Time flew by, and three days later.
Sabaody Archipelago, Area 13, the edge of the Lawless Zone.
Boom! Boom!
Explosions rang out one after another, and thick smoke billowed into the sky.
A pirate ship flying a Jolly Roger crashed onto the shore, smashing half of the commercial street to pieces.
"Jiehahahaha! Don't move! Anyone who moves, and I'll crush these pigs to death!"
Inside the shattered auction house hall, a pirate leader wearing studded leather and a Mohawk laughed wildly.
His legs had turned into giant metal springs, constantly compressing and bouncing in place, leaving deep craters in the marble floor every time he landed.
Dozens of shivering civilians knelt at his feet. Several women and children had knives held to their throats by his subordinates, their cries filling the air.
On the perimeter, the Marines had already set up a cordon.
"Quick! Evacuate the crowd!"
"Snipers in position! Don't do anything to provoke the pirates inside!"
A warship had just docked at the shore.
Warrant Officer Kane, Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan stood at the bow, their expressions varied.
This was a sudden live-combat mission.
Zephyr wanted them to adapt to their newly acquired powers, but he didn't expect them to run into trouble as soon as they arrived at Sabaody.
"The situation is dire."
A Branch Major in charge of field command ran over, looking at these four Marineford elites as if they were lifesavers, and reported while drenched in sweat:
"The pirates inside are the Flea Pirates. The Captain is Galdo, with a bounty of 68,000,000 Berries. He is a Paramecia-type, Spring-Spring Fruit user."
"They've taken over 100 civilians in the auction house hostage and installed a large amount of explosives at the entrance. They claim that if we don't prepare a coated ship and 500,000,000 Berries in cash within 10 minutes, they'll kill the hostages!"
The Major's voice trembled: "Just now... they already threw out two bodies."
"Boring tricks."
Sakazuki snorted coldly and took off his Marine cap. His arms, which were previously wrapped in bandages, were now fully recovered.
Not only that, as his emotions fluctuated, the surrounding temperature suddenly rose, and even the deck beneath his feet began to emit black smoke.
"Scum like this doesn't deserve to breathe. Let me in to burn them, along with this den of sin, to ashes!"
"You can't, Warrant Officer Sakazuki!" The Major's face turned pale with fright. "There are civilians inside! If there's an explosion, the consequences will be unthinkable! The orders from above are to preserve the hostages as much as possible! Furthermore, the target is an Ability User; he needs to be captured alive and sent to Impel Down!"
Sakazuki gritted his teeth, his fists cracking loudly.
The feeling of wanting to destroy evil but being bound by rules and regulations made him feel sick.
"Preserve as much as possible?"
Warrant Officer Kane leaned against the railing, playing with a gold-plated lighter he'd swiped from Zephyr. "In other words, as long as there's no major disaster, it's fine?"
The Major was stunned: "Uh... theoretically, yes, but..."
"Since it's a live-combat mission, that means we're allowed some creative freedom within a certain range, right?"
Warrant Officer Kane turned back and gave the three monsters beside him a pure, innocent smile.
Sakazuki glanced at him and instinctively took a step aside, warning warily: "What are you planning? I'm warning you, if you dare to pull any of your nonsense now..."
"How could I? I'm the Marine who cares most about civilians."
Warrant Officer Kane straightened his tie. "I'll go negotiate. After all, nobody wants to see bloodshed, right?"
With that, before Sakazuki could react, Warrant Officer Kane had already flipped over and leaped off the warship.
"Wait! Warrant Officer Kane! The negotiator is still on the way..." the Major shouted anxiously.
"No need."
Sakazuki suddenly spoke, staring at Warrant Officer Kane's back with a complex gaze. "Although that bastard has a terrible character, he won't go too far out of line."
...The auction house doors were tightly shut.
From inside, arrogant laughter could be heard.
"Boing~ Boing~! Listen up, Marines outside! My patience is limited!"
Galdo's legs turned into springs as he bounced around the ceiling, clutching a shivering noblewoman. "In 3 more minutes, if I don't see a ship, I'll snap this woman's neck!"
"Hahahaha! Is this the Marines? What a bunch of useless trash!"
The surrounding pirate lackeys joined in the jeering. Some were gesturing with knives at the hostages' faces, while others were moving crates of explosives.
The hostages huddled in the corner, crying out in despair.
Just then.
Knock, knock, knock.
A dull knocking sound rang out, very rhythmic.
