At the beginning, I summoned Li Jing, who is very cold, and I will fight against Hawkeye!

Chapter 545 Hidden

The bonfire flickered in the night, illuminating Aokiji's slightly tired face.

He had been sitting here since Shanks left, as if blending into the darkness around him.

The firelight flickered on his small sunglasses, casting a somewhat cold light.

At this time, Blackbeard walked out from the shadows, the emotions on his face had been mostly restrained.

He strode over to the campfire, his eyes fell on Aokiji, a smile forming on his lips.

"Hey, Kuzan, you haven't slept yet?" Blackbeard sat down opposite Aokiji, with a hint of teasing in his voice.

At the same time, his eyes swept across Aokiji's face, trying to see something from that calm face.

Aokiji did not respond immediately, but just raised his eyes slightly. Through the reflection of his sunglasses, the firelight danced in his eyes.

After a moment, he said calmly: "Shanks was just sitting here."

Blackbeard's smile froze instantly, his body tensed unconsciously, and he even stood up subconsciously.

His eyes flickered, as if he was weighing something.

Aokiji ignored his reaction, picked up a branch and gently poked the campfire.

Sparks flew, reflecting his calm yet deep gaze.

"It seems that you won." Aokiji's voice was still calm, as if he was stating something very ordinary.

Blackbeard narrowed his eyes, with a hint of probing in his tone: "Do you... think he can win?"

"That's right." Aokiji raised his head and looked directly at Blackbeard, "I didn't expect that the dignified Red-Haired Shanks would really die this time."

The corners of Blackbeard's mouth twitched slightly, and the smile on his face was a little loose. He pursed his lips and said in a low voice: "Do you doubt me?"

"It's not doubt, but certainty." Aokiji's voice was still calm, but with an unquestionable firmness.

He turned his head, the light from the bonfire cast half shadow and half light on his face, making him look particularly cold.

"If it was just the two of you fighting, even if you attacked by surprise, you wouldn't be able to take out Shanks so easily, let alone come out unscathed."

Blackbeard's expression changed, and he was about to open his mouth to explain, but was interrupted by Aokiji.

"I'm not interested." Aokiji's voice was as cold as ice, "You are the captain, your thoughts are your business.

I'm just curious, between you and Shanks, who will come out on this side."

As he spoke, he gently raised his hand, and the campfire was instantly covered by a layer of ice. The flame struggled for a few times under the ice before finally going out completely.

"Now it seems that he has lost, completely, and even lost his life."

Blackbeard was silent for a moment, then he let out a deep laugh: "Haha, isn't that how the world of pirates works? The winner takes it all, the strong prey on the weak."

Aokiji did not respond immediately, but just looked at the frozen bonfire quietly.

After a moment, he slowly stood up, his eyes swept over Blackbeard, his tone meaningful.

"So, do you think you will be the king or the bandit, Tikki?"

Blackbeard's smile froze on his face and a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't answer right away.

Aokiji didn't wait for him any longer. He turned and walked into the darkness, and his figure gradually disappeared into the night.

It took Blackbeard a long time to come back to his senses. He looked down at his hands, and two completely different powers slowly emerged in his palms.

The corners of his mouth rose again, and there was a bit of madness and ambition in his smile.

"Of course I am the king, the only king!"

……

On the other side, in the tall and spacious house of the giants, in a hidden corner on the top of the beam, is the hiding place of the Cross Guild.

At this moment and place, the death of Red-Haired Shanks certainly did not affect other people, but for Buggy, an indescribable ripple arose in his heart.

It felt like he had suddenly lost a vital part of his life, leaving him a little confused.

"Could it be that he was frightened by that terrifying monster?" Buggy muttered to himself.

I leaned against the wooden steps beside me.

He held his chest tightly with his right hand, as if this could ease the anxiety and throbbing in his heart.

Just then, a light sound of footsteps came from far away.

Buggy slowly turned his head and saw Crocodile walking towards him slowly with a cigarette in his mouth.

When Crocodile approached, he stopped and stood next to Buggy.

Those sharp eyes were now staring at Bucky with an extremely complicated expression, as if trying to see through his appearance and into the secrets deep in his heart.

After a long while, Crocodile finally broke the silence and said, "Clown."

These two simple words seem to contain thousands of words.

Crocodile never expected that Buggy, who seemed cynical and timid on weekdays, could develop his devil fruit ability to such an amazing level!

Moreover, if his perception just now was correct, in the battle, when Buggy released his abilities, not only was there a little bit of domineering aura mixed in

What was even more surprising was that the way he used the Conqueror's Haki seemed extremely skillful, and it didn't look like something that had just been awakened.

"You hid it really well." Crocodile said slowly, leaning on the steps with a cigar emitting a wisp of smoke in his mouth.

Hearing Crocodile's words, Buggy was shocked, but he reacted instantly.

He started to use the same old tricks again, continuing to act crazy and stupid: "Hide...hide what?!

Hahahaha! What the hell are you talking about!

Let me tell you, if I hadn’t come to your rescue, you would have been dead long ago!

And that Mihawk, humph, he's seriously injured now! And you don't have the ability to hang me up and beat me like before!"

Bucky laughed and danced with exaggerated expressions, trying to cover up his inner nervousness.

However, Crocodile remained unmoved and just narrowed his eyes slightly.

He stared at Bucky with sharp eyes, as if he wanted to see through the deepest secrets in his heart.

After a while, Crocodile slowly said: "Sometimes, it is really hard for me to guess what you are thinking.

On the surface, you are just a clown who laughs all day and has no serious manners, but what is the reality?

You were able to skillfully use various situations and relationships to successfully make me, Mihawk, and Doflamingo

Even those foreign pirate groups (Big Mom's former subordinates, Kaido's former subordinates), etc., form a delicate check and balance between each other.

Not only that, you were able to attract powerful and independent forces like Barrett, Red Earl, and Luo to join.

With such a bunch of crazy and dangerous guys gathered together, you, a half-hearted clown

He actually put everyone in an awkward situation where they felt they had a chance to seize power, but thinking carefully, it was simply impossible.

Honestly, I'm becoming more and more curious about you, Bucky."