r18novel Chapter 259 Six Elderly Men in the Mountains
Chapter 259 Six Elderly Men in the Mountains
Chapter 259 Six Elders in the Mountains
Impulse City waters, Blackbeard's flagship, inside a dark cabin.
Blackbeard Teach looked at the battle report in his hand, which stated that the attack on Kornos Island had failed and all three defectors had been wiped out.
A sinister glint flashed in his eyes, but he wasn't too surprised.
"Hahaha—what a bunch of useless trash! But as expected, they even managed to wear down that old white-bearded guy!"
He crumpled the report into a ball and threw it on the ground, without a trace of annoyance in his tone.
Laffitte twirled his cane gracefully: "Captain, the Whitebeard Pirates still have considerable strength, and with the return of Fire Fist Ace and Karna, they are indeed not easy to deal with."
"Our teams that we sent to various parts of the New World to hunt and recruit have mostly made little progress."
Van Oka calmly wiped Qian Lu's clothes: "Top-tier combat power is scarce. Although there are many pseudo-heroic spirits, their effectiveness is limited when facing truly strong opponents."
"We urgently need to replenish our ranks with new, powerful Heroic Spirits."
The black-bearded man sighed: "I know! But summoning a Heroic Spirit requires the right relics and the right timing!"
"My collection doesn't currently contain anything suitable to attract someone of sufficient importance!"
"Arjuna can't leave easily; that old bastard Indra from Skypiea is definitely still watching this place!"
Just then, there was a knock on the hatch.
A pirate reported nervously, "Admiral! There's someone outside who wants to see you! He says his name is Rob Lucci!"
"Lucci?" The black-bearded man narrowed his one eye. "That former CP9 killing machine? A government dog, what does he want with me?"
The count uttered a low, rumbling sound: "Beside him—there's a very interesting person."
"The aura of death—is extremely pure, even—connected to the underworld of this world."
The man with the black beard became interested: "Oh? Let him in!"
The hatch opened, and Rob Lucci strode in with the precise and ruthless steps of a cheetah.
He was still wearing a black suit, his eyes were sharp as knives, and his aura was more restrained than before, yet also more dangerous.
Following behind him was a heroic spirit wearing a tattered, pale white cloak, exuding an aura of coldness and death.
His eyes, burning with pale flames, swept over the people in the cabin, finally settling on Arjuna, who sat high on his throne, surrounded by a chaotic halo.
Azrael seemed to sense a power that was of the same origin yet quite different.
"Fufufu—isn't this Mr. Lucci, the World Government's loyal dog?"
The black-bearded man let out a mocking laugh. "What? Abandoned by your master, now trying to beg for food here?"
Lucci ignored Doflamingo's taunts, staring directly at Blackbeard, his voice cold and flat.
"Blackbeard, I'm not here to pledge allegiance to you. I'm here to discuss cooperation."
"Cooperation?" The black-bearded man grinned, revealing gleaming white teeth. "Hahaha! What could a former government agent like you possibly have to cooperate with me for?"
"We have a common enemy," Lucci said succinctly.
"Straw Hat Luffy, and—his skeleton musician on his ship, they're both on Fishman Island now."
Behind him, Azrael's pale, flame-like eyes flickered slightly, and a chilling aura of death surged into the void like a tide, as if locking onto a distant target.
That was a quest for the Fruit of the Underworld, a quest to connect the boundary between life and death.
Lucci continued, "You're worried about having top-tier combat power, while I need to rely on your strength and influence to achieve my goals."
"My Heroic Spirit is named Azrael. Although I don't know your true name, he should be well aware of the weight that name represents."
"We are more than capable of making up for your lack of high-end combat power. And we know many secrets of the World Government, as well as—clues about the Relics."
The black-bearded man's single eye gleamed. He glanced at Azrael, whose aura was unfathomable, then at Lucci, a greedy and cunning smile spreading across his face.
"Hahaha!! Interesting! Really interesting!" He clapped his hands.
"Lucci, you're much better than those useless cowards who only know how to shout and fight! Good! I like dealing with smart people like you!"
Tell me, do you know where any interesting toys can be found?
At the same time, Arjuna's cold and indifferent gaze met Azrael's lifeless gaze in the air.
The supreme powers of death and end test each other, neither yielding to the other, yet they subtly create a strange resonance.
Inside the dark cabin of the Blackbeard flagship, the air seemed to freeze.
