Chapter 48: I'm Not Familiar With Him, Really
A black cloth covered Whitebeard, Blackbeard crawled under it, while the other members of the Blackbeard Pirates stood guard around them.
Two minutes later.
"What is this!"
Blackbeard's startled cry came from beneath the black cloth, as blue electric arcs spread outward.
……
On the other side of the deep ravine, Su Xiao was blocked by a large group of Marines. Behind this group of Marines was the Whitebeard Pirates, who were being besieged.
"He... why is he here again."
The large group of Marines blocking Su Xiao's path slowly retreated. Even though Su Xiao was heavily injured, they no longer dared to surround him. Every time they had besieged Su Xiao, the Marines had paid a heavy price. Aura was something earned through bloodshed.
"Kukulin, you won't take another step forward."
Sengoku's voice rang out. Su Xiao didn't speak; an Apollo slid from his sleeve.
"Move aside, or I'll blow this island to the bottom of the sea."
"..."
Sengoku's cheek twitched. Moving aside was impossible, but he couldn't ignore Su Xiao's threat either. If anyone else held an Apollo, Sengoku might doubt whether they would dare detonate it while risking themselves. But facing Su Xiao, Sengoku had no doubt he would do it.
"Sengoku, are you sure it's worth killing all these pirates? Whitebeard is already dead. If too many die on the battlefield, can you still... invade the New World?"
Su Xiao tossed the Apollo in his hand, looking as if he would really detonate it. In reality, without certainty, he wouldn't set it off. Though he wasn't afraid of death in battle, he wouldn't choose to sink into the sea along with an island.
"Portgas D. Ace is still alive."
Sengoku's meaning was clear: negotiations required sincerity. He wanted both Whitebeard and Portgas D. Ace to die at Marineford; this concerned the Marines' honor.
"He won't die, at least not before the war ends. As for after the war, what you do to him has nothing to do with me."
"You bastard."
Sengoku couldn't quite understand Su Xiao's meaning, unaware of the tasks related to the Soul Severing Shadow Stone.
Just as he was confronting Sengoku, Su Xiao suddenly received a notification from Reincarnation Paradise.
[Announcement: Whitebeard·Edward Newgate has fallen. All tasks related to Edward Newgate will now be settled.]
[Tip: The Hunter participated in the battle against Whitebeard. Settling...]
Seeing the notification from Reincarnation Paradise, Su Xiao was initially puzzled, then realized that when he detonated the three Apollos, Whitebeard wasn't dead yet. The impact of the Apollos had clearly affected Whitebeard; earlier, he had seen burn marks on Whitebeard.
[Announcement: Settlement complete. Killer: Marshall D. Teach. As this is a kill by a plot character, the kill reward will be reduced and settled based on the proportion of damage dealt to Whitebeard.]
[Contractor 1***7 (Taylor) gains 10.3% kill contribution.]
[Contractor 1***4 (Apus) gains 15.7% kill contribution.]
[Contractor 1***3 (Xiaodoudou) gains 0.81% kill contribution.]
[Contractor 1***3 (Bai Ye) gains 2.75% kill contribution.]
[Contractor 1****8 (Lota) gains 0.92% kill contribution.]
……
……
The kill reward distribution had dozens of entries, most below 0.2%, clearly from low-rank contractors who had attacked Whitebeard from a distance. While the fifth-rank contractors ate the meat, they got the soup.
[Tip: Main Mission 2 has failed (Dismantle the Blackbeard Pirates).]
[Tip: Due to Marshall D. Teach's failed (temporary) attempt to seize the Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability, Main Mission 2 has no penalty.]
[Tip: The Hunter's Main Mission 4 is 57% complete. As kill contribution is below 5%, this mission cannot be completed.]
[Judging...]
[Detected that the Hunter had multiple contacts with Edward Newgate and significantly influenced his actions.]
[Detected that Edward Newgate's death is directly linked to the Hunter. Yes/No to consume 600 Battlefield Merits to purchase 2.25% kill contribution. The contractor receiving these merits must pay an equivalent kill contribution.]
[Detected that the Hunter is fifth-rank, making the Battlefield Merits obtained highly valuable. Low-rank contractors receiving these merits will gain additional rewards.]
