With a deafening blast, thick smoke billowed outward, enveloping the street in a choking fog.
"Camie!!!" Papaggu tumbled forward, having sprinted so fast his legs gave out beneath him.
"Camie‑chan!" Sanji called out, horror in his voice. He had seen what happened when slaves tried to tear off their explosive collars — it wasn't a gentle thing to watch. He couldn't imagine what such a violent detonation would do to a delicate mermaid.
Luffy's Observation Haki had been locked onto Camie and the old man before the explosion, so he instantly knew they were still alive. That was enough of a reassurance.
"Don't worry, Camie is fine, that old man already saved her," he said quietly, eyes unwavering.
"Really? Straw Hat?" Papaggu wiped his tears, eyes still riveted on the smoke.
As the haze cleared, figures emerged through the dissipating gray. Camie and the old man stepped into view, both unharmed.
"That's great, Camie! That's really great!" Papaggu cried, rushing forward and jumping into Camie's arms with relief.
"What power did this old man use?" ?? (Renn) murmured, startled. He had sensed something strange from the moment the explosion hit — an aura he couldn't immediately place.
Sanji, Carina, and the others stared at the old man in astonishment. None of them knew what saved Camie, but it had to be something remarkable.
Eustass Kid's eyes narrowed, his voice low and begrudging, "As expected of the Pirate King's First Mate, he's strong."
His brow remained deeply furrowed as he looked toward Luffy.
Since the moment he had first seen Luffy, Kid could not stop comparing himself to him. Both captains had set sail around the same time, yet Luffy's bounty was far higher than his own. That was a bitter truth to accept.
But what bothered him most was the intangible force, the oppressive presence Luffy gave off — it was undeniably strong.
"Hmph."
He snorted, stepping back, "Let's go, lads, the Admiral will be here soon."
Camie looked up at the white‑haired old man, still bewildered. She had truly expected death, and yet here she was, alive.
"Thank you…" she murmured.
The old man shook his head with a faint smile. "You are a friend of my savior, I did what was right."
Camie's face flared pink at hearing that, "I… I… I'm not Ba's girlfriend yet!"
The old man laughed heartily at her earnest embarrassment.
He wasn't saying she was his girlfriend, yet she said it herself.
Then he turned to Luffy with a warm grin.
"That Straw Hat wears his captain well. I've wanted to meet you for a long time, Monkey D. Luffy. Now let's move, it's swarming with Marines out here."
He stepped forward, motioning them out.
"Hey, Luffy, do you know that old man?" Usopp asked, confusion in his voice.
Luffy shook his head, "I haven't seen him before."
"He mentioned your Straw Hat," Sanji added.
Luffy rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Could be someone from Shanks' crew?"
After saying it, he shook his head, "No. We need to move, we're surrounded."
…
"Criminals, listen to me, release the Rosward Family immediately!" a Marine officer shouted through a megaphone outside the auction house.
When no one responded, he barked again, "You are surrounded, release the Rosward Family now!"
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Footsteps echoed as Kid's crew and Straw Hat Luffy's crew strode out of the auction hall.
"Stand down, I'll handle this," Eustass Kid said, tone sharp and confident.
Luffy clenched his fists, knuckles cracking audibly, and countered, "You should worry about yourself instead."
Kid's gaze only hardened as he lifted his left arm.
Luffy matched his intensity, roaring, "This many Marines won't even slow me down! Not with one finger!"
"Not with one breath!"
"Not with one glance!"
The sheer absurdity of their bold declarations made the Marines hesitate. These were two of the most notorious captains — supernovas famous across the Grand Line for their power.
A Marine who was still steady held up his rifle and warned his comrades:
"Be careful! Both are captains with colossal bounties — Eustass Kid at 315 million berries and Straw Hat Luffy at 430 million berries!"
The Marines all knew these names, and suddenly their legs trembled, palms slick with sweat.
"Fire!"
At command, a barrage of bullets erupted.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Countless shots fired toward the pirates.
Kid stepped in front of Luffy, shouting, "Don't move! Let me handle this!"
He lifted his metal‑enhanced hand and aligned it toward the Marines.
"Reflect!"
In an instant, the bullets that had been advancing toward them reversed direction, shooting back toward the shooters.
Screams erupted everywhere:
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
The Marines began to panic.
"Fire again!" yelled another officer.
The remaining guns raised, bullets speeding toward the pirates again.
Kid's voice echoed, cocky, "No matter how many times you try, it's like this! Metal weapons are useless against me!"
Luffy shook his head with a slow grin and walked calmly toward the Marines as though strolling into a market.
Kid blinked, unsure what Luffy was doing, and called out, "Are you trying to steal my glory?"
The Marine officer saw Luffy approaching and began to panic, shaking so hard his legs almost buckled.
"Fire! Fire!"
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The Marines fired once more.
Luffy dodged like a fish swimming through a storm of iron hail, twisting and sliding between every bullet.
Not one of the projectiles touched him.
"Nani?!??" Kid's eyes went wide. He watched in disbelief.
Luffy looked over his shoulder and yelled, "Your way is too slow, watch me!"
As he spoke, a red flash ignited in his eyes.
A powerful aura radiated outward from him, crushing the Marines' will, sending nearly all of them sprawling unconscious onto the ground.
The sole officer still conscious stared with his eyes wide and shaking voice:
"Con… Con… Conqueror's Haki! How is that possible?! How could this pirate possess Conqueror's Haki!!?"
There was no official record of this Straw Hat having it, yet here he was, stopping every Marine in an instant.
Kid stared, equally stunned. The force Luffy had unleashed was almost identical to that of the Pirate King's First Mate — a presence that made his chest tighten and heart thrum with profound respect and disbelief.
Sanji and the others who had just arrived were equally frozen in shock.
None of them had ever seen Luffy use such a thing before — not like this.
Luffy turned toward Kid and said with a casual confidence:
"See that? Did you learn anything?"
Kid blinked, mouth agape.
"Don't get carried away," he said, snapping back to his own pride, "If I had made a move, I would've finished them faster than you!"
Suddenly, a brilliant yellow beam fired through the air toward Luffy…
===
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