Perhaps it truly was as the saying went—misfortune never comes alone.
Just as Kaito Arisawa decided to have the slain Sea King hauled up to serve as lunch and was about to order the crew to begin salvaging it, the loudspeaker Den Den Mushi installed across the fleet suddenly rang out sharply.
"Attention all ships! Marine fleet spotted at nine o'clock! The enemy is advancing rapidly in our direction!"
"Alert status! All hands prepare for combat!"
"Gunners, take your positions!"
After a full night of indulgence, many of the War Pirates still bore signs of fatigue, but the moment the alarm sounded, every man snapped into focus. Training took over instinctively. They moved swiftly, efficiently, without confusion.
"Marine fleet?"
Kaito's attention shifted from the Sea King corpse to the nine o'clock direction.
Though he was not atop the watchtower using binoculars like the sentries, under the Concentrated Constitution state his vision far exceeded that of ordinary people.
He narrowed his eyes and gazed into the distance.
Soon enough, he saw them.
Five warships cutting across the sea in formation.
Even from afar, he could clearly make out the seagull insignia on their sails.
"They're coming from the direction of Hongyan Island…" Kaito murmured, eyes flickering thoughtfully. "Interesting. So they've had their eyes on us for a while."
Marines were human too. Visiting Hongyan Island for leisure was hardly unusual.
Judging by their trajectory, Kaito suspected the Marines had been present on the island the previous night and had likely noticed the War Pirates early on.
As for why they hadn't acted immediately?
Most likely to avoid civilian casualties once battle broke out.
Of course, it was only speculation.
And it didn't really matter.
What mattered was that the Marine fleet was clearly here for confrontation.
Kaito narrowed his eyes slightly.
Not tension.
Interest.
With his Conqueror's "submission" ability, Marines could be recruited as well.
And they were quality recruits.
After all, they were already disciplined and trained. Once incorporated, they would immediately form a formidable combat force.
"I wonder if there are any real experts among them," Kaito thought calmly. "If not, I'd almost prefer to go find Don Chinjao instead."
On the lead warship of the five-ship Marine fleet, a Marine colonel wearing a Justice cloak lowered his binoculars and turned sharply.
"Vice Admiral Henry, the enemy appears to have detected us!"
The man he addressed stood at the front of the deck.
Vice Admiral Henry was a towering figure, nearly two and a half meters tall. His powerful frame strained against his gray suit beneath the cloak of Justice.
Turning slightly, his face came into view—aged, lined with deep wrinkles, bearing the marks of time and war.
"Their vigilance isn't bad," Henry said with a cold smile. "No wonder their reputation has grown so quickly. But pirates are pirates. And I need enough pirates to make an example of. The War Pirates will do nicely."
The Marine did not always remain stationed at their bases. Patrols were routine, and this fleet was part of an inspection force.
But this was no ordinary patrol.
In the Four Seas, the highest-ranking officers—chief and deputy—were typically Vice Admirals.
Henry was one of West Blue's Vice Admirals.
In his prime, he had served as a Vice Admiral of Naval Headquarters—of the same generation as Garp and Sengoku.
Unlike those two, however, Henry had never reached their level of power.
With age came decline.
Like many veterans of his era, he had been reassigned from the brutal front lines of the Grand Line.
Recently transferred to the comparatively stable West Blue, Henry had taken up his post as Vice Admiral here.
A new official lights three fires upon taking office.
Though retired from the main theater, Henry had no intention of fading quietly into obscurity.
To solidify his authority—and gain influence—he had personally assumed command of West Blue's large-scale inspection patrol.
His goal was simple:
Crush powerful pirates.
Establish prestige.
And the War Pirates, who had been expanding aggressively and building notoriety across West Blue, were the perfect target.
When Henry had learned of their presence at Hongyan Island, he seized the opportunity.
And now—
The moment had arrived.
"Fire!!!"
Henry's fleet surged forward at full speed.
The War Pirates did not retreat.
Instead, they adjusted formation and advanced to meet them.
When both fleets entered artillery range, the first volley erupted.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Flames roared. Cannonballs tore through the air.
Above the sea, amid deafening explosions, it seemed as though two massive winged beasts had taken flight and collided violently.
The cannonballs met midair, detonating before they ever reached their targets.
Shockwaves rolled across the ocean's surface, kicking up towering sprays.
Many shells exploded prematurely.
But many others pierced through the chaos and continued hurtling toward their marks.
"Six Styles: Tempest Kick!"
"Six Styles: Tempest Kick!"
As if by unspoken agreement, slash waves erupted from both fleets.
On the War Pirates' side, powerful arcs of compressed air sliced through incoming shells.
On the Marine side, similar crescent-shaped shockwaves rose to intercept the artillery.
The sky above the battlefield filled with crossing blades of air.
Shells detonated one after another, shattered before impact.
The real battle had begun.
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