One Piece: Scourge of the Seas

The sound of the Den Den Mushi became the sole presence on the deck as soon as it rang.

Everyone, including Garp, turned their attention to Gion.

A call at this time could only be from the operative stationed in Mad Hat Town.

Gion took out the Den Den Mushi.

The moment she connected, the snail's appearance morphed into a somewhat lewd expression.

A second later, Wolfrat's voice came through.

"How much longer until you arrive?"

"About half an hour. Did you call just to ask this?"

"No."

Wolfrat's tone carried a hint of gravity.

"Something's happened here. There's an unknown force attacking the island's slave factory. Judging by their actions, it's highly likely to be the Revolutionary Army. I don't know if this will affect the operation, so I wanted to let you know in advance."

[TL/N: Pig Farm is a slave factory.]

"Understood. Stay put and await our arrival at Mad Hat Town. Do not act rashly before we get there."

"Got it."

The call ended.

Garp stroked his chin. "The Revolutionary Army, huh... Little Tsuru did mention them before."

"Most likely, but it won't affect this operation."

Gion put away the Den Den Mushi, her expression calm.

Besides her, the ship also carried top-tier combatants like Garp and Aokiji.

If the Revolutionary Army on Mad Hat Island encountered this crew, their only option would be to retreat.

Garp clearly thought the same and wasn't too concerned about the Revolutionary Army on the island.

He knew well that the Revolutionary Army wouldn't engage unless absolutely necessary.

Moreover, even if he didn't need Aokiji's intervention, just having Aokiji standing by would serve as an unspoken deterrent.

"Ah la la," Aokiji's lazy voice drifted from below the deck stairs.

"Since there's still half an hour, why not have breakfast first?"

Yawning, he climbed to the bow of the ship, suggesting this in a rather constructive tone to Garp and Gion.

"Good idea," Garp readily agreed, turning to his aide, Bogard.

With his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, Bogard tilted his hat slightly and said calmly, "The kitchen is already preparing."

"Haha," Garp laughed heartily, then glanced at Aokiji with a look that seemed to say: See? My aide always makes things so effortless.

Feigning ignorance of Garp's gaze, Aokiji looked toward the brightening horizon.

Silence fell as he chose not to comment on Garp's occasional childlike antics.

As he stared at the dawning sky, Aokiji's mind drifted.

A deputy like Bogard—was it envy? Perhaps a little.

After all, Bogard was a seasoned Marine veteran who had followed Garp for years. His strength was beyond question.

But what Aokiji truly admired was Bogard's efficiency in handling tasks.

With such a deputy, he could probably sleep in much more often.

Then again, anyone working under Garp would likely develop exceptional administrative skills in just a few years.

"Speaking of which..."

Lost in thought, Aokiji suddenly remembered something important and scratched his head with his forefinger.

"Will we make it back to HQ in time for the report?"

Mad Hat Island – Pig Farm.

The arrival of the masked man and Koala drastically changed the battlefield's dynamic.

In this world, a single extraordinary combatant could often dictate the outcome of a fight.

At this moment, the masked man and Koala were fulfilling that role.

Both attacked simultaneously—one from the rear, the other from the front—unintentionally forming a pincer movement against the armed squad.

With their overwhelming individual power, they tore through the squad's formation.

Apart from the formidable Scott, the armed squad had no one capable of stopping the two.

The tides of battle turned in an instant.

Watching the masked man and Koala wreak havoc like wolves among sheep, Maude's eyes gleamed.

With these two drawing the squad's attention, he had a chance to target Scott.

But Maude wasn't in a rush. He continued to bide his time, allowing the masked man and Koala to weaken the armed squad further.

This approach ensured that, even if his identity was exposed later, he wouldn't immediately become the primary target.

Ten minutes passed.

Maude finally slung "Usopp" over his back and picked up a bloodied long sword from the ground.

He quietly observed the heated battle between Sabo and Scott.

Lead bullets alone wouldn't penetrate Scott's bronze-like defenses.

To claim the kill, he would have to infuse the blade with Armament Haki and strike a fatal blow at the perfect moment.

Strictly speaking, he had only one chance.

Maude's eyes glinted with icy determination as he crept toward Scott.

Since Sol began teaching him Haki, Maude had deliberated for an entire night.

In the end, he chose to include all forms of Haki in his training, rather than focusing solely on Armament or Observation Haki.

Scott, a target proficient in Armament Haki, represented an ideal prey.

If he succeeded in this hunt, the rewards—though partially diluted—would still mark his first significant gains in Haki.

Scott glanced briefly at the battlefield and noticed the tide turning against his side.

His face darkened.

"Damn it!"

Sabo, no longer constrained by urgency, adjusted his fighting style. His attacks became less aggressive but more precise and steady, increasing the pressure on Scott.

"Enough!"

Scott shifted his focus, his killing intent sharp.

Abandoning his defensive stance, he launched a reckless offensive, his copper fists swinging in wide, devastating arcs.

The increased power came at the cost of more vulnerabilities.

Still, Sabo momentarily faltered under the relentless assault, and Scott seized on a minor misstep.

Bang!

A heavy blow forced Sabo back. Scott quickly closed in, grabbing hold of Sabo's steel pipe.

Scott smirked coldly.

But to his surprise, Sabo let go of the pipe.

"Dragon Claw."

Sabo formed a claw with his right hand, blackened with concentrated Haki, and struck Scott's chest with crushing force.

A dull thud echoed.

The fierce attack sent Scott flying.

"It's over..."

Sabo's eyes flashed confidently.

But what he anticipated didn't happen.

Scott came to a halt, unscathed.

He sneered, "Haki varies in strength. Yours may surpass mine, but I have the Copper-Copper Fruit's defensive boost."

Sabo's expression grew serious as he observed Scott's bronze chest, still reinforced with Haki.

The combination of Devil Fruit and Haki created an impenetrable defense, even against Sabo's Dragon Claw.

Scott's sneer widened, his chest Haki fading.

"If that's your best move, then you're nothing mo—"

Shing!

A blade infused with Armament Haki pierced through Scott's bronze chest, silencing him mid-sentence.

"W-Who... could..."

Scott's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked down at the blackened blade protruding from his chest.

Despair flickered in his gaze as he saw the Haki coating the weapon.

The sudden turn of events shocked Sabo.

He turned to the figure wielding the blade.

"It's you!"

Even with his face smeared in ash, Sabo recognized the boy.

Waves of shock rippled through Sabo's heart.

How could someone he had casually crossed paths with possess the strength to pierce Scott's defense with a single strike?

His gaze lowered, catching sight of the gun barrel peeking over the boy's shoulder.

And then, Sabo froze.

This was...

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