Chapter 12: The Sea is Breathing

Boom!!!

Inside the shipyard room, Hanke slammed a fist into the Great White Shark Fish-Man's chest, smashing the chain-wrapped Fish-Man directly against the iron bars behind him.

"Cough, cough, cough..." The Great White Shark Fish-Man coughed incessantly from the impact, blood spilling from his mouth, but his gaze remained cold: "Damn human, is that all the strength you have?"

"Not bad, quite sturdy, better for practice than a sandbag." Hanke twisted his wrist and commented with a smile.

Lao Shu stood to the side, maintaining his signature sly grin. Hanke had already contacted a black market buyer and was meeting them at the agreed-upon location today. He knew that back when Hanke was in the Navy, he had a habit: making all his opponents feel endless terror.

Every time Hanke set out, his colleagues would feel pity for those criminals; having their bones broken was already the best-case scenario. Over time, Hanke earned the title "Bone-Crusher."

"As expected of the number one supernova, the man Vice Admiral Garp thought most highly of. Everyone thought you would be promoted to Rear Admiral back then; your departure is truly a loss for the Navy," Lao Shu sighed.

"Don't mention the Navy again. They were the ones who abandoned me back then. That old man Zhan Guo doesn't understand the cruelty of the sea at all. Even if a civilian commits a crime, if you don't crush them completely, there is always the possibility of being killed in return. He isn't fit to be Fleet Admiral," Hanke said coldly.

Just then, a subordinate at the door suddenly reported: "Mr. Hanke, there's a situation!"

After hearing the subordinate's report, Hanke's eyes turned cold, and he ordered: "Take this beast of a Fish-Man to the port. Once I finish dealing with this, I'll head to the meeting spot."

Lao Shu's whiskers twitched: "Hehe, then I'll wait here for your good news."

The ship had already set sail. Luo Di stood at the bow, looking at the gradually receding town and the dilapidated port, the burning sensation in his heart gradually subsiding.

Having experienced a battle, Ka Li Na was also feeling a lingering fear. She glanced at the indifferent-looking Luo Di, thinking that although this captain was usually carefree and had many flaws, he was exceptionally calm when facing danger.

Fortunately, things were resolved smoothly, and they had obtained treasure and a higher-quality ship; this trip could be considered quite fruitful.

"Ka Li Na," Luo Di suddenly called out.

"Yes," Ka Li Na stood at attention subconsciously.

"It's not over yet, don't relax."

No sooner had Luo Di finished speaking than a ship larger than theirs sailed out from the shipyard channel. It was packed with people, and a rugged, burly man stood at the bow, his eyes locked onto him like a fierce leopard staring at its prey.

"Bring the ship alongside!" Hanke, chewing on a cigar, waved and shouted.

His ship's power and speed were clearly much faster than Luo Di's, and the distance was gradually closing; catching up was only a matter of time.

In the iron cage, the Great White Shark Fish-Man saw this scene and wore a puzzled expression.

How did these humans start fighting among themselves?

Luo Di stared fixedly at Hanke, who was sailing toward him, and said indifferently: "Hide well; I might not be able to look after you in a moment."

"Alright, you be careful." After saying this, Ka Li Na immediately stepped away and hid in the ship's room. Looking at the situation outside through the window, the playfulness and excitement on her face faded, replaced by deep worry.

Luo Di stepped out with a long stride, his left foot landing on the railing. A dazzling, transparent mist dispersed around his body, and Star Platinum leaped out suddenly, reaching Hanke in the blink of an eye.

Red light flickered in Hanke's eyes, a flash of astonishment passing through them, and he hurriedly raised his arms to block.

Boom!

Star Platinum's fist smashed into Hanke's elbow, knocking him back a few steps. The crew behind him were confused and exclaimed in shock: "Boss Hanke!"

"An Ability User, huh? Interesting." Another flash of red light appeared in Hanke's eyes as he locked onto Star Platinum's position.

"Shave!" Hanke twisted his toes, his body turning into an afterimage, and he instantly appeared behind Star Platinum, slamming a fist toward its neck.

Luo Di's Star Platinum turned at high speed to block. After parrying Hanke's punch, he felt a stinging numbness in his left arm.

"Ora ora ora ora!"

Star Platinum traded blows with Hanke, and for a moment, they were evenly matched. Just then, the lackeys behind Hanke suddenly pulled out flintlocks, their dark muzzles aimed at Luo Di.

