"You mongrel, you're looking to die!"
"Who are you calling a mongrel?! Who's-Who, you fat cat!"
"I'm strong! You mongrel!"
"Hmph—"
"Awooo—"
"..."
Who's-Who and Jabra's argument grew fiercer, finally devolving into beast-like growls from their throats. Who's-Who's canine teeth protruded, while Jabra's mouth filled with ferocious fangs, as if they were about to revert to their true forms.
"Tsk tsk~ They're both Devil Fruit users, aren't they?"
Gobert, seated on the sofa, watched this scene with relish, showing no intention of intervening. The young aide-de-camp at the door, however, was quite terrified.
"Enough!"
Cross snapped impatiently, annoyed. "Did Cipher Pol have us Marines intervene just to watch you two bicker? If you want to fight, go back to Enies Lobby!"
Who's-Who turned his head, a fierce glint in his eyes, glaring venomously at Cross. "Brat, what are you to talk?"
Cross's expression turned cold, his gaze sharp as he met Who's-Who's eyes.
On the opposite sofa, Gobert's eyes narrowed slightly, and his coffee cup was quietly placed on the table in front of him.
"Heh~ How arrogant!"
Cross sneered, and in the next three seconds, he vanished from the sofa.
Boom.
A dull, heavy thud suddenly echoed through the spacious office, making the floor tremble slightly.
Cross appeared where Who's-Who had been standing, slowly retracting his arm. Who's-Who, however, flew backward like a cannonball. Without even a grunt, he instantly transformed into a black blur, traversing hundreds of meters to violently smash into the empty training ground.
Rumble—
A massive roar sounded as thick smoke and dust billowed skyward from the 400x400-meter training ground. A surging wave of air rippled out, as if an earthquake had struck.
"What happened?"
"Sounds like shelling!"
"Is someone attacking?"
"..."
The sudden loud noise caused the entire Marine base to stir. Many Marines rushed out of their barracks, some looking alert, others in a panic.
"So fast!"
At this moment, Jabra finally reacted, looking at Cross, who was now close at hand, with utter shock.
"Do you want to dance too?"
Cross looked coldly at Jabra, his gaze like electricity, striking directly into Jabra's core.
"..."
Jabra felt a terrifying aura surge towards him like a tidal wave, causing his breath to catch and making him instinctively take two steps back.
"Gulp—"
Gobert stood up, astonished, unable to help but swallow. He managed to stammer, "Cr-Cross, isn't that a bit too much...? We still have the mission to complete later!"
"It's fine. Zoan users are very durable. I just punched him; he'll be unconscious for a few hours at most, it won't hinder the mission!" Cross said nonchalantly.
"Unconscious for a few hours..."
Gobert and Jabra's mouths twitched. They truly didn't know what to say.
Especially Jabra, who felt relieved, thinking it was a good thing it wasn't him who spoke out earlier, otherwise he'd be the one unconscious for several hours.
That lightning-fast speed, he hadn't even reacted. No wonder Who's-Who didn't even have a chance to retaliate before being instantly sent flying. If it had been him, even with preparation, the outcome probably wouldn't have been good.
"Ahem~ Jess, go out and reassure everyone!"
At this point, Gobert cleared his throat and instructed his aide-de-camp at the door, "Also, have someone carry Who's-Who-dono back and let the military doctor examine him!"
"Y-yes, Rear Admiral!"
The young aide-de-camp stammered a reply, quickly turned, and scurried away with somewhat stumbling steps.
Just resort to violence at the slightest disagreement, is this the world of monsters?!
...
Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 21.
"Hurry up, don't dilly-dally!"
"Be careful! If you fall into the sea, don't let the items in your hands drop!"
"Finish moving everything quickly! The Captain is treating you all to drinks at the bar in town!"
"..."
A three-masted sailing pirate ship, flying a crimson skull flag, was docked at the shore. From its towering mainmast, a sturdy gangplank had been lowered. Dozens of pirates, in pairs, were moving waterproof iron crates from the ship into a warehouse on the shore.
Nearby, many other pirates were patrolling, keeping a watchful eye on suspicious individuals who appeared curious but were in fact greedy.
In this lawless land, there was no law; only strength was absolute. Let alone pirates, even if the Marines came, without sufficient power, they would only die here.
Some pirates, lacking strength, were defeated by the lawless individuals on the Sabaody Archipelago. Not only were their belongings plundered, but they themselves were taken by human traffickers and sold as slaves to the World Nobles.
"Dinelli, have you contacted the coating mechanic?"
A middle-aged man in a striking bright red tailcoat, with black hair slicked back, stood on the shore. He calmly watched his subordinates move the iron crates, his fingers interlaced in front of his abdomen. Only his index fingers, adorned with ruby rings, moved back and forth.
"Hehehe~ Don't worry, Dingman-san, Knox went to contact five coating mechanics. They'll start soon, and the coating will be finished by noon tomorrow at the latest!"
The one who let out the strange laugh was a man with cold eyes and a burnt scar on half of his face. His body was wrapped in black bandages, and he was tall and thin, wielding a long-handled sharp knife.
"Get the coating done as soon as possible!"
The middle-aged man, referred to as 'Dingman', nodded and said in a deep voice, "This is Marine Headquarters and the World Government's territory. We can't stay long. If those 'black rats' from the CP organization get wind of us, we'll be in big trouble!"
"That's what makes it exciting, Dingman-san, kakaka!"
The bandaged eccentric named Dinelli grinned maliciously, excitedly licking the blade of his long-handled sharp knife with his tongue.
Meanwhile, a few hundred meters away, on the outskirts of the town, several CP agents in black suits stood atop a four-story building.
In front of them was a long telescope, and one of them was using it to observe the coastline.
"Did you get a clear look?"
"Yes, it's the Blood Pirates!"
"Are you sure?"
"No mistake. Knox the Mole left earlier, probably to handle something in town, but I still see Blood Eater Dingman and Throat-Slasher Dinelli on the shore!"
"In that case, the Blood Pirates arriving at the Sabaody Archipelago truly means they're planning to deliver the goods to the New World. Knox the Mole is probably looking for a coating mechanic!"
"So, ready to move?"
"Contact CP9 and the Marines. Let's begin!"
"..."
After conferring among themselves, one of the CP agents pulled out a Den Den Mushi and dialed a specific number.
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