One piece: Establishing a Pirate Family

Chapter 181: Give Me a Face

A tall and imposing figure stood before Marco and the Whitebeard Pirates, shielding them from further harm.

"If we continue this battle, the losses on both sides will only continue to mount. If there's anyone still dissatisfied, how about I join in?"

Charlotte spoke seriously, gripping his Seven-Star Sword, its blade radiating a domineering aura. His sharp eyes locked onto Sengoku as he took measured steps forward.

Trample! Trample! Trample!

His footsteps echoed across the deck.

All the navy personnel looked at the infamous Rockefeller Charlotte in astonishment and instinctively stepped back.

The vice admiral who had been struck down lay motionless in the wreckage of the cabin, his life or death uncertain.

Charlotte, known as The Blood Swordsman, was once the captain of the 8th Division of the Rocks Pirates. His swordsmanship was renowned as the strongest in the world, earning him the title of the World's Greatest Swordsman.

"What's the plan, Sengoku?"

Charlotte's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable weight. He adjusted his sword, pointing the tip downward as he waited for a response.

"Charlotte..."

Sengoku frowned, contemplating his next move.

The entire battlefield fell silent.

Even Whitebeard, who had been locked in combat with Sengoku moments ago, pulled back Murakumogiri and turned to observe. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, but his expression remained composed.

Above them, the Golden Lion hovered in midair, a cigar between his teeth.

"Hahahaha! You've really become quite the man, Charlotte!" Shiki laughed heartily, watching the exchange with amusement.

Both pirate crews, as well as the navy, remained on high alert, their weapons at the ready. Zefa clenched his fists, his Armament Haki still activated, waiting for Sengoku's command.

Then, Sengoku sighed.

His massive Buddha form began to shrink, returning him to his original state.

Seeing this, Charlotte also dissipated the Seven-Star Sword from his grasp.

"Everyone, how about you give me some face and stop this battle here?"

Charlotte turned his gaze to Whitebeard and Shiki, hoping to put an end to their fight.

Whitebeard closed his eyes for a moment, his mind weighed down by the losses his crew had suffered. When he opened them, his expression was heavy, but his decision was firm.

"Fine."

Whitebeard, though reluctant, acknowledged the reality. Many of his beloved sons had perished in this battle. Their smiles, their laughter—gone forever. The Whitebeard Pirates would need time to recover from this loss.

"Hahahaha! No problem! I'll give you some face, Charlotte!"

Golden Lion Shiki, always one to recognize when it was time to retreat, sheathed his swords. Unlike Whitebeard, his crew had suffered minimal losses. The pirates who had died were insignificant to him, and his key subordinates had only sustained minor injuries.

With a smug grin, Shiki adjusted his coat and flew toward his fleet.

"This fight isn't over, Whitebeard! But today, we're heading home! Hahahaha!"

At his command, the Flying Pirates began their withdrawal.

Sengoku, seeing this, immediately issued an order through his communicator:

"All navy units, prepare to evacuate!"

This operation was a total failure the moment Charlotte arrived.

Even though Whitebeard and Shiki had been locked in battle for four days and three nights, capturing them was no longer feasible. With Charlotte now in the mix, the navy risked being completely wiped out.

The navy had brought over 10,000 elite soldiers, including two admirals, eight vice admirals, and numerous high-ranking officers.

However, Charlotte's presence alone had turned the tide.

If a prolonged battle broke out, even with their numerical advantage, the navy would face severe casualties. Worse, if the war escalated, other major pirate crews in the New World might seize the opportunity to strike against the navy.

After all, the New World belonged to the pirates.

Many navy officers were unwilling to retreat, but they looked to Admiral Zephyr for confirmation.

Zephyr, though reluctant, nodded in agreement.

Defeated, the remaining navy soldiers withdrew their weapons and began their retreat.

---

The Aftermath

Whitebeard returned to the Moby Dick alongside his sons, carrying the bodies of those who had perished.

His beloved ship had suffered extensive damage, with the bow completely shattered from the intense battle.

Charlotte, seeing the solemn atmosphere, said nothing.

"Charlotte! How about coming aboard for a drink?"

Whitebeard suddenly turned back, addressing Charlotte, who stood on a smaller boat nearby.

Charlotte looked up at the towering figure of Whitebeard at the bow of the Moby Dick and nodded.

With a flash of movement, he landed on the deck in an instant.

Whitebeard narrowed his eyes slightly.

Charlotte's speed alone was enough to make him reassess his strength.

For the first time, Whitebeard truly saw Charlotte as an equal.

---

Meanwhile, the navy fleet continued their retreat.

Whitebeard and Charlotte stood side by side at the Moby Dick's bow, watching the navy ships disappear into the horizon.

This battle had taken a heavy toll.

The Flying Pirates had suffered minimal losses, with only expendable members killed. Their core strength remained intact.

The navy, despite retreating, had managed to eliminate a large number of pirates, and they still had nearly 10,000 troops intact.

The Whitebeard Pirates, however, had suffered the greatest loss.

Unlike Shiki, Whitebeard cared deeply for every member of his crew. Many of them had been with him since the beginning, and their deaths left a deep wound in his heart.

Now, only a handful remained—including Marco and the other surviving "sons."

Whitebeard's expression was filled with grief.

"Newgate, are you alright?"

Charlotte, sensing Whitebeard's heavy mood, asked with concern.

Losing so many of his sons must have shattered Whitebeard's spirit.

Whitebeard opened his eyes and gave Charlotte a calm, unreadable look.

"Hey, hey! I just saved your son, you know! What's with that cold expression?"

Charlotte chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

Whitebeard sighed.

"Charlotte, thank you for your help. I will repay you after I bury my sons."

His voice was heavy with sorrow.

With that, the Moby Dick set sail, its damaged hull creaking as it moved.

Charlotte remained aboard, with his own ship following closely behind.

---

When Charlotte first heard about the conflict between Whitebeard and Golden Lion, he refused to believe it. After all, this battle never happened in the original history.

But when he saw the navy fleet mobilizing, he realized he couldn't afford to take risks.

With Carter and a small team, Charlotte hurriedly set sail, hoping to intervene before things escalated too far.

Although he had arrived a few days late, at least no major catastrophe occurred.

Now, the battle was over.

Whitebeard and Shiki were both still alive, and the navy had retreated.

That was enough.

For now.

To be continued...

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