The mont the Marines burst into the tavern, Yoriichi Tsugikuni's attention wasn't on them, but on sothing outside the door.
Sitting calmly by the gambling table, Issho also seed to sense sothing. He slightly tilted his head toward the entrance, one hand gripping his cane tightly.
As for the squad of Marines who stord in, they clearly didn't have the ti to care about anyone else. In their eyes, there was only one person they had to take down!
"Hyah!"
A young Marine was the first to rush toward Capo the Lamb-Wrangler, swinging his longsword straight for Capo's chest. But just before the blade could strike,
Capo, now in full Zoan beast form, reacted much faster than before. With a swift kick, he launched the gambling table in front of him into the air. The heavy table smashed into the Marine's chest, sending him flying with a thud as the corner struck hard.
Startled by the sudden turn of events, Bell-mère quickly pulled a short dagger from her coat. With a forward lunge, she darted to Capo's side and thrust the blade at his lower leg.
However… the expected spray of blood never ca.
The mont the tip of the dagger hit Capo's skin, it felt like stabbing solid iron. Not only did it fail to injure him, it didn't even pierce the surface.
Capo's body, now covered in coarse black bristles, had skin tougher than wild boar hide.
Realizing he was being attacked, Capo slowly lowered his head and flashed Bell-mère a toothy smile from beneath his hairy face. Then, his massive hand shot out toward her neck.
Bell-mère couldn't dodge in ti, he grabbed her by the throat. The surrounding Marines, seeing her caught, imdiately stopped in their tracks. They could only surround Capo, not daring to act rashly.
Capo snorted disdainfully at their hesitation, then turned to look at the man still calmly seated in the corner, Issho.
This composed Marine sitting unshaken on his stool, that was the real threat.
Capo the Lamb-Wrangler, head of a human trafficking ring in the East Blue. Bounty: 1 million Berries.
Bell-mère's Marine branch had been investigating a child abduction case and successfully pinpointed Capo's location. Today was the day of the planned arrest.
Through days of careful observation, Bell-mère had already mapped out Capo's habits and daily patterns. Her original plan was to wait until Capo finished his usual gambling session, then coordinate with the Marines outside for a surprise attack as he exited the tavern.
But what she hadn't expected was Issho's sudden appearance, completely disrupting their plan.
This tavern had served as Capo's temporary base. Normally, he'd host small-scale gambling sessions here, while his n scouted the terrain and selected potential "rchandise."
Once targets were confird and the layout of the village morized, Capo's team would make their move. In fact, they had been about ready to act… but things changed. Their tracks had been discovered by the Marines.
Now, whether Capo wanted to avoid escalation or not, the situation was already out of his control.
And the one who disrupted both the Marines' plan and Capo's,
Was Issho, still sitting innocently at the table, completely unaware of the chaos he had triggered.
If he hadn't sat down and kept winning ga after ga, Capo's underlings wouldn't have been provoked into murder. Bell-mère wouldn't have been forced to expose herself early to protect him.
The gears of fate had been shifted by a man who joined the ga on a whim, just because he enjoyed gambling.
"Urgh..." Capo's grin twisted into sothing more sinister as he looked at Issho. The grip on Bell-mère's throat tightened. Her breathing grew erratic, she struggled wildly, but her strength was failing fast.
Whoosh!
At that critical mont, a sharp gust sliced through the air near Capo's ear.
A young Marine, wielding a double-edged sword, suddenly appeared beside him. The blade flashed, and blood sprayed across the floor.
"Aaaagh!!!"
Capo howled in agony, staggering back several steps clutching his severed arm, until his back slamd into the tavern wall.
"Who are you!!!"
His scream echoed with fury, but before he could catch his breath, a flash of steel pierced straight through his chest.
The roaring stopped. Capo's eyes widened as he looked down at the sword embedded in his heart. His hand trembled on the hilt, then his body slumped, lifeless.
Shhhk.
The blade slid free.
Kyros flicked the blood off his sword with a casual motion as he turned and walked toward Bell-mère.
"He... he's dead?!"
"That was Capo, the Lamb-Wrangler with a one million Berry bounty! Killed with a single slash?!"
Only now did the other Marines co to their senses, gasping in shock and turning toward Kyros.
He knelt down beside Bell-mère, sheathing his sword. His voice was gentle.
"Miss, are you alright?"
"Huh?!"
"I-I'm fine!"
Bell-mère stared at him, dazed. It all felt surreal.
She'd never seen these Marines before. Soone this strong, an officer, no doubt, should've been known across the East Blue.
But she had never heard of them.
They weren't from around here.
Her eyes drifted toward the bar.
In fact, back when Yoriichi and his two companions first entered the tavern, Bell-mère had noticed them. But her full attention was on Capo at the ti, and when she saw Issho gambling and dressed like a re petty officer, she didn't think much of it.
Now though, things had changed. She couldn't ignore them anymore.
Her eyes landed on the red-haired Marine behind the bar, and she froze.
If she wasn't mistaken… that guy was a commissioned officer?
"I'm glad you're safe. You're a Marine, aren't you? That was brave of you."
Kyros smiled and praised her. He had already pieced together most of the situation and admired Bell-mère's courage.
Just as Bell-mère opened her mouth to respond, a shadow blocked the sunlight from the doorway.
Everyone in the tavern felt it, an invisible pressure suddenly blanketed the room.
Bell-mère and Kyros instinctively turned toward the entrance, where a figure stepped through the door.
It was a young man, around twenty years old.
He wore a red floral shirt, loosely buttoned to reveal a pale, well-defined chest. His slim black trousers were tucked into sturdy, black-soled boots.
His short black hair looked a bit unkempt, but his sideburns were trimd with precision, creating a strange contrast in appearance.
He was handso. Very much so. Sharp facial structure, refined features, the textbook image of a cold-faced pretty boy.
But what drew everyone's gaze were his eyes.
Sharp. Like a hawk's.
As he entered, his piercing gaze swept swiftly across Yoriichi, then the other Marines, and finally settled on Issho.
Then, without a word, he grabbed the massive sword strapped to his back and held it across his body. The exaggerated size of the blade instantly drew everyone's attention.
He lifted his gaze, locking onto Issho.
His voice was cold.
"Marine."
"You'll be my opponent."
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