"Mister Silas, is it alright to directly kill a Celestial Dragon like this?"
The Celestial Dragon's death caused massive commotion in the auction house.
Kozuki Toki looked at Silas with some concern.
In her view, if the Celestial Dragon had not made lewd remarks about her at the end, Silas would not have struck so severely.
"Haha, it is just one Celestial Dragon."
Silas looked at Saint Rosward's headless corpse and laughed heartily. If he did not even dare act against one Celestial Dragon, how could he oppose the World Government?
Moreover, killing the Celestial Dragon was not without reward.
Sea Circle Calendar 1483, you clashed with a Celestial Dragon over Marine Vice Admiral Tsuru. As a pirate, you showed no fear, beheading the Celestial Dragon with one strike, shocking the world.
For this, the World Government was furious, dispatching Marine Admiral Kong, current Marine instructor and former Admiral Ortega Siven, Marine Vice Admiral Garp, and Marine Vice Admiral Sengoku to capture you.
This battle is destined to shake the world!
Silas glanced toward Tsuru, still in the center of the venue. He wondered if Garp and Sengoku had changed since she was taken captive as a slave.
But seeing the system message, Silas immediately dismissed unnecessary thoughts.
It seemed Garp and Sengoku had already joined the Marines.
However, since Tsuru was only seventeen, Garp and Sengoku should be similar ages.
If they truly became Marine Vice Admirals in twenty years, Silas might abandon this operation.
But now, could Garp and Sengoku together even match one of Newgate's hands?
His White Wolf Pirates were not like the Marines.
They spared no effort cultivating talented crew members.
While Sengoku and Garp, without opportunities, just learning the Six Powers and Haki would require who knows how much time building experience.
"Captain, ready!"
A voice came from his pocket. "Buru buru buru." Silas pulled out a tiny Den Den Mushi showing Rocks's unruly expression.
"We have confirmed the enslaved giants' locations and found keys to free them. Acropolis Port is also ready."
This operation had the White Wolf Pirates splitting into several groups: Rocks and Newgate's team handling Sabaody Archipelago rescue, Lily and Stussy's team at Acropolis Port, and Ripley and Linlin's team contacting the Giant Warrior Pirates captains.
Two years ago, Silas definitely would not dare split forces like this.
But now was different.
Among the four newcomers on Sabaody Archipelago, even the weakest, Newgate, had strength approaching great pirates. Rocks, Ripley, and Linlin need not be mentioned.
Great pirates were powerhouses who could dominate regions even in the New World. Even among Marines, ordinary Headquarters Vice Admirals lacked great pirate-level strength. Only elite Vice Admirals could match great pirates.
In the future, great pirates would be equivalent to the Beast Pirates' All-Stars or Big Mom Pirates' Sweet Commanders, already high-ranking officers in Emperor crews.
The White Wolf Pirates' only current shortage might be top-tier fighters capable of battling Admiral-level opponents.
But this time, Rona and the two Giant Warrior Pirates captains filled that gap.
The current White Wolf Pirates were no less than any future Emperor crew!
After Rocks and others matured, Silas only needed to issue orders in many matters. With their strength, they could excellently complete his commands.
"Hey, Hernandez, what are you standing around for? Hurry and bring the keys! We have known each other so many years. You should understand what I want to do, right?"
Though Silas currently had no crew with him, did liberating slaves require his personal action?
Were there not plenty of people in the auction house?
Originally wanting to escape after letting Silas in, but with Silas watching, how could Hernandez possibly flee?
Hearing Silas's words, Hernandez could only show a smile uglier than crying.
"I will immediately free these slaves!"
Though he knew Silas came to wreck the place, he never imagined Silas would do so in front of Celestial Dragons.
And kill the Celestial Dragon too!
He knew that though Marine Admirals were the Marines' top combat power, they also held the status of Celestial Dragons' direct subordinates.
On Sabaody Archipelago, neither civilians nor pirates dared provoke Celestial Dragons.
Because attacking Celestial Dragons would summon Marine Admirals.
