Dense cannonballs tore through the rain curtain, their sharp whistling filling the air. Xiano's short black hair was tossed wildly by the shockwaves.
But Xiano didn't move. He simply continued to coldly gaze at the distant warship.
Behind him.
Four figures erupted into action simultaneously.
"Single-Stroke Straight Cut · Deer Scare!"
Kuina shouted sharply, leaping into the air with Moon Walk. Wado Ichimonji was drawn from its sheath, slicing a bright arc through the rain.
Hum!
Where the blade passed, the air rippled with layers of shockwaves.
Over a dozen cannonballs were cleanly split in half. The gunpowder, unable to explode, was drenched by the rain and fell to the ground, trailing wisps of smoke.
"Superior Hammer Meat SHOOT!"
Zeff flew straight toward the other side, his metal right leg kicking out repeatedly, as if calmly handling meat on a chopping board.
The cannonballs that came from the edges either fell into the sea or exploded high in the air, scattering lead dust everywhere.
Agin and Nojiko, meanwhile, used the walls along the way to continuously leap and gain momentum.
Swish, swish, swish—dodging and weaving, one used fists, the other claws, intercepting every stray cannonball.
Snap!
In just a dozen seconds, all the cannonballs were cleared, and the four figures returned to stand behind Xiano.
This second round of cannon fire, totaling fifty to sixty shots, had not managed to break through the blockade—not a single one.
Hmm?
Vice Admiral Onigumo raised an eyebrow, glancing at the rooftop in surprise.
Had they run into a tough opponent?
He had thought it would be as simple as firing a few rounds of cannonballs at the square and then starting to clean up the battlefield.
It would allow him to vent his pent-up frustrations while also giving that fat pig Altai a satisfying fireworks show.
If the higher-ups questioned it, the responsibility for civilian casualties from the cannon fire could easily be shifted onto the enemy.
A perfect plan.
But first, there was Smoker, that unruly thorn in his side causing trouble.
And now, out of nowhere, this group of people had appeared, capable of physically blocking cannon fire.
Such strength didn't seem like something a Pirate crew from the East Blue could possess.
Things were starting to get interesting...
"Hey, tell them to cease fire."
Vice Admiral Onigumo casually lit a cigar, licking the corner of his lips with interest. "I'll go ashore alone and have some fun with these Pirates."
"Hound, you and the other Rear Admirals stay on the ship and guard the royals. This fight doesn't require your involvement. Just send a few captains to seal off all the exits of the square."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Onigumo!"
The Rear Admiral named Hound quickly stood at attention and saluted.
Watching Vice Admiral Onigumo's departing figure, he felt a bit regretful. He had actually wanted to go ashore and have some fun with those Pirates too.
...
Not long after.
Vice Admiral Onigumo, cigar in mouth, stepped onto the dock.
Behind him, a large number of elite Marines directly under his command moved past him on both sides, entering Loguetown and surrounding the square.
Around the dock, many Marines from the Loguetown branch had gathered to welcome them.
Now, pushed into a corner, they were all at a loss, completely unaware of why the warship had opened fire earlier.
—Even if it was to capture the Pirates gathered in the square, surely a more cautious approach could have been taken, like surrounding them directly after landing, right?
"Admiral!"
The leading branch captain couldn't help but step forward, calling out to Vice Admiral Onigumo's back.
"Don't you think you owe us an explanation? Why didn't you notify us before firing? Don't you know that doing so could harm the civilians on both sides of the square?"
"And where is Mr. Smoker? Can you tell us where he is now? There was suddenly thick smoke rising from the warship earlier—was he on board as well?"
Hmm?
Vice Admiral Onigumo paused in his steps, his brow furrowing.
"How annoying."
He turned his head and coldly glanced back. Without the slightest hesitation, he pulled out a pistol from his coat and directly pulled the trigger, aiming at the branch captain.
A mere branch captain, equivalent to a Petty Officer at the Marine Headquarters, dares to question me?
Bang!
After the gunshot, the young captain's body stiffened and fell backward, a bloody hole now visible on his forehead, from which blood gushed out.
"..."
The surrounding Marines from the Loguetown branch fell into complete silence.
Disbelieving gazes shifted back and forth between the corpse and Vice Admiral Onigumo's retreating figure.
At the back of the crowd, Tashigi covered her mouth in shock, nearly letting out a scream.
When she had arrived at the dock and heard that among the distinguished guests was a Vice Admiral from the Marine Headquarters, she had been quite excited. She had wanted to witness the demeanor of this Vice Admiral firsthand, and her disappointment at not being able to dine with Lord Xiano had somewhat eased.
But now...
This was the kind of person he was?
Someone who would kill his own comrade without a second thought?
How could someone like this even be a Vice Admiral?!?
...
Step, step, step.
Vice Admiral Onigumo, with a cigar in his mouth, continued striding toward the square.
He paid no attention to the faint murmurs that gradually rose behind him. What these low-ranking Marines thought was of no consequence to him.
As for casually shooting a subordinate?
This wasn't the first time he had done something like this. Even a Lieutenant who dared to defy him would be shot without hesitation, let alone a branch captain from this remote little place.
On the wide square.
The pirates gathered there also noticed the figure approaching through the rain. Seeing the insignia on his shoulders and recalling the terrifying barrage of fire earlier, they collectively gasped.
"—It's a Vice Admiral from the Marine Headquarters!!!"
Someone shouted, and a wave of panic instantly spread like wildfire.
"Damn it, I knew we shouldn't have come to the East Blue! Why is someone like him here?!"
"Is now the time to worry about that? What are you standing around for? Run!"
"It's too late! All the exits are blocked!"
...
Amidst the chaos and panic.
Vice Admiral Onigumo didn't even bother to glance at this rabble.
With a swift Moon Walk, he landed on the rooftop and looked up at the figures across from him.
Apart from the person wearing a white hood, whose face was hard to make out, the rest were just a group of teenagers, no older than their mid-teens.
"Interesting."
Vice Admiral Onigumo raised an eyebrow, exhaling a puff of smoke. "So, what caught my attention is just a bunch of kids, huh..."
"Hey, what's your problem!"
On the second floor of the café, Nami suddenly appeared, shouting angrily and cutting him off. "Why did you fire at us out of nowhere? We're not pirates!"
Not pirates?
Vice Admiral Onigumo's gaze swept over Xiano and the others, quickly running through his mind. He truly had no recollection of these faces; they had never appeared on any wanted posters.
However...
"Does it make a difference?"
Onigumo shook his head slightly, his expression indifferent:
"You helped these Pirates intercept the cannonballs, didn't you? That already means you're opposing the Marines. Being treated as Pirate accomplices and executed on the spot is only natural. You can't blame anyone for it."
(End of Chapter)