One Piece: Starting from Awakening the Cosmo at Marineford

Ordinary people have no right to choose their own destiny; they can only accept the arrangements of fate, or rather, they can only accept their fate.

The same is true for the civilians on Beehive Island.

When Rocks was alive, they belonged to Rocks.

Later, when Wang Zhi occupied Beehive Island, they became Wang Zhi's.

Now that Blackbeard has arrived, their fate will change once again.

They may have had no choice but to live here.

However, their actions also provided sustenance for the pirates here.

Aaron wouldn't blame them for this, but he also wouldn't sympathize with them.

The streets quickly became deserted, with only the sea breeze blowing the dust.

Halfway there, countless pirates approached from the opposite direction, a vast and menacing force.

Wang Zhi led the way, followed by Ryder and the other four elite guards. Behind them were his elite troops.

Among them were the dozens of captains who had lost their hearts, their faces filled with worry.

Ryder called out from afar, "Captain Sparrow, come with us to deal with Blackbeard!"

What could Aaron say? He could only agree.

Meanwhile, the black-bearded men had caught up and sandwiched Aaron and his group of thirty-odd men in the middle.

The street is not very wide, only about thirty meters wide.

Choosing such a place to start a war can be considered a clash of titans.

"Hahaha! Wang Zhi, you've occupied Beehive Island for so many years, it's time to give it back to me!"

The man with the black beard didn't try to hide anything and got straight to the point.

Wang Zhi sneered, "Give it back to you? I've occupied Beehive Island for decades, when did it become yours?"

The man with the black beard glared and laughed loudly, "Don't you think my face looks familiar?"

Wang Zhi squinted and stared at the black beard for a long time, then suddenly his pupils dilated violently.

A previously blurred figure appeared in his mind.

"Rocks? Impossible!"

Wang Zhi muttered to himself, becoming increasingly certain that Blackbeard must have some connection with Rocks.

The nose, the eyes, and the air of a tyrant—while not exactly the same, they were practically identical.

Then, considering Blackbeard's age, it matches up perfectly.

The black-bearded man said, "Wang Zhi, you betrayed your comrades to the World Government back then, leading to my father's death. Today, it's time to settle this score with you!"

"Your father?"

"Rocks D. Giebeck!"

Most of the pirates looked blank, not knowing who Blackbeard was talking about.

When Wang Zhi heard that name again, he tensed up and felt a sense of unease.

"Blackbeard, you want Beehive Island, I have no problem with that. Pirates are all about stealing from each other. But to come up with a reason like avenging your father, isn't that a bit too contrived?"

The black-bearded man chuckled. "Wang Zhi, if you surrender now, I can make you a captain under my command. How about it? Think it over?"

Wang Zhi laughed loudly, "Blackbeard, it's too early to talk big! If a fight breaks out, the outcome is still uncertain! I've lived for over 70 years and have never surrendered!"

The black-bearded man said, "If you don't surrender now, it'll be too late after you lose!"

Wang Zhi snorted: "We'll talk after you win."

The man with the black beard clapped his hands: "Bring him up!"

Dozens of pirates behind Blackbeard pushed forward, pressing down on hundreds of civilians.

The man with the black beard laughed, "Wang Zhi, you shouldn't care about these people's lives, right?"

Wang Zhi sneered, "Blackbeard, trying to pull this on me? You're still too green!"

The man with the black beard said, "Since you don't care, then I'll have them killed!"

As soon as the black-bearded man raised his hand, dozens of pirates immediately put their knives to the necks of the civilians, while others pointed guns at their backs.

Wang Zhi gritted his teeth, his face terribly gloomy.

"Should we save them?" Lark whispered.

Aaron said, "No rush. Blackbeard won't really harm these civilians."

Blackbeard's move wasn't just to threaten Wang Zhi.

The deeper reason was to undermine and dismantle Wang Zhi's rule on Beehive Island.

The pirates on Beehive Island usually live peacefully with these civilians and enjoy the services they provide, so they feel obligated to protect these civilians when foreign invaders attack.

If Wang Zhi doesn't care about the lives of these civilians, then even if he drives away the foreign enemies, he will lose the hearts of the people.

Those pirates, too, would feel a sense of shared fate, wondering if one day they too would suffer the same fate and be abandoned by Wang Zhi without hesitation.

This would shake the foundation of Wang Zhi's rule on Beehive Island.

Similarly, if Blackbeard wants to take over Beehive Island, he can't actually kill these civilians.

He will need the services of these people in the future as well.

If the sheep are gone, what will the wolves eat?

Yun Que understood this, but she still couldn't help worrying.

Blackbeard stared at Wang Zhi, a cruel smile already creeping onto his lips.

Wang Zhi was also gambling, betting that Blackbeard wouldn't actually make a move.

Therefore, although he was worried, he did not rush to express his opinion.

The pirates behind him began to get anxious.

Blackbeard raised his hand.

A burst of gunfire rang out.

The man with the black beard moved his hand, about to strike.

And the moment his hand falls, the fate of those hundreds of civilians may come to an abrupt end.

As expected, a voice rang out: "Wait!"

Blackbeard felt he had won, and a smug smile spread across his face.

But when he saw Wang Zhi looking around, he was still taken aback.

Two more figures appeared on the street.

One had pink hair, and the other had blonde hair; they were Koby and Helmeppo.

Although Kobi was trembling, his chest was held high.

Bellmare trembled even more violently, holding onto Koby with one hand, and looking around timidly.

Wang Zhi demanded, "Who are you? How dare you interfere in my affairs?"

Blackbeard burst into laughter: "Isn't that Navy Koby?"

Coby shouted, "I am Lieutenant Commander Coby from Marine Headquarters! Mr. Wang Zhi, Mr. Teach, it would be best if your battle didn't involve civilians!"

Wang Zhi roared, "Damn marine! What are you doing trespassing on my territory? Men, kill him!"

"Hey, don't be in such a hurry!"

The man with the black beard laughed loudly, "Wang Zhi, marines have infiltrated your territory and you haven't even noticed? I think you're getting senile. You'd better just obediently hand over Beehive Island to me!"

Wang Zhi snorted and cursed, "Enough nonsense! Marine, what exactly do you want here?"

"What I'm doing here is not important."

After saying that, Koby turned to face the man with the black beard and said, "Mr. Teach, please release these civilians."

The man with the black beard smiled. "Oh? You want me to let them go?"

"Yes! Please release them!"

The man with the black beard chuckled, narrowing his eyes, and said, "I can let them go, but you have to help me deal with Wang Zhi, how about it?"