A flash of ruthlessness and anxiety flickered in the Five Elders' eyes; they had never been in such a disheveled state.
On one side was Jin An, the threat they had long sought to eliminate.
On the other side were the pirates, like wolves pouncing on Pangaea Castle, each ferocious and with overwhelming momentum.
And then, Jin An's words were like an invisible sharp blade, piercing deeply into their hearts.
"Those who hunt geese all day get pecked by geese; nurturing bandits only leads to self-inflicted wounds and reaping what you sow."
Jin An's voice was filled with mockery and disdain, directly trampling the Five Elders' faces underfoot.
His eyes were cold and sharp, piercing through all pretense and calculation, not taking their methods seriously.
His gaze remained fixed on the Five Elders, his foot stepping forward slightly, like a beast ready to tear apart its prey.
The Five Elders exchanged glances, a complex look flashing in their eyes.
Jin An's words struck the most hidden corners of their hearts.
For many years, they had manipulated the Marines and the government while secretly allowing some pirates to grow, in order to use them to contain enemy forces.
But now, these pirates, who were supposed to be pawns, were threatening their own interests, even the safety of Pangaea Castle.
"Truly detestable!"
One of the Five Elders cursed in a low voice, his tone filled with deep regret and anger.
They never expected that one day they would be backstabbed by the beasts they had released, falling into such a dilemma.
However, the current situation did not allow them to hesitate any longer; the sounds of explosions from the direction of Pangaea Castle were incessant, and Golden Lion, Charlotte Linlin, and others had already broken through and penetrated deeper.
The Five Elders knew that those places contained countless treasures and secrets of the Celestial Dragons, and even more things that they absolutely could not allow to be exposed.
Most importantly, that person was currently engaged in some important preparations, and any disturbance could lead to irreversible consequences.
"We must not let them get close!"
One of the Five Elders gritted his teeth, a resolute light flashing in his eyes.
"If...it affects...we will never be able to atone for our sins."
After a moment of hesitation, they finally made a choice—abandon Jin An and head straight for Pangaea Castle.
Although their hearts were filled with滔天hatred for Jin An, the safety of Pangaea Castle was the most important thing at the moment.
There were hundreds of Celestial Dragons there, and if anything went wrong, they would not be able to bear the consequences.
"Go!"
Another of the Five Elders roared coldly, his voice mixed with a hint of anxiety.
Their figures leaped up suddenly, rushing towards Pangaea Castle, their speed so fast as if they feared that even a moment's delay would lead to disaster.
"Hmph, as expected."
A sneer appeared on the corner of Jin An's mouth as he watched the Five Elders' hurried departure.
He had guessed that Im hadn't taken action for so long because he must have something keeping him busy.
These beings who had controlled the world for many years and were usually high above were now forced to reveal their disheveled side in front of him.
Seeing their flustered state, a burst of joy surged in Jin An's heart.
However, he was not in a hurry to pursue them.
Jin An knew that the Five Elders were by no means easy to eliminate; even if their situation was dire, they still had enough trump cards to reverse the situation.
And now, the turmoil in Pangaea Castle had obviously disrupted their plans, which was an excellent opportunity for him.
He murmured to himself, "Some debts must be settled after all."
In the distance, the Five Elders' figures rushing towards Pangaea Castle became more and more hurried, their faces filled with gloom and killing intent.
Whether it was Jin An or the invading pirates, they would never let them go.
Once they stabilized the situation, these people would pay a heavy price.
However, at this moment, they had to solve the immediate crisis—protecting Pangaea Castle and that person.
With their departure, the situation on the battlefield suddenly changed.
Jin An looked in the direction where the Five Elders had left, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
Seeing them leave in a hurry, he felt a sense of ease in his heart. What's more interesting than fighting is watching the show, especially since it would take some time to kill these little cockroaches.
"I just don't know what that Im guy is up to," Jin An thought.
"But that's fine, they ran away, and I'm not in a hurry to chase them," he muttered to himself, the corner of his mouth slightly raised, "Since we've already torn our faces, there won't be any politeness next time we meet."
Jin An's gaze turned to the surroundings, his expression gradually becoming serious. The aftermath of the battle had not yet subsided, and the air was filled with the smell of blood and gunpowder. The earth seemed to be still shaking.
He looked at Kuzan, Shanks, and Kong nearby, seeing them directing the Marines to clean up the aftermath of the battle, Jin An said in a deep voice, "Kuzan, you immediately lead the Marines to retreat to the South Blue."
His tone was unquestionable, and his eyes revealed a firm determination.
Kuzan stopped his movements, frowning slightly, obviously hesitant.
"Jin An, are you planning to stay?" He looked at Jin An, his eyes with a bit of worry and incomprehension.
He knew that dividing the troops and retreating at this time would inevitably allow the enemy to find a breakthrough.
And the trip to the South Blue meant moving away from the center of this storm.
"That's right," Jin An's gaze was as sharp as a knife, meeting Kuzan's eyes without hesitation, "The situation here is already chaotic, and staying here will only waste time. Moreover, the situation in the South Blue can no longer be delayed."
His tone was calm, but with an undeniable force.
Kuzan was silent for a moment, but finally nodded.
He knew that Jin An's decision would not be easily changed, and he also understood the urgency of the situation.
The situation in the South Blue was complex, and it was time for someone to be in charge, and the retreat at this moment could give Jin An more flexible tactical space.
Thinking of this, Kuzan quickly turned his head and ordered the Marine generals beside him, "Listen up, immediately organize the manpower to evacuate, target—South Blue!"
Shanks shrugged and laughed, "I don't want to waste time with these monsters here; this place shouldn't be stayed for long anyway."
He gave Jin An a meaningful look, then turned and walked towards his pirate crew who were still waiting in the distance, "Take care, Jin An."
Kong snorted coldly, "This place is indeed not suitable for a long stay. After the Marines retreat, it will not be so easy for the enemy to find a breakthrough."
He nodded slightly to Jin An, "It seems that I can't retire here. I'll go to the South Blue to have a look too."
Jin An nodded slightly, watching Kuzan and the others quickly organize the manpower to evacuate, his eyes gradually deepening.
Although today's battle was complex, it also laid many foreshadowings for the future.
This storm will not subside, and the Five Elders' counterattack will definitely follow.
And each step that follows will determine the direction of the entire situation.
He took a light breath, as if to exhale all the distracting thoughts in his chest.
In the distance, the sky above Pangaea Castle was still cloudy, and fierce fighting sounds could be faintly heard.
Jin An narrowed his eyes slightly, already making full plans in his heart: "Next, it depends on who can have the last laugh."
...
...
