain situations.
"Then what exactly do you want?"
Qin Yi smiled, raising his right hand and pointing toward Aokiji.
"Admiral Aokiji, consider him a gift from me. Today, I will not stop you; you may leave here. But I have one condition."
Hearing this, Sengoku's gaze sharpened. This ambitious king's condition was certainly not going to be simple.
"You really think you can just keep us here?" Sengoku shouted, his entire body glowing with golden light.
The Marines behind him braced themselves, ready for battle. On the other side, Qin Yi, standing at the very front of the warship's deck, darkened instantly in expression.
"If I wanted to keep you, there would be no way you could leave!"
With a sudden sweep of his right hand, he seemed to issue some kind of command.
The next moment, Sengoku and the others' faces changed drastically. They saw that from all directions along the horizon, countless dark spots had appeared. Having sailed the seas for a long time, they knew exactly what these dots meant.
"You actually gathered a large-scale army to block us!" Sengoku's voice was low and grim. His expression was extremely unpleasant.
Qin Yi's group of experts, combined with a large elite army and mysterious weapons, had now created a situation that was far from favorable for them.
"I only wish to talk with you, Sengoku!" Qin Yi said indifferently.
"Discuss the conditions, and then you are free to leave."
Sengoku's eyes narrowed. After a moment of thought, he nodded and said in a low voice, "Then I will talk with you but if you go too far, don't even think about it!"
Qin Yi smiled faintly and took a step forward.
"Boom!"
In an instant, a series of electric sparks accompanied by thunderclaps erupted. In the blink of an eye, Qin Yi emerged from the lightning, appearing right before their eyes.
"W-What is this?!"
The Marines who could recognize it froze in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"The Goro-Goro no Mi… the Rumble-Rumble Fruit! The strongest Logia ability in existence!"
Sengoku's expression turned grave, every muscle tensed.
Even Aokiji's eyes darkened to the extreme. He knew perfectly well that the last time they had clashed, this man had not yet possessed such a fearsome power.
"Then, let's talk!"
Qin Yi's eyes flicked over the tense, wary Marines before him. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he calmly seated himself cross-legged on the deck, utterly unconcerned about the possibility of a sudden assault.
Facing Qin Yi's audacious presence and terrifying composure, the Marines felt a weight settle on their hearts. Only Garp laughed heartily, shaking his head as he, too, sat down.
"Step back. Let me hear what he has to say." Sengoku raised a hand, his gaze fixed sharply on Qin Yi, and slowly took a seat.
The three Admirals and Vice-Admirals exchanged cautious glances and, with wariness in their eyes, fell back slightly, keeping the entire scene in sight.
"Aokiji and your people leave unharmed, consider this my gift to the Marines," Qin Yi said with a calm smile. "It is my way of extending Qin's Nation's goodwill toward the Marines and the World Government."
"Goodwill?" Sengoku let out a cold, derisive laugh.
"You occupy the Grand Line, expand your territory at will, and seek to unify the world… How exactly is that showing goodwill and Justice, Ying Zheng?!"
Qin Yi's smile did not waver at all.
"Heh… Justice? Is it the World Government's, or the Marines'? Perhaps even you, Sengoku San, aren't entirely certain, are you?"
Sengoku's expression faltered, his face darkening.
Once, he had truly believed the Marines embodied justice. But with age came the exposure to darkness and corruption within the world, and doubts had crept in. Yet what choice did one have? To survive in this world often meant swallowing one's frustrations, staying true to one's position, and accepting the compromises that came with it.
Now, faced with Qin Yi's challenge, he had no answer.
"In my eyes, true justice is ensuring that people live in peace, avoiding unnecessary wars, allowing them to think freely, pursue their dreams, and live in a society where everyone is equal," Qin Yi continued, his voice steady and commanding.
"That is why I do all of this. Within my domain, I can guarantee my people peace, freedom to do as they wish, and even the liberty to speak against me without fear of retribution. In my nation, there are no Tenryuubito above all others, no discrimination between races. Officials and citizens coexist harmoniously, and no one hides in fear from another."
"Sengoku San, with all the spies you planted within my territory, surely you've seen this firsthand?"
Sengoku's face darkened further, and he could not deny it. Everything Qin Yi had said was true. Even when presented with reports of such things, it had seemed impossible. How could history's countless entrenched problems be so easily overcome? Yet here it existed, in Qin's Nation, almost unnaturally perfect.
Garp's jaw dropped, his voice trembling with disbelief. "Sengoku… all of this… it's real?"
Sengoku remained silent.
"I would never lie, Vice-Admiral Garp," Qin Yi said, smiling faintly.
"What I pursue is a world of true justice and freedom. Compared to the selfishness of the World Government and the blind loyalty of the Marines, I cannot help but feel a sense of intellectual superiority."
His words cut like a blade, and Sengoku's face tightened with anger.
"You--"
"Enough. If I speak further, Sengoku San might erupt in anger," Qin Yi said smoothly. "Let us get straight to the point."
With a single sharp gesture, his gaze turned icy. He drew the ancient sword from his back and planted it squarely between them.
"I demand that the Marines and the World Government officially recognize Qin's Nation! Furthermore, we shall claim a seat at the World Assembly! These… are the conditions under which Qin's Nation meets with you today."
Sengoku's jaw nearly hit the deck. The brevity and audacity of Qin Yi's declaration left him stunned, and then utterly alarmed.
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395