One Piece: Surrounded at Marineford? Just kidding!

Chapter 315: Only a mother, no father!

The clamor of the banquet slowly subsided. Only the Red-Haired Gang's crew remained, cleaning up the mess. Broken barrels. Rocks shattered by the sheer force of the impact. On the sand, long tracks were left by the CP0 agents as they were dragged away.

Shanks did not turn around.

He supported his mother with his only remaining right arm. His movements were gentle.

The mother kept her head down, her steps unsteady, clinging tightly to her son with every step.

"Slow down, there are steps here."

His voice was very soft. There was not a trace of the emperor of the sea in him. He turned to the side, shielding his mother from the sea breeze with his body.

Behind them, Chen Ye, a toothpick dangling from his mouth, hands in his pockets, followed lazily. Ben Beckman, his face grim, scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes. Even on his own ship, the first mate remained vigilant.

Finally, there's the enormous "Whitebeard" Edward Newgate, and Marco standing beside him.

The group crossed the deck and headed toward the captain's cabin of the Red Fosse.

The red-haired crew members around them made way, and no one made a fuss or a commotion.

Squeak.

The heavy oak door was pushed open.

The captain's cabin was simply furnished, even shabby. A huge chart table occupied the center, piled high with nautical charts, empty bottles, and several gleaming muskets. On the walls hung a few crooked graffiti, Luffy's childhood masterpieces, which Shanks had never bothered to clean.

The group went inside.

Ben Beckman was the last to enter. He closed the door behind him, and instead of sitting down, he stood in the doorway and took a drag of his cigarette.

"alright."

Beckman exhaled smoke, his voice hoarse and deep.

"Now, not even the sound of a fly can get out of here. Even that eavesdropping 'Big News' Morgans won't be able to hear a single word."

Everyone took their seats.

Shanks' mother was uneasy. She sat in the captain's large chair, her hands gripping the edge of her cloak, her knuckles white from the pressure. Everything here was so unfamiliar to her.

A warm, large hand covered the back of her hand.

Shanks' mother looked up and met Shanks' reassuring eyes.

"Don't be afraid, Mom."

Shanks squatted beside the chair, looking up at his mother with his signature silly grin on his face.

"This is my home, and it's your home too. Here, no one can hurt you."

The warmth of his hand swayed through her, calming Shanks' mother's trembling body. Looking at the bearded man with scars on his face, the fear in her eyes was replaced by tenderness.

This is her child.

"Tsk, that's really touching."

A voice shattered the warmth.

Chen Ye didn't sit on a chair; instead, he jumped onto a large wooden barrel by the window. He crossed his legs, toying with the gold coin in his hand, his gaze lingering on Shanks' face.

"There will be plenty of time to catch up later."

Chen Ye stopped what he was doing, the gold coin flipping between his fingers, gleaming coldly.

"Now, we need to talk about something more adult."

The atmosphere in the captain's cabin froze.

The white-bearded man picked up the enormous wine jug on the table, tilted his head back, and took a large gulp, the pungent liquid dripping down his chin. He didn't speak, his hawk-like golden eyes narrowing slightly, waiting for someone to speak first.

Shanks' smile vanished. He stood up, shielding his mother behind him, and looked at Chen Ye.

"What are you trying to say?"

You know perfectly well what I want to ask.

Chen Ye leaned forward. His eyes were fixed on Shanks' face.

"So, Shanks? What's your opinion of that 'father' who's so high and mighty in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, and who just sent someone to kill your mother?"

The word "father" was like a sharp knife, piercing Shanks deeply.

Shanks' mother's body trembled violently.

Her pupils contracted, and her face turned deathly pale. That memory, sealed away for thirty-eight years, that cold, retreating figure in the Valley of the Gods, the man who killed her...

fear.

Shanks' mother shrank back and covered her head with her hands.

"No...don't..."

She burst into tears.

Shanks noticed his mother trembling.

He tightened his grip on his mother's hand.

The next second, Shanks turned his head.

The confusion and warmth in his eyes disappeared.

All that remained was coldness.

That was the gaze of the "Four Emperors," the gaze of a ruler who reigns over the seas.

"Tatsuba."

Shanks stared directly at Chenye.

That man is no longer my father.

Shanks released his mother's hand and stood up straight.

"He was already dead the moment he killed his mother in God Valley."

Shanks raised his only remaining right hand, pointed to his mother behind him, and then to his own chest.

"We are not on the same path. He is a Celestial Dragon, the commander of the Knights of God, a god high above."

"And I am just a pirate."

A cold smile curled at the corner of Shanks's mouth, making the three scars running through his left eye look particularly menacing.

"I only have my mother now. As for that so-called 'father'..."

"Whoever dares to harm her, whether they are from the Knights of God, the Five Elders, or even Im..."

"I'll show him what the wrath of the Four Emperors is like."

As soon as he finished speaking, a crimson bolt of lightning, reminiscent of a conqueror's color, flashed and disappeared in the captain's cabin.

"Guralalalalala!"

A hearty laugh broke the silence.

The white-bearded man slammed the enormous flask down on the table. He looked at Shanks with admiration in his eyes.

"Well said, you redhead!"

The white-bearded man grinned widely.

"I love your spirit! To hell with bloodlines, to hell with Celestial Dragons! On this ocean, we only recognize fists and loyalty! Since you don't acknowledge that father, then just let him go like a fart! Rumble rumble!"

