Pirates on Rocks' Ship 996

However, since Luffy and Shanks have already made their decisions, they have no reason to object.

So soon, a grand banquet began on the deck of the Sunny.

Shanks did not hide his purpose; he agreed to host the banquet so that he could talk to Uta and personally ascertain her current condition.

"So... you're afraid I'll take you away, right?" Shanks looked at Uta in front of him, and it was hard to reconcile the image of the little guy from his childhood.

"Isn't this your purpose in coming here? Or perhaps you don't want to clash with Luffy, who is now one of the Four Emperors, so you've come to me now?" Uta asked with a sarcastic look.

Shanks shook his head and replied, "I'm just here to make sure you're safe! Before you arrived, I had already defeated at least ten pirate crews, and right now, there are no fewer than five forces lurking around us!"

Uta pursed her lips and remained silent.

"Although I don't know why you don't want to go back with me, if you go back with Luffy, you will inevitably bring all those eyes that are eyeing you to Luffy's side. Luffy has only just become one of the Four Emperors. Although he is strong, his influence is still too small to deter those guys! If you are just using Luffy as a stepping stone, then you are courting death. I estimate that you will be captured before you can even leave the North Blue!" Shanks said seriously.

"So what? I have no choice but to go back with you, is that right?" Uta asked after a moment of silence.

"This is the best option. Of course, if you have any thoughts, you can tell me. If you don't want to stay in the North Sea, I can leave with you! Uta... believe me, I absolutely do not mean to take you away! I just... hope you can live with me!" Shanks said earnestly.

Uta did not answer, but simply lowered his head and remained silent.

"Let me think about it, okay? I'd like to stay with Luffy for a few days first!" After a moment, Uta said, "Don't come with me!"

"Sure!" Shanks nodded in agreement without hesitation!

"Okay, when are you leaving?" Uta asked Shanks with some anticipation.

"Luffy and I haven't seen each other in a long time either. I'm leaving tomorrow! If you ever want to go back, just tell Luffy, and he can contact me. I'll come pick you up!" Shanks nodded and said, "For your own safety, don't leave alone!"

After Shanks finished speaking, he turned and left, and then really joined in the banquet, never mentioning Uta again.

The next morning, Shanks and the others took their leave.

After they left, Nami was still in disbelief, while Luffy had an expression that said, "That's just how it is," which made Nami so angry that she almost punched him.

Uta, on the other hand, became much more silent after Shanks really left. Before, on the Sunny, she often sang and danced, but now she has basically stopped.

"Robin, now that Shanks is gone, what do you think... what should we do next?" Nami quietly approached Robin and asked.

Although she didn't know exactly what Shanks and Uta had talked about, she had no doubts about the information provided by the Whitebeard Pirates.

“We need to be careful now. Those forces that want to seize Uta will probably attack us after Shanks leaves! We dealt with some of them before because Shanks and his group took action, but they probably won’t wait any longer!” Robin said softly.

"Yes, I'll inform Sanji and the others and tell them to be careful!" Nami nodded and said.

Just as Robin and Shanks had guessed, after the Red-Haired Pirates left, the Sunny began to be attacked one after another. Fortunately, Luffy and the others were strong enough to repel all the enemies, but this still made Uta a little sad.

She hadn't expected that what Reiju and Shanks said was true, and that she had indeed become the focus of attention and was receiving worldwide attention.

"Luffy, what do we do now? Maybe... we should notify Shanks?" After defeating a wave of enemies, Uta found Luffy and whispered.

"It's alright, I'll knock all those guys away!" Luffy said confidently, not taking these enemies seriously at all.

However, Uta was somewhat concerned. He didn't want Luffy's crew to get hurt because of her, so at this moment, Uta had the idea of ​​leaving.

However, the reasons for wanting to leave now are completely different from those for wanting to leave before.

However, she was unaware that a massive warship was approaching them on the sea not far from the Sunny, and that the warship was flying the flag of the World Government.

On the deck of the warship, Lucci, who had previously fought Luffy on Future Island, was looking out at the distant sea.

Chapter 1096 Jegalcia Satan Saint

"I never expected that we would meet again so soon, Straw Hat Boy!" After listening to his subordinate's report, Lucci looked at the distant sea and said softly.