Bang!

The sound of a gunshot rang out.

That subordinate collapsed onto the deck, and a wisp of gunpowder smoke drifted from the muzzle of Ka Li Na's gun behind him.

Boom!

Another exchange of punches, and Hanke retreated a few steps. The crew behind him were all bewildered, completely unable to see what had happened, knowing only that their boss seemed to be in a tough fight.

"An Ability User like you is indeed rare in the East Blue, but in front of my Observation Haki, no means can hide," Hanke sneered, then suddenly let out a shout. His plaid shirt burst open, revealing his toned muscles.

"Let me show you true power!"

After speaking, Hanke's pupils contracted, and his arms were instantly dyed a layer of black lacquer, shining oilily under the sunlight.

Observation Haki and Armament Haki—I didn't expect such a person to be in this small town. It seems it won't be easy to leave today.

As Luo Di spoke, Star Platinum's pupils contracted, observing Hanke's changes mechanically.

"Kid, it's going to hurt from here on out!"

No sooner had Hanke finished speaking than he launched himself like a cannonball, not at Star Platinum, but at Luo Di on the opposite ship.

Star Platinum immediately turned back to stop him, but just as its fist landed on Hanke's neck, Hanke suddenly curled his lips, and the muscles at his neck rippled and bulged.

"Iron Body!"

Boom!

Star Platinum's fist landed precisely on Hanke's neck, but Hanke only tilted his head slightly, one foot already stepping onto Star Platinum's knee.

"Shave!"

Hanke vanished instantly and appeared in front of Luo Di. Luo Di had already anticipated this result and had raised his arms to block in advance.

Boom!

The fist landed on Luo Di's elbow joint. Luo Di felt a surge of impact, as if he had been hit by a car, and he flew backward toward the wall of the rear cabin, crashing through it and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Luo Di!" Ka Li Na screamed in panic from the inner room and ran toward Luo Di's position. Due to her extreme urgency, she tripped and fell to the ground, looking up to meet Hanke's fierce gaze not far away.

"It's over, little girl," Hanke said coldly.

Ka Li Na tried to crawl up, but Hanke had already reached her side. He squatted down to look at the grieving Ka Li Na and sneered: "Your companion is indeed a genius to have such abilities at such a young age, but on this sea, there is no shortage of such reckless greenhorns."

"If I died there, it would only prove that I was nothing more than that."

"The woman you are hunting is now my crew member. If you don't value your life, then come."

The sound of Luo Di's voice still lingered in her ears, and the scenes of this past period flashed through her mind; from initially wanting protection, slowly turning into being conquered by his strength, and then gradually getting used to being together, in such a short time, Ka Li Na had also experienced different psychological changes.

All this time, when facing enemies, Luo Di had basically been in a position of crushing them, his invisible fists always able to smash every opponent, and she had never thought there would be a situation like this.

"Tsk tsk, it seems you are very sad, rest assured, I won't let you die easily; compared to your appearance, those women in town are simply eyesores, in a moment I will let you feel true power," Hanke said, a sinister grin unable to stop appearing on his face.

Bastard... Ka Li Na shifted from grief to resentment, quietly gripping the gun in her hand.

Just at the moment she raised her hand, Hanke lifted his foot and kicked, directly sending the pistol flying into the sea.

"What an unappreciative woman," Hanke said, shaking his head with a smile, and pointed to the iron cage on the opposite ship: "See that? When that beast comes out in a moment, I'll let you go inside."

Ka Li Na did not respond to Hanke's words; she understood for herself that the moment Luo Di fell, her fate had already been sealed.

I never thought I would actually die here; that guy Luo Di must be very unwilling, unable to go to the Grand Line he wanted to go to...

Hanke did not intend to continue with nonsense, leaning down to prepare to grab Ka Li Na, who was lying on the ground.

"Hoo— ha—"

"Hoo— ha—"

The sound of heavy breathing came, and Hanke frowned, stood up, and turned around.

The sea breeze whistled, and giant waves churned and surged as if the ocean itself were breathing; Luo Di's hair flew in the wind, his shirt had already shattered and burst open, revealing an upper body that looked like it was cast in copper and forged in iron, the air around him distorted, and faint, transparent Ripple surged, as if an invisible power were gathering.

"What are you doing to my crew member!"