In the end, Fang Yi still couldn't persuade Tom to leave Water 7.
According to Tom, if he abandoned the city now, then the dream of the Sea Train might forever remain just that—a dream he could never realize in his lifetime.
So even knowing full well that danger was coming, Tom still chose to stay.
"Since Brother Tom has made his decision, we have to respect it! But I'm sure of one thing—after we foiled them once, the World Government won't just let this go. They'll send stronger forces next time. When we crush them, then we'll set out!"
Fang Yi gave his orders to the Dragon Wolf crew after hearing Tom's choice.
"Heh… leave this battle to me! Last time it was Shanks and the Captain who got to fight!"
Barrett perked up immediately, his eyes blazing with eagerness.
Shanks and Fang Yi exchanged a glance. They had already expected this.
"Fine. But you'll only get first pick of opponents. I suspect the ones coming this time… will be CP9. They're not easy to deal with," Fang Yi warned.
"No matter who they are, I'll make them understand… what true strength means!"
Barrett's eyes gleamed with bloodlust.
Ever since joining Roger's crew, Barrett had never been able to truly unleash himself. Back then, Roger and Rayleigh had both been able to suppress him, worthy rivals that kept him in check.
But after Roger Pirates disbanded, and he joined the Dragon Wolf Pirates, it only got worse. He had no outlet for his violence. There hadn't even been a decent opponent. Barrett had been bottling up his fighting instinct all this time—and now, if a strong enemy didn't appear soon, he felt like he would explode.
The very next day, a World Government warship sailed straight toward Water 7.
"Let's go. Time to meet them."
Watching the warship approach from afar, Fang Yi stepped onto the Dragon Wolf and spoke calmly.
"Hey, Captain! We agreed—this time I get first choice!" Barrett shouted nervously, worried Fang Yi would strike first.
In a naval battle, Fang Yi's archery gave him an overwhelming advantage, and Barrett feared the Captain would steal all the fun.
"Relax. You'll get your fill. And if these guys still aren't enough for you, once we reach Sabaody Archipelago, you can always go find Rayleigh for a proper spar." Fang Yi chuckled.
Barrett's eyes lit up immediately. He had forgotten—Rayleigh was indeed still in Sabaody.
"Then, Brother Tom, once we beat these guys, we'll be heading out right away! Take care of yourself!"
Fang Yi waved to Tom and the others who had come to see them off.
"Wahahaha! You kids take care of yourselves, too!" Tom bellowed with laughter.
"Tiffani! Come back and visit Water 7 when you have the chance!" Kokoro called warmly.
"Big Sister Kokoro… goodbye! I promise I'll be back!"
Tiffani waved with reddened eyes.
She was a sentimental girl, easily moved to tears.
Meanwhile, on the deck of the approaching World Government warship, a burly man in a white uniform and wearing a mask stood with arms crossed, gazing coldly toward Water 7.
"You useless fools… You've disgraced the name of the World Government! Just a single shipwright, and you lot managed to suffer a complete wipeout. If it weren't for direct orders, I wouldn't even bother with your pathetic mess."
His tone dripped with contempt as he addressed the CP5 agents beside him.
"Yes, yes… of course, sir! We're counting on you this time! It's just—the reason we failed before was because pirates interfered. Otherwise, we wouldn't have needed to trouble you…"
The CP5 squad leader smiled nervously.
CP5 was only an intelligence bureau. But this masked man was from CP9—the Government's most elite assassination unit.
If not for the fact that their superior, Spandam, had a father who happened to be the head of CP9, they never could have gotten this kind of help.
Suddenly, a CP5 scout rushed over.
"Sir! A pirate ship is approaching us!"
"Oh?" The masked man raised his head in surprise. He saw a dragon-prowed vessel sailing swiftly toward them.
"Sir, that's the Dragon Wolf Pirates' ship! Their captain is the strange archer, Fang Yi—bounty thirty-three million. His known crew includes Red-Haired Shanks, bounty ten million, and Douglas Barrett, the Devil's Heir, bounty fifteen million," the CP5 leader reported quickly.
"Hmph. And you couldn't handle a captain worth just thirty million? Pathetic. When we return, I'll be recommending stricter training for you, CP5 trash."
