Chapter 79: Marine Infighting

Boom!

Amid the shockwave unleashed by the exploding cannonball, the café's roof and the wall facing the square instantly began to collapse!

In a flash, Siano hesitated not, blocking the window and propping up the collapsing beam with one hand, shielding his companions from flying bricks and shattered glass.

At the same time, he whipped his head around and shouted sternly:

"Ah Yin!"

"Awooo—!" Ah Yin understood instantly, letting out a roar as his fur bristled and electric sparks crackled and popped all over his body.

In an instant, a semicircular lightning field expanded and took shape, covering the entire area where the café stood.

This was an advanced version of the elementary bloodline talent skill it had comprehended in its youth—"Arcane Body Protection."

The protective shield of the lightning field could expand to a maximum range of ten meters in all directions, protecting everyone within the field from any external physical harm.

Clatter-clatter-clatter, the collapsing bricks and stone walls were held back by the field, while simultaneously, explosions rang out everywhere in the square, and people's screams rose and fell one after another.

"Pah, pah, pah!" Nami wiped the soot from her face, rushing anxiously to the stairwell, "Are you all right, Auntie Shopkeeper!"

"N-no, I'm fine!" came the female shopkeeper's voice from downstairs, still trembling from the shock.

Nojiko also hurried over, helping to check all around for any casualties.

Fortunately, the café was not large; both the upper and lower floors fell within the protection range of the field, and all thirty-odd guests and staff were saved without a single one left behind.

"Hah." Only then did Nami breathe a sigh of relief.

But the others outside the café were clearly not so lucky.

Looking out through the hole in the wall, many shops and residences on both sides had been caught in the artillery fire, collapsing in large swathes, a scene of utter devastation.

"I'll go up and take a look!"

Sister Sister Guyina's face turned ugly; dropping these words, she was the first to rush out through the gap in the roof above.

Damn it!!

What pirate crew dares to be so arrogant, launching an artillery strike against Loguetown in broad daylight?!

The pirates of the East Blue are nothing but small fry; where would they get such audacity...

Could it be that another nest of pirates like Arlong has returned from the Grand Line?

Swish, Sister Sister Guyina drew Wado Ichimonji, stepped onto the moon walk to reach the top of the nearby clock tower with a clear view, and gazed toward the dock.

Just one glance.

Her expression changed abruptly, revealing a trace of shock.

How could this be...

The ones firing the cannons are actually the Marines?!!!

There at the dock.

A massive luxury cruise ship lay anchored.

And surrounding it, three Marine warships had already all turned around, aiming their cannon muzzles at the entire square in front of the execution platform!

Time rewound to five minutes earlier.

At the bow of the luxury cruise ship.

A golden scepter encrusted with gems was held in a fat hand, pointing toward the area before the execution platform.

"Hey, hey, hey, can someone tell this King what kind of people those are crowding the square? They're so eyesore-inducing."

Altar turned his head, his gaze finally landing on Smoker's face, "If I remember correctly, you seem to be the Marine in charge of this island; you should be very clear on this question, right?"

"On ordinary days, perhaps most are tourists, with a minority being pirates mingling among them."

Smoker narrowed his eyes, and finally, under the piercing gaze of Onigumo, spoke coldly, "These days are somewhat special; I estimate more than half are pirates."

"Pirates?!"

Altar covered his mouth with his hand, letting out an exaggerated cry, "Wow, are they all pirates? This is the first time I've seen so many; clearly right beside your base, how come the pirates aren't afraid in the least and are so arrogant?"

Isn't this all just to escort you, you stupid pig?

Smoker's face suddenly grew gloomy.

When he remained stationed at the Loguetown base, pirates coming onto the island always kept their tails tucked, terrified of exposing their identities!

How would they dare to gather so openly and flagrantly?

"I should return, Vice Admiral."

Smoker extinguished his cigar, turned his head, and grumbled to Onigumo, "My station has been reached; the remaining journey is short, and I probably aren't needed anymore."

In reality.

For this escort mission, he had always felt that the higher-ups were being overly cautious.

Besides Vice Admiral Onigumo and himself, who had been transferred over, there were two Rear Admirals from the Grand Line's G-series branches, as well as two Vice Admiral-level adjutants under Onigumo's command.

One Headquarters Vice Admiral, four Headquarters Rear Admirals, plus him, whose strength was sufficient to serve as a Headquarters Rear Admiral.

This was naturally to demonstrate the importance placed on the personal safety of those three allied kingdom kings, one of whom could even be counted as half a Celestial Dragon.

If they were traversing the Grand Line, he could barely understand it.

But after all, this was merely an escort from the South Blue to the East Blue.

No matter how you looked at it, there was no need to elevate the lineup to such a luxurious, even somewhat wasteful degree, right?

In comparison.

It was far more urgent for him to hurry back to the island and intimidate those gathered pirates.

The pirates of the East Blue were manageable; they couldn't stir up much trouble.

But among the many people in the square, there were also pirates mixed in from other seas.

North Blue, West Blue, even the Grand Line... compared to the East Blue, among the pirates who rushed over from these places, there were quite a few troublesome fellows!

Now he feared that in his absence, with the island's defenses weak, they might gather in high spirits and suddenly decide to loot, burn, and kill.

The townspeople would surely suffer disaster...

"You want to return now?"

Onigumo's eyebrows furrowed slightly; he was just about to speak.

"Good, good, good!!"

Altair behind him suddenly clapped his hands excitedly: "Having many pirates is a good thing; the more, the better! The more arrogant, the better! I have never personally witnessed the Navy fighting pirates while I was present. Hey, Onigumo, fire the cannons! Hey, fire the cannons!"

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Onigumo glanced toward the execution platform, nodded, then used Moon Walk to head straight for his flagship.

Smoker remained behind, utterly stunned.

"Are you mad! Mr. Onigumo!"

Smoker hastily transformed into smoke, following closely onto the deck of this warship; the moment he landed, he questioned in disbelief:

"You actually obey an order concocted on a whim by this noble who has never fought a war? Firing directly at the town center—how many innocent civilians will be harmed? This is simply insane!"

"Don't get it wrong, Smoker."

Onigumo gave him a strange look and sneered, "For the sake of his Celestial Dragon bloodline, I usually tolerate various trivial matters, but in military affairs, that brainless fat pig has no qualification to command me."

"Then why are you still doing it!!!"

Smoker roared fiercely.

He already saw three warships slowly turning, raising their broadside cannon muzzles, clearing the pier, and aiming directly at the square; overwhelmed by urgency and anger, he shouted, "And you lot, do you know what you are doing? Stop immediately!!"

Alas, command over those three warships did not belong to him.

Those few Rear Admirals glanced at him, then indifferently turned back,

continuing to follow Onigumo's orders and directing their subordinate gunners to load the cannons.

Onigumo flicked off some ash and spoke calmly:

"Although we have known each other for a long time, it seems now that you truly do not understand me very well, Smoker..."

(End of Chapter)