Chapter 307: Chapter 307: Ohara’s Will
Chapter 307: Ohara’s Will
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It must be said that Uchiha Madara was an exceptionally proud man.
There was another reason he didn't kill Shanks outright- He had already lost an arm.
Madara understood that this man's combat power must have been affected no matter how minuscule and yet he was so strong, so he earned his respect.
But Shanks and Benn Beckman were left utterly dumbfounded at his question, their mouths hanging open in shock.
"Are... you here to ask for directions?" they asked, almost in unison.
Seeing the irritation on Madara's face, Shanks looked at Beckman who proceeded to give him the directions needed.
Madara didn't even acknowledge them or ask them to repeat... he just left.
Even after Uchiha Madara left, Shanks and Benn Beckman exchanged bewildered looks, both feeling like they'd been caught in a fever dream.
"How can someone be that arrogant... just to ask for directions? He looked like he was about to pick a fight," Shanks muttered, still reeling from the experience.
"Do you think I took that beating for nothing?" Shanks asked, rubbing his bruises with a mix of confusion and indignation.
"Seriously? You're the one complaining? If you hadn't gotten in this mess, I wouldn't have had to step in and get punched around too," Benn Beckman scolded him sharply.
Benn wasn't just frustrated; he was genuinely annoyed.
The whole thing had been absurd, and he couldn't help thinking they would've been better off if Shanks had simply let himself be beaten.
But something else gnawed at him.
"What do you think Uchiha Madara was going to Whitebeard's territory for?"
Despite the inexplicable beating, Beckman's strategic mind took over.
A force like Madara wouldn't move without a purpose.
"Maybe he's going for a drink? Though sake drinking with Whitebeard isn't as fun as with
me," Shanks mumbled, scratching his head, seemingly oblivious.
Beckman resisted the urge to smack him again, wincing in pain from moving his hand, as he reminded Shanks.
"Was now really the time to joke around?"
Ignoring his captain's antics, Benn got on the Den-Den Mushi and started making calls, connecting with the other captains, and gathering intel.
Despite Shanks's carefree attitude, the Red-Haired Pirates didn't keep their Four Emperors status through recklessness alone.
They commanded several allied crews who helped manage their territory and gather crucial information.
Soon, Beckman pieced things together.
"So, Uchiha Sasuke was there, too... They must be planning to challenge Whitebeard."
"What? Sasuke wants to take on Whitebeard?" Shanks exclaimed.
"No, his captain, Portgas D. Ace, was the one challenging him," Benn Beckman clarified with a sigh.
They exchanged a look, and Shanks's expression grew serious.
"The sea's balance was already fragile. We need to stop this clash before it erupts into chaos."
"Yeah, right." Benn scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"We just got beaten black and blue. If we waltz into Whitebeard's territory, he'll take it as an invasion and that will lead to an outright war, and if Madara and Whitebeard do end up fighting, it'll send shockwaves across the world, and we can't stop that anyway"
Shanks fell silent, considering the weight of Benn's words. The repercussions would be catastrophic.
****
Grand Line, Alabasta
After his call with Uchiha Madara, Colt looked... almost baffled.
"What happened?" Robin asked, her voice soft and curious as she massaged his shoulders.
She'd never seen this particular expression on Colt before.
Colt chuckled, the humor of the situation finally sinking in.
"Madara was lost. He told me to wait because he went in the wrong direction and met Shanks. After beating him, he got the right direction"
Robin raised an eyebrow, barely able to contain her smile.
The fierce and terrifying Madara had no sense of direction? And on his way, he'd somehow managed to give Shanks a beating?
'That was indeed... funny'
Still, Colt found it amusing-Shanks's "peacekeeping" act was a constant annoyance.
"A pirate pretending to be a hero. Maybe that'll humble him a bit."
Colt's chuckle softened as he looked out over Alabasta, his eyes sharp and calculating.
"Nami, Robin-get ready. We set sail tomorrow!"
Nami perked up at this.
She'd been more than ready to leave Alabasta's endless sands behind and was eager for the
new journey.
The only thing keeping her sane was the steady income from her trading.
"Where to? Are we heading for Sabaody?" Nami asked, her face lighting up with excitement.
"Nope," Colt replied with a shake of his head.
"First stop is Water 7. We need a ship built just for us."
The East Blue didn't have any renowned shipwrights, but Water 7 did.
If Colt wanted to command the seas, he needed a ship worthy of the endeavor.
Nami's eyes gleamed as she imagined it.
Their current ship was good, but it wasn't truly theirs, and nothing beat the idea of a vessel
made to their specifications.
She started mentally designing her cabin, listing off ideas for what she wanted onboard.
Robin watched with a soft smile as Nami chattered about her plans.
This warmth, this camaraderie... It was something Robin had never known on any crew before
this.
But Colt's next words made her heart pound.
"Robin, I meant what I said about the truth behind Ohara. The secrets of the world, one byn/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
one, I'll help you reveal them."
Robin paused, her heart hammering.
The caring tone in Colt's voice touched something deep within her.
These days, he had been treating her very well, and she was starting to appreciate both him
and Nami.
She tried to smile, but her voice wavered, "Ohara is gone, Captain. I'm just trying to survive, now. As for the history... it doesn't matter much anymore."
Colt's gaze was unwavering, though, as if seeing right through her façade.
"The past is humanity's treasure, Robin. It'll light the way forward."
Robin looked away; her face tight with emotion.
How could he understand her so deeply?
She felt her defenses easily slipping.
"Protecting the future, including yours... that was what we do."
That one sentence seemed to strike something in her soul.
Robin's vision blurred with unshed tears.
In his words, she heard the echoes of voices long silenced, faces from a lost past urging her
forward.
Colt reached out, wiping a tear from her cheek.
"Ohara's choice was reckless, Robin, but some things have to be done regardless of the
consequences. When the dust settles and the fire is rekindled, it is humanity's wisdom and resilience that will forge a legacy. The Will of Ohara... can't be erased."
His words lingered, filling the room with a quiet resolve.