"This time they're doomed!" Kaku said angrily from the side.

On Future Island, they had to make a deal with the Straw Hat crew, but now it's time to void that deal, because this time they're not alone.

Behind them, a large number of naval warships were escorting the World Government warship.

"Admiral Kizaru, the food is ready!" Inside the World Government's warship, a Marine soldier carrying food said to Kizaru.

"Very good, have you tested it for poison?" Kizaru asked softly.

“Of course…” the naval soldier replied somewhat nervously.

"Then leave it to me! I'll deliver it in myself!" Kizaru picked up the food, turned around, and walked towards the cabin.

The naval soldier watched Kizaru leave, secretly swallowing hard. It wasn't out of fear, but rather because he found it unbelievable. Kizaru was a naval admiral; even if he were facing Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, he wouldn't work as a waiter.

Lucci and Kaku on the deck glanced back but didn't say anything, because even Kizaru wouldn't dare to mess with the one inside the cabin.

Kizaru, carrying the food, gently knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

A voice came from inside the room, and Kizaru opened the door with one hand holding food and the other.

"The food has arrived!" Kizaru whispered.

"Thank you for your help!" Inside the room, a man wearing a black suit, with white curly hair, a bushy white beard, a flat cap, and a scar on his left cheek, said with a smile.

"No trouble at all!" Kizaru smiled slightly, putting down the food as he replied.

The person who could make Kizaru act this way was none other than the boss's boss, the highest authority among the Celestial Dragons, one of the Five Elders, Jegarcia Satan Saint.

"Have you met Dr. Vegapunk before?" After putting down the food, Kizaru didn't leave, but asked casually.

"We've met once, what's wrong?" Jegarcia Satan Saint looked at Kizaru and asked.

"Hasn't Rob Lucci already reported his rebellion? Aren't you planning to take action against him?" Kizaru asked curiously.

“That matter… is indeed a bit of a regret, but what’s more important now is that songstress named Uta, and Straw Hat Luffy, one of the newly crowned Four Emperors!” Jegarcia Satan Saint replied softly.

“But… isn’t that kid Garp’s grandson?” Kizaru asked, looking at the other person with surprise.

As the leader of the Navy's scientific forces, Kizaru is more concerned about Vegapunk.

Furthermore, Vegapunk's Seraphs, a criminal research project, is also a force to be reckoned with by the Navy or the World Government.

Especially regarding the authority of Seraphim, Vegapunk's command is second only to the Five Elders. Even if Kizaru encounters him, as long as the opponent has Seraphim, he will find it difficult to gain any advantage.

“It’s alright. Garp knows his place. He never provokes us, but as long as we follow procedures, he won’t act recklessly!” Jegarcia Satan Saint shook his head and said softly, “That’s the unspoken understanding between us. He can ignore the Celestial Dragons, but he won’t ignore justice! And we… represent justice!”

Kizaru was speechless, because among the entire Navy and the World Government, probably only the Five Elders would dare to speak like that.

Besides them, who would dare to disregard Garp? Especially Garp, who absorbed the power of destiny in the North Sea and further enhanced his strength.

"As for Dr. Vegapunk, there's no problem. Didn't he already hand over the Seraphim?" Jegarcia Satan Saint said with a smile.

Kizaru sighed, thinking to himself that although the other party had handed over the Seraphim, in terms of control, he was still second in line, only after the Five Elders. However, he replied aloud, "It's such a pity about Dr. Vegapunk's choice! He's an amazing genius, but apart from the World Government, no force can support him, let alone the Straw Hat crew!"

Because Lucci's report did not mention Reina, all they knew was that the Straw Hat crew appeared on Future Island and seemed to have reached some kind of agreement with Vegapunk. With Vegapunk's help, the Straw Hat crew was able to successfully escape Future Island.

With Lucci's report, and given that any intelligence related to Vegapunk was of great importance, the Navy and the World Government originally intended to arrest him immediately.

However, something suddenly happened on Uta's side. The Five Elders believed that Uta's importance was temporarily higher than Vegapunk's, not to mention that the Straw Hat Pirates, the user of the "Nika-Ki no Mi" (a type of Japanese fruit), was also there. So they set their sights on this side.

