Pirate: I was just slacking off, do you really think I'm bad?

Several days later, at the New World Naval Front.

Cleveland, carrying a video Den Den Mushi and an earpiece, found Ichigo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, who had just returned from the battlefield.

"The Navy? What do you want with me?"

Xiong looked at the naval vice admiral in front of him with a puzzled expression. The admiral only reached his waist but had a very powerful aura.

"Marshal Raleigh has assigned you a task. Once you complete this task, you will be allowed to leave."

Cleveland said calmly.

A hint of surprise flashed in the bear's eyes, but it quickly concealed it.

"Tell me what your conditions are."

Cleveland smiled and took out the video Den Den Mushi and earpiece.

"Right now, you're the only one who can get close to the Red-Haired Pirates and escape unscathed. Just hand this over to Shanks."

Xiong took the thing Cleveland handed him, looking puzzled.

Such a simple task could be completed by anyone, so why did the Navy need to specifically seek him out?

Cleveland didn't bother explaining to the bear. After seeing the bear get the item, he turned and left without any hesitation.

Bear clutched what he was holding, pondered for a moment, and then decided to go find Shanks as Cleveland had told him.

Because if he stayed here for too long, he didn't know what might happen.

Regardless, he still wanted to return to the Kingdom of Sobel.

Shanks of the Red-Haired Pirates has been preoccupied for several days.

Beckman and the other crew members also began to worry about Shanks' condition, especially now that they were about to join forces with the Revolutionary Army to fight against the Navy.

"Shanks, what's troubling you so much?"

Beckman walked over, a cigar dangling from his lips.

"It's not clear yet, but it feels like something that's very closely related to me personally."

Shanks shook his head, deciding to put the matter aside for the time being and focus all his energy on uniting with the Revolutionary Army.

While Shanks was still figuring out how to force the Navy to abandon its attack on the New World...

Kuma has arrived outside the territory of the Red-Haired Pirates.

The pirate underlings responsible for defending the navy were the first to spot the bear.

"It's the Shichibukai, Bartholomew Kuma! Everyone, be on alert!"

"Quickly notify the cadres!"

The pirate crew raised their guns, ready to attack the bear at any moment.

However, Xiong came not to fight this time, so he did not make any move.

"Huh? He didn't make a move? Boss, should we shoot?"

"A pirate underling asked stupidly."

Snapped.

An older pirate slapped him on the back of the head and cursed:

"Why are you resorting to violence? Besides high-ranking officials, who can beat such a terrifying guy?"

"Since he came here but didn't take any action, it means he has more important things to do. Let's leave the rest to the cadres."

Time passed slowly in the silence between the two groups, until—the appearance of Yasopp.

"Bear? Why would he come at this time?"

Yasopp felt something was strange. As a core member of the Red-Haired Pirates, he was well aware of the relationship between Shanks and Kuma.

The fact that Kuma, who should have returned to the Navy, suddenly appeared here makes it hard not to wonder if something has happened within the Revolutionary Army.

"Bear, is there something you want to tell me?"

Yasopp stepped forward from the crowd, unafraid that the bear would attack him.

The bear nodded, and then the two of them took to the sky using moonwalking.

In the sky, the bear took out what Cleveland had given him.

A video Den Den Mushi and a pair of earphones,

Yasopp looked at the headphones and felt they looked familiar, but for a moment he couldn't remember where he had seen them before.

"This is?"

After handing the items to Yasopp, the bear shook his head and said in a muffled voice:

"The Navy entrusted this to me; I'm asking you to pass it on to Shanks."

Now that I've seen you, my mission is complete.

"Did the Navy say anything?"

Yasopp took the item from the bear's hand and asked a question.

Xiong shook his head, indicating that the Navy didn't say anything more.

Then he turned around and disappeared into the air.

Yasopp returned to the ship with what the bear had given him, saying curiously as he went:

"Shanks, Kuma sent you two things, saying they were given to you by the Navy."

"Huh? What is it?"

Shanks raised his head blankly, but when he saw the earpiece in Yasopp's hand, he couldn't help but release his Conqueror's Haki.

Rumble!

The overwhelming Conqueror's Haki swept across the entire world, stunning all pirates who approached the ship, except for the crew members.

