Chapter 23: Only Haki Reigns Above All

The Clown fell to his knees, his long sword slipping from his hand to be caught by Luo Di; Luo Di released the hilt, and the long sword flipped in the air on its own, stabbing with a *squelch* into the Clown's heart.

Seeing this scene, the members of the Poker Pirates were instantly struck dumb, standing rooted to the spot, completely afraid to move; on the other side, Honey Queen's mucus gathered, restoring her original form, and seeing the Clown pierced through by a single sword on the spot, her foxy eyes revealed an expression of horror.

She had already seen Luo Di's Bounty, and although the amount was not low, according to the Navy's report, it was because he had killed too many people.

She possessed a Devil Fruit, which was already a very rare existence in the East Blue, and the Poker Pirates had also been entrenched in the East Blue for many years; there were many rookie pirates like Luo Di who had just started out and challenged them after plundering a few towns, but they all eventually became their stepping stones.

The guy in front of her was clearly not ordinary; she could not see through his ability at all and had no way to parry.

She began to regret it in her heart, thinking she shouldn't have underestimated Luo Di, and felt that if Da Xiong Wang could have led the team here in person, he would surely have been able to wipe him out easily.

But things had reached this point, and regret was useless now; with the Clown, their officer, killed so easily, even with her Devil Fruit ability, she saw absolutely no hope of victory.

But she was very clear about her own advantages.

Honey Queen puffed out her proud chest, lifted her perky buttocks even higher, and even gave them a light *slap*, saying coquettishly:

"Little Blood Calamity, actually I just wanted to make friends with you; it was all that guy Clown acting on his own initiative, so please let me go. From now on, we will mind our own business, and if that really won't do, I can stay here tonight, you know."

The implication was very clear.

"Pah! How disgusting," Ka Li Na said with disgust, then looked at Luo Di, worry appearing in her eyes.

She knew Honey Queen's advantages; ordinary men would be captivated by her upon seeing her, even willing to die for her, and Luo Di was so lecherous, he would surely be easily bewitched by her.

"Why are you looking at me?" Luo Di looked at Ka Li Na, speechless.

"I... it's nothing." Ka Li Na pouted and turned her head away.

Seeing that Luo Di didn't reply, Honey Queen walked slowly toward him with a wanton and sexy gait; she had absolute confidence in her own charm.

Bang!

Another heavy punch smashed into her head, mucus splattering, leaving the crew of the Poker Pirates dumbfounded.

"Slimy things are too disgusting, I have no interest," Luo Di laughed. "Besides, you hurt my proudest navigator, and I must settle this score for her."

The restored Honey Queen arched her willow eyebrows, clenched her fists, and said sternly: "You beast, do you really think I'm someone to be trifled with?! I am an Ability User who can elementalize! To be so rude and turn a blind eye to my beauty is a capital crime!"

After speaking, she roared: "Little ones, all of you attack! We have several times their numbers, no need to be afraid!"

Following Honey Queen's command, those pirates who coveted her body rushed forward with their weapons.

"Counterattack, protect Lord Luo Di!" Xiao En shouted, and was the first to rush up.

After finishing off the gunner on the enemy ship, Gai Ou also rushed to the shore to join the battle.

The great battle was on the verge of breaking out; Luo Di took a large step forward, and Star Platinum arrived in front of Honey Queen in the blink of an eye, punching through her chest.

"Useless move." Provoked by Luo Di, Honey Queen now wanted nothing more than to kill him to vent her anger and wash away this humiliation.

She transformed into a large mass of mucus, attacking Luo Di like a tornado; just as she was about to strike him, Luo Di suddenly flashed behind her.

"Elementalization, huh."

As Luo Di spoke, his hands had already grabbed Honey Queen's arms, pulling her entire body into the shape of a cross.

"Useless... ugh."

Before Honey Queen could finish speaking, she suddenly felt something was wrong; a solid feeling of restraint came from her arms, as if they were clamped by steel bars.

"Ripple Rush."

The scarlet Ripple instantly swept over Honey Queen's entire body; the intense burning sensation caused her extreme pain, and she hurriedly turned into mucus, wanting to escape Luo Di's control.

"How is this possible?" Honey Queen looked incredulous.

"Useless?" Luo Di laughed wantonly, flashing in front of Honey Queen again, his pitch-black fist slamming fiercely into her chest.

"Only Haki reigns above all!"

Bang!

Honey Queen had clearly turned into mucus, but Luo Di's fist still hit her as if she were a solid object, causing her chest to tremble and sending her flying backward into the seawater at the edge of the beach.

Star Platinum suddenly appeared in front of her, grabbing her neck, and in an instant, it became Luo Di holding her.

"Ugh~ this, how is this possible?" Honey Queen looked at him in disbelief; her chest was caved in from the blast, she didn't know how many ribs were broken, large amounts of blood gushed from her mouth, and even breathing had become extremely painful.

"There are too many things you don't understand, frog in a well," Luo Di said indifferently.

"You bastard, let go of Lady Queen!" shouted a member of the Poker Pirates; he was a boy-toy Honey Queen had recently found in a nearby kingdom, with knotted muscles and a height of nearly three meters, looking extremely fierce.

Seeing Honey Queen beaten to the point of near-death by Luo Di, he grabbed a halberd and charged at Luo Di.

But Gai Ou rushed in front of him like a white phantom, swinging his fist to smash into his forehead; as the sound of muscle colliding rang out, the muscle-head's teeth popped out, and he slammed into the ground, creating a crater.

Gai Ou quickly used his foot to flick up the man's halberd and stabbed it down hard into his neck.

*Squelch. *

The remaining members of the Poker Pirates heard the commotion and saw Luo Di holding their Queen; they looked at each other, completely lost their will to fight, and stood on the spot in terror.

"Blood Calamity, if you dare to hurt Lady Queen, His Majesty Da Xiong Wang will not let you off!" a subordinate threatened.

Bang! Xiao En shot him in the temple.

A tall, thin man knelt on the ground, begging: "My lord, please let Lady Queen go! Life without Lady Queen is simply hell; I don't want to go back to face my ordinary wife and children, I just want to be the Queen's dog every day!"

Luo Di looked at Gai Ou.

*Squelch! * The halberd stabbed into the man's chest.

"Does anyone else want to speak?" Luo Di asked with a smile.

The members of the Poker Pirates were struck dumb.

"Cough, cough... you, if you kill me, I won't let you off even as a ghost," Honey Queen said softly, her voice extremely weak, like a candle in the wind. "If, you let, let me go, I can give you..."

"I'll take you even as a ghost."

As soon as the words fell, Luo Di slammed his palm, imbued with the Scarlet Ripple, onto the top of Honey Queen's head; Honey Queen's body shuddered violently, and those eyes with their inherent charm gradually grew unfocused, just like a flower slowly withering away.