For ordinary pirate rookies, Marine Admirals were enemies they could not defeat no matter how hard they tried.
But was Silas a pirate rookie?
"Do not look so glum."
Silas smiled, patting Hernandez's shoulder.
"When Marine Admirals come, am I not still here?"
Really though, once Silas said this, Hernandez calmed down.
Right.
Silas killed the Celestial Dragon, not him.
Even if Marine Admirals came, they would definitely target Silas.
Would Silas fear Marine Admirals?
Though Hernandez did not know why Silas had been cheating these past two years, getting stronger with age, given his past achievements, he really was not afraid of Marine Admirals!
At least one or two Marine Admirals definitely could not handle Silas.
Hernandez calmed down.
But Tsuru and the Marine intelligence agent in the auction seats could not stay calm.
Silas killed a Celestial Dragon?
And it was for snatching their prepared spy, then killing the Celestial Dragon?
What a joke!
Imaginably, once this spread, even though Tsuru did not kill the Celestial Dragon, she would definitely face Celestial Dragon wrath.
If Celestial Dragons later learned Tsuru was their prepared spy, their advancement path would end there.
Even if the White Wolf Pirates were truly destroyed by their plan in the future, Celestial Dragons would not forget, and Tsuru could never reach high positions.
This strike from Silas directly severed Tsuru's future Marine Admiral dreams!
But with things this far, regret was too late.
Tsuru watched Silas approach her.
"You..."
"Do not move."
Silas reached for the collar around Tsuru's neck. Seeing his fingers exert force, Tsuru's heart raced, wanting to say the collar contained bombs that would explode if damaged.
But in just an instant, Tsuru's vision blurred.
The collar around her neck vanished, replaced by an explosion sound dozens of meters away.
"There."
Silas's voice whispered close to her ear.
"You are free now. But don't misunderstand—I didn't save you because we are both pirates. Rather, you are a newcomer who hasn't committed major crimes yet."
"Escape to the south. My ship is waiting there. I will continue liberating slaves like you and send them to Sphinx. The area will soon see battle; it's unsafe to remain."
"Once you reach Sphinx, decide your own path."
Liberating slaves isn't just about breaking chains—true freedom requires more.
If they simply freed the slaves without support, probably less than one-tenth would successfully escape. So Silas planned to transport the rescued to Sphinx.
Once there, each person could decide whether to return home or start a new life.
After speaking, Silas left the auction house with Kozuki Toki.
"Freedom, is it?"
After hearing Silas's words, Tsuru felt complicated.
She was not actually a slave, just disguised as one to infiltrate Silas's pirate crew.
But why did Celestial Dragons and member nation nobles, who should be protected by Marines, look at her with lust, while pirates, who should be captured, actually save her?
"Tsuru, are you alright?"
Another Marine intelligence agent disguised as a slave finally had people come to free him after hearing outside commotion.
But he never expected the auction house manager to bring workers to liberate them?
After hearing Silas killed a Celestial Dragon fighting over Tsuru, Garrett first felt terror.
Then wild joy.
The Celestial Dragon was dead. What's the point of worrying about future punishment?
He only needed to know Silas had clashed with the Celestial Dragon over Tsuru.
Though the Celestial Dragon died, Tsuru had definitely entered Silas's sight.
Tsuru's plan had succeeded perfectly.
Trading one Celestial Dragon's life for the White Wolf Pirates' destruction.
Should be quite profitable, right?
In Garrett's view, eliminating a vicious pirate crew like the White Wolf Pirates—how could it not require sacrifice?
He could sacrifice.
Tsuru could sacrifice.
Why could Celestial Dragons not sacrifice?
If this destroys the White Wolf Pirates, that dead Celestial Dragon's spirit should be comforted.
"I am fine."
Hearing Garrett's words, Tsuru shook her head.
"We part ways here. White Wolf Silas just saved me, letting me take their ship to Sphinx. From now on, it is my solo mission."
"That is good."