The icy, deathly aura emanating from Azrael intertwined with the oppressive aura of Arjuna's chaotic divinity, creating a suffocatingly low atmosphere.
Lucci glanced at his own heroic spirit, but ultimately did not directly answer Blackbeard's question.
"We don't need the World Government's toys for now; there are better options."
Blackbeard Teach's single, bloodshot eye was fixed on Azrael, as if he had thought of something.
"Hahaha—you mean—you can help me summon new Heroic Spirits? Using those—the affinity points of your sect's followers?"
Azrael's face, shrouded in a tattered cloak, was indistinct, and his voice was dry and emotionless, like a cold wind blowing through a tomb.
"My existence is the guide to the end. All those who believe in the tranquility of death and seek the protection of darkness are connected to me in spirit."
.
"The lingering aura of the old man in the mountains—can serve as a medium."
The count let out a low laugh, a laugh tinged with amusement and curiosity.
"I see—no wonder you can squander magic so recklessly. You yourself are almost a living magic core? What an interesting structure."
Blackbeard had no time to delve into the meaning of the count's words; all his attention was firmly focused on the possibility of summoning a new heroic spirit.
He rubbed his hands together in ecstasy, his single eye gleaming with greed and madness.
"The Old Man of the Mountain? Those legendary assassins from your world? Hahaha! Excellent!"
"Assassins! I love assassins the most! They take out all the troublemakers without anyone noticing! Azrael!"
"Quick! Get them all over here right now!"
Ecstasy seemed to unleash a magical power within him, and a mighty force began to rage.
Lu Qi stood aside, watching coldly with no expression on his face, as if none of this concerned him.
He cannot summon, a limitation imposed by the rules, but he is pleased to see Blackbeard's power increase, as it makes it easier for him to use this power to achieve his goals.
Yazlar said no more.
He slowly raised his hand, which seemed to be made of shadows, and pale runes spun in his palm, resonating with some concept in the void.
He didn't chant or perform any complicated rituals; he simply guided the power out and infused it into Blackbeard's body, which was trembling slightly with excitement.
"In the name of the angels, I proclaim my death, to guide the believers who wander in the shadows—"
Blackbeard felt a cold and immense power surge into his body. As if struck by a sudden inspiration, guided by Azrael, he slammed his hands onto the cabin floor!
Buzz!
Several summoning circles, shimmering with a ghostly purple and pale white light, suddenly lit up on the floor like drops of ink on paper!
A cold, eerie aura, carrying various negative emotions, emanated from the summoning circle.
As the light gradually stabilized, six figures, each with a different form but all exuding the aura of top-tier assassins, slowly coalesced within the summoning circle.
One body seemed to split into countless shadows, its aura ever-changing.
A petite figure, seemingly blending into the shadows, whose very aura carried a deadly allure.
One of its right arms has mutated into a hideous demonic wrist, exuding curses and misfortune.
A being enveloped in a hazy, intoxicating mist.
The action was swift and dazzling, like a shooting star.
The last one was silent and its form was completely obscured.
Six Hassans, candidates for Assassin, have answered the call and descended upon this place because of their cult's connection to Azrael, the Azure Archangel of Death!
As the black-bearded man looked at the six menacing assassins, a gleam of wild joy erupted from his single eye. He spread his arms and let out a deafening laugh.
"Hahaha!! Success! They're all assassins! Great! Azrael, you really know your stuff!"
He abruptly stopped smiling, a cruel and cunning glint in his single eye, and gave orders to the six Hassans who had just arrived.
"Listen up! I'm your new master, Marshall D. Teach!"
"Now, I'm giving you your first task: Fishman Island! Go pay my respects to some old friends there!"
"Straw Hat Boy, the Crusaders, and that Noah—let's see what they're really made of! Trying to muddy the waters!"
"With you guys, my plan can finally go ahead, hahaha!!"
The six Hassans bowed silently, then disappeared into the cabin as if blending into the shadows.
Their actions themselves are the best answer.
Fishman Island, Dragon Palace Castle and Port Area.
Two or three days have passed since the Straw Hat Pirates and the Crusaders arrived.
On the surface, everything seems calm and peaceful.
A grand banquet was held at Ryugu Palace to welcome the Straw Hat crew. King Neptune and Jinbe chatted happily with Luffy, Roger, and others, with the topic revolving around the possibility of confronting Blackbeard.
In the port area, the Crusaders' fleet remained anchored.
