"Relax. I have it under control."
"Alex is not a threat."
Facing the anxious crew members, Red-Hair still appeared calm and composed.
Everyone knew their captain's temperament very well.
He was not someone who liked to put on airs, nor did he have any lofty captain's pride.
If he were truly worried or afraid, he would never pretend otherwise just to save face in front of his subordinates.
Red-Hair would openly admit it.
And since he now looked so calm and untroubled, it could only mean one thing—
He had the confidence to deal with Alex.
So what was that confidence?
By the afternoon, Jesus Burgess and the others finally got their answer.
Because ten masked figures, each radiating an overwhelmingly powerful aura, secretly arrived at the Red-Haired Pirates' base.
The Red-Haired Pirates had never seen these people before, nor had they ever even heard of them.
Yet when some of them probed with Observation Haki, they were instantly horrified—
Every single one of those people possessed strength no weaker than a Yonko!
Hiss—!
The Red-Haired Pirates couldn't help but suck in cold breaths.
Ten Yonko-level powerhouses?
You had to be kidding!
Where in the world did the captain find so many terrifying experts?!
So it turned out that there were actually this many monsters hidden across the seas—
And they had never known about them at all!
"Captain… who exactly are they?"
Some members of the Red-Haired Pirates quietly asked about the identities of those mysterious figures.
But this time, Red-Hair played dumb.
"Their identities aren't something I can reveal. Don't ask."
"You only need to know this—
their background is enormous, far beyond anything we can afford to provoke."
"They'll handle Alex themselves."
"This battle is no longer ours."
Since Red-Hair had put it that way, no one pressed the matter further.
Everyone was smart.
Although Red-Hair had never explained anything outright, as members of such a close-knit crew, they could vaguely sense that their captain's background was anything but ordinary.
He seemed to have certain connections with the Five Elders.
But this was far too sensitive a matter, and Red-Hair clearly wished to keep it hidden. Naturally, no one would question him further.
This time was no different.
Though everyone had their own guesses, since Red-Hair chose not to speak, no one asked.
They trusted him completely.
After that, Red-Hair arranged for the ten Yonko-level experts sent by the Five Elders to stay in a secluded area of the island.
No one was allowed to disturb them.
The crew was completely isolated from those people.
Then everything returned to normal.
They went about their usual routines, as if those ten Yonko-level figures had never appeared at all.
They simply waited for Alex to arrive.
And so—
About seven days later.
Whoosh!
A figure appeared abruptly within the Red-Haired Pirates' base.
The entire place fell instantly silent.
It felt as though a massive mountain had pressed down on everyone's chest, making it hard to breathe.
All eyes turned instinctively toward that suddenly appearing figure, their hearts clenched with tension.
Alex had arrived.
"Alex, you shouldn't have come."
Red-Hair, however, remained far calmer than the others. He slowly stood up and shook his head with a sigh.
"Shanks, now I'm really starting to get curious—what kind of background do you actually have?"
A look of surprise appeared on Alex's face as he glanced at Red-Hair with interest.
The reason was simple.
The moment Alex arrived on this island, he sensed the presence of ten other powerhouses.
Ten people—each at Yonko level.
He had to admit it.
Red-Hair's hidden foundation was absurdly deep.
To prepare such a lineup just for him—
Even Alex was taken aback.
He had never known that there were actually so many emperor-level figures hidden in the world.
And yet, so many beings of that caliber had remained completely secret, never revealed to the world at all.
That alone was highly intriguing.
"I know eliminating the Yonko was never your true intention."
Red-Hair shook his head again, his face filled with emotion.
"Killing you isn't my intention either. I don't want to be involved in this mess at all."
"So… I'm sorry."
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
The moment Red-Hair finished speaking, several figures flashed.
The ten Yonko-level powerhouses appeared before Alex like ghosts.
"So you really came just to kill me."
Alex showed a hint of curiosity again, calmly voicing his deduction.
"You're not Red-Hair's men, and you can't be from the Navy. That leaves only one possibility."
"You belong to the World Government."
"You're the Five Elders' people."
Alex had arrived at their identities with barely any effort.
It wasn't difficult.
With the Navy having only three Admirals, what organization could possibly field a lineup like this?
Anyone with half a brain could guess it.
"You talk too much."
"Die!"
The Yonko-level powerhouses didn't bother wasting words.
With a cold snort from one of them, all ten charged at Alex simultaneously.
Boom!
Alex moved, triggering a deafening sonic boom on the spot.
Boom boom boom!
Several heavy collision sounds rang out in rapid succession.
Because they occurred almost at the exact same instant, the sounds merged into one.
And along with that sound—
The ten Yonko-level powerhouses were all sent flying at the same time.
The entire island shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
Then—
There was no "then."
All ten Yonko-level powerhouses lay motionless on the ground, completely lifeless.
"What?!"
Red-Hair, now reduced to a mere spectator, cried out in shock, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Dead.
All dead.
Ten Yonko-level powerhouses—instantly killed!
That was ten Yonko-level experts!
Just how powerful was Alex?!
How could something like this be possible?!
And as the shock faded, a deep sense of unease rose in Red-Hair's heart.
The Five Elders must never have imagined that Alex would be this terrifyingly strong.
If Alex flew into a rage and attacked Mariejois—
Could the Five Elders really stop him?
Unless…
They were forced to use the Ancient Weapons.
To think that dealing with a single individual might require the power of an Ancient Weapon—
Red-Hair didn't even dare to imagine it.
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