Shanks appeared beside Yasopp in the blink of an eye, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the earpiece in Yasopp's hand.

Beckman was the first to react. He quickly approached Shanks and ordered Lucky Roux and the others to carry the unconscious pirate away.

"Uta!"

"It's Uta's headphones!"

"The Navy has captured Uta!!!"

Shanks gripped the headphones tightly and held them up for Beckman to see.

Beckman felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing Shanks' words.

Because he recognized them too; they were Uta's headphones.

"Impossible, why would the Navy arrest Uta?"

They couldn't quite understand it.

Since the Red-Haired Pirates left the Grand Line, their communication with Uta has always been kept very secret.

Aside from the Red-Haired Pirates, almost no one knew about the relationship between Shanks and Uta.

The redhead clutched his head in anguish.

"Uta, I have to go save Uta!"

At that moment, Beckman delivered a powerful chop to the back of Shanks' neck, knocking him unconscious.

"Shanks is furious right now, but we have to go save Uta and we absolutely cannot let him go to his death at Marine Headquarters in this state."

In the small villa in Mary Geoise, the holy land of the Celestial Dragons.

The Five Elders sat together face to face once again, with two Den Den Mushi on the chair between them.

One of the Den Den Mushi has been connected, but there is no sound.

The short, stout Five Elders pulled another Den Den Mushi from their pocket and dialed the number.

"Hey, Raleigh. Has the Navy captured any important figures lately?"

Raleigh, speaking calmly from the other end of the Den Den Mushi, said:

"The Navy has been very active lately. I don't know if they've captured any important figures, but I'm sure we haven't captured any of the Revolutionary Army's or the pirates' key officers."

"Perhaps there are some oversights. Lord Five Elders, please point them out, and I will have my men look for them."

The Five Elders were taken aback; they hadn't expected Raleigh to say that.

However, given the Navy's recent workload, it's understandable that Raleigh might not know about this.

"Have you captured a Devil Fruit user? Her Devil Fruit is the Song-Song Fruit. According to the World Government's Devil Map, the Song-Song Fruit possesses immense destructive power. If—"

"Are there other people with such abilities on this vast ocean?"

Raleigh sounded somewhat surprised.

"If that's the case, it seems the Navy needs to conduct a search of the entire sea area. This kind of ability user cannot fall into the hands of the Revolutionary Army and pirates."

"Otherwise, it would cause serious harm to the Navy's just cause and to the brave soldiers."

Raleigh's tone became very serious.

"Please wait a moment, Lord Five Elders. I will send people to investigate this matter immediately. Give me some time; I will definitely capture this ability user."

After saying that, Raleigh decisively hung up the phone, not giving the Five Elders a chance to speak again.

Silence fell among the Five Elders once more, before the Demon Blade Five Elders slowly spoke:

"You heard everything, didn't you?"

Shanks' voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi, sounding very depressed.

"I'm sorry to trouble you all with this."

Shanks then ended the call.

This scene took place in this small villa where no one else was present; otherwise, anyone who knew even a sliver of information would have been completely wiped out.

No one would have imagined that the Five Elders, the highest authorities in the World Government, would have any connection with Shanks, the Pirate King of the New World.

Furthermore, Shanks can also achieve some degree of cooperation with the Five Elders.

In the new marshal's office, Rowley, after hanging up the phone, expressed his great joy:

The fact that the Five Elders were able to make this call undoubtedly reaffirms that Shanks' identity is not simple.

A pirate who can communicate with the Five Elders must have a mysterious past.

Unless, Shanks is a Celestial Dragon!

Raleigh tapped the table, then spoke to the mouse beside him:

"Since the Five Elders have called, Shanks must know that we were the ones who did it, he's just not sure right now."

"Tell Fujitora Issho to stop Big Mom's attack, recall Kuzan to protect New Marineford, and transfer Borsalino to the front line to confront the Red-Haired Pirates."

Red-haired Shanks is a formidable opponent.

He was not only strong, but also possessed unique ideas and an enigmatic network of connections.

But Raleigh's favorite thing is to challenge the impossible, such as making the usually calm Shanks furious.

