The surrounding Marines stared blankly at the scene, then after a long while resumed moving the crates.
The atmosphere on the scene had grown even more oppressive, but otherwise remained unchanged from before!
As for the retired veteran, after being kicked by a Vice Admiral—even if it was just a casual kick—he was now on the brink of death.
He lay sprawled on the ground, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, his gaze fixed intently on that warm room. His entire body was covered in the frigid snow and ice, his eyes filled with bottomless hatred.
But no matter how much he hated, he could not harm Wapol or Vice Admiral Doberman in the slightest.
He had no power. He could not save his granddaughter, nor could he kill Wapol.
Without external help, the only fate awaiting him was to freeze to death right before the eyes of the many Marines.
But the retired veteran was fortunate. Just as his life was being crushed into the depths by lawless power, a far stronger, warmer hand descended from the heavens!
This was the scene Ivan witnessed upon arriving at the port.
The weathered retired veteran coughed up blood on the ground, while the surrounding Marines deliberately ignored him, allowing the old soldier to die.
Perhaps some Marines wanted to save the veteran, but they were stopped by their comrades.
They knew all too well that the veteran's current plight could very well be their own future.
Yet they dared not act, because if they did, Vice Admiral Doberman would not hesitate to kill another.
This was the greatest flaw of this superhuman world—in the face of true strength, numbers meant nothing.
Only the strong could oppose the strong!
Taking a deep breath and exhaling a misty white cloud, Ivan descended from the sky, landing beside the retired veteran.
He crouched down, his palm emitting a green glow that stabilized the veteran's injuries, and calmly asked:
"Do you want revenge? I can help you!"
...
Inside the port office.
"Cheers!"
Transparent crystal glasses clinked together, the crimson wine within swaying slightly, like endless blood settling within.
Wapol's ugly face flushed with drunken redness as he raised his glass in a toast:
"Muhahaha! Vice Admiral Doberman, you've worked hard on this escort mission. Please take extra care to personally deliver those slaves into Charlos's hands.
Charlos has just lost his father. I hope these slaves will help lift his spirits."
Vice Admiral Doberman laughed heartily, a stark contrast to his icy demeanor when facing the Marines, showing not a trace of coldness: "Rest assured, King Wapol. Charlos will surely appreciate your gift!"
Just then, a loud explosion suddenly echoed from outside, followed by the rapid sound of gunfire.
Vice Admiral Doberman's brow furrowed slightly as he apologized to Wapol:
"My apologies, King Wapol. Something seems to have happened outside. I'll go handle it."
Wapol also stood up: "In that case, Vice Admiral Doberman, I shall accompany you."
Doberman nodded and pushed the door open. The moment he appeared, the morale of the previously routed Marines immediately soared, their faces lighting up with joy.
"Vice Admiral Doberman is here! This guy is no match for Vice Admiral Doberman!"
However, as soon as the words were spoken, a figure suddenly flashed in front of Doberman. A fist enveloped in a special Life Force Field, now stained pitch-black, shattered the sound barrier and slammed squarely into Doberman's face.
The next moment, the strongest combatant escorting the Celestial Gold was sent flying, his body crashing through countless buildings before landing on the distant snowy mountainside.
…
A few minutes earlier, Ivan arrived at the port, crouched down, and asked the retired veteran if he wanted revenge.
The veteran's consciousness was already fading, but the hatred in his heart unleashed his latent potential.
With the last of his strength, he roared furiously, "They don't deserve to be kings, and they certainly don't deserve to be Marines! I beg you, kill them!"
As he finished speaking, the veteran's head slumped to the side, and he lost consciousness.
Once the veteran's condition stabilized, Ivan stopped using Medical Ninjutsu and stood up.
His actions had already drawn the attention of the surrounding Marines. Led by a captain, they surrounded Ivan.
The captain glanced at Ivan, his gaze lingering briefly on the worn Tanuki mask, a hint of impatience in his eyes.
Another Shadow Garden imitator? Can't these people just stay quiet? Just during this escort mission alone, they'd already encountered over a dozen people imitating Shadow Garden.
Among them were pirates, civilians, and even nobles—truly annoying.
The captain waved his hand dismissively, speaking in a tone one might use to shoo away a beggar, "Kid, get lost. If I see that annoying mask in front of me again, I'll kill you on the spot!"
Ivan was well aware of the growing mask trend on the seas and understood why the captain failed to recognize him as the real Tanuki.
He shook his head. "Sorry, I can't leave. I have something to do."
The captain laughed in disbelief, snatching a pistol from one of his subordinates and aiming it at Ivan. "Fool, tell me now, what exactly do you plan to do?"
This was the most effective way to deal with Shadow Garden imitators—just point a gun at them, and they'd flee in terror.
These imitators were so foolish. Did they really think wearing the same mask made them Tanuki?
However, this particular imitator didn't flee. Instead, he took two steps forward.
This puzzled the captain, and a sense of foreboding began to creep into his mind.
"Wait, what are you doing?" he warned again, determined to fire if this warning went unheeded.
Ivan stopped, tilting his head as if answering the captain's question or perhaps speaking to himself:
"What do I plan to do?
Hah, I'm doing what you Marines should have been doing all along—enforcing justice on the seas, seeking retribution for the weak!
I will root out evil, punish the crimes you dare not execute, the crimes you cannot execute!
I will fight corruption, destroy the slave trade, and restore peace to the seas, not leave them as the cesspool they are now!
You ask me what I plan to do? Then let me tell you now.
The crimes the Marines cannot punish, Shadow Garden will punish. The people the Marines dare not kill, Shadow Garden will kill. The matters the Marines dare not handle, Shadow Garden will handle!
In short, what the Marines can handle, Shadow Garden will handle. What the Marines cannot handle, Shadow Garden will handle even more. That is Shadow Garden!
Have I made myself clear?!"
As soon as he finished speaking, silence fell over the entire scene!
At the same time, the captain finally realized something was wrong. This guy in front of him didn't seem like a fake!
Realizing this, the captain decisively ordered, "All units, open fire on this guy with everything you've got!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Amid the dense gunfire, bullets poured down like a torrential rain, leaving no room for evasion as they engulfed Ivan.
Ivan had no intention of dodging. He drew a small knife engraved with the letters "Shadow Garden" and held it before the retired veteran, swiftly swinging it.
This dense barrage of bullets was effortlessly sliced apart by a single small knife!
Ahead, the colonel witnessing this scene grew increasingly pale. He finally realized that the man before him was not one of those clumsy imitators from before.
He was the fastest man on the sea, surpassing even Admiral Kizaru—Tanuki!