After they finish dealing with things here, they can go to Future Island and take care of Vegapunk.

Meanwhile, after parting ways with the Straw Hat crew, the Red-Haired Pirates did not return directly to their base. Instead, they planned to follow behind the Sunny and help them deal with some bastards who were trying to harm Uta.

Perhaps out of guilt towards Uta, Shanks showed no mercy to those who tried to take advantage of her.

So when Shanks discovered the World Government and the Navy's massive fleet, he immediately had a bad feeling.

"Go and inform Luffy to leave immediately. I'll try my best to buy them some time!" Shanks had his liaison contact Luffy the moment he spotted the enemy.

However, upon receiving the news, Luffy not only did not leave, but instead asked to return and fight alongside them. In the end, Shanks had no choice but to speak with Luffy himself.

"Luffy, don't be reckless. This enemy is not so easy to deal with. For Uta's safety, you must get her away first!" Shanks said seriously, holding the Den Den Mushi.

"But……"

"No buts. Don't you trust me?"

Luffy was interrupted by Shanks before he could finish speaking.

On the Sunny, Uta listened to the voice coming from the Den Den Mushi and learned that Shanks hadn't left after parting ways with them, but had continued to follow behind and protect her. She was deeply moved.

"Why...does it always have to be like this? Can't we just say what's on our minds?" Uta finally couldn't hold back anymore and cried out in anguish at Shanks's silent sacrifices.

Chapter 1097 Collapse at the slightest touch

Faced with Uta's question, Shanks gave a wry smile and said, "Uta, maybe I'm not a good father, but... I will never allow anyone to try to hurt you! So... Luffy, can I entrust Uta to you? Take her away, okay?"

After a moment of silence, Luffy nodded and replied, "Don't worry, no one can take Uta away from me. Let Uta stay with me for a few days, then you can come and take her back. That's our agreement!"

“Alright!” Shanks replied with a loud laugh.

After hanging up the call with Luffy, Shanks gave another pre-battle pep talk.

Although the core members of the Red-Haired Pirates did not come this time, the crew that came with him was a powerful pirate crew under his command, which was not without the ability to fight even the Shanghai Navy. As for the World Government... in Shanks' view, the World Government rarely sends out truly strong individuals unless it is a large-scale battle.

However, when Shanks actually appeared and stood in front of the Navy and the World Government, he realized just how wrong he had been this time.

"Kizaru... I really didn't expect you to appear in the North Blue!" Shanks said with a surprised look.

"Oh dear~~ What bad luck! I've run into you here. Looks like I won't be able to catch up with Straw Hat Luffy until I deal with you!" Kizaru said with a lazy smile, "But have you thought this through? I have ten warships here!"

"Further words are useless... If you want to take action against Uta, you won't achieve your goal without dealing with me!" Shanks said, slowly drawing his sword.

As a swordsman, Shanks' swordsmanship is recognized by Hawkeye, placing him among the world's top swordsmen.

However, Kizaru wasn't nervous at all this time because their lineup was quite impressive, with even the Marines playing supporting roles; the real protagonist was the one in the cabin.

So when Jegalsia Satan Saint, one of the Five Elders, appeared, Shanks' expression changed drastically, and he immediately exclaimed in a daze, "The Five Elders!? Why are they here?"

"Shanks... are you sure you want to stand in our way?" Jegarcia Satan Saint asked calmly.

Looking at the Five Elders, the CP0 elites, and the Navy commanders before him, Shanks knew that he probably couldn't stop them this time, but he still didn't intend to leave easily.

“Uta is my daughter!” Shanks replied calmly.

"So what?" Jegarcia Satan Saint replied indifferently, "You can't stop us, you should know that!"

"Can't you really give me some face?" Shanks finally asked.

He doesn't have many men right now, and his core members are gone. It would be very unwise to start a war with the enemy at this time, but he has no other choice. He must buy time for Luffy and his crew.

"Face? You don't have that much face! The Song-Song Fruit must belong to the World Government!" Jegarcia Satan Saint said in a deep voice.

"In that case, let's stand here! Griffin - Flying Slash!" Shanks launched the first attack, unleashing a massive slash at his opponent.