Garo watched as Rosca disappeared beside him, feeling relieved.
But at that moment, someone set their sights on him.
He turned to face the man walking toward him with a sword, his face twisted with madness.
"You seem pretty strong. Among you and your three companions, who's the strongest?" the man asked, resting the back of his blade on his shoulder, a grin spreading across his face.
"I am the strongest." Garo's expression didn't change, not even moving a muscle.
In fact, even Ren and Shutamaru had noticed this side.
"That man's strength might be about the same as mine," Shutamaru said seriously.
His strength could be considered the strongest under Ren, but he couldn't guarantee he could defeat that man.
"In that case, Orochi's Seal might not work on him." Ren lowered his head, pondering for a moment.
The Orochi's Seal worked on Shutamaru because he had already intended to follow Ren.
But that man...
"This feeling... he's not a pirate. He's most likely sent by the World Government or the Marines."
People sent as moles usually undergo special training and aren't afraid of death.
It would be unrealistic to try to crush his will to plant the Orochi's Seal.
"What should we do? Should we find a chance to kill him?" Shutamaru asked.
"No need. Since we know he's a mole, we just need to be more vigilant."
"Besides, as long as the other three can be controlled, even if he's conscious, the information he can obtain will be limited."
At the same time.
"Knowing I'm the strongest among the four of you, you still want to provoke me?" Garo asked, seeing that not only had the other man not left, but was walking toward him with excitement.
"So what? I just can't stand your relaxed expression. You're looking down on everyone, aren't you?" the swordsman pointed at him with his blade tip.
"If you're looking for death, I have no objections." After saying this coldly, Garo suddenly vanished from the spot.
The swordsman, who had been about to say something, paled, gripping his sword with both hands as his narrow eyes scanned the surroundings.
'Not here... not here either... Where did he go...'
Sweat trickled down his temple, and even his breathing became heavy.
"Big talk, but this is all the strength you have?"
Just then, Garo's voice echoed. The swordsman, who had been looking around, froze, turning his head stiffly forward.
In his pupils, a finger rapidly enlarged.
"In front of him..." He hastily swung his sword to block his vision.
Though hasty, he had managed to cover his blade with Armament Haki.
However, his blade was as fragile as paper, instantly pierced and broken by Garo's finger.
Just then, thunder rumbled in the sky. Thousands of pirates instantly stopped their commotion, and even Garo halted his movements.
They weren't attracted by the thunder itself, but the moment it sounded, a powerful electric current surged through their bodies, paralyzing them.
"Lightning..." Garo looked at his arm, expressionlessly retracting his finger.
If he wanted to, he could have broken free from this level of electric current, but that would be equivalent to defying Ren.
"I was going to poke your eyes out. It's useless to leave you with your eyes anyway, but..."
Garo shoved his hands in his pockets, then turned to look at the high ground of Rabuka Island.
Standing there were four people, one of whom was Shutamaru, who had appeared earlier. The other two were a woman in a white kimono and another in black light armor.
The last person was their target—Lightning, Ren.
"Making us wait so long, Mr. High and Mighty, finally decided to show your face?" Chris muttered under her breath, but made no other move.
Those with insufficient strength couldn't even move, while those with their level of strength, though feeling discomfort, recovered quickly. It was only for a moment.
Especially Zoan type users like them had no aftereffects at all. Rosca only felt a slight tingling in her body.
"Did you notice, those two..." Rosca moved her numb hands, whispering in Chris's ear.
"Those two women are very strong. Just as expected from above, this sudden appearance of Inazuma has only shown the tip of the iceberg."
Rosca estimated that if those two women had bounties, they would each be worth at least over 100 million Belly.
Shutamaru's bounty had also recently increased, reaching 500 million Belly.
"Most people in the world now think that this new Inazuma pirate crew's overall strength doesn't compare to great pirates like Golden Lion Shiki, but in reality, their leader's strength isn't any weaker than Shiki's."
"There are two pirates under his command with bounties over 500 million. And many others haven't even shown their full strength yet."
Rosca included Oden and others under Ren's command, but even without counting them, this was still an enormous force.
"Do you think Golden Lion Shiki will lose?" Chris asked in return.
"It's hard to say. At least I don't think he could conquer Inazuma," Rosca said.
In reality, it would be the same the other way around. If Inazuma wanted to attack Shiki's territory, it would be almost impossible.
Although Shiki had been at a disadvantage these few times, it was because Ren always caught him off guard.
If Shiki came alone to cause trouble, Ren would actually find it more of a headache.
But with Shiki's ambitions, of course he wasn't willing to simply cause trouble; it wouldn't benefit him.
What he wanted was to obtain everything of Inazuma, and if he couldn't have it, then he would destroy it.
Just as he later did to the Roger Pirates.
Thousands of pirates quieted down, looking at Ren with either expectant or fearful and awestruck gazes.
"So that's the legendary 'Lightning'? He subdued all of us in an instant. Truly a great pirate on par with Golden Lion Shiki!"
"Isn't this level of strength only natural? Otherwise, it wouldn't be worth following us!"
"..."
Ren looked at these pirates. He had originally planned to give a grand speech, but then thought it unnecessary.
After all, most people just wanted to use his banner to establish themselves in the New World, while others were spies from other factions. Only a very few truly wanted to follow him.
"I know everyone has gathered here to follow me. Very well!"
"Those who wish to follow me, line up in order, and I will leave my mark on your bodies."
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