120. Those Who Should Have Fought, Yet Did Not

"You... you all..." Behind him, Pacas was flushed with anger and on the verge of shouting abuses, but Xuanye stopped him.

"I don't blame you. After all, everyone has their own choices. If there’s an opportunity in the future, we’ll have a drink together again." He smiled, though nothing could be read on his face, his eyes darkened inexplicably.

"Thank you, Vice Admiral, for all your care over the years." Bowing their heads, nearly a hundred marines had red-rimmed eyes, unable to meet Xuanye’s gentle gaze, nor the fifty pairs of hateful eyes behind him.

"It’s fine. To be honest, this is also my responsibility." He gave a bitter smile, then pulled himself together and said, "But before that, I will make them pay for the pain you suffered because of me."

Everyone froze, then realization dawned on them; their commander had not changed at all.

At this moment, everyone lowered their heads, expressions filled with shame.

"You don't need to be like this. Everyone has the right to choose, and besides, you don't owe me anything—if anything, I owe you." Looking at the hundred-plus dejected men with their heads hanging low, Xuanye smiled.

Compared to later on, making the decision now was better.

"Let’s go! Let’s go see that arrogant Admiral Akainu. I will reclaim everything owed to you, one by one." With a wave of his hand, Xuanye turned, his face darkening.

In an instant, a formidable force of nearly a hundred marines marched directly toward another harbor.

***

"Bang!" The door to the Fleet Admiral’s office was suddenly burst open with a loud crash. A marine, swallowing hard, rushed in and looked at Sengoku with urgency.

"What is the meaning of this? What has happened now?" Behind his desk, Sengoku’s face was black with rage, as every such occurrence made his heart skip a beat.

"Vice... Vice Admiral Xuanye is taking over a hundred people to... to..." The marine turned his head, glancing nervously at the Admiral sitting to the side, or rather, Akainu.

"To where!" Sengoku glared.

"To... to Admiral Akainu’s camp." Swallowing again, the communications marine shivered, for a murderous gaze was now fixed upon him.

"Damn it." Standing up and storming out, Akainu radiated a killing intent.

"Bastard! What is he trying to do? Can't he just stay calm for once?" Behind the desk, Sengoku’s face turned even darker. He slammed the table without dignity, puffing out his cheeks in fury.

"This result was expected." Rubbing his forehead, Tsuru said with a weary sigh, "I just didn't expect it to happen so soon!"

"Hahaha... something entertaining to watch again." Conversely, Garp was quite excited; he had been feeling rather bored.

"How do we resolve this!" Sengoku felt a headache coming on, his heart tightening.

"We should go stop them first! We can see what Xuanye has to say when we get there!"

"Let’s go!" Incensed, Sengoku slammed the door behind him as he left.

At that moment, Akainu’s camp welcomed a group of uninvited guests.

"No... no, that madman is here." In the camp, an observer shouted, his face changing drastically. He had experienced Xuanye’s purge once before, though he had been lucky enough to be spared for one billion berries.

He was a Captain now, but facing that man still left him with deep psychological scars.

"Andra, what are you yelling about? This is the Admiral’s camp. Who would dare to act recklessly here? If Admiral Akainu finds out, prepare for punishment!" Many marines training in the camp looked on with disdain.

"It... it’s that madman. Looking at him, it seems he’s here to settle the score. It’s over... it’s over. Admiral Akainu isn’t here right now; we’re doomed... we’re doomed..."

Looking panic-stricken, the marine named Andra turned ash-gray. He would never forget the day he saw the people around him turned into ashes.

"Calm down. This is Admiral Akainu’s territory. Even Admiral Kizaru wouldn’t dare to act out here. What are you afraid of?" A marine stepped forward, patting Andra’s shoulder with a chuckle.

"It’s Vice Admiral Sky-Bird. He has over a hundred people behind him. It must be about what happened a year ago."

"Who did you say?" A jolt went through everyone. The entire camp suddenly fell silent. Apart from a few marines who didn't know, the rest were swallowing hard.

"Bang..." With a thunderous explosion, the camp gates were shattered, and a figure walked in slowly.

"It’s over... we’re dead..." At this moment, those who had experienced the previous incident turned deathly pale. They had no doubt that this man would kill them.

"Is this the camp of that dead dog?" Taking the lead, Xuanye looked around.

"Vice Admiral, this is the place. And they are all Akainu’s subordinates." Stepping forward, Pacas pointed at the crowd opposite them, who were filled with fear and confusion.

