Chapter 53

Dense cannonballs tore through the curtain of rain. Amidst the sharp whistling, Siano's messy black hair was blown into a dance by the air waves.

But Siano didn't move, just coldly watching the warships in the distance.

Behind him.

Four figures had already erupted simultaneously.

"One-Character Flat Slash: Deer Scare!"

Kuina shouted sharply, stepping on Moon Walk to soar into the air, Wado Ichimonji drawn from its sheath, slashing out a bright arc in the rain.

HUM!

Where the sword edge passed, the air rippled with layers of waves.

More than a dozen cannonballs were neatly sliced in half, the gunpowder soaked by the rain before it could explode, falling to the ground with blue smoke.

"Superior Meat-Hammer SHOOT!"

Zeff flew straight to the other side, his metal right leg kicking out repeatedly, just like processing meat on a cutting board, calm and unhurried.

Making those cannonballs attacking from the edges either fall into the sea or explode high in the air, turning into countless lead dust falling down.

Gin and Nojiko kept jumping, using the walls along the way for leverage.

Swish, swish, swish, moving and shifting, one using fists, one using claws, blocking all the fish that slipped through the net.

SNAP!

Within just over ten seconds, all the cannonballs were cleared, and the four figures landed back behind Siano one after another.

This second round of artillery fire, totaling fifty or sixty cannonballs, didn't even break through the blockade with a single one.

Huh?

Onigumo raised an eyebrow, looking at the roof in surprise.

Did they run into a tough nut?

He originally thought that after firing a few rounds of cannons at the square, he could start cleaning up the battlefield.

Not only would he be able to vent the frustration in his heart, but he could also let that fat pig Altay watch a fireworks show to his heart's content.

If the higher-ups investigated, he could easily shift the responsibility for accidentally injuring civilians to the other party.

It was simply the best of both worlds.

As a result, first Smoker, that disobedient thorn, popped out to make trouble.

And now, who knows where this group of people came from, actually able to block artillery fire with their physical bodies.

This kind of strength doesn't look like something a pirate crew from the East Blue could possess.

Things are starting to get interesting...

"Hey, tell them to stop firing."

Onigumo lit a cigar casually, licked the corner of his mouth, and said with great interest, "I'm going ashore alone to play with these pirates."

"Hound, you Rear Admirals, stay on the ship and watch over the Majesties. This kind of battle doesn't need your intervention. Send a few more officers to lead people to seal off all the exits of the square."

"Yes! Mr. Onigumo!"

The Rear Admiral named Hound hurriedly stood straight and saluted.

Watching Onigumo's departing figure, he felt a bit regretful; he actually wanted to go ashore and play with these pirates too.

……

In a short while.

Onigumo, biting his cigar, stepped onto the dock.

Behind him, a large number of elite Marine soldiers directly under his command crossed him from both sides, entered Loguetown, and surrounded and sealed off the entire square.

Around the docks, many Loguetown branch Marines had gathered to line up and welcome them.

At this moment, they were pushed into the corner, all at a loss, completely unable to understand why the warship had fired directly just now.

—Even if it was to capture the pirates gathered in the square, they could have used a safer method, right? Like now, just going ashore to surround them, wouldn't that work?

"Mr. Vice Admiral!"

The leading branch Captain couldn't help but step forward and shout at Onigumo's back:

"Don't you intend to give us an explanation! Why did you fire without even notifying us! Don't you know that doing this will accidentally injure the civilians on both sides of the square!"

"And, where is Mr. Smoker! May I ask where he is now? Thick smoke suddenly rose on the warship just now, was he on the ship too!"

Hmm?

Onigumo's footsteps paused, his brows furrowed.

"So noisy."

He turned his head and glanced coldly, without the slightest hesitation, took out a pistol from his bosom, and actually pulled the trigger directly at this branch Captain.

A mere branch Captain, who would be a Master Sergeant at Headquarters, dares to question him?

BANG!

After the gunshot, the young Captain's body fell stiffly backward, a bloody hole in his forehead, blood gushing out.

"..."

The surrounding Loguetown branch Marines fell silent instantly.

Gazes of disbelief swept back and forth between the corpse and Onigumo's back.

Behind the crowd, Tashigi also covered her mouth in shock, nearly screaming.

Originally, when she arrived at the dock and heard that one of the big shots coming to welcome them was a Vice Admiral from Headquarters.

She was quite looking forward to it, wanting to witness the demeanor of this Vice Admiral with her own eyes. Her depressed mood from not being able to have dinner with Mr. Siano earlier had also improved slightly.

As a result...

Is this the kind of person he is?

Killing his own colleague without a word.

Does a person like this deserve to be a Vice Admiral?!!!

……

Step, step, step.

Onigumo, biting his cigar, continued to stride toward the square.

He ignored the faint discussions coming from behind; what these low-level Marines thought didn't matter at all.

As for shooting subordinates casually?

This wasn't the first time he had done such a thing. Even field-grade adjutants who dared to defy him were shot dead without a word, let alone a branch Captain in this remote little place?

On the wide square.

Those pirates gathered there also noticed the figure coming through the rain. Seeing the epaulets, and then recalling the dense and terrifying firepower earlier, they all gasped.

"—It's a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral!!!"

Someone howled, and the atmosphere of panic spread wildly in an instant.

"Damn it, if I had known, I wouldn't have come to the East Blue. Why would a guy like this appear in a place like this!!"

"Is now the time to consider such questions? What are you still standing there for, run!"

"It's too late! All the exits have been sealed!"

……

Amidst a flurry of panic and commotion.

Onigumo didn't even bother to look at this mob.

With a swish, he used Moon Walk to reach the roof, raising his eyes to size up the figures opposite him.

Except for the guy wearing a white hood whose face couldn't be seen clearly, the others were just a group of boys and girls, looking like they were only in their teens.

"Interesting."

Onigumo raised an eyebrow and blew a smoke ring, "So the ones who piqued my interest were just a bunch of brats..."

"Hey, what are you doing!"

On the second floor of the cafe, Nami suddenly popped out and shouted angrily, interrupting him, "Why are you firing cannons at us for no reason? We aren't pirates!"

Not pirates?

Onigumo's gaze swept over Siano and the others, briefly going through his mind. He really had no impression of these faces and had never seen them on any wanted posters.

It's just...

"Is there a difference?"

Onigumo shook his head slightly, his expression indifferent:

"You helped these pirates intercept cannonballs, aren't you already working against the Marines? Then being treated as pirate accomplices and executed on the spot is only natural. You can't blame anyone."

(End of chapter)