Garrett nodded. Tsuru could follow Silas to Sphinx, but his mission was just delivering Tsuru to another intelligence agent.
With Tsuru having a better infiltration method, he had successfully retired.
Of course, provided Tsuru did not die in the battle aftermath between Silas and the Admirals.
"Mister Silas."
"Mm?"
"Did you really want to bid on that female pirate earlier?"
"Hmm, wanted or did not want?"
Seeing Kozuki Toki's angry trend, Silas laughed heartily.
"Toki, do not overthink. I wanted to save that girl only because I saw her potential."
"Potential?"
"Hehe, this is an excellent seed the Marines personally delivered. If I do not accept, would I not waste their intentions?"
"You mean that girl is Marine?"
"Exactly."
Initially Silas only suspected, but after leaving the auction center and hearing Tsuru's conversation with others, though just simple exchanges, it was enough to confirm his guess.
"They are still too green!"
Powerful Observation Haki could even hear a person's thoughts. Though Silas could not do that, after gaining the Voice of All Things talent, hearing conversations of people he wanted to focus on across an auction house was no problem.
After all, Tsuru was just a seventeen-year-old girl. How could she be thorough in everything?
There were many things in this world she could not understand yet.
Moreover, Silas had suspected Tsuru's identity from the start.
Even if Tsuru got through this time, if she truly joined the White Wolf Pirates later, Silas would have plenty of time to test her.
"Stop! Do not move!"
"Do not move my ass. That is White King Silas, not an enemy we can oppose!"
"Have the Admirals not arrived?"
Just outside the auction house, Silas and Kozuki Toki were surrounded by Marines.
Sabaody Archipelago was close to Marine Headquarters after all.
Especially during the World Council, Marines guarded this Red Line-adjacent island strictly, capturing pirates cleanly.
However, the strongest among these Marines was just one elite Vice Admiral.
"Just you all?"
Silas looked at the hundreds of Marine soldiers surrounding him.
He grinned.
"Fall down!"
Releasing Conqueror's Haki, invisible pressure instantly covered all of Sabaody Archipelago's Grove 1, not affecting any slaves, targeting only Marine soldiers.
Buzz!
The 1,600 Marine soldiers on Grove 1, even field-grade Marine officers, could not escape.
In one glance, only the elite Marine Vice Admiral remained confronting Silas.
"Sigh, did they not say killing Celestial Dragons could enhance Conqueror's Haki intensity? I just killed one, but there is no change at all."
Silas's Conqueror's Haki was already strong, but he remained unsatisfied because he could feel it still had room for improvement.
He had thought killing a Celestial Dragon might boost his Conqueror's Haki.
But nothing changed.
This meant his Conqueror's Haki could no longer be improved by simply killing Celestial Dragons. He needed to battle more powerful opponents.
Silas walked directly past the Marine elite Vice Admiral with Kozuki Toki.
Until Silas left, the Marine Vice Admiral still stood there, making sword-drawing motions.
Drawing his sword meant death!
His inner voice told him so.
Meanwhile, after Silas's commotion attracted all Sabaody Archipelago Marine attention, Rocks and Newgate also joined this slave liberation operation.
They first freed giants bound by collars.
"Let us liberate others together!"
Insufficient manpower was a constant White Wolf Pirates problem, but after liberating giants and having them join, the forces with Rocks and Newgate immediately multiplied.
"OHHHHHHH!"
The liberated giants roared angrily. Though not all were powerful warriors, even ordinary giants' massive size let them display combat power far exceeding normal people.
With Silas leading and Rocks and other great pirate-level fighters, they quickly gathered many slaves.
But Sabaody Archipelago was too close to Marine Headquarters.
In less than an hour, on Sabaody Archipelago, as Marine soldiers' defense lines became precarious against slave attacks, they suddenly cheered.
"Headquarters warships!"
"That is Admiral Kong!"
"And Admiral Siven!"
From hundreds of meters away, Kong leaped from the warship.
"Tell me, where is Silas?"
Landing on Sabaody Archipelago, Kong's powerful voice rang above the Marines.