One Piece: So What If I Sin, Lie, and Lust? I'm Still a Good Marine Chapter 497: Volume 4 – - 16: Bullet Runs Amok

"Admiral Sengoku, you wanted to see ?"

Without a mont's delay, Daren changed into a brand-new military uniform and headed straight for the Fleet Admiral's office.

Pushing open the door, he saw Sakazuki standing there, his expression cold and detached.

Sakazuki gave Daren a brief glance before turning his eyes back to Sengoku, his voice sharp and frosty.

"Admiral Sengoku, I still stand by my decision."

"The mission to eliminate Douglas Bullet has been mine from the start. If it weren't for Kaidou's sudden interference last ti, I would have taken care of him already."

"Besides, Vice Admiral Daren has only just recovered from serious injuries. He needs more ti to heal. The operation against Douglas Bullet should continue to be handled by ."

Sakazuki's tone was firm, and an intense, iron-blooded aura naturally radiated from him.

Hearing this, Daren imdiately grasped the situation.

So, Sengoku intended to assign him to take down Bullet, but sohow Sakazuki had found out and rushed over to volunteer.

Still, Daren wasn't all that surprised.

That was just Sakazuki's nature. Ever since Bullet had slipped away during their last mission, he had been brooding over it.

His overwhelming confidence and his uncompromising stance against pirates wouldn't allow soone like Bullet to continue running wild across the seas.

"Sakazuki, you know I've always had great trust in your abilities,"

Sengoku said, rubbing his temples with a pained expression, his brow furrowed tightly.

"But this ti, things are different."

"Douglas Bullet has clearly been provoked by sothing and keeps stirring up conflicts across the New World."

"In just the past half month, he's launched attacks on nurous countries and islands in the New World, causing serious unrest among the nations."

"His strength has grown even more terrifying. He's already taken over several territories under the Whitebeard Pirates' control."

"Among them, five pirate crews under Whitebeard's command were completely crushed by him."

"According to intelligence assessnts from headquarters, this man who once sailed with Roger's crew has completely lost control on the seas."

Sakazuki frowned, his voice still cold.

"So? Admiral Sengoku, I don't see what any of that has to do with ."

Sengoku shook his head, his tone heavy with the authority of an order.

"In short, this mission isn't suited for you."

Sakazuki clenched his fists tightly.

He stared hard at Sengoku for a mont, then turned without a word and stord out.

The office door slamd shut with a loud bang, making Sengoku's mouth twitch slightly.

"He's pissed off..."

Daren said with mild amusent.

Sengoku rolled his eyes, looking a little helpless.

Young people these days were getting harder and harder to manage.

He had already given up on that troublemaker Borsalino, not expecting anything from him anyway.

Now even Sakazuki was growing more defiant, constantly butting heads with him.

It was giving Sengoku quite the headache.

Kuzan was decent enough—full of energy every day, easily coaxed into working hard with just a few words.

But he had been a step too slow, and Garp had snatched him up first. Damn it!

After considering it all, the most reliable one still seed to be Daren...

Thinking that, Sengoku's gaze toward the Vice Admiral standing before him softened considerably.

He shook his head and said,

"Don't worry about Sakazuki. That guy's like a volcano, ready to blow at any mont. People who don't know him would think soone owes him money."

Sengoku sighed, then looked at Daren with concern.

"How's your recovery going, kid?"

Daren smiled.

"Thank you for your concern, Admiral Sengoku. My body's basically fine now."

"Good, that's good."

Sengoku nodded, his expression turning serious.

"I was planning to let you rest a few more days, but Douglas Bullet's rampage threw our original plan into chaos... We really had no choice but to call you back so urgently."

Daren's eyes flickered slightly as he smiled.

"Sounds like Bullet's rampage has sothing to do with ?"

Sengoku gave him a strange look, then pulled out an image Den Den Mushi and set it on the desk.

"See for yourself."

Daren paused, a little confused, and opened the Den Den Mushi.

A flash of white light shot out, projecting an image onto the white screen.

The scene was chaotic—an enormous steel war giant stood like an unbreakable wall across the land, tearing up the ground with every punch and sending towns flying.

Flas raged and surged. Hundreds of Marines scrambled to evacuate the panicking civilians while desperately firing at the giant, but it was completely ineffective.

"Kahahahaha! This is the feeling! Co on, more of you!"

"I'll wipe you all out!"

Cannons suddenly erupted from the giant's body, pouring down like a storm and turning the battlefield into a sea of fire.

The war machine trampled everything in its path, leaving only ruins behind.

Bullet's maniacal laughter echoed across the battlefield, violent and demonic.

"Daren! Just you wait for !"

The image froze.

Sengoku looked at Daren aningfully.

Daren: ...

"Ahem..."

After a few seconds, Daren finally couldn't take Sengoku's strange stare and said with an innocent look,

"This really has nothing to do with !"

Sengoku rolled his eyes.

"I'm not blaming you. But we need to handle Bullet as soon as possible."

"He's caused too much damage. Several countries have already publicly voiced their concerns and dissatisfaction."

Daren asked, puzzled,

"Then wouldn't it be better to have Sakazuki deal with it?"

Sengoku glanced at him, then suddenly said,

"But the governnt has another plan."

Another plan?

Daren thought for a mont, then quickly realized.

"The Shichibukai?"

Sengoku nodded with a complicated expression and sighed.

"That's right. Bullet's strength is formidable, and this incident caused a huge stir. The governnt believes that if they can recruit him into the Shichibukai now, it would greatly boost their reputation."

"More importantly, Douglas Bullet was once a mber of Roger's pirate crew. The governnt is very interested in the intelligence he might have about them."

"Intelligence?"

Daren narrowed his eyes. For a brief mont, countless thoughts flashed through his mind—clues about the Ancient Weapons, the truth of the world...

But Sengoku didn't pursue the topic further, clearly avoiding any discussion of sensitive matters.

"Sakazuki isn't suited for recruitnt missions. With his personality, he definitely wouldn't hold back."

Sengoku tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"So, Daren, I'll have to trouble you again this ti."

"Though I'm not sure why, Bullet seems to have so sort of special obsession with you. If you're the one to deliver the Shichibukai invitation, the chances of him accepting are much higher."

"What if he refuses?" Daren suddenly asked.

"If he refuses..."

Sengoku's eyes turned cold as he clenched his fist.

"I authorize you to issue a Buster Call!"