……
Seeing these notifications, Su Xiao decisively chose to pay 600 Battlefield Merits. His Main Mission 4 was originally impossible to complete, but Whitebeard's death was closely related to him.
This wasn't because Su Xiao had made a significant contribution in killing Whitebeard. Based on Su Xiao's guess, it was likely due to the 'Heart Sustaining Device' he had placed inside Whitebeard's body.
That device ensured Whitebeard's heart beat normally, and it was also part of Su Xiao's plan. After he had previously rejected joining Blackbeard's side, he intended to scheme against Blackbeard.
Su Xiao couldn't control the Heart Sustaining Device. With Whitebeard's Observation Haki, if Su Xiao had planted a bomb or something similar inside him, Whitebeard would definitely have detected it. So Su Xiao chose a passive device. Though uncontrollable, as long as Whitebeard's heart stopped beating, it would activate. It clearly had no destructive power, but it successfully affected Blackbeard's attempt to seize the fruit ability.
Although it deviated from his expectations and failed to dismantle the Blackbeard Pirates, the 'Heart Sustaining Device' played a key role in completing Main Mission 4.
In truth, after fighting Blackbeard in the giant pit, Su Xiao had little hope for Main Mission 2. As for Main Mission 4's requirement to kill Whitebeard, he also hadn't held much hope. Completing Main Mission 1 and Mission 3 was already quite good.
[17 Battlefield Merits consumed.]
[19 Battlefield Merits consumed.]
……
……
[Tip: The Hunter has gained 2.25% kill contribution. Kill contribution has reached 5%. Main Mission 4 completed.]
[You have received Growth-Type Equipment Chest ×1.]
The Battlefield Merits were more sought after than Su Xiao had imagined; within seconds, they were snapped up by those low-rank contractors.
Clearly, the Battlefield Merits Su Xiao obtained were of the highest value. Sometimes, killing an elite Marine didn't even yield 1 Battlefield Merit. Using his Battlefield Merits, one could exchange for high-rank equipment, items, etc. For low-rank contractors, this was a chance to turn their fortunes around.
"Sengoku, look over there."
Su Xiao pointed toward the harbor. A large red ship was rapidly approaching; it was the Red Hair Pirates' ship.
"Red Hair, could it be..."
Sengoku thought of the worst possible scenario: the Red Hair Pirates taking advantage of the Marines' weakest moment to attack Marineford. But Sengoku felt this was unlikely. He knew Red Hair somewhat; given Red Hair's style, the likelihood of such an action was very low.
"All troops, fall back to formation."
The shouts of various officers echoed across the battlefield. The Marines besieging the Whitebeard Pirates, though unclear about the situation, still obeyed and withdrew, giving the Whitebeard Pirates a moment to catch their breath.
At the edge of the battlefield, three Warlords stood or sat nearby. Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, wanted to rescue Luffy, but her remaining rationality told her she couldn't do so yet, or her country would face utter destruction.
"Fufufufufu, a new era is coming. How interesting."
Doflamingo's loud laughter made Hancock frown.
"Doflamingo, you seem quite free. How about helping me treat my injuries?"
Hearing this 'voice of nightmares,' the smile on Doflamingo's face froze. A super major plague had arrived.
Su Xiao stood near Doflamingo, blood dripping from his sleeve. Hancock, not far from Doflamingo, silently moved a few steps away. Mihawk remained seated on a nearby pile of rocks.
"We're not familiar."
Doflamingo seemed to be making a last-ditch effort. Given Su Xiao's ferocious performance on the battlefield, anyone associated with him now would be in big trouble. Even Doflamingo was no exception.
"Is that so? Then forget about the previous matter."
Su Xiao sat on a large rock. The war was ending; he could just watch the show from now on. Hearing Su Xiao's words, veins bulged on Doflamingo's forehead. If everything had gone smoothly, he would have gained a huge profit. However, Su Xiao seemed to be reneging on the deal.
"I forgot to tell you, I recently joined the Revolutionary Army."
"..."
Doflamingo turned his head, his expression clearly saying: he really wasn't familiar with this person.