Chapter 138: The Ultimatum

Chapter 138: The Ultimatum

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...

Garp's eye twitched. He'd forgotten about the Celestial Dragons Noir had captured!

Noir, a faint smile playing on his lips, called down to Garp, "There are ice spikes below. I'm going to drop him~"

Garp, seemingly unconcerned, continued to charge towards Noir.

He didn't care about the Celestial Dragon's life, and Noir cared even less!

Lifting the squealing Celestial Dragon, Noir hurled him downwards.

The World Noble plummeted, his screams of terror echoing through the air.

Garp's powerful fist sent Noir reeling back, but he couldn't help but glance at the falling Celestial Dragon.

Sengoku had given him specific instructions before he left...

"Tch."

Garp clicked his tongue in annoyance, abandoning his pursuit of Noir and diving after the Celestial Dragon.

Just in the nick of time, before the World Noble could be impaled on the ice spikes, Garp swatted him to safety with a mighty backhand.

The Celestial Dragon tumbled across the ice, his fat face contorted in rage. "I'm a Celestial Dragon! How dare you treat me like this!"

Garp picked his nose, ignoring the outburst.

Anyone who could truly threaten Garp probably wasn't even born yet.

Meanwhile, Noir, having successfully diverted Garp, caught up to the Ark Maxim, which had sailed a considerable distance. He turned back to Garp, a smug grin on his face. "Farewell, Mr. Vice Admiral."

The Ark Maxim crackled with blue lightning, its twin paddle wheels churning as it accelerated.

"Oh, and one more thing," Noir added, snapping his fingers. A gentle breeze ruffled his dark hair, revealing a triumphant smile. "Never make the mistake of underestimating me."

Garp's heart skipped a beat at Noir's words. He whipped around to look at the ranting Celestial Dragon beside him.

As if responding to a command, the World Noble's body began to convulse violently.

The shadow beneath his feet writhed and detached itself, flying back towards Noir.

The fate of a shadowless person exposed to sunlight was a foregone conclusion.

"Are you just going to ignore the fact that this devil wreaked havoc in the Holy Land?!"

The voice on the Den Den Mushi calmed slightly. "Calm down, Sengoku."

Sengoku took a deep breath, regaining his composure. "I understand negotiating, but why make him a Warlord?"

"Noir's strength is now known throughout the world. He also killed Gecko Moria. Making him a Warlord would perfectly smooth things over and maintain the Government's image."

Always about maintaining their image...

The conversation aged Sengoku several years. He felt as if his hair had turned a few shades whiter.

But there was nothing he could do. The Marines, despite their power, were ultimately just the strongest military force under the World Government's control.

Funding, weapons, personnel, technology – everything revolved around the Government. Without control over these resources, the Marines could never be truly independent, could never fully uphold their justice.

What could he do? Resign?

That wasn't an option...

The Five Elders had given him an ultimatum: three days.

That meant the Government's tolerance was limited to the deaths of, at most, three more Celestial Dragons.

But three days... what could they possibly accomplish in such a short time?

With two Admirals injured, what high-ranking fighters did the Marines have left?

Sengoku picked up his Den Den Mushi, his voice grim. "Inform all officers of Vice Admiral rank and above to return to Headquarters within twenty-four hours!"

After issuing the order, Sengoku sat alone at his desk, staring at the new bounty posters that were about to be distributed. All of them were core members of the Underworld Pirates.

The most prominent one was Noir's.

Below the image, a bold line of text stood out:

Devil Noir, Extremely Dangerous. Bounty increased to 300,000,000 Berries. Dead or Alive!

...

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