"Yo! That dead dog really has a lot of power. There must be over two thousand people here, right?" Xuanye sneered, his eyes narrowing.

"Who are you people? How dare you trespass into Admiral Akainu’s camp! Are you not afraid of the Admiral’s wrath?" In the entire Navy, who didn't know that Admiral Akainu was the most disciplined and strict commander?

"You bastard, shut up." Shaking, Andra covered the new recruit’s mouth and looked at Xuanye, trembling. "Lord... Lord Sky-Bird, Admiral Akainu is not here."

"Oh! He’s not here? Well, since you are his subordinates, if he killed my men, I’ll kill his. Seems fair! Ten for one."

Shrugging, Xuanye said with complete indifference.

"Thud... thud..." Nearly a hundred marines collapsed to the ground, their faces filled with despair, leaving the uninformed marines in a daze.

This was a world where strength was supreme; the weak were simply sacrificed for the strong.

"Whoosh... whoosh..."

Golden-red flames began to burn. In the blink of an eye, the entire sky turned golden-red. Sand and stones were whipped up by the wind, and the temperature in the space rose continuously, causing the air to ripple.

With a wave of his hand, countless blades, spears, swords, and halberds, all wreathed in flames, materialized in the air like venomous snakes, pointing downward.

"I will only launch one strike. Whoever survives, that’s their own ability." His expression was icy, and there was no emotional fluctuation in his eyes.

"It’s over... we’re dead..."

The camp fell into chaos. At this moment, no one thought Xuanye was joking.

Just as he reached out to signal the attack, a person appeared in the sky.

"Dead bird, stop right there!" Roaring, Akainu’s face was twisted, his eyes spitting fire.

Immediately behind him, Sengoku and the others also arrived, anxious.

"Xuanye, don't be impulsive. Everything can be discussed."

"Haha... this kid is still so bold."

"Xuanye, don't be impulsive, don't be impulsive."

Looking at the four people appearing in the field, Xuanye did not withdraw the blades filling the sky; instead, he continued to multiply them.

"Oh? How does Fleet Admiral Sengoku want to discuss this?" Interested, Xuanye looked at Sengoku.

"What do you want?" Sengoku’s expression changed.

"Actually, I wanted to kill that dead dog. Of course, and these marines too. But now, I’ve changed my mind." Rubbing his chin, Xuanye knew it was impossible to kill Akainu right now.

"State your conditions." Tsuru let out a sigh of relief.

"Actually, I’m not that bloodthirsty. Just have Akainu pay 3 billion berries in compensation," Xuanye said benevolently.

"Why don't you go rob someone instead!" Akainu’s breathing was ragged as he shouted, "You claim you aren't bloodthirsty? If I hadn't come, were you really going to attack?"

"Dead dog, what did you say!" The entire sky rippled with violence, and the countless blades began to descend. In that instant, the entire camp felt a sudden, inexplicable chill.

"Don't be impulsive. We agree." Sengoku gritted his teeth and shot a fierce glare at Akainu. Now, Sengoku hated Akainu to the core. Only after becoming Fleet Admiral did he realize how much of a burden 3 billion berries was; for the current Navy, it was like tearing a piece of flesh from their bodies.

His heart ached, and his face was twisted and as dark as if someone owed him billions.

"Isn't that better? I’m actually very kind." Shrugging, Xuanye withdrew the blades from the sky, leaving Sengoku and the others feeling as though this were unreal.

Because as long as Sengoku and the others were present, Akainu wouldn't die. Since Akainu couldn't die today, what about later? Xuanye believed it wouldn't be long before he would personally erase this nuisance.

"Since when did this guy become so easy to talk to?" With strange expressions, Garp and the others looked at Xuanye suspiciously.

Kind? That word had nothing to do with this guy.

"Abnormal, too abnormal." Sengoku narrowed his eyes, his heart drumming.

"Alright then, that’s it. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving." Seeing the matter resolved, Xuanye prepared to leave.

He left, just like that. Why did Sengoku and the others still feel it was so surreal?

"What on earth is going on?" Garp stood with his mouth agape, having expected a fight.

Everything proceeded smoothly thereafter, but no matter how long Sengoku and the others pondered, they couldn't figure it out, because this simply wasn't Xuanye’s personality.

However, after Xuanye distributed the money to those people, Sengoku finally dispelled his suspicions. Perhaps this time, Xuanye just wanted the money.

Because only money could better compensate those who had died, or the families of the deceased.