Super Card System

Chapter 598: Drake's Request

Chapter 598: Drake's Request

In the New World, there’s a saying that has been passed around: pirates who come here either challenge the Four Emperors or submit to them.

This is because, across the entire New World sea, the territories have already been divided up by the Four Emperors. A group of ambitious Supernovas with their own ideals inevitably find themselves in conflict with the forces of the Four Emperors over interests once they cross the Red Line and enter the New World. Their notoriety with bounties exceeding hundreds of millions, coupled with confidence in their own strength, leads these Supernovas to first choose to challenge the Four Emperors rather than submit.

However, the harsh reality will severely crush their spirits…

About a week ago, Drake and his pirate crew landed on a winter island in the New World. However, this island was a territory of Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, and members of the Beasts Pirates were stationed there.

The leader looked like a cyborg. Upon seeing Drake, he immediately issued a warning.

Drake, however, completely ignored the warning and took down the leader directly.

Drake’s actions successfully attracted the attention of the Beasts Pirates, and thus his troubles began. The Beasts Pirates sent forces to retaliate, and for an entire week, Drake’s pirate crew faced multiple pursuits, each wave stronger than the last.

Unable to stay on the island they had seized, Drake had no choice but to take his crew to sea and flee. However, not long after setting sail, another group of Beasts Pirates was already tracking them. This time, the pursuers were led by three formidable captain-level figures.

Drake fought them, but found himself outnumbered and outmatched. He had no choice but to fight while fleeing. When they reached this particular sea area, the sounds of cannon fire reached the Sky Island above, catching Ian’s attention.

Ian didn’t have strong feelings about Drake. Although Drake’s Devil Fruit ability, an ancient Zoan type, was quite unique, Ian and Drake had little interaction. They had only met once, back on Sabaody Archipelago, where Ian had saved Drake. After a few words of thanks, Drake had left.

So, when Ian saw Drake’s pirate crew, he initially didn’t plan to intervene. However, upon seeing that the ships behind them belonged to the Beasts Pirates, Ian immediately changed his mind.

Floating high in the sky, Ian’s body emitted streaks of lightning. He reached out, summoning a dark thundercloud that appeared in the sky.

This was a weakened version of his Ultimate Thunderbolt. Satisfied with its intensity, Ian swung his hand down, and bolts of lightning crackled through the air, striking the five ships of the Beasts Pirates below with dazzling electric flashes.

At this moment, the Beasts Pirates were entirely focused on the Drake Pirates ahead, completely unaware of the impending threat from above. When the five thick bolts of lightning suddenly descended and simultaneously struck their ships, they hadn’t even realized what was happening.

Boom! With a tremendous roar, the ships of the Beasts Pirates struck by Ian’s lightning bolts were immediately blown to pieces in a burst of white light. The fragments, charred black by the electric current, scattered everywhere, and the Beasts Pirates members on board were instantly fried.

The three captains leading the Beasts Pirates, though not dead due to their strong bodies, were thrown into the sea along with the disintegrating ships. As Devil Fruit users, falling into the water essentially meant death, especially since they were unconscious when they fell.

The pirates of the Drake Pirates stared in astonishment at this scene, unable to comprehend what had just happened. They had only seen a few bolts of lightning fall, and then the Beasts Pirates behind them were completely annihilated.

Drake, however, quickly understood. He raised his head and looked toward the sky, and immediately saw Ian flying high above!

The large black flame wings were so striking that it was impossible to ignore. These wings had almost become synonymous with Black Dragon Ian. Even though Drake couldn’t see Ian’s face clearly, he instantly realized who had come to their rescue.

After watching the Beasts Pirates’ ships all sink, Ian slowly descended, hovering above the Drake Pirates’ ship.

“Ah! It’s… it’s Black Dragon Ian!”

Upon recognizing who it was, the pirates of the Drake Pirates were terrified. After letting out a startled cry, they didn’t dare to make another sound, nervously looking up at Ian.

Drake placed a hand on his chest and bowed to Ian before speaking. “Lord Ian, this is the second time you’ve saved me…”

Ian landed on their deck, retracting his wings, and then asked, “You’ve got some guts, challenging Kaido so recklessly?”

“…” Drake glanced around and gestured for Ian to follow him. “Can we talk privately?”

Ian was taken aback for a moment. Drake’s expression suggested he had something to discuss privately, but Ian found this strange. He didn’t think he had that kind of close relationship with Drake for a private conversation.

Saving Drake’s pirate crew was just something Ian did in passing. He had planned to exchange a few words and then leave. He hadn’t expected Drake to want to invite him for a private chat.

Curious, Ian thought for a moment before nodding in agreement. He followed Drake into the cabin of his pirate ship. The surrounding pirates looked at Ian with reverence, understanding that their captain had something important to discuss with this esteemed guest, and none of them dared to approach.

Once inside the captain’s quarters, Ian didn’t stand on ceremony. He sat down on a sofa and said, “Alright, it’s just us now. What do you want to talk about?”

Drake took a deep breath and said, “Forgive my boldness, but I didn’t expect to encounter you here. In fact, I originally intended to seek you and your pirate crew out specifically, but I didn’t know where your base was…”

“Hmm? You specifically came to find me?” Ian stroked his chin with interest. “What do you want from me?”

“Well…” Drake hesitated for a moment before finally saying, “I watched the live broadcast of the New Edd Sea Battle.”

“Uh-ha…” Ian responded, waiting for him to continue.

“If I’m not mistaken, the light orb you extracted from Kaido’s body at that time was Kaido’s soul power, or rather, his lifespan, right?” Drake said.

“Why are you asking about that?” Ian asked, frowning.

“I was wondering what you did with that lifespan orb?” Drake’s expression was tense as he stared intently at Ian, his eyes filled with urgency.

“What does that have to do with you?” Ian replied, a bit annoyed.

Drake noticed Ian’s irritation and quickly raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Please don’t misunderstand. I have no intention of prying into your abilities. I just want to know if Kaido’s lifespan power is still in your possession. If it is, could you… could you give it to me?”

Upon hearing this, Ian’s eyes glinted with a dangerous light. He looked at Drake with a half-smile and slowly said, “Oh? Do you plan to use this thing to threaten Kaido? Or are you trying to return Kaido’s lifespan to him to curry favor and use it as a stepping stone to join the Beasts Pirates?”

In Ian’s memory, Drake eventually joined the Beasts Pirates. Ian wasn’t sure what had happened to him, but if this guy couldn’t withstand the Beasts Pirates’ pursuit and intended to defect to Kaido now, it wouldn’t be surprising.

However, if he wanted to obtain something to please Kaido from Ian, he was making a grave mistake!

Sensing Ian’s increasingly intense killing intent, Drake also realized that his words had seriously caused a misunderstanding. If he didn’t explain quickly, Ian might strike at him in the next moment.

Drake was quite self-aware; he knew that if Ian wanted to annihilate his pirate crew, it would be effortless for him, and Drake wouldn’t even be able to resist.

So, after some thought, Drake gritted his teeth and decided to come clean with Ian.

“Lord Ian, I believe you’ve heard of me!” Drake said. “Though I’m a pirate now, many still call me the Fallen Rear Admiral…”

Ian nodded. He had indeed heard this title associated with Drake.

Seeing Ian patiently listening, Drake relaxed slightly and continued, “That’s right, before becoming a pirate, I was indeed a Rear Admiral in the Navy. But you may not know that I served in the Navy’s Scientific Division…”