The Navy's encirclement formation suddenly had a massive breach.
Pop!
Sanji landed gracefully, took out a lighter, and shielded the wind with his hand to skillfully light a cigarette.
"Hey, old man."
Grinning at the scar-faced man on the ground beside him, who looked bewildered, he said, "You've got quite the strength, huh? I appreciate your goodwill, but in a situation like this, it's hard not to make a move."
"Hey! Curly Eyebrow!"
Law frowned and hissed, "This is not a battle for a fifty Belly bounty like you to meddle in, don't come over and mess things up for me!"
"I have to help anyway!"
Sanji replied unhappily, "This is about saving your life, you understand? Otherwise, those bullets would have already turned you into a beehive just now!"
Using what I just said to counter me?
"What a petty guy." Law said, speechless, rubbing his forehead.
"Hey, that bear, Bebo, right? Please help me take good care of Chopper."
Sanji bent down and picked up Chopper from the ground, "You guys take this chance to leave first, leave the rest to me and your captain. I have to ensure this guy's safety, after all, in this chaos, he's the only reliable doctor willing to treat Chopper on the whole island."
Bebo, with a bewildered expression, took Chopper.
"I quite like hearing that."
Law raised an eyebrow, glanced at his subordinates, and said, "His suggestion isn't wrong either, you guys leave through the breach, the Navy's reinforcements are probably arriving soon, as for the rear guard, leave it to us."
"Understood! Captain!"
"You be careful too!"
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
The rest of the Red Heart Pirates immediately protected Chopper and rushed towards the breach, while Law and Sanji exchanged a glance and stood back-to-back.
"How dare you!"
Saint Pulminge was furious, took out a handgun from his chest, and aimed it here, "The Fur Race I've set my eyes on is mine! You two lowly people dare to defy this Saint!"
"Indeed, absolutely lawless!"
An angry shout suddenly came from the side.
Sanji instinctively looked over, only to see the scar-faced man who had pinned him down before striding over with a grim expression, blocking in front of the Celestial Dragons.
"Blond curly-haired brat! You daring rebel! It was bad enough when you didn't kneel before, but now you dare to join forces with other pirates in rebellion!"
Then suddenly turned around, knelt in front of the Celestial Dragons, and raised both arms fanatically:
"These are Celestial Dragons! They are the creators of the world, true, perfect gods! Great gods! I am a patrol officer from the South Sea Alliance, here on vacation in Shampodi with a close friend, since I'm fortunate enough to serve you, leave these two ignorant peasants to me to..."
Bang!
A sudden gunshot interrupted his words.
"..."
The scar-faced man looked incredulously down at his chest, where blood was gushing out.
After a while, he instinctively raised his head again, seeing Saint Pulminge holding the smoking gun, with an impatient expression on his face.
"Chatterbox peasant,"
Saint Pulminge blew on the gun barrel, "This Saint will personally execute these two lowly people; who allowed you to get in my way and meddle?"
Beside him, Saint Charulia slightly nodded her head in agreement.
"I, I..."
The scar-faced man opened his mouth, seeming to want to say something, but ultimately just spat out a mouthful of blood and fell heavily to the ground.
His eyes were wide open, seemingly unable to rest in peace, never understanding why his genuine loyalty would end like this.
"Did you see that? This is the price of displeasing this Saint!"
Saint Pulminge jeered, raising his handgun again, "Now, it's your turn..."
...
Shampodi Navy Branch.
Red lights flashed, the piercing highest level alarm blared, echoing throughout the entire base.
"Emergency! Disturbance in Shampodi Paradise; two Celestial Dragons attacked!"
"All units deploy, all units deploy, proceed to the disturbance site at the quickest possible speed!"
"Confirmed identifications of attackers, besides the blond curly-haired male, the other leaders are Super Rookie, Poison Doctor Chopper, Death Surgeon Law!"
"The enemy is excessively fierce, the branch base might not be able to handle it; headquarters, requesting Grand Admiral support! Repeat, requesting Grand Admiral support!"
...
Navy Headquarters, Marinfanto.
In the top office, under the plaque of 'Supreme Justice.'
"What?"
Sengoku's expression changed, abruptly standing up, "The Celestial Dragons'/bodyguards encountered an attack in the Shampodi Islands? Are there pirates this daring?"
"The Super Rookies of this generation... cursed brats, now I get it!"
He hung up the phone, exhaling deeply.
"They've targeted the World Nobility, seems like ignoring it is not an option anymore."
Kizaru, leisurely sitting on the sofa and clipping his nails, casually sighed, "No need to worry, if that's the case, I shall personally take a run, Marshal."
Come to think of it, a normal person missing an arm can't clip nails by themselves, even if they owned a condor.
But he's different; being Logia-type, his other hand can morph into photons, wrapped in a suit, concealed under gloves, showing no discernible difference.
However, it isn't as nimble as having five fingers.
Looking at his finger over-clipped beyond the nail bed, Kizaru sighed regretfully, stood up lazily, and habitually inserted both hands into his pants pockets.
"Speaking of which..."
Kizaru turned his head, "Marshal, Vegapunk's latest results seem to be in the final stage, it's just lacking a field test. There're a few units close to Shampodi, should I take them to assist with testing, is that alright?"
"The Scientific Defense Force has always been under your direct charge, no need to ask for my opinion on such matters."
Sengoku said sternly, "Do what you will, but one thing, under any circumstances, ensure the safety of the Celestial Dragons first, understood?"
"Of course."
Kizaru nodded with a beaming smile, then gazed at the distant sea horizon.
In the next instant.
Crash!
The glass window of the meeting room shattered explosively as Kizaru transformed into a brilliant golden light, dashing straight toward the harbor.
...
Bam!
Bang! Bang!
The gunfire was like a raging storm, rounds following rounds almost incessantly, intermixed with the thunderous roar of mortars, akin to thunder amidst a torrential downpour.
"Hey, Curly Eyebrow!"
In the forest of gunfire, Law dodged agilely, the blade of the Demon Sword Kikoku slicing through with a pale blue arc, slicing down the incoming bullets:
"Weren't you quite chatty just now? How come you're silent now?"
"Quit the chatter!"
Sanji sidestepped a bomb, his right leg igniting with flames, fiercely kicking a Marine who rushed forward:
"Humans get tired, dammit, why do these lackey reinforcements keep increasing the more we fight!"
In the distance.
The roar of Saint Pulminge pierced through the smoke, coming from afar: "You lowly people dare defy me! Dare attack me! Do you think you can escape? The Grand Admiral is arriving soon! By then——"
The subsequent sound was inaudible.
Because another salvo of mortar shells was fired, Law lowly shouted again, activating the Slaughterhouse, barely deflecting all threats.
"The firepower is getting fiercer. It seems after last year's big event in Shampodi, the Navy strengthened the troop deployment at this branch."
Law squinted, "Bebo and the others, along with Chopper, should already be within the safe zone. We have no way to eliminate all the Navy; let's just break through at this point."
"Leaving already?"
Sanji snorted, "I was hoping to give those bubble-wearing bastards a final kick each before leaving."
"For a mere venting, getting trapped in danger isn't worth it."
Law waved the Demon Sword, pointed in a certain direction, and shouted lowly, "The breach over there is the most obvious, it's now or never! Go!"
"Got it!"
Sanji repelled the approaching Marines, leapt high into the air, just about to dash out along with Law——
Buzz!
A golden flash suddenly lit up, blocking between the two, and in the next instant, shattered explosively.