Hague Town.
On the surface, it appeared to be an ordinary settlement, but the residents lived in constant fear. Capone Family members were frequently seen patrolling the streets, colluding with corrupt local authorities, and even maintaining secret dealings with the Marines. Murder and arson were committed with impunity, while the Marines conducted only symbolic patrols, offering no real protection.
Town Center.
A building stood plain on the outside but opulent within. On its top floor, a tall, corpulent man in a black suit sat, shaking his head in disdain as he read intelligence delivered by a subordinate.
"The Marines are as useless as ever," he muttered. "Even with early encirclement, they couldn't stop a single pirate hunter."
This was Capone Lecky, a high-ranking cadre of the Capone Family, overseeing the underground gangs in this sea area.
Next to him, a man in glasses spoke in a deep, controlled voice:
"Perhaps Ghost Hand Rowan's strength was beyond expectations, boss. Could this involve us?"
Lecky waved his hand dismissively. "So what if it involves us? I've investigated Rowan he's a lone wolf. Can he really overturn the world by himself? Our forces would barely break a sweat confronting the Marine branch directly."
He lifted a glass of red wine and brought it to his lips but the entire building shook suddenly. The dull roar rattled the windows, and red wine spilled across his suit.
Lecky's face darkened in fury. "What in
what happened?!"
"L-Lecky! Boss! It's bad! Someone broke in!" a subordinate shouted, bursting into the hall with terror etched on his face.
The atmosphere shifted immediately. Even the maid, who had been dabbing at Lecky's suit, trembled.
Lecky's eyes narrowed. "Who broke in? The Marines? The Doper Gang? Why wasn't there any warning?"
"No… it's not the Marines, not the Doper Gang. It's Ghost Hand Rowan… he charged in himself!"
Lecky's pupils widened. "Rowan? Alone? What are you all doing? Go kill him!"
Before his words could even finish, a roar erupted from the doorway. The exquisite red oak door shattered, splinters flying. A figure entered.
"Who is… Capone Lecky?"
Rowan's clothes were slightly disheveled, but his indifferent eyes were icy, piercing. The few gang members present instinctively glanced at Lecky, and Rowan's gaze followed.
"The Tarro Town incident… that was your doing, wasn't it?"
Rowan's voice was calm, almost void of emotion.
Capone Lecky hesitated at first, intimidated by the forceful intrusion but composed himself. "So what?"
Outside, more Capone gang members crowded the corridor.
"Good… I haven't targeted the wrong person," Rowan murmured, ignoring the incoming reinforcements. He flicked his wrist, drew a pistol, and fired six quick shots, taking out six rushing gang members instantly.
Without hesitation, Rowan discarded the pistol and charged directly at Lecky. Time was critical he could not risk being surrounded by armed men.
"Don't get cocky, kid!"
Lecky's eyes hardened. Drawing two pistols at the same speed as Rowan's, he fired in rapid succession.
Rowan stomped and executed Soru, the Marine Six Styles movement, sliding sideways, evading the bullets with precision.
"Damn it!" Lecky exclaimed, frustrated. He drew a long sword and swung at Rowan, attempting to compensate for his failed firearms attack.
Rowan didn't retreat. He clenched his five fingers into a fist and slammed toward Lecky's sword.
Buzz!
The fist wasn't imbued with Busoshoku Haki. Instead, it was enveloped in distortion force, colorless and transparent, similar to Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit but visualized as warped air.
This was Rowan's evolved ability, attained after leveling his Distortion Fruit proficiency to 75. He could now manipulate distortion directly through his fist, allowing him to confront swords bare-handed.
Crack!
Lecky's blade collided with the distortion, freezing mid-swing.
"Devil Fruit…" his pupils contracted, but he roared and slashed with all his might. The sword twisted under the invisible pressure, breaking into a spiral of metal.
Rowan retracted his fist, kneaded the twisted blade into a solid iron ball, and hurled it toward a charging gang member.
"You…"
Lecky's face revealed panic. He attempted to flee through the window, but Rowan stepped forward, gripping his collar and pressing him against the wall.
"Tell your subordinates to leave," Rowan said coldly.
Fear spread through Lecky. He had fought countless battles, but this was the first time he had been overpowered single-handedly within his base. The eerie force emanating from Rowan's hand and the twisted sword had shaken him deeply.
"No! All of you, get out!"
The gang members exchanged nervous glances and gradually filed out.
Rowan released his gaze from the doorway and fixed it on Lecky.
"Now, no one will interrupt us."
"What… what do you want? Money? I can pay!"
Rowan shook his head. "No. I don't take the blame for others. The Tarro Town incident isn't my doing. I want you to explain everything honestly and notify the Marines."
Lecky's face paled. He glanced at the paper and recording device Rowan had tossed to the floor. "That's your plan…? I'm sorry, even if I do that, it won't help it wasn't orchestrated by me."
"It wasn't?" Rowan's brow furrowed.
Lecky exhaled sharply. "Do you want to know who framed you? I can tell you… Ah ah ah!!"
Before he could finish, the muscles in his arm twisted unnaturally with a sickening tearing sound.
"Who did it?" Rowan asked indifferently.
Lecky's rage faltered under Rowan's icy gaze. "Marine Lieutenant Colonel Lyca… He proposed this plan. The Marines carried out the actions. I had nothing to do with it."
The room fell silent.
"Marine… Lieutenant Colonel Lyca…" Rowan murmured, his expression dark. He flicked his wrist, and one of Lecky's arms twisted grotesquely, flesh tearing.
"I want the truth," Rowan said coldly.
Lecky gasped through pain. "You… you bastard! I am telling the truth!"
Rowan's backhand pressed down again.
Lecky's other arm twisted. After repeating this until only mangled flesh remained, Rowan slowly withdrew, stepping around Lecky's body, and moved to the window, staring at the distant blue sea.
From the beginning, Rowan had suspected the Marines were involved this incident was too precise to be random. The real question remained: was this Lyca acting alone, or was corruption pervasive within the Marine ranks?
Rowan had avoided direct conflict with the Marines to evade bounty hunting, but avoidance didn't mean fear.
"Well done, Marines," Rowan muttered with a smile.
He planned to approach a Marine base to make a final decision. He didn't want to be hunted, nor did he desire to become a pirate but if no other options remained… he would turn this world upside down.