Borsalino actually arrived this quickly?
Ian looked up at the figure in the sky, feeling somewhat helpless.
Since this guy had already appeared, it meant that the Navy had no intention of letting tonight's battle end easily.
"Shanks, what do you think?"
Ian landed beside Shanks and Mihawk, speaking calmly.
Without counting Dragon, the situation was very unfavorable for them.
Even if he considered Shanks and Mihawk as part of his camp, they were still at an absolute disadvantage against the three Admirals level power.
Mihawk, who had been seriously injured by Shiki, was definitely no match for either Kuzan or Borsalino.
Shanks, who had yet to reach his peak, was probably on par with them at best.
And the most critical issue—there was still Garp.
This old veteran was far stronger than Shiki.
He hadn't hidden away for years but had instead fought on the frontlines of the Navy for decades. His strength had hardly declined from his prime.
Even now, despite mastering the advanced application of Conqueror's Haki, Ian knew that defeating him would be an extremely difficult task.
"Hahaha, it's not really up to us to decide, is it?"
Shanks laughed heartily. "We'll have to see what the Navy has to say."
Mihawk stood up. His face was still pale, but at least his grip on his sword remained steady.
Ian chuckled. "Mihawk, you shouldn't have to worry about this, right? You're a Warlord under the government. The Navy probably won't do anything to you."
"Don't even suggest that."
Shanks immediately looked troubled. "The situation is already bad enough. If Mihawk stands against us too, at least wait a few more hours before that happens."
A vein twitched on Mihawk's forehead—these two bastards!
Ian just smiled. "Don't worry, Shanks. Mihawk won't turn his back on us. After all, he still owes me three favors."
Mihawk forced a smile. "When did I ever owe you three favors?"
Ian started counting on his fingers. "First, I covered your blade repair costs in Shimotsuki Village. That's one favor. Second, I stopped the others from interfering so you could duel Shiki alone. That's the second favor. And lastly, I helped you take down Shiki—that counts as avenging you, right? That makes three favors."
Mihawk felt an urge to cut him down. "When did I ever ask you to avenge me?"
Forcing a debt of gratitude, huh?
Shanks just laughed heartily.
Ian was truly an interesting guy.
If not for the matter with Oden, he would have really liked to be friends with him.
At the same time, Vice Admiral Borsalino, who had rushed over urgently, couldn't help but feel a little helpless.
Although he had arrived a bit late, he had still witnessed Ian and Shiki's final clash.
He could only say—it was truly exaggerated.
Taking down Shiki with a single slash?
Even an Emperor of the Sea wouldn't be able to pull off something like that.
As expected, he had arrived too early.
Long before Shiki appeared, he had already been heading toward the Goa Kingdom.
After all, with Shanks, Mihawk, and Ian—three world-renowned pirates—all gathered in one place...
Even though the government's primary target was Shiki, and they had ordered not to waste efforts on anyone else, when a situation arose, they had no choice but to take it seriously.
Thus, Borsalino rushed over.
He just hadn't expected Shiki to be so unlucky as to attack this place.
Although Shiki had now been dealt with, the situation was still troublesome.
Ian... this guy had become ridiculously strong.
Compared to their battle on Enies Lobby a few months ago, he was like a completely different person.
In the end, maybe he really should have taken his time coming here.
Borsalino descended from the sky and regrouped with the two Vice Admirals.
"Borsalino! You're just in time!"
Garp laughed heartily. "Now, we've got nothing to worry about!"
The battle strength is already more than enough!
"Garp-san," Borsalino said lazily, "I'll leave Ian to you. That guy may be the youngest, but he's a monster in terms of strength."
Fighting Shanks or Mihawk was one thing, but Ian? Better not.
If he got slashed even once, it wouldn't be a joke.
"I'll take care of that brat!"
Vice Admiral Garp declared seriously.
Ian was too dangerous. If Borsalino and Kuzan fought him, there was a real chance they could be killed.
It was precisely because of this danger that they couldn't allow him to grow any further. Otherwise, in ten years, who in the world could possibly keep him in check?
Kuzan uncharacteristically turned serious.
Even if he had his doubts, taking down pirates was never wrong, right?
"Tch, so you're burning the bridge after crossing it, huh, Vice Admiral Garp?"
Ian, radiating a golden light, crossed his arms and said mockingly, "I just did the Navy a huge favor. If Shiki had escaped, what would you guys have done?"
"Oh, oh, Ian-kun, let's not try to make a pirate's dog-eat-dog fight sound so noble and righteous, alright?"
Borsalino pushed up his sunglasses and said lazily, "Striking when both sides are worn out—that's what the adults call strategy."
Ian couldn't help but laugh.
After all, wasn't there an old saying? Why talk about honor and morality with devils and heretics?
Vice Admiral Garp cracked his knuckles and stepped forward. "Ready for your trip to Impel Down?"
Behind Ian, Ace couldn't help but speak up. "Old man—"
Wasn't this a bit dishonorable?
Only then did Garp remember that his grandson was still standing beside Ian. He quickly called out, "Ace! Get over here!"
The first reason he had insisted on coming here was to witness his father's old rival firsthand.
The other reason, of course, was to find his friend.
But when he followed Ian here, all he saw was the restless, churning sea.
The waters that should have been filled with ships were now empty, with only scattered wreckage remaining.
Sabo should have already left with his family.
It's fine. It has to be fine. Sabo must have escaped long ago.
Ace tried to reassure himself.
After all, they had set out to sea early. How could they possibly have met with disaster?
No matter how much he tried to comfort himself, the fear still clung to him like an unshakable curse.
This was all the work of Shiki!
And Ian had killed him.
Ace took a deep breath and declared firmly, "Old man! I already told you! I'm getting on Ian's ship! I'm going out to sea as a pirate!"
"If you're going to capture Ian, then take me with him!"
He was still just a kid, not realizing the weight of his own words.
Garp trembled slightly, his face darkening.
"Oh? Is he one of your relatives, Garp-san?"
Borsalino glanced at Ace. "You've made a very bad decision."
"I actually think it's the best decision."
Ian chuckled. "But Ace, you don't need to use yourself as a bargaining chip against Garp. I'm not so desperate that I need my comrades to threaten those who care for them."
Ace still wanted to argue.
The old man was terrifyingly strong!
He could rival that bastard father of his!
"Don't worry," Law grabbed Ace by the arm. "Ian has never lost!"
Ace opened his mouth but hesitated.
No, it's not that I want Ian to lose, but I don't want him to win either.
That slash just now, the one that cut through Shiki—if it had landed on the old man, wouldn't he be finished too?
Ace found himself in a dilemma.
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