Yes, it was over.
After the two ships sailed past the wreckage of the port.
The first thing they saw was the colossal, dismembered corpse of Kaido, lying on a piece of island debris.
Their gazes moved past Kaido's body to see the corpse of Charlotte Linlin, who had shrunk by two entire sizes, lying on another fragment.
Like Kaido, her head was severed from her body.
It was evident at a glance that they had been killed by the same person.
"As expected, it's too late!"
Upon seeing Charlotte Linlin's corpse, Shanks sighed inwardly.
He shook his head, quickly suppressing the annoyance of the impending chaos in the New World after Charlotte Linlin's death. He then looked up, searching for the silver-haired figure he had never met but whose name was already renowned.
Finally, at the very top of the cliff, on a balcony of the royal palace highlands, he spotted the silver-haired figure.
At that moment, as if sensing Shanks' gaze, the silver-haired figure turned his head, his cerulean eyes looking at him with a hint of curiosity.
"Silver Hair."
"Red Hair."
Kong Tai had sensed Red Hair's arrival before he even reached Dressrosa, so he wasn't surprised to see him, only curious.
He raised his gourd, gestured a toast to Shanks from afar, and then spoke, "Shanks, I've long heard of your legend, and I've also heard of you from that guy Mihawk. How about it, let's have a drink."
His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly crossed the vast distance and reached Shanks' pirate ship clearly, as if whispered into their ears.
"Shanks."
At this moment, all members of the Red Hair Pirates stood at the bow of their ship, their faces grave as they stared at the silver-haired figure standing on the balcony atop the cliff.
Although they felt no aura from the silver-haired man, two individuals of Shanks' caliber were lying dead here.
And this was all the work of that kid. While they knew conflict was unlikely, their understanding of the silver-haired man was solely through hearsay and newspapers. Who knew what his true personality was like?
Therefore, seeing the silver-haired man in person, no one in the Red Hair Pirates dared to be careless.
Shanks extended his right hand and waved, signaling his crew not to be so serious.
He didn't sense any malice from the silver-haired man.
So, looking at Kong Tai, he smiled slightly and replied, "Since Brother Silver Hair invites me, and I've also heard of you from Mihawk, I've wanted to meet you for a long time. I'll impose on you today then."
With that, he turned and signaled his crew to sail closer.
Kong Tai nodded to Shanks from a distance, then turned his head to look at another ship.
He also raised his gourd and chuckled, "Heh heh!! Sabo, it's been a long time since we've met! I can't believe nine years have passed. Why don't you all come over and join us for a get-together!"
"Sabo, you know Silver Hair?"
On the merchant ship, Koala looked at Sabo with surprise.
"No, I don't."
Sabo shook his head.
"You don't? But Silver Hair said you've met. Someone of his stature wouldn't mistake your name at first glance, he wouldn't lie, would he!"
Koala clearly didn't quite believe Sabo's words.
Sabo first nodded, then shook his head, and then looked up at Kong Tai, saying, "I really don't know him, but he probably knows me. I just don't know how he knows my name."
"Hmm! How so?"
The more Sabo spoke, the more confused Koala became.
At this moment, a trace of memory appeared in Sabo's eyes. He said, "My memories before the age of ten are completely gone due to an injury. If Silver Hair has seen me, it must have been when Dragon-uncle rescued me."
"I heard Ivankov mention that the night Dragon-uncle rescued me, they were docked at Shimotsuki Village, and Silver Hair's hometown is Shimotsuki Village. I believe Silver Hair saw me back then!"
"I can't believe he still remembers after so long."
They had come this time to see if there was an opportunity to sway Dressrosa, which might be disillusioned with the World Government after the recent disaster, towards the Revolutionary Army.
Dragon had told him before they left that if necessary, and if they encountered an insurmountable enemy, they could seek help from Silver Hair.
He figured Dragon-uncle must also know Silver Hair.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have said such a thing to him.
And he hadn't expected that as soon as he arrived, Silver Hair would call out his name directly.
His name, after all, was known only to a limited number of high-ranking members within the Revolutionary Army.
He hadn't yet graduated and had only just begun to represent the Revolutionary Army at sea. Before achieving any significant results, even as Dragon's disciple and one of the most valued juniors among several high-ranking members, he wouldn't be qualified to hold a high-ranking position in the Revolutionary Army, nor would he be known to everyone.
Now it seemed, Silver Hair not only knew him, but might even know about his past.
Thinking of this, Sabo looked up at the silver-haired figure standing at the highest point of Dressrosa, a strange glint in his eyes.
No one wanted to be someone without a past, and he was no exception.
But both Dragon-uncle and Ivankov only knew that he might have come from the Goa Kingdom in the East Blue.
As for any specific details, they didn't know.
He had spent years training at the Revolutionary Army headquarters and hadn't had the chance to return to the East Blue, so he had never known his true past.
And today, he had met someone who might know his past.
For someone who had always wanted to understand his past, this could be considered good news, and his mind became active at that moment.
"Sabo, Sabo, Sabo."
Koala's hands clutched Sabo's arms, shaking him incessantly.
"Huh? What is it?"
Sabo snapped back to attention, turning his head and looking at Koala in confusion.
"Honestly, why are you zoning out again!"
Koala released Sabo's arms and asked with concern, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"That's good."
Hearing Sabo say he was fine, Koala breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, "Silver Hair called us over, should we go?"
"Go, why wouldn't we."
Sensing Koala's nervousness, Sabo smiled slightly, reached out and patted Koala's head, saying, "Don't worry, Silver Hair knows Dragon-uncle, he knows Ivankov, and you saw, he knows me too. It's fine."
"Oh... is that so!"
For some reason, Koala's nervousness disappeared from her face, replaced by excitement.
Yes... it was like a fan, excited about meeting her idol.
As for the legendary Silver Hair, who had just killed two Emperors, it was impossible not to be curious.
Moreover, Silver Hair had also killed a Celestial Dragon a month ago, whom she deeply detested.
She was indeed excited to have the opportunity to see the man himself up close this time.
Sabo watched Koala, whose attitude had instantly changed upon hearing there was no danger, and shook his head with a wry smile.
He then gestured to the middle-aged man standing beside him like a butler, gave him an instruction, and looked up at the royal palace highlands, lost in thought.
To be honest, at this moment, even Sabo felt a little nervous.
Nervous about Silver Hair's power, and also nervous about the past that Silver Hair might know.