Chapter 1182 - 693: Kuzan, Join Me! (2)

Van Augur at this time had already walked forward, raising his sniper rifle in hand, extending both hands forward, "I will pledge allegiance to you!"

Devon widened her eyes, "Augur! You!!"

"I was qualified from the start."

Van Augur didn’t even look at Devon, he just said, "Whether from the perspective of ability, the vacancy in reconnaissance sniping, or what the Disaster Pirates often say about my ’style’, none of it is lacking. After all, before the split, I got along pretty well with Disaster, we both came from the East Sea, naturally, I have the right to surrender."

"Not bad."

Sage nodded approvingly, "I do admire you, Van Augur, clear-headed, good-natured, and most importantly, as a subordinate, you faithfully carry out orders, very good. You’re the one I favor the most, as for that Shiryu fellow, initially didn’t want him, but from a lethal standpoint, now he’s indeed a good sword, you two should get along well."

Shiryu lay there not dead yet, he took one glance and knew Lily’s intention.

"Then I also..."

Swoosh!!

A beam of black-red light pierced through Devon’s body, who was about to speak, shattering and dispersing her Ushioni illusion, revealing her original form.

"I don’t like you, Devon."

Sage extended a finger, grinned, and said, "You’ve always been offensive, especially in Egghead, you became even worse. Back then, considering Teach was still my partner, I didn’t hold you accountable, but that doesn’t mean your offenses can be ignored."

"I’ve always heard that you want to skin the faces of my subordinates, who gave you the guts to dare covet my subordinates? Previously on Hive Island, you didn’t die, that’s just your luck. But this time, your luck... can’t overpower my strength." Sage smirked coldly.

"I..."

Devon slowly extended her hand, still trying to plead, "Actually, I can too, Sage, I can also..."

Whoosh...

The sea breeze blew, completely dispersing Devon into ashes within the fortress.

Teach had the capability to withstand his attacks several times, that was his skill, as expected of the Four Emperors with the Dark-Dark Fruit and immortality.

But if his subordinates also had this ability, then Sage might as well just kill himself.

However, there was one subordinate exception...

Sage looked towards Kuzan, who was not far away and barely moved, and smiled, "What do you think?"

"Oh my, do I still have a chance?"

Kuzan scratched his head, "I tried to stop people from rescuing your subordinates."

"That doesn’t matter, rescue or not, I would win. Just now, I heard you talking about tests or something, was that your test for me?" Sage asked.

"I would like to, however, I seem not to be stronger than you, Sage."

Kuzan said, "You are truly terrifyingly strong now."

"No need to come here, you Logia-types are the hardest to deal with. Whether strong or not, there’s truly no one who can restrain me from leaving. Kuzan, since Teach is gone, whatever you want through Teach, I can give it to you."

Sage extended his hand, "Come to my side, the Issho who succeeded you is also here with me. You have nowhere to go anyway, certainly not planning on returning to the Navy to continue being an Admiral? The Navy is negotiable, but the World Government is not easy to negotiate with."

"I don’t have any intention to continue being with the Navy, my ideologies clash with Sakazuki’s. As long as he’s Fleet Marshal, I won’t continue being with the Navy." Kuzan said.

It’s not a struggle for power, simply a conflict of ideologies.

If it were Kizaru switched in, Kuzan wouldn’t have uttered a word. Back then, when both he and Akainu were Admirals, neither could control the other; it was just about not seeing eye to eye within a system.

However, with Akainu as Fleet Marshal, he would be considered half a superior, all behavior models must align with Akainu. Such radical Navy methods were unacceptable to him.

Though he now understands that after Akainu stepped up, his behavior began to gradually recede too, also understanding that some things were difficult to decide on.

But his essence would not change, fighting against the World Government for the Navy’s justice, but as long as it concerns his notion of justice, he doesn’t care about innocent people.

This nature, Kuzan doesn’t like.

Whether it was the former ’Passionate Justice’ or the current ’Lazy Justice’, what he has always protected is not something extreme.

"Your invitation, it is indeed good..."

Kuzan shook his head and smiled, "Not the first time being a pirate anyway, you can also withstand that. Sage, if I switch to your side, surely there will be a bounty, at that time, your alert level, will become frighteningly high."

"Hohohoho! Isn’t it already high now? The moment I defeated Teach, I was already the highest on the sea!"

Sage laughed loudly, "Revolutionary Army revolting, Sun God or whatever, in my brilliance, they all pale! Come on, Kuzan, I can give you the world you want better than the truth!"

"In my domain, no innocent people are killed, all the slaughter is for a better future! Look at O’hara, it’ll be more vibrant and prosperous than when you came before! You can reshape this world any way you like!"

Kuzan is indeed the first elite, whether from a command perspective, an internal affairs level, or in terms of combat power, he’s overwhelmingly strong.

A person with a Navy Admiral background, what hasn’t he witnessed?

Recruiting him, Lily could at least reduce her workload by half, and also stabilize the currently governed territories faster.

A versatile Kuzan, a calm and all-purpose support Van Augur, a sharp Demon Sword Shiryu.

With these three people, no matter where placed, they can swiftly eliminate surrounding instability, speedily absorbing territories in.

This wasn’t like Issho, still pondering, thus only took the Security Officer role.

This is for being a pirate!

"Ah... well, I believe you on this point."

Kuzan nodded, walking a few steps forward, looked at the vacant Teach, sighed, "What a pity, Teach... initially wanted to see One Piece with you, along with the World Government’s truth, the latter I’ve seen, the former... it might be a bit slower now, since you’re defeated."

Their formation was originally based on interests, never any loyalty involved.

People lose, naturally, it disbands.

Kuzan initially intended to find what he desired through Teach, including the World Government, though now confirmed, what Teach acquired indeed ascended to the level the World Government or the heavily concealed things by the Celestial Dragons, although not explicitly stated, Kuzan always had an idea.

As for One Piece, Sage’s power had grown large enough to ignore One Piece’s level, going forward, just wait for the burn-scarred man to appear, that thing will present itself.

Before that...

"Looking at O’hara, also not bad." Kuzan said in a deep voice.

O’hara...

The place destroyed, the place he personally experienced and transformed his thoughts, had unexpectedly reappeared in such a manner.

"What do you plan to do with Teach, he’s undying."

Kuzan thought for a moment and said, "Freeze him then sink him in the sea? Find a cold climate sea area, that will keep him eternally frozen."

In dealing with undying beings, Kuzan also had his own way.

Freezing suffices.

"He’s still useful."

Sage at this time looked towards the faintly visible Red Earth Continent, grinned ferociously, saying:

"As for informing, I’ll do so, Teach can only die with me, once disappeared, I will bombard Mary Geoise, just to cause them more chaos!"

He’s not someone without any means to deal with the World Government.

Even if there’s an agreement on not using Ancient Weapons, he also has ways to threaten Mary Geoise.

Especially now in this environment, their forces are all withdrawn to deal with the Revolutionary Army, so there’s no way they would defy his intent.

Unless they prefer an even bigger headache.

But certainly, this has a time limit, before they react, before Teach’s demise, he has to figure Teach out, see what exactly is his physique.

After he dies...

The fruit will come on its own!