"Pass down the order: we have found the true culprit behind the massacre in the Kingdom of Eligeia, and they will be publicly tried tomorrow!"

In an instant, public opinion across the entire ocean was once again stirred up by naval intelligence.

The newspapers scattered everywhere displayed photos of a girl whose hands were tightly bound by sea stone.

Below the photo, the Navy thoughtfully explained the entire sequence of events.

The most important parts are Uta's biography and the events surrounding the destruction of the country by Shanks.

This article directly points out that the real culprit behind the massacre in the Kingdom of Elegia was not Shanks, but this sweet-looking girl.

As for why Shanks would take the blame for this girl?

The article doesn't say it explicitly, but it subtly suggests that Uta is very likely Shanks' daughter.

Perhaps even Raleigh didn't expect that the people of this world were just as interested in gossip.

If it were merely the true perpetrator of a massacre in a single kingdom, perhaps it wouldn't have garnered so much attention.

However, when it was discovered that the protagonist of this story might be related to Shanks, the story was spread like wildfire.

"Hey, did you hear? Shanks has a daughter."

"Breaking news! Breaking news! Shanks' daughter is named Uta!"

"The Navy has captured Shanks' daughter and will hold a public trial in three days!"

After the Navy finished its report, other smaller newspapers immediately seized the opportunity and produced a series of eye-catching headlines.

Then the topic spread across the sea at an even more explosive speed.

On the deck of the Redford, everyone stared at their newspapers, their eyes bloodshot.

Because the person in the newspaper is Uta, the very person they are looking for!

"Navy! I want you all dead!"

Shanks' Conqueror's Haki erupted uncontrollably once again, and this time, even Beckman couldn't stop him.

Because he was just as angry.

Uta is not only Shanks' daughter, but in their eyes, Uta is also their daughter.

There's simply not enough time right now, unless they abandon the Redford and everyone flies there by moonwalking.

Where did the bear go?

In his rage, Shanks suddenly remembered Kuma's special ability.

This guy can send people flying to places he's been before; the bear should have been to New Marineford.

"The bear left after delivering the goods, and we don't know where it went."

Yasopp's brow twitched incessantly.

No wonder the Navy's condition was that Kuma could leave on his own after delivering the goods; otherwise, they could use Kuma's abilities to instantly appear in New Marineford.

"Contact Xiong and see if he can get back."

Shanks instructed Beckman.

"I'll give it a try."

Beckman nodded, took the Den Den Mushi, and went to the side.

BuluBulu—·BuluBulu—·

One of the Den Den Mushi on the ship suddenly rang, attracting Larakiro's attention.

"Whose Den Den Mushi is this?"

Lakiru took the Den Den Mushi out of the corner.

"This—it seems to be the thing that Xiong gave me back then."

"I'm not entirely sure," Yasopp said somewhat uncertainly.

When Shanks suddenly unleashed his Haki, everyone was focused on suppressing it, and no one paid attention to the Den Den Mushi. Surprisingly, it wasn't killed by the Haki.

"Hey Shanks, why aren't you answering the phone? If you don't answer, it'll be a waste of my good intentions."

"This is a program I prepared especially for you."

"If you want to see it, I can turn on the video recording function."

Raleigh's words were transmitted from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.

Shanks, exuding murderous intent, stretched out his hand with a ferocious expression, took the Den Den Mushi, and activated the image.

In the South China Sea, the Kingdom of Sobel is already bustling with activity.

Countless revolutionary soldiers were carrying all sorts of supplies here, loading them onto the newly built ships.

Inside the palace, senior revolutionary officers, including Dragon and Sabo, along with district leaders, were all intently watching the screen.

On the screen was the square of the new Marineford, where a tall execution platform stood.

The dragon's brows furrowed slightly.

From the moment he received the news, he had already deduced that the cooperation with the pirates was over.

Red-Haired Shanks is likely to engage in a fierce battle with the Navy, but this also presents an opportunity for the Revolutionary Army.

If this execution succeeds in angering Shanks, then the Navy's influence across the seas will be weakened.

"Sabo, order all regions to enter a state of war."

"The revolutionary expeditionary force within the Kingdom of Sobel is ready to board ships and sail to Mary Geoise to carry out the revolutionary struggle."