One Piece: Scourge of the Seas

The narrow alley they were in was less than a kilometer away from the weapons shop.

Out of nowhere, Sol suddenly appeared, startling Maude and Sunny into an immediate battle-ready stance.

Seeing it was Sol, the two quickly lowered their pistols.

However, what truly caught their attention was the expression on Sol's face—his furrowed brows and the grim look etched into his deeply wrinkled features. It was the first time they had ever seen him look like this.

"What's going on?"

Sunny felt an ominous chill and asked ahead of Maude.

"I'll explain later."

Without waiting for a response, Sol lunged forward, grabbing Maude and Sunny by the collars of their shirts. With a powerful leap, he launched himself into the air and began moon-stepping back to the weapons shop.

Once back at the shop, Sol released the utterly confused Maude and Sunny.

"There are two Marine warships in the inner bay—Garp and Aokiji are aboard them. They're likely here for me."

"What?!"

Maude and Sunny's faces turned pale with shock.

Bailey ambled over from the hallway, looking at them with puzzlement. As a particularly intelligent animal, he didn't grasp the gravity of names like Garp and Aokiji when it came to pirates.

"Grab your weapons and ammo. We're… leaving!"

Leaving that terse instruction, Sol dashed back to his room at top speed.

Earlier that morning, Sol had only casually grabbed two short-handled flintlock pistols from the rack when tailing Maude and Sunny to the Pig Farm. He hadn't even brought much ammunition.

At the time, he hadn't thought the Revolutionary Army's raid on the Pig Farm would escalate into anything major. Following Maude and Sunny was simply to ensure their safety.

After everything was resolved, as they returned to the residential area, Sol had been looking forward to a leisurely breakfast and a quick stroll through the Pleasure District for his morning exercise.

But as they neared the weapons shop, a series of deafening explosions echoed from the docks.

On instinct, Sol used Observation Haki in that direction—and what he "saw" were Garp and Aokiji.

Under normal circumstances, he would've fled without hesitation.

But now…

Sol rushed into his room, immediately tossing aside the two inferior pistols in his hands. He then pulled a dusty wooden chest out from under the double bed.

Opening it, he revealed two flintlock guns—one long, one short—resting atop a red velvet lining.

A proper marksman would typically carry at least two guns: a rifled long gun for long-range engagements and a pistol for close-quarters combat.

Many snipers also kept a backup gun, just in case. After all, firearms were inherently less durable than swords, prone to damage during battle. Having a spare was always prudent.

The rifled long gun in the chest had been Sol's backup weapon. His primary gun, which he'd used for most of his life, had long since been destroyed—by none other than Garp.

Though this backup gun wasn't as exceptional as his destroyed mainstay, it was leagues beyond the flashy weapons sold in the shop.

As for the flintlock pistol, it was an old companion that had been with him through countless battles.

Sol equipped the two guns, filling his ammo pouch with lead bullets, and swiftly headed toward the door.

Just as he stepped out of the room, he abruptly stopped and turned back, his gaze falling on the display case holding nine finely crafted swords.

These were all famous blades he had collected over the years.

He stood silently for a moment, thinking about Maude's natural talent with Haki.

Finally, he selected one of the swords and left the room without a backward glance.

The other blades, along with the vast wealth stored in the cabinets, would have to be left behind.

Sol descended the stairs and entered the weapons shop.

Maude and Sunny were already geared up and ready to leave.

Even Bailey, now understanding the situation, was trembling like an elderly man.

Sunny had provided the simplest explanation possible: "Mad Hat Town is about to be razed to the ground."

The words had terrified Bailey, leaving him eager to escape the island as soon as possible.

"Take this."

Sol tossed a dark blue blade toward Maude.

Maude caught the sword midair, surprised.

"This is Chidori…"

Before he could ask why Saul was giving him the blade, Sol cut him off.

"Let's go."

Sol led the way, pushing open the shop's door.

Maude didn't press further, securing the sword at his hip and following Sol alongside Sunny.

As for Bailey, he was securely strapped to Maude's back.

Once outside, Sol grabbed Maude and Sunny by their collars again, leaping into the air and moon-stepping toward the Wall Mountain.

The Marines were advancing from the inner bay, likely planning to destroy all ships and trap the pirates on the island.

Sol's only option was to head toward the opposite side of the island, scale the Wall Mountain, and escape from the far side. From there, he planned to use Moonwalk to reach the nearest island.

This method had been his go-to strategy for evading Marine pursuit for years.

However, carrying two people significantly slowed him down and placed a heavy strain on his stamina.

The most challenging part, though, was that he couldn't free his hands.

Sol's ability to vex the Marines wasn't just due to his mastery of Moonwalk—it was also because he could shoot accurately while escaping.

Even if a pursuing Marine was faster than him, attempting to close the distance often resulted in being shot down like a bird.

Despite the added burden, Sol pressed on at full speed toward the Wall Mountain.

Dangling in midair, Maude dared not move, worried about disrupting Sol's rhythm.

As the wind whistled past, Maude looked down at the rapidly shrinking streets below.

Even while carrying two people, he's still this fast…

But can he sustain it? Is he really planning to escape Mad Hat Island like this?

Doubt and questions raced through Maude's mind.

Yet Sol must have his reasons for doing this.

So Maude suppressed his curiosity and remained silent.

Suddenly, a series of thunderous crashes erupted behind them.

Sol's expression darkened as he glanced back.

Activating Observation Haki, he "saw" Garp barreling toward them like an unstoppable bull, crashing through building after building.

The structures crumbled like paper under Garp's might, doing nothing to hinder his speed.

"Damn that Iron Fist bastard."

Sol gritted his teeth.

Using long-range Observation Haki disrupted his Moonwalk rhythm, so he retracted it and focused on fleeing.

Maude and Sunny, hearing the booming noises, strained to look behind them.

All they could see were plumes of dust rising from the shattered buildings, like ominous warnings of the monster chasing them.

"I only want you, Phantom Gun!"

Garp's booming voice carried over the chaos, cutting through the streets.

The pirates in town stared in disbelief as Garp flashed past, his words leaving them stunned.

Only then did they realize why the Marine Hero had come to Mad Hat Town.

Who was Phantom Gun?

The question crossed their minds, but it didn't stop them from cursing the name under their breath.

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