The man spoke cautiously into the Den Den Mushi, his tone far more restrained than before.
The moment the Marine warship had approached the luxury cruise liner, he had sensed a terrifying wave of Kenbunshoku Haki sweep across the vessel like an invisible tide. It had been vast, precise, and overwhelmingly oppressive.
There was unquestionably a high-level Observation Haki user aboard that ship.
And that realization alone was enough to make him uneasy.
BOOM!!
The cabin door exploded inward with tremendous force.
Wood splintered across the room as smoke and debris scattered violently.
"What ?!"
The man jerked backward in shock, nearly dropping the Den Den Mushi from his trembling hands.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the ruined doorway.
A tall figure slowly emerged from the dust.
The white Marine coat draped across his shoulders fluttered lightly, the black kanji for "Justice" boldly emblazoned across its back. Beneath it, Bruce wore a pristine white suit, his expression calm yet cold.
"Sorry," Bruce said with a faint smile. "My superior wants to see you."
The smile on his face looked almost gentle.
Yet for some reason, it sent chills down the man's spine.
"Damn Marine!"
The man instantly retreated several steps.
The voice from the Den Den Mushi rang out again.
"Spade? What's happening over there?"
The arrogant voice sounded irritated.
"Young Master, don't worry," the man hurriedly replied while glaring at Bruce. "I'll handle this immediately."
"What confidence."
Soru!
Bruce vanished from sight.
The man's pupils contracted violently.
Too fast!
Before he could react, Bruce had already appeared directly in front of him.
"Rankyaku!"
Bruce's leg swept downward like a blade.
BANG!!
The kick smashed directly into the man's face, shattering the blue goggles over his eyes.
The impact launched him across the cabin.
He rolled several times across the floor before barely stabilizing himself.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
"You Marines really love attacking people without warning."
The man's expression darkened.
Then he suddenly grinned.
"Pop Pop Press!"
Several black iron-like spheres flew from his hands.
The spheres rapidly inflated the moment they struck nearby surfaces.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
Violent explosions erupted throughout the cabin.
Bruce's expression sharpened immediately.
"A Devil Fruit user…"
Using Kenbunshoku Haki to predict every explosion trajectory, Bruce moved through the smoke with astonishing agility, avoiding each blast by mere inches.
Even so, the entire cabin began collapsing under the barrage.
The explosions grew larger and more unstable by the second.
"Pop Pop Metal!"
The man twisted the gear-like mechanism attached to his arm and launched another barrage of expanding projectiles.
Bruce narrowed his eyes.
"Shigan!"
His finger thrust forward like a bullet.
Several projectiles exploded midair before they could fully detonate.
The collision of attacks tore apart the room entirely.
The cabin walls collapsed outward, exposing the chaos to the upper decks of the cruise ship.
Passengers screamed in panic.
Marine soldiers immediately began evacuating civilians away from the battle zone.
Meanwhile, Saint Roselith Seraphina calmly stepped onto the shattered deck.
Her silver hair swayed lightly beneath the sea breeze as her scarlet eyes observed the battlefield.
Bruce clearly held the advantage in close combat.
However, the enemy's Devil Fruit ability was troublesome.
The man had already become desperate enough to disregard the consequences entirely. If this continued, the cruise ship itself might sink beneath the sea.
And as a Devil Fruit user, he would die alongside everyone else.
"How reckless."
Seraphina's voice was calm.
Yet beneath that calmness was unmistakable displeasure.
Just as she prepared to step forward
A Den Den Mushi suddenly slid across the broken deck toward her feet.
"…?"
Seraphina lowered her gaze before bending down and picking it up.
The call had not disconnected.
A voice soon echoed from the receiver.
"Spade?"
"Answer me."
The tone was arrogant, commanding, and utterly unrestrained.
Seraphina's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So you're the one behind this?"
There was a brief silence.
Then laughter emerged from the Den Den Mushi.
"Fufufufufu…"
"It seems Spade has been captured, Marine."
The voice sounded amused rather than concerned.
Seraphina's expression remained indifferent.
"Forget it. You probably won't say anything useful anyway."
Click.
She hung up immediately.
There was no point wasting time.
The best method was always the simplest one:
Capture the subordinate first.
Interrogate him afterward.
"BURU BURU BURU !"
The Den Den Mushi rang again almost instantly.
"…Persistent."
After several seconds, Seraphina answered once more.
"Marine! What exactly are you doing?!"
The man on the other side sounded furious now, his tone carrying the arrogance of someone accustomed to standing above others.
Seraphina remained silent.
"…Fine," the voice continued coldly. "Tell me what you want."
"We can negotiate."
"Money. Status. Influence."
"I can give you anything."
"Release Spade."
Silence.
Seraphina stared blankly at the Den Den Mushi for several seconds.
Then
Click.
She hung up again without hesitation.
Honestly, continuing this conversation felt like a waste of her time.
"BURU BURU BURU !"
The Den Den Mushi rang once more.
Veins bulged faintly on Seraphina's forehead.
This time, the instant she answered, she spoke first.
"Are you finished yet?"
The voice on the other end paused.
Clearly, the man had not expected a Marine officer to react this way.
"Marine…" his tone became colder. "You are playing with fire."
"And you're annoying."
Seraphina's voice turned icy.
"You've been talking nonsense for this long without even identifying yourself."
"You keep asking me what I want."
"Then fine."
"I want your name."
"I want your location."
"Will you give me those?"
The man fell silent.
Then rage exploded from the other end of the line.
"What did you just say?!"
"You dare "
"You dare speak to me like that?!"
His voice dripped with fury.
Ever since establishing his underground empire, almost nobody had dared address him so disrespectfully.
Aside from that terrifying old woman from Totto Land…
No one treated him this way anymore.
"Marine," he growled darkly, "I swear I will kill you."
Seraphina's expression did not change in the slightest.
"Then leave your name first."
A faint smile finally appeared on her lips.
"And I promise…"
"I won't beat you to death."
WE ARE CURRENTLY ON CHAPTER 134 ON PATREON.
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