Sakazuki let out a light chuckle. "Maybe."
Carlo looked puzzled. "You don't know either?"
His expression remained calm as he replied, "I'm no saint. How could I know everything? And freeing the world is just a byproduct of the final victory. There's no need to rush. I can wait until everything is over to settle the score. But Dragon is different. His goal is to liberate the entire world. With ideals like his, it's hard to say if he can tolerate even a grain of sand in his eyes.
"If we try to resolve this now, the consequences will be troublesome. It won't only trigger serious internal turmoil, it might even push us backward. But if we leave it unresolved… the very existence of the Revolutionary Army might become uncertain.
"So… send someone to slowly gather evidence. The more people involved, the better. If he chooses to tolerate it for now, that's even better. The initiative will be in our hands. When the time is right, we'll expose everything and force him to deal with it. Let the whole situation descend into chaos."
Carlo drew in a sharp breath. "People who play politics really have dirty hearts..."
Sakazuki's voice softened, though his eyes grew colder. "Dirty? It's just a means to achieve the ultimate victory. When you abandon all emotion and maintain absolute rationality, nothing in this world can stop you from reaching your goal.
"Good and evil are trivial. Once you set a goal, you must see it through without the slightest hesitation. Everything I do is built upon countless sacrifices. Victory doesn't come from just words alone. Even if the whole world denies me, so what? Without useless emotions, no one can make me stop. In the end, I'll be the one who wins.
"People… only get one chance to live in this world. You have to leave something behind. A world controlled by those so-called Celestial Dragons is the most absurd joke of all. Since it's a joke, I'll burn them all to ashes with magma.
"I don't know what the world will look like in a hundred years. I don't know how people will judge me. But I'm sure of one thing. Even a thousand years from now, there will still be traces proving that I was here."
* * *
New World, Bitter Island.
The island got its name because, for some unknown reason, all its plants and fruits taste bitter. Though the flavor is unpleasant, sampling and analysis revealed that the nutritional value is remarkably high. Over time, this unique flavor and health benefit turned the island's produce into a popular commodity throughout the New World.
The island lies within the territory of Kaido, one of the Three Emperors, and is financially prosperous. It's one of the islands that pays the most tribute to him every year.
At the harbor of Bitter Island.
Boom!
A burly figure flew through the air, his chest dented with a deep fist mark. The black coating of Armament Haki disappeared as his body went limp, crashing unconscious to the ground.
The nearby vendors stared in shock at the Red Hair Pirates.
"Oh no! Run! if Lord Kaido finds out, we're all dead!"
"Damn it! Those stupid pirates! How dare they cause trouble in Lord Kaido's territory?!"
"Hurry up, hide!"
Lucky Roux pulled back his fist with a grin and casually bit into the slab of meat in his hand, completely unfazed by the commotion he had caused.
Shanks pressed a hand to his forehead, exasperation written all over his face. "Ahhh! What a pain. I told you not to cause trouble."
Scratching his head, Lucky Roux laughed sheepishly.
Beckman, cigarette dangling from his lips, spoke through a faint cloud of smoke. "He started it anyway."
Shanks sighed. "Ah, really. We just entered the New World and we've already gotten ourselves into big trouble. One of the Three Emperors, no less."
Beckman crossed his arms and smirked. "I don't see any fear on your face."
Shanks grinned widely. "You caught me. Dahaha!"
Up on the ship, Yasopp leaned on the railing with both elbows. He suddenly looked up at the sky and shouted toward Shanks. "Hey! Boss! The big guy's here!"
The crew followed his gaze upward. Those with powerful Observation Haki had already sensed the overwhelming presence after he pointed it out.
The expressions of the people on the shore changed.
"Hey, hey… he's dropping from that height."
"Is he not going to slow down?"
"Don't just stand there and keep staring! What are you waiting for?!"
Swish!
The sharp sound of air splitting echoed as they vanished from their spots. In their perception, the beast's landing point was exactly where they had just stood.
Boom!
The ground shook violently as a massive crater, tens of meters wide, appeared near the harbor. Dust and debris billowed into the air.
A huge hand gripped the edge, and a towering figure over seven meters tall, with horns on his head, pulled himself out, shaking his head. "Still not dead… what a pain..."
Boom!
A wave of Conqueror's Haki burst outward, pressing down on everyone around, focusing especially on the Red Hair Pirates.
Shanks' lips curled. "Trying to intimidate us, huh? Such an old-fashioned trick..."
Boom!
An equally terrifying wave of Haki surged back in response.
Kaido's grin twisted into a feral sneer as he locked eyes on Shanks. The man didn't back down, meeting his gaze without flinching.
As the standoff stretched, Kaido's smile gradually faded. The murderous intent inside him grew stronger. 'He's still too young,' he thought.
Shanks' Haki was still slightly weaker than his, but Kaido had spent two extra decades honing his strength on the seas.
His eyes swept across the crew. Every single one of them had a strong presence. A tinge of regret flashed through him. He should've brought more men. He had underestimated them.
Boom!
The clash between their Haki intensified until the air itself cracked like thunder, then finally calmed. Only strands of black and red energy lingered in the air, proof of what had just happened.
Shanks was the first to break the silence. "As expected of Kaido of the Beasts, one of the Three Emperors. Your reputation is well deserved."
Kaido narrowed his eyes. "To think that little brat from Roger's crew has grown this much. Impressive..."
Shanks laughed at that. "Oh, it's all thanks to Captain Roger's teachings."
Kaido snorted softly. "Roger..."
His eyes shifted toward the unconscious subordinate lying in the distance. "Kid, you came to my island and caused trouble. Don't you think some compensation is in order?"
Shanks' smile slowly faded. "Oh? And what kind of compensation are you looking for?"
**
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