Marco shrugged helplessly, but a hint of a smile flickered in his deadpan eyes. His father was always like that, valuing family bonds above all else; Shanks' words had struck a chord with him.

Chen Ye did not laugh.

"Don't be too happy yet."

Chen Ye's voice was very soft, but it was like a bucket of ice water being poured over his head.

He held up one finger and shook it.

"Shanks, you're oversimplifying things. You think this is a family dispute? You think Garin will let you off the hook just because you unilaterally cut ties?"

Chen Ye chuckled.

"You don't understand those Celestial Dragons at all. Especially that old bastard Figarand Garin."

"Arrogance is ingrained in their genes."

Chen Ye jumped off the wooden tub and paced around the room, his leather boots making a dull thud on the wooden floor.

"For Korin, the existence of you and your son is the biggest stain on his perfect life. Especially you, Shanks, you are now one of the Four Emperors. Your existence is a constant reminder of how much of a failure the World Government was in the 'God Valley Incident'."

Chen Ye stopped in front of Shanks, the two of them less than half a meter apart.

"This assassination attempt was just the first one. Guernica and his team's failure will not deter Garin Saint; it will only humiliate him and drive him even more insane."

Chenye extended two fingers, making a gun gesture, and aimed it at Shanks' heart.

"Next time, it won't be this kind of assassination squad."

"It could be the entire Knights of God mobilized, or all three admirals of the Navy arriving, or even..."

Chen Ye's voice was low and chilling.

"A Buster Call-level operation. To erase this stain, they wouldn't hesitate to wipe the entire island, along with every person and every grain of sand on it, from the map."

The temperature in the captain's cabin plummeted.

Shanks' mother turned even paler. She covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. She wasn't afraid of dying, but she was afraid of implicating her son and these innocent people.

Shanks frowned, about to say that the Red-Haired Pirates were not afraid of any war.

Just then.

Nourishing.

A soft sound came from the corner.

Ben Beckman, who had been leaning against the shadows in the corner, stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette on the wooden shelf next to him.

An suffocating aura emanated from Beckman.

It's not about being domineering.

It was pure murderous intent.

The black swamp will swallow your soul.

The light from outside the window was swallowed up by the darkness, and the captain's cabin instantly became dim.

Marco's half-drooping eyelids snapped open. His dead fish eyes were filled with shock. He looked at the man in the corner in astonishment.

As the first division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco had seen countless powerful figures. But he had never seen the Red-Haired Pirates' vice-captain, known for his rationality and composure, display such a violent and naked killing intent.

The white-bearded man paused, his hand holding the flask faltering. He glanced sideways at Beckman, his eyes now showing less of the casualness one might show a junior and more genuine admiration.

"Oh? That's interesting..." the white-bearded man said in a low voice.

Under everyone's gaze, Beckman raised his head.

His always stern face was covered in frost. In his deep eyes, two black flames burned.

"Then let him do it."

Beckman spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a wind blowing from hell, each word scraping to the bone.

He took a step, walking slowly towards the table. With each step, the terrifying sense of oppression grew stronger.

"Whether it's the Knights of God or a Marine Admiral."

Beckman reached for his rifle on the table and wiped the barrel.

"I wouldn't mind letting them experience it for themselves..."

Click.

The sound of a bullet being chambered was as clear as thunder in the silent room.

Beckman raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over Chen Ye before finally settling on Shanks. His eyes held no fear, only a madness and ruthlessness capable of slaughtering the world.

"The Red-Haired Pirates, what makes them worthy of being called emperors in this new world?"

"We don't cause trouble."

Beckman slammed the rifle down on the table, the barrel embedding itself deeply into the hard oak surface.

"But what if someone tries to harm our family..."

"I will chop off his claws one by one. Whether he is a man or a god."

Dead silence.

After a brief silence, a soft laugh was heard.

Shanks looked at Beckman, his most reliable partner who had been with him since the East Blue.

The gloom in his heart dissipated.

All worries about the future and anxieties about one's origins have vanished.

Beckman's words were like a whirlwind, scattering everything.

Yes.

What is he afraid of?

He's Shanks, the Red-Haired Man.

Behind him stood the strongest group of madmen on this vast ocean.

Shanks' signature confident and arrogant smile returned. He extended his one arm and patted Beckman on the shoulder heavily.

"Ah, you're right, Beckman."

Shanks turned around and looked at Chen Ye, his eyes shining brighter than the stars.

"Did you hear that, Chenye?"

"That's our answer."

Shanks strode over to his mother and, in front of everyone, took her hand again.

"Since they want to play, then we'll play along to the end."

"From today onwards, there are no more outcasts of the Figarand family, nor any Celestial Dragon bloodline."

Shanks took a breath, his voice echoing throughout the captain's cabin.

"Only Shanks of the Red-Haired Pirates, and his mother whom he must protect!"

Chen Ye looked at the group of men with an imposing aura.

The smile on his lips deepened.

He picked up the cracked wine glass on the table, poured himself a glass of wine, and held it up to the air.

"very good."

Chen Ye took a small sip, his eyes flashing with calculation and anticipation.

"Now that the actors are all in place and the emotions have been built up..."

"Well then, the next show is going to be quite exciting."

He turned to look out the window, his gaze piercing through the vast ocean and fixed on the towering red earth continent.

"Saint Garin, I hope your heart is strong enough to withstand what's to come."

"After all, this was tailor-made for you..."

"Father is kind and son is filial."