"Who?!" Galdo stopped his movements and stared warily at the door.
"Food delivery."
A gentle voice came from outside. "Someone just ordered 500,000,000 Berries in cash and a ship. Please sign for them."
Galdo was stunned, then overjoyed: "At least they're sensible! Open the door!"
A crack was opened in the heavy iron door.
Sunlight streamed into the dim hall.
Standing at the door was only a single young Marine Soldier.
He didn't have a gun, nor was he carrying a money chest; he only had that refreshing smile on his face.
"Where's the money? Where's the ship?" Galdo's eyes widened. Seeing the empty space behind the Marine, he flew into a rage: "You dare play me?!"
"Don't be in such a hurry. The paperwork is quite complicated, but it's already in process."
Warrant Officer Kane stepped into the hall, ignoring the dozens of flintlocks pointed at his head as if he were walking into his own backyard.
His gaze quickly swept across the room.
Over 100 hostages were on the left. About 20 pirates were scattered around. The explosives were piled at the main entrance.
'Tsk, the hostages and pirates are mixed together. This is going to be tricky...'
Warrant Officer Kane calculated in his mind, 'I need to find a way to separate them.'
He walked to the center of the hall, looking at the eyes of the hostages, which were filled with hope as they watched him.
Then, he pulled out a megaphone, took a deep breath, and shouted to all the hostages:
"Listen up, everyone! I am Warrant Officer Kane of Marineford!"
A glimmer of hope ignited in the eyes of the hostages.
"Because the amount requested by the kidnappers is too large, after a long 1 minute friendly negotiation with them, Marineford has decided—"
Warrant Officer Kane paused, a look of regret appearing on his face.
"We've decided not to pay! Furthermore, in order not to encourage the pirates' arrogance, Marineford will conduct an indiscriminate artillery bombardment of this location in 30 seconds!"
"Hostages, please rest assured! If you are unfortunately killed, I will personally apply for the highest-standard... wreaths for you! I will even have your names engraved on the back of the Cenotaph!"
"Now, the final 30 second countdown begins! 30, 29..."
The next second.
"Aaaaaah!!!"
The hostage area erupted in screams 10 times more desperate than when they were first captured.
"No!!"
"Are the Marines crazy?! Indiscriminate bombardment?!"
"Help! I don't want to die! I have money, I'll pay, okay?! Just don't fire the cannons!"
The noblewomen fainted outright. The men were so terrified they collapsed on the floor, the smell of incontinence spreading through the hall.
A few hostages who had originally thought about escaping in the chaos were now so weak in the knees they couldn't even stand, only able to huddle in the corner while clutching their heads.
[Ding! Intimidating civilians, causing mass extreme panic! This behavior seriously violates Marine regulations! Disciplinary Violation +100! Disciplinary Violation +100! Disciplinary Violation +100...]
Even the pirates were stunned.
The cigar in Galdo's mouth fell to the floor, and he even forgot to bounce on his spring legs. "Hey... this isn't right. Aren't you Marines supposed to stand for justice? You'd even blow up the hostages?"
"Justice?"
Warrant Officer Kane tilted his head and looked at Galdo on the ceiling. "Eliminating pirates is the greatest justice. As for sacrifice... it's a necessary paving stone on the road to justice."
"You... you lunatic! You're more like a pirate than I am!"
Galdo was infuriated, a sense of humiliation and fear making him tremble all over.
"Boys! Do it! Kill this crazy Marine! We're breaking out!"
Galdo suddenly compressed his legs. The whole person was like a cannonball gathering power. Killing intent erupted.
"Yes, sir!"
The pirates had also lost their minds from Warrant Officer Kane's words. If they didn't fight for their lives, they were about to be executed by cannon fire!
They pulled their triggers with grim expressions or raised their butcher knives and charged at Warrant Officer Kane in the center of the hall.
On the ship, the Major observing with binoculars screamed in horror: "Oh no! That bastard Kane has provoked the criminals! Attack now! It's over, it's all over!"
A flash of fury crossed Sakazuki's eyes. Magma erupted from his body as he prepared to rush out and beat up Warrant Officer Kane along with the rest.
However.
Faster than him was a flash of golden light... Inside the auction house.
The moment the pirates made their move, the smile on Warrant Officer Kane's face vanished.
In its place was a bone-chilling indifference.
"Since I don't have to worry about the hostages, clearing the room... becomes much easier."
"Shave: Instant Hell Murder."
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