The Shrine.
Enel lay on his chair, leisurely eating a banana.
Suddenly, a hint of a smile flashed in his half-closed eyes.
He spoke, "Hahaha! Those Shandians have made their move too!"
Outside the attic stood several men with thick black beards, clad in white robes, with small wings on their backs and books in their hands, resembling true angels.
One of the men looked up and bowed to Enel, asking, "God, to deal with those pirates, are four priests enough? Is it necessary for Captain Yama, along with his fifty Divine Soldiers, to join the fray?"
"You underestimate those pirates too much!"
Enel tossed aside the banana peel and gestured to the waiting attendant. "Tea!"
The attendant turned, took a teapot from the table, poured a cup of tea, and then, placing the teapot down, picked up the cup and walked towards Enel. Bending down, she placed the cup in his hand.
Enel raised the cup to his lips, blew gently, and then drank the tea in one gulp. He then returned the cup to the attendant's outstretched hands.
Turning back to the priests outside the attic, he crossed his legs, his foot tapping rhythmically. He chuckled softly.
"That troublesome Shandian, what was his name again."
"Wiper, War God Wiper."
"Hmm... him,"
Enel stroked his chin, a peculiar smile gracing his face. "I sensed earlier that this fellow had gone down to the White Sea and hadn't reappeared. He either couldn't get back up from the White Sea, or these pirates took care of him."
"If it's the former, that's one thing."
He lowered his hand, looked at the priests, and continued, "But if it's the latter, then it gets interesting."
"Yehehehehe!!"
Though he spoke seriously, his laughter revealed his contempt and arrogance.
"Hmm..."
Enel blinked, then laughed, "It seems these Shandians want to have a spar with these pirates!"
"Very well, let them test if these pirates are truly as he suspects."
For within his Observation Haki, he could only sense the emotions of some of the pirates, but one individual remained completely undetectable.
This was why he had gathered the Divine Soldiers to Apis Island.
Although he didn't believe these pirates could threaten him, if his suspicion was correct, then perhaps the four priests were indeed no match for them.
After all, these were his subordinates, the guards he planned to take to the Infinite Earth. He couldn't let them fall easily!
White Sea.
Beside Apis Island.
Kouta and the Shandians encountered each other.
They were originally searching for the natural harbor where the altar for parking Merry was located in the original story.
Unexpectedly, they didn't find the altar but were instead cornered by these clearly hostile Shandians.
Why were they considered hostile?
Because the moment they arrived, they pointed all sorts of weapons at them.
If it weren't for a woman in the opposing group trying to de-escalate, these guys might have already opened fire.
Well...
And then what after firing?
That could be imagined.
At the bow of the Freedom, everyone stared at the Shandians with keen interest.
They seemed completely oblivious to the danger of the weapons pointed at them, displaying no defense, only a hint of amusement in their eyes.
At this moment, it seemed the Shandians had finished their discussion.
Kamachiri, carrying his greatsword, walked out with Laki.
Kamachiri stepped forward and unhesitatingly shouted at the group standing on the deck of the Freedom, "Hey! Who's your leader? I have a question."
These people were also accustomed to their own arrogance. While not as extreme as Wiper, they still presented themselves rudely when facing outsiders.
The group on the deck did not move.
"Hey! I asked who your leader is??"
His voice clearly carried a hint of anger, but the group still didn't move.
Just as Kamachiri was about to lose his patience, a figure very familiar to them appeared on the bow of the Freedom.
"Gan Fall?"
Seeing him, the Shandians were momentarily stunned, then quickly recovered.
After all, this former god had helped these pirates numerous times before, and this was not their first encounter.
It was just strange this time. Gan Fall had boarded the pirate ship and dared to come to the land of God.
Wasn't he afraid of Enel discovering him?
"Hey! Gan Fall."
Kamachiri's gaze shifted to Gan Fall, and he shouted, "Since you're here, tell me, have you seen Wiper?"
Before Gan Fall could reply, Alo spoke up, "Haha! You wouldn't be looking for the guy who looks similar to you, holding a cannon barrel, would you!"
"You've seen him?"
"Yes! I have."
Alo nodded.
"Then where is he now?"
At this moment, Laki stepped forward and said earnestly, "Please tell us where he is."
"Where?"
Alo touched his chin, thought for a moment, and then looked up at Laki's expectant eyes, smiling.
"I'm sorry, little lady. This trip might be a disappointment for you."
He spread his hands to his sides, shrugging with a helpless expression.
"That guy is probably already completely turned to ashes!"
"Ashes??"
Laki stared at Alo with disbelief, her body swaying. Then, as if a thought struck her, she quickly turned, grabbed Kamachiri beside her, and yelled anxiously, "Calm down, calm down, you must calm down, Mantis."
This guy was known as "Mantis," though he bore no resemblance to one. It was unclear why.
Perhaps it was because he wore a pink feathered outfit similar to Doflamingo's that he had Mantis's arrogance?
"You, you, you guys are all going to die."
Kamachiri shoved Laki's hand away, drew his greatsword from his back, and the sword seemed to sense his rage, its blade instantly wreathed in flames.
The numerous Shandians behind him raised their weapons once more.
Click! Click! Click!
The sound of bullets being chambered was incessant.
"Kouta-san!"
Seeing that a fierce conflict was about to erupt, Gan Fall quickly turned to Kouta. "Can you please let them go? If you kill them here, then our Angel Island and the Shandian tribe will have no chance of coexisting peacefully."
He didn't want these Shandians to die here. He was well aware of the strength of Kouta's group. If a conflict broke out, these Shandians would be purely walking to their deaths.
Kouta glanced at Gan Fall, then turned to the Shandians, raising his wine gourd and taking a long drink.
"Have you thought this through? Do you really want to open fire?"
His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached every Shandian's heart. Then, an overwhelming pressure they had never experienced in their lives swept across the battlefield in an instant.
The pressure was like a pair of invisible hands, smoothing out the churning sea of clouds around them and suppressing the anger in everyone's hearts.