One Piece: Scourge of the Seas

Sabo rarely used firearms, but he understood them.

The gun barrel emerging from behind Maude's shoulder was covered in marks from countless battles.

It was a rare, antique weapon.

In the chaotic Mad Hat Town, Sabo had only seen one such gun before—carried by the undertaker he encountered at the tavern some time ago.

Could it be the same person?

No wonder there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity when they brushed past each other the other night.

The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place in Sabo's mind, converging into a single answer.

Yet, this revelation only brought more questions.

Sabo quickly glanced at the dark blade protruding from Scott's chest before turning his gaze to Maude, who was clad in the Armed Squad uniform.

"Who exactly are you?"

The two questions were so contradictory because Sabo truly knew nothing about Maude's background.

Maude didn't respond. Instead, he stabbed Scott again, ensuring no chance of survival.

Having taken two fatal strikes, Scott never even saw Maude's face before he collapsed lifelessly.

After killing Scott, Maude didn't dwell on the changes he felt in his body.

Pushing Scott's corpse aside, Maude swiftly retreated toward Sunny's location.

With valuable experience points secured and the Revolutionary Army having gained the upper hand, there was no reason for him to stay any longer.

"Wait! What's your name?"

Sabo called out, instinctively reaching forward as if trying to hold Maude back.

This question caused Maude to pause briefly.

Leaving a name behind after doing good deeds—it was a habit he considered a virtue.

"Usopp."

Maude tossed out the name and quickened his pace.

"Thank you!"

As Maude darted away, Sabo could only shout his thanks, watching the figure grow more distant.

"Usopp…"

Sabo murmured the name under his breath.

As expected, he was strong…

Silently committing the name "Usopp" to memory, Sabo turned to rejoin his comrades.

With the situation now overwhelmingly in their favor, the Revolutionary Army was ready to withdraw from Mad Hat Island, successfully completing their rescue mission.

Maude quickly returned to Sunny's side.

"This place isn't safe. We need to leave."

Maude tugged at Sunny's sleeve.

"Got it," Sunny replied, following closely behind Maude.

The two moved single-file toward an exit at the base of the Wall Mountain.

Not far away, the masked man who had intervened in the battle glanced at Maude and Sunny's departing backs.

On the battlefield, with Scott's fall, the Revolutionary Army soon achieved a decisive victory.

They didn't linger. After destroying the Armed Squad's long-range weapons, they began a full retreat.

The surviving members of the Armed Squad didn't dare pursue and could only watch as the Revolutionary Army vanished from sight.

Sabo and his group made their way through a tunnel left by Morley, reaching the base of the island's cliffs.

Two mast ships waited in the nearby waters. The rescued slaves had already been safely transferred to one of the ships.

"Sabo, Koala!"

From the deck, Morley waved enthusiastically at Sabo and the others at the cliff base.

His towering giant frame was impossible to miss, even without his shouting.

Sabo waved back briefly before boarding a small boat with his comrades to row toward the ships.

Before long, the surviving Revolutionary Army members boarded the mast ships one by one.

The ship's medics, long prepared, immediately began treating the injured.

The masked man also boarded the ship.

He had removed his headscarf, revealing a stoic face.

"Tatamu, your timing was perfect," Koala said, slapping Tatamu on the back.

Tatamu managed a faint smile before tossing his soot- and blood-stained headscarf into the sea.

Sabo approached and gave Tatamu a firm pat on the shoulder.

"Tatamu, will you stay behind or come with us?"

"I'll stay. Just prepare a small boat for me later," Tatamu replied without hesitation. He then shed his outer uniform, revealing a pristine bartender's outfit underneath.

"Understood," Sabo said with a nod.

Koala turned to Sabo and suddenly asked, "By the way, who was that person who helped you earlier? They're not one of ours, are they?"

"His name is Usopp—the undertaker I mentioned during our first visit to Mad Hat Island."

"Him?"

Koala was taken aback.

It was the same man who had saved a Fish-Man slave with a gunshot on the long street.

Sabo smiled. "We even crossed paths in an alley just two nights ago."

"What?!"

Koala, caught off guard, recalled the young man and woman they had seen. Her surprise was evident.

"But who is he, really?"

"I have no idea," Sabo replied, shaking his head.

Nearby, Tatamu's expression flickered, but he said nothing.

The two mast ships, carrying the Revolutionary Army and the freed slaves, gradually sailed toward open waters.

By now, dawn had broken, and the morning light stretched across the sky.

After traveling a fair distance, Tatamu approached the side of the ship, preparing to lower a small boat into the sea.

Sabo and Koala came over to help.

Just as the boat was about to touch the water, the lookout's tense voice echoed from the mast above.

"Two warships spotted at five o'clock!"

Everyone on deck immediately looked up at the lookout.

"One of them… is the Navy hero Garp's warship!"

"What?!"

At the mention of Garp, Sabo and the others' expressions shifted.

"What is the Navy hero doing here?"

"Could he be after us?"

"Who knows? Either way, we need to avoid him!"

The Revolutionary Army members whispered anxiously among themselves.

Given their current forces, being targeted by a Navy legend would spell disaster.

Tatamu gazed at the distant waters with a grave expression. "I think I know why he's here."

The others turned to look at Tatamu.

On the warship's deck, Marines were bustling in preparation for battle.

Carts loaded with cannonballs were being wheeled from the ammunition depot.

The Marines swiftly maneuvered the carts to the steps at the bow of the ship.

Since the carts couldn't ascend the steps, the Marines carried the cannonballs by hand, carefully transporting them to the ship's bow.

As the warship neared the entrance of the inner bay, cannonballs were piled high beside Garp.

Stretching his shoulders, Garp grinned as he gazed at the cluster of ships anchored in the bay.

"Let's warm up a bit."

The warship anchored at the bay's mouth, sails furled.

Onlookers at the docks quickly noticed the audacious warship.

In the next moment, before the sound of cannon fire could reach their ears, a series of piercing whooshes cut through the air. Cannonballs flew from the warship's bow, striking a pirate ship with pinpoint accuracy.

Boom!

The ship's main mast snapped under the impact, and the ensuing explosion engulfed the vessel in flames.

On the warship's deck, Garp casually picked up another cannonball from the cart beside him.

Those earlier shots? He had thrown them by hand.

Before setting foot on the island, Garp intended to warm up this way—destroying every pirate ship in the bay.

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