One Piece: So What If I Sin, Lie, and Lust? I'm Still a Good Marine Chapter 450: Volume 3 – - 93: The Sniping Spot

Responding to Sengoku's summons, Daren didn't waste any ti. He reached out and gave Tokikake's swollen, pig-like face a pat.

"Hey, wake up. Ti to fight."

Tokikake's eyes were still spinning as he mumbled in a daze,

"Fight? Fight what..."

Suddenly, he trembled, his sausage-like lips quivering.

"Didn't you already finish fighting...?"

Two murky streams of tears leaked from his swollen eyes, making him look pitiful beyond words.

Daren: ...

"Forget it."

He turned to the nearby Marines.

"Get this guy to the military hospital. Sorry for the trouble."

"Yes, Vice Admiral Daren! Leave it to us!"

The Marines reacted like they'd just received a top-secret directive, snapping to attention with excitent.

Daren gave a brief nod and headed straight for the Fleet Admiral's office.

On the way, he passed many Marines moving at a fast pace, their faces grim. The closer he got to the heart of headquarters, the heavier the atmosphere beca. Everything scread preparation for battle.

"Looks like Headquarters is going all in this ti. I'm guessing Fleet Admiral Kong and Admiral Sengoku are facing serious political pressure."

That thought crossed Daren's mind.

In his quest for clues to the ancient weapons, Shiki had been wreaking havoc across the seas, laying waste to countless towns and ports.

Each place he destroyed piled more pressure on the Marines.

The chaos and destruction he left in his wake stirred panic among civilians and nations alike—panic that quickly turned into pressure on the World Governnt and the Navy from leaders and nobles.

The more Shiki rampaged, the more the Marines—symbols of "justice"—appeared powerless.

That kind of pressure on Kong and Sengoku... must be overwhelming.

Now that they finally had a shot, they weren't about to let it slip away.

A showdown between Shiki and Roger was sure to be earth-shattering.

The largest pirate crew of the era against its most elite rival... If the Marines could play this right, they might just have a chance to take down both legendary pirates in one strike!

"I wonder if this battle will break out in the Edd War Sea like in the original tiline..."

Daren lit a cigarette, brows knitting in thought.

Before long, he arrived at the Fleet Admiral's office, located in the central military fortress.

Even before reaching the door, he heard Sengoku's furious roar from inside.

"Damn it, Garp... I wasn't finished talking!"

Bam!

The door flew open with a bang.

"Wahaha! Old man Kong, maybe you weren't finished, but I already heard everything I needed!"

Garp stord out, laughing loudly, exuding a fierce energy.

"Roger's about to enter the target sea zone. If I don't go now, he'll slip away!"

Every ti Roger's na ca up, Garp—usually lazy as hell—got fired up like he was on a stimulant, overflowing with fighting spirit.

"Yo, Daren! You're finally here... Bwahahaha, Sengoku and the others are waiting for you inside."

Spotting Daren in the hallway, Garp greeted him with a laugh.

Daren smiled.

"Vice Admiral Garp, you're as energetic as ever."

Just as he finished speaking, an excited voice called out from behind...

"You really are a hero of the Marines, Vice Admiral Garp! To flat-out refuse Fleet Admiral Kong's orders—so cool!"

Daren didn't even need to look. Just from that hot-blooded, over-the-top line, he knew Kuzan had arrived.

"Yo, Kuzan!"

Garp waved casually at Kuzan as he ca up the stairs, then his eyes sparkled mischievously as he grinned.

"You want to co aboard my ship? If this turns into a sea battle, your powers will be pretty handy."

Kuzan's eyes lit up instantly, his whole face flushing with excitent.

"Really, Vice Admiral Garp!? I can really board your ship!?"

"Dahaha, Daren, did you hear that? Garp-san just acknowledged !!"

Daren smiled.

"Then you'd better give it your all, Kuzan."

Pumped up by Daren's encouragent, Kuzan trembled with excitent and raised his fist high.

"Of course!! I'll catch up to you one day, Daren!!"

"Wait up, Garp-san!"

He turned around and saw Garp had already walked off, so he hurried to catch up, leaning forward eagerly.

"By the way, Garp-san, is it true you turned down the Admiral promotion again?"

"That's just... insanely cool!!"

Watching those two energetic figures vanish around the corner—and spotting Bogard silently waiting in the stairwell shadows with his sword in hand—Daren couldn't help but chuckle.

Garp and Kuzan... those two always managed to completely wreck any serious mood.

"Damn it! Garp, you bastard!!"

At that mont, the Fleet Admiral's office door slamd open again as Sengoku stord out, fuming.

But seeing that Garp was long gone, he could only grit his teeth in frustration.

"Admiral Sengoku," Daren greeted.

"Hmph. You're here. Hurry in already."

Sengoku took a deep breath to rein in his anger, then turned and led Daren inside.

...

The office was thick with smoke.

All the top brass of Marine Headquarters were gathered, brows furrowed, silently puffing on cigarettes. Their eyes were locked on the sand table before them, clearly stuck in a deadlock.

"Daren, you ca at the right ti."

Kong looked up with a solemn expression.

"Tsuru, bring him up to speed."

Staff Officer Tsuru nodded, her voice clear and thodical.

"According to the latest intel, five hours ago, the Roger Pirates officially entered the New World."

"anwhile, two days ago, the flying pirate fleet led by Shiki landed on a comrcial island in the New World to resupply... He didn't even bother hiding his movents."

Sengoku's face darkened as he clenched his jaw.

"He's gone completely reckless. Does he really think a few threats are enough to make the Navy back down!?"

Borsalino smirked from the side.

"If not for Vice Admiral Daren's strategic input, we really would've been stuck."

Sengoku: ...

"Vice Admiral Borsalino, once this battle starts, your assignnt is to cut off Shiki's escape route."

Sengoku snarled through gritted teeth, turning and glaring daggers at Borsalino.

Borsalino raised both hands in mock surrender.

"That's quite the tough mission, Admiral Sengoku."

"I don't care!"

Sengoku's eyes were bloodshot.

"Alright, alright..."

Borsalino responded with a helpless smile.

Watching the exchange, Tsuru shook her head slightly before continuing.

"The key issue now is figuring out where Shiki plans to ambush the Roger Pirates."

...

(40 Chapters Ahead)

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