One Piece: Scourge of the Seas

Indeed.

That man was a kindred spirit.

Finding someone like him was undoubtedly something worth celebrating.

The gleam in Lafitte's eyes ebbed away like receding tides. The black cane in his hand spun in a graceful arc before the tip nudged his hat brim upward.

The light in his eyes faded, replaced by the vivid sight of Maude battling.

"Hold it in…"

Lafitte's crimson lips curled into a grin as he suppressed the urge to act.

Finally meeting a kindred soul made the violence within him surge like a boiling tide.

But the prey belonged to Maude.

He couldn't make a move.

If he were to intervene, it would shatter the beautiful tableau.

Though Lafitte managed to restrain himself, the bloodlust radiating from him surged unabated.

A chilling aura began to emanate from him, sending shivers down the spines of the pirates nearby.

Even from a distance, they instinctively recoiled.

It felt as though dozens of needles had suddenly pricked their sides.

"What's going on?"

Distracted from the battle unfolding before them, they turned to look at Lafitte.

For a fleeting moment, it was as if they saw a monstrous face of pure malice, formed entirely from killing intent, looming behind him.

Alarmed, they quietly put more distance between themselves and Lafitte—though they were already standing far enough away.

On a rooftop in the distance.

Wolfrat and Tatamu crouched behind the eaves, watching the battle on the long street intently.

"He's strong," Tatamu murmured with genuine admiration.

Wolfrat remained silent, staring in astonishment at Maude, who was pushing Bege into a corner with just a single blade.

He had thought Maude's strengths lay in his marksmanship and audacious confidence. But now it was clear his swordsmanship was no less formidable.

Though it seemed unrefined, its lethality was undeniable.

But that wasn't the point.

What mattered was the "Phantom Gun" had finally made his move.

Such strength was utterly terrifying.

No wonder the Navy legend was so obsessed with him.

A man like this must have spilled the blood of countless comrades.

And the scariest part? The "Phantom Gun" had remained obscure until now…

The thought sent a chill down Wolfrat's spine.

After a moment, he shook his head slightly, snapping out of his dark musings.

The moment the "Phantom Gun" acted tonight, Wolfrat's mission was nearing its conclusion.

Maude and the girl in the weapon shop.

These two pieces alone were enough.

"After this… it's none of my business anymore."

Wolfrat thought to himself, his hand unconsciously reaching into his pocket.

Inside was a Den Den Mushi.

The verification was complete. All that remained was to report back to Gion.

And after that…

Would he leave or stay to witness the "Phantom Gun's" downfall?

Wolfrat's gaze lingered on the figure standing in the long street.

Perhaps he was more inclined to stay.

On the long street.

Corpses littered the ground.

Blood pooled into small rivers, flowing in all directions.

Bege had had enough.

He didn't care about the lives of his subordinates, but he couldn't stand the unchanging tide of battle.

This wasn't how things were supposed to go.

The joy he initially felt from his Devil Fruit powers shouldn't have turned into such helplessness.

This ability should have perfectly matched his identity and status…

So why was this happening?

Was the ability too weak?

No.

He was too weak to fully wield its power.

Incapable of utilizing it to its fullest, relying solely on weapons would only backfire.

Bege suddenly came to his senses.

When he first obtained the Castle-Castle Fruit, he was convinced it would lead him to dominate every battlefield.

He hadn't doubted his own judgment.

It seemed like an inevitable conclusion.

But Maude had shown him the truth through sheer action—the gap between the present and the future.

Awakened, a ruthless determination flashed in Bege's eyes.

In the next moment, the subordinates emerging from his castle no longer carried swords or guns. Instead, they each held a black cannonball.

This was Bege's new strategy after his revelation.

At worst, mutual destruction.

At best, injuries on both sides.

And within his body, he still had plenty of manpower.

No matter the outcome, the close-range explosion of these cannonballs would tip the scales of power in his favor.

This was the strategy that defined him—the path to victory.

When Bege saw Maude instinctively swing his blade toward his subordinates, a savage smile spread across his face.

"Cannonballs?"

Maude's eyes narrowed.

By the time he realized it, his sword, Dark Crow, had already struck one of the cannonballs.

There was no helping it—he'd been caught in the rhythm of slashing and couldn't stop in time.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion engulfed both Maude and Bege.

Scorching shockwaves slammed into them, sending them flying before they crashed to the ground, rolling several times before coming to a stop.

"Cough, cough."

Maude clutched his chest as he slowly stood up.

Thanks to his one-star physique, he'd only suffered superficial injuries—several cuts from shrapnel and the force of the shockwave hitting him like a direct punch.

Nothing serious. Just pain.

That was the benefit of a strong physique.

"Brutal," Maude muttered to himself.

In critical moments, only such ruthless methods could break through and create a chance for survival.

It was a lesson worth remembering.

After quickly checking his injuries, Maude turned to look at the fallen Bege.

At the time of the explosion, Bege had been closer to the center. Without a physique stronger than the blast, he'd either be dead or severely injured.

Since the Hunter's Notebook hadn't updated with a kill reward, it meant Bege was still alive.

Wasting no time, Maude charged toward the incapacitated Bege, aiming to deliver the final blow and claim his bounty.

But just then, a group of mafiosos suddenly appeared around Bege.

Gritting his teeth through the dizziness, Bege had summoned his remaining subordinates from within his body.

Before resorting to his self-destructive move, Bege had anticipated this scenario—both sides wounded.

But he hadn't expected the result to leave him down while Maude could still stand.

Even so, it didn't matter. At least he'd escaped the quagmire.

Maude halted as more mafiosos emerged from the castle.

"Troublesome," Maude sighed lightly.

He wasn't worried about the situation itself but about the possibility of someone else stealing his kill.

"Surely I won't be that unlucky," Maude muttered, his gaze cutting through the mobsters to focus on Bege.

He knew Bege was gravely injured.

In this condition, it was only a matter of time before he bled out.

But with so many onlookers, some of whom might be Bege's enemies, there was always the chance someone would swoop in for the kill.

If that happened, Maude wouldn't just be angry—he'd be fuming.

Bege didn't care what Maude was thinking. Through gritted teeth and seething rage, he shouted:

"Kill that bastard!"

The mafiosos raised their guns in unison.

Bang! Bang!

The sound of gunfire tore through the night.

From a distance, a sniper reconnected to the battlefield.

One by one, the mafiosos fell like dominoes, each shot finding its mark.

Bege stared in shock at the scene, nearly choking on his last breath.

"Sniper!"

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