Although Diamante was still recovering from his injuries, he relied on Doflamingo's influence and Kojiro's presence to maintain his high-handed attitude in front of the officials sent by Ryugu Castle, urging the Ryugu Kingdom to respond to the matter of joining the Cross Guild as soon as possible.
Their crew enjoyed the food and wine of Fishman Island and lived a very comfortable life.
Zoro visits Kojiro almost every day.
They would either engage in fierce sword duels in Coral Square or sit on the rocks by the harbor, listening to the sound of the waves and discussing the principles of swordsmanship.
Kojiro's guidance was often incisive and greatly benefited Zoro, but he could also sense that the determination to cut through everything in Zoro's sword was becoming increasingly refined.
"The way of the sword is not just about cutting off."
Kojiro gazed at the magnificent underwater world before him and spoke slowly.
"However, being able to sever one's will to the extreme is also a path to heaven. Lord Zoro, your path is both straight and perilous."
Zoro, holding his sword, said with a glint in his single eye, "As long as I can become stronger and cut down all obstacles, I don't care how dangerous it is."
Nami and Robin, on the other hand, frequently contacted Jinbe and the civil officials of Ryugu Palace, analyzing intelligence from all sides in an attempt to clarify the current complex situation.
Usopp and Chopper are filled with curiosity about the strange creatures and environment of Fishman Island, while Franky is studying the island's unique bubble culture and coating technology.
Brook hosted several small concerts, where the melodious violin music and skeletal jokes brought some joy to this deep-sea paradise.
However, beneath this seemingly harmonious and peaceful surface, an indescribable sense of oppression, like an undercurrent lurking in the deep sea, is quietly spreading.
"Hey, have you felt that? I've been feeling a chill down my back lately."
A pirate from the Cross Society drank his wine and muttered to his companion.
"Yeah, it looks like something's watching us—could it be the guards from Fishman Island?"
"It's not like that feeling—it's colder, more—emptier."
Inside the Dragon Palace, Roger, who was discussing matters with King Neptune, suddenly stopped talking, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, and his sharp gaze swept across the palace's dome and shadowy corners.
"What's wrong, Lord Roger?" King Neptune asked with concern.
"It's nothing." Roger shook his head, but a hint of seriousness flashed across his bold face.
"It might just be my imagination." But the ominous premonition in his heart grew clearer.
At the harbor, Kojiro, who was sparring with Zoro, paused slightly in the hand holding his cup. A hint of surprise flashed in his clear eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, as if he had only been disturbed by the sea current.
The most unusual one was Brook.
His originally cheerful piano playing would occasionally falter slightly, and his empty eye sockets would sometimes turn toward some empty space, as if staring at something.
King Hassan, with whom he had a deep contractual relationship, remained as silent as a rock.
But Brook could vaguely sense that the Grandmaster was more focused and colder than usual.
It was as if they had locked onto one or more targets hidden in the shadows.
The people of Fishman Island still talked about Kojiro's legendary feat of defeating two heroes with a single sword a few days ago, their words filled with admiration and gratitude for the nameless swordsman.
Unbeknownst to them, these whispers were also clearly heard by certain ears lurking in the shadows.
The tension, like a bowstring being constantly pulled taut, accumulates silently.
Everyone could feel the oppressive atmosphere of an impending storm, yet no one could see where the dark clouds were coming from.
This day seemed no different from any other. The sunlight still gently bathed Fishman Island, and bubbles drifted slowly.
Inside the Dragon Palace, King Neptune was preparing for his midday nap.
At the harbor, Zoro had just finished his morning sparring session with Kojiro and was wiping away sweat.
The pirates of the Cross Society had just begun their boisterous lunch. The Straw Hat crew, meanwhile, were discussing their next move—
.——
suddenly!
"Oh no!!!"
A piercing, terrified scream, like a sharp thorn, shattered the false tranquility of Fishman Island. It came from the direction of Dragon Palace and instantly spread throughout the port area!
A dragon palace guard scrambled to the port and cried out with all his might to all the astonished onlookers.
"Your Majesty—Your Majesty—His Majesty Neptune—has been assassinated!!!"
In an instant, the entire harbor fell silent.
Everyone who heard the news, whether they were Straw Hat Pirates, members of the Cross Society, or ordinary residents of Fishman Island, froze on the spot, their faces filled with disbelief, shock, and fear!
That taut string finally snapped.
The assassins in the shadows have already bared their deadly fangs.