Chapter 236: Chasing Sunlight and Shadows in the New World

News from the New World rarely makes it to the Four Seas. That’s no accident—the Navy keeps a tight lid on things, carefully controlling what gets out to rule the seas with fewer surprises. Events big and small have long been filtered through layers of Navy censorship.

Besides, the Navy has branches scattered throughout the Four Seas. Unless you come from a wealthy family who can afford a Video Transponder Snail, you won’t learn much about what goes on in the back half of the Grand Line.

And with both men in disguise, it’s no wonder the branch navy officers in the Four Seas couldn’t recognize them.

“Wang Zhi, come quick!” Silver Axe came running in from the cave entrance, waving the latest newspaper.

Hearing the commotion, Wang Zhi stepped out, eyeing Silver Axe with a puzzled look.

“Look at this, Wang Zhi—word about the two of us is starting to fade from the headlines.”

Silver Axe pointed to the newest article, comparing it with a few recent issues. Sure enough, their names had disappeared from the news.

No matter how sensational, news fades. Only the deepest marks, the stories passed down for generations, truly last.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Silver Axe. We still have bounties hanging in the Underworld,” Wang Zhi grumbled.

He wasn’t nearly as optimistic as Silver Axe. Their bounties kept climbing in the Underworld, so even though their names had vanished from the paper, it wasn’t safe to just stroll outside.

Sure, the average fighter from the Four Seas would be no match for them even if they knew their story, but what the two really feared was Charlotte Linlin and Karl tracking them down.

If word ever reached Karl or his allies about their whereabouts, the ending would be simple—death. No second chances.

Silver Axe turned to Wang Zhi and tried to lift his spirits. “Hey, but isn’t this a bit of good news for now?”

“What, you’d rather see our names plastered on the paper every morning?”

Wang Zhi’s face relaxed a little as he nodded. “I suppose you’re right. The less attention, the better.”

“I just wonder when we’ll finally get to walk in the sunlight again.” His voice carried a hint of nostalgia. The two of them were once among the biggest pirate names in the New World. Now, they were stuck hiding in this cramped, gloomy cave just trying to survive.

The thought alone left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Silver Axe flipped through the rest of the newspaper, his eyes suddenly lighting up. “Wang Zhi, have a look at this.”

He handed over the article. It reported that Yodelris, a renowned doctor from North Blue, was now volunteering in South Blue.

Yodelris wasn’t just famous, he was legendary. The man could handle tough medical cases with ease, and his surgical skills were second to none. Word was, Yodelris was working on a cure for an ancient virus, recruiting droves of doctors to join the fight in South Blue.

But what Yodelris truly excelled at was plastic surgery.

It’s a pirate’s world, after all. You never know when you’ll make an enemy. If you want a fresh start and a new life, changing your face is a must.

Not everyone has Luffy’s backing or strength. For most folks in this world of pirates, blending in is the smartest move.

Wang Zhi immediately caught on. “Looks like a trip to South Blue is in order.”

Silver Axe nodded in agreement. The only way they’d ever step out on deck again was if they got a new face.

And to make sure the job stayed a secret, Yodelris would…

Once the surgery was done, they’d wait a few years and finally walk tall in the New World again.

“Let’s go. South Blue, here we come!” Wang Zhi sounded eager. Who wouldn’t want to live in the sunlight after all this time—hiding out in a dark cave is no way to live.

He’d had enough of skulking around.

After a quick bit of packing, the two of them set sail with their newly recruited crew, heading to South Blue, hoping this would finally put an end to being hunted by Charlotte Linlin and Karl.

As long as the surgery worked, there was no way Karl, Charlotte Linlin or any hunter would recognize their faces—unless they were unlucky enough to run into Karl in person.

Back on Hachinosu, Zephyr had shown up after Charlotte Linlin already pulled out, so he only left a few Vice Admirals to set up a new outpost.

Zephyr himself returned to Navy Headquarters with the rest of his troops. After all, the base couldn’t go unguarded for long. If Golden Lion or other pirates got any ideas, disaster would strike fast.

Right now, Golden Lion’s territory was the front half of the New World. Rocks had left things in chaos for years, so new recruits could only come from the Grand Line’s first half—pirates charging in daily to replace losses.

And after fighting Roger and the others, his forces had been wrecked. It’d take a while to recover, so he was both hunting Roger with his elite team and sending lackeys to gather new crew in the earlier seas.

But with the Navy soldiers manning the outposts these few months, no fresh blood had reached the New World. Golden Lion’s patience was running thin. If Karl didn’t attack soon, Golden Lion would go do it himself.

A day later, Karl finally arrived at Hachinosu.

There was no need for pleasantries. He made his entrance, then opened with his strongest move out of respect—unleashing the Doomsday Cannon.

The Doomsday Cannon was an incredible power Karl gained thanks to Template Liuxing. Its destructive force was immense, able to obliterate nearly anything.

At full power, this weapon could wipe out the Demon World in a single shot. Even though it was weakened in the One Piece World, it was still nothing to underestimate.

The Doomsday Cannon took enormous energy to fire, but that was no issue for Karl. He could power it himself, though widescale blasts like this meant he’d only get twenty shots before running dry.

“Sengoku! Garp! Take this!”

As Karl pumped energy into it, a massive black hole formed in the sky above Hachinosu. The Doomsday Cannon glowed with blinding light, its barrel lit up like a newborn star. Air shimmered, waves rose like mountains.

No one below had time to react—a huge column of light shot down, slamming into Hachinosu with dazzling force, piercing the clouds.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The blast tore through everything: mountains crumbled, the ground split apart. It really was the end of the world.