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Chapter 99: Setting the Rules
The sea breeze blew.
On the reef, only Blake and the three "background props," whose faces had turned completely black, remained.
The last sentence the News Coo had brought as it flew away, like a sharp spike, jabbed deep into the hearts of the three powerhouses present.
Kneel in worship?
The air was filled with a dead silence, making the sound of the waves crashing against the reef seem exceptionally piercing.
Dragon's face was like an eternal glacier, unmoving, but a bulging vein on his temple betrayed his current mood.
"Kneel in worship?"
Those two words were low, hoarse, and carried a chill that could freeze the air.
He, Monkey D. Dragon, the world's most heinous criminal, the leader of the Revolutionary Army whose mission was to overturn the world... if this got out, how could he continue to be the boss? How could he lead a revolution!
Garp's face was also twitching madly. He didn't really care, but it would affect the Marines' reputation.
Damn clickbait!
What a bunch of animals. I just hope Sengoku's little heart can take the shock.
Kizaru, on the other hand, looked like he couldn't care less.
Just as the three were lost in their own thoughts, their expressions shifting... Blake moved.
Snap!
Another crisp snap of the fingers.
The flashy black suit and gold-rimmed glasses instantly vanished, replaced by his ordinary casual clothes.
Blake stretched his body, a look of disdain on his face.
"Tch, this is much more comfortable. Suits are so restrictive."
This casual posture, this relaxed tone... it was as if the man with the overpowering aura, like a manipulative mastermind, had just been an illusion.
Garp's mouth twitched. Are you a chameleon, brat!
"Alright, the farce is over."
Blake clapped his hands.
"Now, let's talk about business."
Business?
Garp, Dragon, and Kizaru all tensed.
It's here.
We're finally getting to the main point.
Whether it was Kizaru representing the Marines, or Dragon representing the Revolutionary Army, their purpose in coming here was for this man.
For the power he held, a power that could change the world.
"Oh, right."
Just as the atmosphere reached its most tense, Blake suddenly changed the subject, as if remembering something.
"I almost forgot. There's still some trash to deal with."
"I hope he's learned his lesson."
He looked up at the sky.
The three instinctively followed his gaze.
The massive "new moon," compressed from islands, seawater, and the wreckage of the Golden Lion's fleet, still hung quietly in the broad daylight, exuding an oppressive, heart-stopping aura.
It was a testament to a power so great it would make any strong fighter in the world despair.
Blake lazily raised an arm, his palm facing the man-made moon in the sky, fingers spread, and then slowly uttered one word.
"Dispel."
His voice wasn't loud, light and airy, as if he were talking about something trivial.
However, in the next second...
BOOM——!!!
High in the sky, that terrifying star, tens of thousands of meters in diameter, began to disintegrate without warning!
The seawater that formed the sphere poured down like a heavenly river, crashing toward the sea below in a torrential downpour!
Countless massive boulders and twisted shipwrecks fell from the sky, kicking up monstrous waves!
The entire world seemed to be facing its end at this moment!
Among the countless falling objects, a tiny figure also fell straight down.
It was the unconscious Golden Lion Shiki.
Blake didn't even look at him, just casually lifted a finger.
An invisible gravitational force caught Shiki's body, allowing him to float down slowly, like a feather.
Plop.
Golden Lion Shiki, the legendary great pirate who had once contended with the Pirate King Roger and single-handedly fought his way through Marine Headquarters, was tossed at their feet like a dead dog.
His eyes were closed, his body soaked, his face still holding the extreme terror and despair from before he was sealed.
His once-unrivaled arrogance and dignity were now completely gone.
The reef was dead silent.
Only the wild wind and rain whipped against everyone's faces, cold and biting.
Garp looked at the unconscious Shiki at his feet, then looked up at the sky, which had already returned to clarity. His throat bobbed.
He felt that his heart, which had been tempered by countless storms, was a bit overwhelmed today.
I thought I was strong, dominating everyone in the dungeon, but I'm still no match for this kid. No, I can't be lazy anymore. This is the perfect age to go out and make a mark!
"You brat..." Garp's voice was dry. "You... really do what you say."
You said you'd let him 'cool off,' and you really just let him cool off.
"What else?"
Blake lowered his hand, stuffed it back in his pocket, and retorted as if it were the most natural thing.
"He's just an old man who can't see the situation clearly."
"Ahem..."
Kizaru coughed dryly, trying to break the oppressive atmosphere. He pointed at the Golden Lion on the ground and asked cautiously.
"So... Mr. Blake, this... what should we do with him? Do you need us Marines to help escort him back to Impel Down?"
Blake shook his head, as if he'd heard a boring suggestion.
"That won't do."
"No matter what, he is... my potential customer."
"Even if he disrespected me, spoke rudely to me... did you see me do anything to him? I just punished him slightly."
"How can I just send him to prison?"
Kizaru looked at the dead-dog-like Golden Lion, his mouth twitching!
You call this 'punished slightly'?!
Then what do you call 'severe punishment'? Crushing the sun?!
Blake's gaze moved from the Golden Lion, slowly sweeping over the other three present.
Marine Admiral, Kizaru.
Revolutionary Army Leader, Dragon.
Marine Hero, Garp.
These three were, barely, in the "rule-abiding" camp. Dealing with them was relatively easy.
But there were plenty of people like the Golden Lion on the seas. He couldn't personally deal with them every time, could he?
Blake's original intention was just to find some "power-levelers" to help him clear those dungeons, while he sat back, reaped the benefits, and collected the leveling fees and system rewards.
But these unruly people were completely ruining his harvesting efficiency. At this rate, it would take him several more years to become the strongest in the universe.
Damn it!
This is simply outrageous!
Does this mean I have to stand guard here every day, like a diligent NPC at a dungeon entrance, welcoming every adventurer who comes to challenge?
That would make me a pure-blue workhorse.
Blake refused to do such a thankless job.
He should be the one making the rules, not the gatekeeper reacting to them.
He had to establish a new, efficient system, one that would completely free him up.
In that case, it was time to set the rules!
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