The chaos grew louder, the sounds of destruction and laughter blending into a wild symphony.
"Wahahaha! Tell your king! The Wild Waves Pirates are here to collect taxes!"
A cacophony of cries, shouts, and screams rang through the port.
"Pirates! Run!"
"Help!"
Black peered through the restaurant window, his gaze fixed.
The dock was a whirlwind of panic merchants, sailors, and civilians scattering in all directions.
He watched with interest.
It had been a long time since he'd seen pirates in action ever since dealing with that hyena of a pirate the last time, Black had nearly forgotten the raw chaos of the world outside his sanctuary.
And the sanctuary itself? No worries there. Two CPs remained onboard, more than enough to secure it.
In the West Blue, aside from the Happo Navy, no pirate crew could challenge even two CPs at once.
Perona, abandoning her dessert, poked her little head out, eager to join the fray.
Had Stella not restrained her, she would have charged forward without hesitation.
Koala glanced nervously but quickly composed herself, fists clenched.
Mandy's hand rested lightly on her sword hilt, eyes flicking to Black for approval.
Black considered briefly, then shook his head:
"Forget it. None of our business. As long as they leave us alone, we'll pretend we didn't see a thing."
This was Black's way.
Lives or deaths of others were inconsequential. Survive, and they were lucky. Die, and they were unlucky.
Rather than intervene, Black preferred to enjoy the spectacle.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
"Next up, the Wild Waves Pirates present"
"The Pirate Massacre!"
The lead pirate brandished an amplifier, broadcasting his chaos across the port.
Black smirked. Creativity was always worth a small nod reminiscent of Somaz's flair in Elbaf.
Captain Grove's scimitar cut through a fruit stand, sending oranges tumbling.
An old cotton candy vendor hadn't even flinched before Buck shoved him aside with a spiked club.
"Move, old man!"
A pot of hot oil splashed from the second floor. Ryan's scalpel shot up, embedding itself into an attacker's wrist.
"Ah!" A scream echoed.
Grove kicked open a door:
"Who else dares be a hero?"
A sniper atop the clock tower aimed at Grove, but Morris shattered the scope with a single shot.
"Fourth one!" he muttered, casually cleaning and reloading. "Are all the snipers in this country dead?"
Perona, watching the pirate crew's audacity, felt a twinge of envy. She wanted to show off, too.
Black, however, found them noisy and predictable.
Small-time pirates, exploiting a slow-reacting kingdom. Every nation that survived this long in the chaotic seas had masters lurking behind the scenes; otherwise, how could they prosper amid such lawlessness?
Then came the measured sound of footsteps.
Black turned. A squad of fully armed guards emerged from the opposite street.
The pirates rushed forward; both sides squared off not far from Black and his companions.
"Put down your wea"
Bang!
The captain of the guard barely finished his sentence before a dent appeared in his chest plate; he toppled backward.
Morris's gun smoked.
"Fancy armor? Paper, perhaps?"
Four remaining guards tried to flee. Cole's twin blades sliced through their hamstrings, sliding them three meters on their knees.
Twenty soldiers at the rear braced themselves, but Buck charged in, spiked club swinging. Broken spears and shields flew in all directions.
"You dare challenge the Wild Waves Pirates with this?" he bellowed.
He stepped on the last soldier's neck. A soft snap echoed beneath his boot.
"La la la…"
A humming sound emerged from a street corner.
A tall figure appeared, three meters four in height, clad in black top hat and pristine attire. Robust, pale-skinned, devilishly smiling, adorned with golden earrings.
Black observed carefully.
Isn't this Lafitte, Blackbeard's navigator? The country's guardian-level expert?
This man, while not noted for feats in battle, was the most elusive of the Blackbeard Pirates—able to slip into meetings at Mary Geoise unseen.
Even a pirate crew of this size shouldn't dare face him.
But Buck, reckless, charged:
"Another one coming to die!"
Bang!
His knee burst into blood; he collapsed at Lafitte's feet.
"Oh my, my~~" Lafitte tapped Buck's head with his pistol.
"A savage who can't even dance properly~~" His tone theatrical, like a stage performance.
"Bastard!" Grove roared, raising his scimitar at Lafitte.
Whoosh! The blade froze mid-air; Lafitte's cane had impaled his wrist.
"Too slow~"
He whispered into Grove's ear while another precise bullet flew through Morris's gun barrel.
Cole's twin blades and Ryan's scalpel were neutralized mid-action.
Less than three seconds had passed; Lafitte remained immaculate.
Black, watching from the side, couldn't help but admire:
"Elegant! So elegant! This is the fighting style I crave!"
Lafitte lifted Grove's chin with his cane:
"May I ask you trash to cooperate with our investigation?"
The remaining guards, hidden, now approached and restrained the Wild Waves Pirates.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Crisp applause echoed.
Lafitte noticed Black and the women emerging from the restaurant, narrowing his eyes.
Black stopped a short distance away not out of fear, but because Lafitte's towering frame required him to look upward.
"Want to talk?" Black asked casually.
"My pleasure, sir. May I ask your name?" Lafitte replied, pressing his hat brim.
"No hurry," Black said, patting Mandy's back.
"Those little fish couldn't gauge your skill level. Let my knight test your abilities first."