Raising Legends in Roger’s Shadow

Chapter 288 288: Spoils of War, the Right to Plunder

Rose vines suddenly coiled around the children's waists. Vita reeled them back to their seats as if tugging on kite strings. Her ice blue eyes swept over the restless little troublemakers.

"Where do you think you are going?"

Ace struggled and pointed toward Golden City. "That is five billion. That is enough to buy…"

"I do not know what it can buy," Sabo cut in, adjusting his glasses, "but it can buy us an uncle."

Ann slammed her greatsword into the ground with a clang. "The rules say minors are not allowed." She frowned, then suddenly pointed at Laboon, who was also tangled in vines. "Then why is he allowed to go?"

Laboon barked. "Woof."

(I am not going either. Can you not see that I am tied up too.)

Vita walked over and gently herded the children back toward the uncles' table. "Be good. Fried pork cutlets are coming up. If you are late, you will miss them."

"Gurarara!" Whitebeard took a swig of sake, then shoved Marco forward. "My sons will represent the Whitebeard Pirates in this race!"

Marco asked blankly, "Old man, do I even meet the age requirement?"

"Shut it!" Whitebeard flicked Marco on the forehead. "In my eyes, you are all still brats!"

Jozu quietly raised his diamond clad hand. "I think I am pretty old…"

Vista snapped his slender rapier in half with a sharp crack. "Is that really the point right now?!"

Reid glanced at the hazy projection behind him. "Then I will be clear. The Crimson Dawn Pirates, all of us, will not participate. And Whitebeard…" He paused. "Edward Newgate, the Marine hero Monkey D. Garp, and the three admirals are also excluded. Everyone else is free to join."

"Let me explain the rules," Reid continued. At that moment, Golden City appeared to rise on a surging dark current, like an upwelling waterfall.

"Head east from here. There is a towering island out there. Do you see those rising sea currents, like this?"

"This is a grand ocean race. I will give each of you a Log Pose. There is a treasure chest on that island. Bring the chest back to Golden City and the five billion is yours."

Reid's figure slowly rose. Behind him, a massive crimson throne condensed in the air. He shouted down at the crowd, "Do you want my treasure? I put it all there. Go find those two treasures. Go seize the wealth you will never spend in a lifetime. Go take it!"

"Everyone, the race begins!"

Golden City Harbor exploded into chaos.

"Where is my boat?" Dracule Mihawk scanned the sea for his little coffin boat. Then he reconsidered. With this many warships charging out, it would be stranger if his tiny craft had not sunk.

"Fufufufu," Donquixote Doflamingo's strings coiled around the giant serpent ship of the Kuja Pirates. "Hancock, how about we cooperate?"

Boa Hancock snapped back, "Get lost, Perfume Femur!"

"Fufufufu." Doflamingo's strings snapped back to his flamingo ship, stretching the hull like a slingshot. "Then I am off first."

"Move it, move it!" Buggy yelled as his ship shot forward.

Meanwhile, Shanks's Red Force stayed strangely still. Benn Beckman clenched a cigarette between his teeth and asked, "Captain, what are you waiting for?"

"Let them spread out first," Shanks said with a grin, pressing down the brim of his straw hat.

"Prosperity!"

The Germa snail warship suddenly transformed, six cannons locking onto the horizon. "Electromagnetic pulse cannon. Full power!"

Vinsmoke Judge's wild laughter vanished in the thunder of explosions. Using recoil as propulsion, the warship shot into the rising current.

"Mom, we cannot lose," Charlotte Perospero cried, candy ropes lashing around three enemy ships and dragging them into the stepping currents. Charlotte Katakuri's scarf whipped in the wind. "Three o'clock. Whirlpool ahead."

Blue flames wrapped the Whitebeard Pirates' warship as Marco surged forward. "Jozu!"

Momousagi swept her long blade in a graceful arc. "Vice Admiral Tokikake, please steer properly."

"Of course," Tokikake replied, a rose between his teeth. The Marine ship swerved at a terrifying angle to dodge cannon fire. "But stealing pirate money as Marines feels a bit improper. Would you accept my proposal?"

"I refuse," Momousagi said coolly. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku already cut our budget. We carry the future of the Marines. Take this seriously."

Shanks judged the moment right. The Red Force suddenly dipped beneath the waves, a layer of bubble film coating its hull. "Shortcut time."

Beckman roared, "The rules never said we could not dive!"

"Dream on. Split!" Buggy's head and one hand popped up above the Red Force and jabbed straight through the bubble film.

In Buggy's eyes, the treasure mattered. But needling Shanks mattered even more. If he had to choose, annoying Shanks beat getting rich.

Mihawk's little boat lay quietly at the bottom of Golden City Harbor. His black blade brushed the water's surface. "The waves are too rough."

With one clean slash, he split the water, carving out a dry corridor. He leapt onto his coffin boat, scooped seawater back into place with both hands, then cleaved downward again. The sea rushed in, lifting his boat and carrying it forward.

Inside the vast banquet hall, countless visual Den Den Mushi snapped their eyes open. Above every racing ship, a News Coo carried a camera snail on its head, broadcasting everything live.

Whitebeard sat cross legged in the stands, Murakumogiri bobbing beside him. "Gurarara! Those brats are fighting hard!"

Garp's bag of rice crackers was suddenly snatched.

"You little punk!" He chased after one of Reid's blood mist clones around the venue. "Give the old man back his donuts!"

Borsalino's sunglasses reflected the chaos. "Oh my, how scary."

"Ah! This is the legendary commentary duo, Mole and Motor! I am honored to witness this event and even more honored to commentate. I am so moved. Thank you, Lord of the Mist. Thank you, Crimson Mist. Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"The craziest race in history has officially begun!" Mole shouted from the highest watchtower of Golden City, wings flapping as he stared into the camera snail. "Enough chatter. Let us focus back on the battlefield, no, the racetrack."

Motor retorted, "Uncle, if you keep this up, the audience will think we are unprofessional."

Bang.

Mole blinked. "Wow, even the screen switching sound effect is advanced."

Motor sighed. "It would be better if the screen switch actually came with sound."

The mini Den Den Mushi above Motor's head immediately switched feeds. "Ah! First up, the Germa 66 tech warship. They are actually using electromagnetic cannon recoil to accelerate!"

The sea erupted as Marco's blue flames wrapped the Whitebeard Pirates' ship while it punched through the waves. Mole shouted excitedly, "The Whitebeard Pirates are closing in. Wait!"

Momousagi's pink blade carved a clear lane through the water. "Special propulsion unit from the Marine Science Division. Activate!"

The stern of the Dog Head Marine Ship belched smoke and shot past several vessels. Motor's camera caught Tokikake dropping to one knee. "Vice Admiral Momousagi, if we win, will you marry me?"

Momousagi let out a slow breath. Thankfully, because this mission mattered so much, Fleet Admiral Sengoku had personally upgraded the Dog Head Marine Ship.