15 Chapter 15

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015: The Consequences of Moving Celestial Dragons, Bai Ye's Real Identity, Is He a Retired Veteran?

Thirty-eight years after the end of the Rocks era, there was a shocking piece of news: someone had dared to attack Celestial Dragons and had even killed one.

This explosive news overwhelmed the attention of Whitebeard Pirates from all over the world in just half a day.

At the same time, an elderly man wearing a spotless white shirt and carrying a tachi sword with a hilt called 'Dongfa Shuozi' caught countless eyes. While many were guessing his identity, he attracted the attention of countless people.

After all, daring to take action against Celestial Dragons is not something ordinary people can even imagine, let alone directly killing a Celestial Dragon.

Nearly four decades after the Rocks era, such an action was tantamount to a provocation or, should it be regarded, a horrific act of declaring war on the World Government!

To this day, how many years has it been since no one has dared to challenge the behemoth of the World Government? Even stamping one's feet is enough to cause earthquakes throughout the world.

One can imagine, in this special period when the Marine government is about to battle the Whitebeard pirates, the World Government faces the challengers that appear at this time with a terrifying reaction.

Naval Headquarters.

"Dead... dead?"

"How could this be...!"

"How many years... Has there been a force similar to Rocks in these seas again?"

In the conference room, learning that the Celestial Dragons were dead, everyone present couldn't help but look at each other, each seeing the shock in the other's eyes. They couldn't help feeling a dry throat and swallowing saliva. Not even the elite Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel, sitting in the back, was spared. His heart couldn't stop shaking.

Dead?

Died!

Killing a World Noble Celestial Dragon is completely different from merely threatening the world's noble Celestial Dragons.

As executives at Naval Headquarters, the Vice Admirals present basically had the qualifications to know the truth of the past. Not to mention everything, but all Marines who could participate in the meeting essentially knew that before the rise of Pirate King Roger, there was an even more vicious pirate era, the Rocks Pirates.

Though the history of the Rocks Pirates has been nearly completely covered up, the influence left by them is far from disappearing. For example, the strongest man recognized in this era, Whitebeard; "The Strongest Creature" Kaido, and "Big Mom" Charlotte Linlin, among others, were former members of the Rocks Pirates. Also, the Golden Lion, who broke into Naval Headquarters in the past and caused countless Marine casualties, was part of their legacy.

One can only imagine how terrifying the power of the Rocks Pirates was back then. But even they were destroyed, disbanded in the Valley of the Gods thirty-eight years ago. The real reason for their destruction stemmed from them, led by Rocks, attempting to move against Celestial Dragons.

You can dominate the sea, occupy territory and plunder. You can also become a local emperor. But once anyone dares to make a move on Celestial Dragons, the ending is bound to be a hit by the World Government.

"There's some trouble now with the death," said Kizaru, his mouth open, eyes flashing with astonishment. Apparently, he hadn't thought that someone would not fear the power of the World Government and wouldn't even plan to use the Celestial Dragons as bargaining chips or just kill them for wealth.

Dead. No matter how fast he was, it would be too late to save him.

"The Rocks Pirates...?" Hearing this long-ago name, Tsuru murmured with a solemn expression.

"So, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what's the current situation in the North Blue?"

"That's right. Is it true that the person who shot the Celestial Dragons really wants to become the second Rocks pirate group?" A Vice Admiral, shocked at heart, came back to his senses and couldn't help but ask.

Now the battle between Naval Headquarters and the Whitebeard Pirates is imminent.

If a force with ambitions comparable to the Rocks Pirates appeared on the sea at this time, even those present, thinking with their toes, could understand the seriousness of the situation.

"Do not..." Sengoku shook his head, seeing everyone's eyes fixed on him.

He slowly said, "The Rocks pirate group has become a thing of the past, and there will be no second Rocks, but the one who dares to kill the Celestial Dragons this time..."

Sengoku paused, retrieved the World Government's emergency order file, and extracted a photo from it. Addressing everyone, he continued: "The person who made this move, according to confirmed information, is only one person."

"One, one person?!"

"What?!"

"How is this possible?!"

Seeing the photo that Sengoku took out, depicting what appeared to be an elderly man, Huoshandao's expression changed.

"This must be a joke, right? Fleet Admiral Sengoku, even in the North Blue, the Celestial Dragons, who are nobles of the world, usually have special escort warships, including the local top Marine generals, to protect them."

"...With North Blue's local strength, how could one person achieve this?!"

"That's right," Sengoku nodded. "It's unbelievable but, according to the World Government's information, there is indeed only one person. And this person has never had a pirate bounty record at sea. Now that you're here, do you have any information about this individual?"

"A person with no pirate bounty record...?"

"Is this person insane? They're not a pirate, and they're not part of the North Blue mafia, so why attack the Celestial Dragons?"

"And to neutralize the escort warships and the local Rear Admiral—with such strength, why would they remain so unknown?"

As the discussion unfolded in the conference room, everyone felt a chill down their spines.

But in that moment, no one realized that when every Vice Admiral was discussing the old man in the photo, the Marine Vice Admiral seated next to Huoshandao focused his eyes on the man in the photo, and his pupils trembled.

Instantly, Flying Squirrel's mind went blank.

"This... how is this possible...?!"

"That retired veteran?!"

Looking at the man with indifferent eyes in the photo, Flying Squirrel was overwhelmed, his nerves beating wildly.

The reason Bai Ye was instantly recognizable was due to his involvement in the events surrounding the destruction of a town in North Blue. The Flying Squirrel had specifically investigated a G64 branch Colonel Marine who was a veteran nearing retirement.

But he could never have imagined that a few days ago, the retired veteran not on his mind at all...

Flying Squirrel's face became extremely ugly.

Looking at the tense conference room, he forced himself to calm his shaking heart.

He could only speak up, though he decided to omit the details of the town's destruction in North Blue.

After all, revealing the full story, even as a Marine Vice Admiral, he could never bear the responsibility involved!

Thus, in this meeting room here, the true identity of Bai Ye was known only to the Marine executives present.

The 'madman' who dared to kill the Celestial Dragons in the North Blue.

The reason for no pirate bounty record?

The man had served in the Marine branch for forty years.

A veteran who had recently retired!