https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-179-Enhanced-Bone-Crushing-and-Ash-Scattering-Version/13536145/
Chapter 180: Where's the Peaceful Life We Were Promised?
Chapter 180: Where’s the Peaceful Life We Were Promised?
On the Ice Battlefield, the crashing Warship landed precisely where Jozu had created an opening by lifting a massive block of ice, splitting the vessel in two as it plunged into the seawater.
“Crocodile!”
“Jinbei!”
“That’s the Revolutionary Army’s commander Ivankov!”
“And that’s Luffy too! What’s going on—how can these people be working together?!”
The Navy soldiers were in shock at seeing such world-famous pirates. The remaining two, however, went largely unnoticed.
One was Buggy, and the other, Frank.
Buggy didn’t mind being ignored—it was actually a relief. He was too focused on figuring out how to escape this war right now. But Frank felt a surge of resentment.
Back when they’d been rescued from Impel Down, Buggy had earned some criminals’ admiration thanks to his status as a former Roger pirate and his bizarre antics in the prison. But Frank had gained his reputation through sheer strength—his bragging rights were hard-earned.
A bounty of 98 million Belly without any special status meant nobody respected him much, but as Kuro had once said, even in Impel Down, Frank had kept boasting about his exploits to his cellmates.
Now that Frank was in Impel Down, he figured he’d never get out anyway. Since his bounty hadn’t reached 100 million, he exaggerated his achievements like crazy to push past that mark.
The Navy’s official charge against him was: Assaulting a Navy flagship. That brief phrase left plenty to the imagination.
That flagship had carried Navy hero Garp, Grand Councilor Hogback, three Admirals, and countless Vice Admirals.
“You might not realize what kind of pirate can attack a ship packed with such big shots. We call him a ‘pirate hero.’”
He’d talked it up endlessly in prison, describing the sheer intensity of charging that warship and his heroic defiance against the Navy’s top brass. It earned him a nickname behind bars: [Mad Frank].
Then Luffy showed up at Impel Down and got him released.
He’d gathered a crew of pirates, teamed up with Luffy’s group, and fought their way out of the prison together. During the battle, his Devil Fruit ability—granting superhuman speed—had proven invaluable, earning him genuine respect.
“Think I’m being ignored? Just wait. I’ll shock you all on the battlefield. My bounty’s definitely going up after this war. I’ll show the world—Frank’s name will shake the seas!” he vowed silently.
“Jinbei, is this your answer?!” Sengoku roared as he spotted the fishman.
“That’s right! I’m done being one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!” the whale shark Fishman bellowed back.
“Whitebeard!”
Crocodile leapt behind Whitebeard, smirking. “Long time no see. You look older.”
Bang!
He was immediately intercepted by Luffy, who was already soaked with seawater. So this guy was ready for him?
Meanwhile, Kuro’s team had entered the battlefield. Before coming, they’d found a doctor to treat Klah’s injuries and rushed back to the front lines.
Kuro’s face wasn’t looking great—his hand gripping a ship’s rudder (from the wrecked warship), which had flown out of nowhere and smacked him in the head.
“Oh~ Kuro, you’re back,” Lucius Kro glanced at him, then turned to the icy battlefield. “Impel Down seems to be falling apart. Even Magellan’s failed? These prisoners are terrifying.”
“That’s Jinbei?” Lida asked curiously, eyeing the whale shark Fishman. “Rare. I’ve eaten whale shark before—tastes just okay.”
Kuro twitched his mouth. He dreaded Lida adding something like, What about Fishman meat?
Fishmen might have fish traits, but they were biologically human. Their blood was the same.
Meanwhile, Luffy had finished talking with Whitebeard and was rushing toward Ace.
“Luffy!”
Lucius Kro kicked forward, unleashing a thin beam of light aimed at Luffy. If hit, it would instantly incapacitate him.
“Death Wink!”
Ivankov blinked rapidly, sending a shockwave that deflected Luffy aside. The beam nearly grazed him, instead slamming into the ice and erupting in a massive explosion.
“Whoa, Ivankov’s scary,” Lucius Kro scratched his head, then turned to Kuro. “Kuro, it’s your turn.”
“Pass, old man,” Kuro shrugged. “I’ve still got internal injuries. Let me rest. Send Klah instead—he’s got a personal grudge against Luffy anyway.”
Right—once the war ended, if he got caught holding back, the old man would definitely target him. Better to let Klah take the fall.
Klah, on the other hand, was just a regular Navy captain in Whitebeard’s eyes. No real threat.
Klah’s glasses fogged up with two question marks. He glanced at his bandages, then at Kuro, who wasn’t missing a single hair, suddenly feeling drained.
How far had he been pushed?!
He suddenly remembered Kuro’s promise when inviting him to join the Navy.
Looking at the chaotic battlefield, bitterness welled up inside him.
This was the peaceful life they’d promised?
Luffy!
It was all Luffy’s fault!
If it weren’t for him, he’d never be here!
“Luffy!”
Klah roared, activating Shave, and shot forward like a dart.
“Wait—is this really a good time for him to go in?” Lida asked.
“No problem. Everyone’s pulling back. Klah can just scrape along the edges. As long as he’s careful, nothing serious will happen.”
Kuro smirked. Let me return the favor!
If Whitebeard’s attack hadn’t messed up his records, he’d have mysteriously lost dozens of captain merits after the war. Did they really think he’d forget?
Besides, Klah would survive. After all, he’d been hit by Whitebeard’s attack and was still hopping around. With the Navy swarming the battlefield, as long as he didn’t charge recklessly like before, he’d just scrape by with minor injuries.
“Come to think of it…” Lucius Kro suddenly turned to his Transponder Snail. “Hello, hello? Sengoku? Huh? Why’s there no response?”
“Grandpa, that’s a bug,” Kuro smirked, dialing Sengoku on his own Transponder Snail. “Hello? Kuro here.”
“Kuro, is that you?”
“Time to start the encirclement plan. Bring the warships in.”
“Got it, Kuro. You heard that, men! It’s time to surround them!”
As Sengoku’s voice rang out, numerous warships began closing in from beyond the icy battlefield.
Once the pirates stepped onto this frozen harbor, the next move was to cut off their escape with warships.
“Dad, something’s wrong—there are warships approaching from behind!” a captain shouted.
“Hmm?”
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes toward Sengoku. “Gurararara! Still playing tricks, Sengoku? Split into two groups and take out those warships first!”
Immediately, Whitebeard’s captains divided to intercept the approaching warships.
But…
This plan was too naive.
If escaping was as simple as dodging a few warships, the Navy would’ve never made this obvious mistake.
The real trap was Sengoku himself—and the Pacifista.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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