The masked man scoffed.
The CP5 leader flushed with embarrassment, but didn't dare argue—only forcing an awkward smile.
Soon, the two ships entered cannon range.
"Cannons ready! Sink them!" the CP5 leader barked.
But the masked CP9 man raised a hand.
"No. Bring us closer. We'll take them alive—along with that shipwright."
"O-Of course, sir!" The CP5 leader quickly obeyed, canceling the bombardment order.
"Huh? They're not firing?"
Shanks frowned. The warship, within perfect range, hadn't fired a single cannon, but was instead steering directly toward them.
"Heh. Looks like they plan to capture us alive." Fang Yi smirked, immediately guessing their intent.
"Captain! Let Wang Zai toss me over—I can't wait any longer!" Barrett licked his lips, eyes burning with anticipation.
"Don't be so hasty. They're coming right to us anyway." Fang Yi said helplessly, though he understood Barrett's impatience.
Still, he gave the order, and Wang Zai ferried Barrett straight onto the enemy warship ahead of the clash.
"Barrett is impatient, huh!"
Even Tiffani, who had been nervous for the coming fight, couldn't help but laugh.
"Heh… he's just worried the Captain will snatch all the fun again." Shanks chuckled, watching Barrett land on the enemy deck. "But Captain—let's not keep him waiting. Let's go."
"Right. Don't worry—Barrett won't lose so quickly, not with his strength. Even if the enemy has a real powerhouse." Fang Yi replied with confidence.
As the Dragon Wolf drew alongside the Government warship, Fang Yi led the others in leaping aboard.
"Clear out the fodder first!" Fang Yi ordered sharply after scanning the battlefield.
On the deck, Barrett was already locked in combat with the masked man in a white uniform—a CP9 operative.
"This is fun… I haven't felt this excited in ages. Hope you last long enough—otherwise, this'll be boring."
Barrett licked his lips, eyes wild with glee.
"Who the hell are you people? With strength like this, you can't possibly be nobodies!"
The CP9 man growled, shocked at Barrett's power.
"Hey, Captain! This guy's mine! Don't you dare steal him from me!"
Barrett shouted when he saw Fang Yi land on deck.
The CP9 agent's face darkened. He had assumed Barrett was the captain—but clearly, he wasn't.
"Don't worry. I won't steal your prey. But be careful—that guy's no pushover." Fang Yi replied lightly.
Other than the CP9 agent, there weren't any true threats aboard. CP5's leader had been cornered by Shanks already—his defeat was inevitable. That left Fang Yi to sweep up the small fry while keeping an eye on Tiffani and Jessica.
Both girls handled themselves decently against grunts, but Fang Yi was still protective. Still, seeing them hold their own reassured him.
Before long, the deck was cleared—except for Barrett's duel. Fang Yi, with Tiffani and Jessica in tow, started toward the cabins to see if there was anything valuable. Shanks stayed behind, standing by as Barrett's support.
"Damn you… Who are you people?"
The CP9 fighter spat blood, glaring at Barrett. His mask had been shattered, his white uniform in tatters, leaving him disheveled and battered.
"Dragon Wolf Pirates—combat leader Douglas Barrett."
Barrett cracked his knuckles with a savage grin.
"Dragon Wolf Pirates… I'll remember that name. Looks like I'll need to stop holding back—otherwise, you'll make a fool of me."
The man—then a CP9 operative known as Fukuro—threw off his ruined coat and loosened his tie, eyes sharpening.
"Oh? So you've still got tricks left? Good. I was starting to get bored."
Barrett's eyes lit up, his grin widening.
"Then laugh while you still can! Rankyaku – Circular Sever!"
Fukuro planted a hand on the ground, spinning his body like a whirlwind, launching a circular slicing shockwave.
Zzzzz!
Barrett crossed his arms before him, blocking the slash head-on.
"…Haki?!"
Fukuro's eyes bulged. That black sheen—the power Barrett used to block him—it was unmistakable.
Armament Haki.
He knew of it, but he had not yet mastered it.
The moment Barrett revealed Armament Haki, Fukuro's expression changed completely.
This wasn't some small-time pirate crew.
Even in the New World, those who had mastered Haki were few and far between.
He never expected to meet one here.