Chapter 17

In the rear, the Marines who hadn't fainted yet were kneeling on the deck, in a state almost identical to Tashigi's.

They were equally unaware of what had happened, clueless about the situation before them, and why their legs had suddenly become powerless, causing them to kneel on the ground.

Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, and their backs were soaked in cold sweat without them realizing it.

They wanted to stand up, but their legs couldn't muster any strength.

"What... What's going on? Why can't I stand up?!"

"Me too, and I have this palpable feeling of fear! I... I'm scared!"

"What... What happened?! Why did I suddenly kneel down?!"

"Is it because of the gust of wind just now? Is it because of him?"

As they spoke, the Marines shook their heads and looked towards Carnes not far away.

Feeling the state of their own bodies, disbelief was evident on the faces of the Marines.

At that moment, Smoker, who had fallen to the ground, slowly got up.

Raising his head, Smoker looked at Carnes, and his eyes trembled violently, like an earthquake.

"What was that feeling just now...?!"

"Could it be that he also has a Devil Fruit power? No... that's not it!"

"That... Haki?! Is it Haki?"

"Who is this guy?! So young, and yet he has already mastered Haki?!"

Smoker looked at Carnes' figure with obvious shock in his eyes.

Haki, he had heard his teacher, former Marine Admiral Zephyr, mention it before.

But this was the first time he encountered it.

Could Haki possess such formidable power?

In just an instant, it rendered the entire warship and hundreds of Marines completely powerless.

"Is this... Haki??" Smoker's eyes trembled, and he subconsciously muttered.

Hearing this, Carnes' gaze also turned towards Smoker.

A smile appeared on his face as Carnes lightly chuckled, saying, "So it's you. No wonder I felt a bit familiar."

Smoker was puzzled for a moment, not understanding what Carnes meant by that.

The familiarity Carnes mentioned wasn't because he had seen Smoker before.

This was, after all, their first encounter.

The familiarity in his words was because he knew himself from the future in this world, aware of this prominent figure.

However, due to his prolonged stay in this world, his memories had become somewhat hazy, and he couldn't immediately recognize Smoker at first sight.

"We didn't come here to fight and kill. We just wanted to say hello to you," Carnes said with a smile, politely opening his mouth.

Smoker: "Say... say hello?"

Carnes nodded and smiled, saying, "That's right, just saying hello."

"Allow me to introduce myself."

"I am Carnes, the captain of the Pale Emperor Pirates!"

"This person here is my subordinate, Demiurge!"

"Nice to meet you, Vice Admiral Smoker."

Upon hearing Carnes' introduction, all the Marines present instinctively turned their gaze towards Demiurge, who stood beside Carnes.

Recalling Demiurge's display earlier when he pierced through the Marine formation, appearing invincible.

The Marines couldn't help but sweat profusely in fear.

Both Smoker and Tashigi, at the same time, swallowed a difficult gulp of saliva.

"The captain... is actually him?!"

"This has to be a joke, right?!"

"This guy called Demiurge is so powerful, and he's not even the captain?!"

"Doesn't that mean this guy

, Carnes, is even stronger than Demiurge?!"

With such thoughts in mind, both Smoker and Tashigi instinctively looked towards Carnes.

Their thoughts were immediately linked to the methods Carnes had just displayed.

In just an instant, the technique that rendered all the Marines on the warship powerless made both of them shiver, their faces displaying fear.

Carnes, observing their reactions, couldn't help but be slightly surprised and asked, "Do you know me?"

However, as soon as the words left his mouth, Carnes couldn't help but laugh.

How could they possibly know him?

The World Government had long erased their existence from history.

Besides those old guys who experienced it, who else would recognize him?

If those old guys didn't mention it, who would know him?

"It seems like I asked a strange question," Carnes muttered to himself.

Then, he slowly approached Smoker.

"I originally planned to say hello and leave."

"But now, I would like to ask you for a small favor."

Smoker gritted his teeth and looked up, his voice filled with anger.

"What are you joking about?! Do you think that I, a Marine Vice Admiral, would help a pirate like you?!"

Carnes didn't pay much attention to it and continued to smile.

"If you happen to come across Garp in the future, please give him my regards!"

"Tell him to enjoy the freedom he has now because I will come find him... for sure!"

"Oh, and if you encounter that old Sengoku, pass the message along as well."

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