However, before Kuro could reply with that sly, knowing smirk, Viola interrupted the moment.
"Sorry, Boss, it looks like avoiding trouble is off the table." Viola withdrew her gaze from the harbor and sighed in resignation. "It seems there's a problem down below."
Dante blinked in utter confusion.
The soldier he had sent down earlier trudged up the gangway, clutching his right cheek and looking incredibly miserable.
"Boss."
"What happened to you?" Dante frowned, sitting forward. "Wasn't I just telling you to go through standard procedure? Why does it look like you got slapped?"
"I went down to ask them to assign us a docking spot, but they said traitors have no right to dock at Marineford. They told us to anchor outside wherever we want. I told them we were invited by Sengoku and had the right to enter, so they mocked me and slapped me across the face."
The soldier lowered his hand from his bruised cheek, hanging his head as he muttered in deep shame. "Sorry, Boss. I embarrassed you."
Kuro and Viola froze, their expressions instantly turning icy. Was HQ openly humiliating them?
Before anyone could shout, Dante nodded slowly. He stood up and stretched his arms. "It really is quite embarrassing," he said. He turned and walked down the steps toward the pier, his voice deadpan. "Let's go. Find the man who just hit you and get payback."
As the cold words left his lips, faint smiles touched the faces of Kuro and the remaining crew. They fell into step behind their captain. Kuro even patted the battered soldier on the shoulder.
"What are you standing there for? Let's go."
"I..." The young soldier stared blankly for a split second before understanding dawned. A fiery shiver ran through him, instantly, the stinging pain in his swollen cheek vanished. He puffed out his chest and shouted, "Yes, Boss! Instructor!"
Led by Dante, the group marched down to the stone pier with flat expressions.
The absolute nerve of them. Sure, they had defected, but they weren't about to be humiliated by some arrogant harbor grunt.
Soon, the group reached the stone dock. The patrol stationed there noticed them immediately. When they spotted the figure in the captain's coat leading the charge, their eyes went wide in alarm. They recognized him instantly: the leader of the Rebel Army, former rising star of the Marines, Dante Ashford.
"Who told you to cause trouble at a time like this?" a man holding the rank of Captain snarled at the offending soldier beside him. "Don't you know what is about to happen today?"
He scoffed in deep annoyance. "Report to the Fleet Admiral immediately. The rest of you, follow me. Let's see what this rebel wants. Remember, this is our territory."
Even if their side had thrown the first strike, this was Marineford. No rogue faction was going to intimidate them here.
The HQ Captain led a heavily armed squad forward. He stopped a few meters away from Dante's group, gave a stiff, mocking bow, and said, "My apologies." He straightened up, locking eyes with Dante. "This was indeed our mistake. My subordinate has already admitted his fault, so let's end this here. I will personally arrange your docking spot."
Dante merely shot him a flat look, entirely ignoring the hollow apology. He turned to the soldier beside him and asked, "Which one hit you?"
The East Blue marine scanned the hostile crowd and found his target instantly. He pointed directly at the man hiding behind the Captain. "Him. That one."
"Go give him two slaps."
As Dante spoke the casual order, the HQ Captain's expression hardened into pure outrage. "You've got some nerve."
"Yes, sir!"
The East Blue soldier ignored the enemy officer. Under everyone's watchful, tense gaze, he puffed out his chest and strode straight toward his attacker.
"Dante!" Seeing the rebel walk right past him, the Captain's face darkened with fury. "This ends right now!" He moved to intercept the soldier.
Suddenly, the air rushed.
A sleek blur appeared directly behind the Captain, and a dagger pressed flush against his neck. Kuro pushed his glasses up with the heel of his palm, smiled elegantly, and whispered, "Keep still, or I'll have to make a mess."
"Soru?! Damn it, this is Marine Head-"
Before the Captain could finish his outraged shout, Kuro's deadly speed sent his face pale with sudden shock.
In that frozen instant, *SMACK!*
A resounding, brutal slap echoed across the entire pier.
*Smack!*
Immediately after, a second vicious slap landed.
Every single Marine stationed at the pier stared wide-eyed in absolute disbelief, frozen in place as they watched the scene unfold. These punks actually dared to strike back? And they really slapped him twice?
The HQ Captain's eyes bulged with raw fury, glaring dead ahead. This was Marineford. These rebel bastards actually dared to assault his men on sacred ground? Two agonizing slaps at that. Even if his subordinate had been in the wrong initially, what were these rogues trying to prove? This was a direct, unforgivable insult to their dignity, right in front of the entire harbor.
Unable to hold back his raging pride any longer, the Captain glared murderously at the East Blue forces standing before him.
"You are..."
Before he could bark his threat, Dante nodded in mild satisfaction. Seeing that the debt had been paid, he signaled for Kuro to release the hostage. Dante looked back at the fuming officer.
"Let's leave this matter here. We'll leave the ship in your hands now. Remember to park it properly."
He waved a dismissive hand, signaling his crew to follow. "Let's head inside."
However, Dante's infuriatingly calm demeanor, acting as if he hadn't just humiliated a commanding officer, sent the rage in the Captain's chest straight to his head. His face flushed bright crimson as he roared, "Leave it here? Don't make me laugh! I told you this is Marine HQ!"
'You assault us on our own soil and think you can just walk away?'
"Who the hell do you think you are, Dante!"
Even though Sengoku had ordered all internal conflicts to be put on hold for the execution, right at this volatile moment, the Captain couldn't care less. Standing here, he represented the unyielding face of absolute justice. He couldn't just swallow his pride after his squad was openly beaten. What would happen to their authority?
He swept his hand toward the heavily armed troops behind him, pointing a shaking finger at Dante. Fury rang in his voice as he shouted, "Surround these rebel bastards!"
The command dropped like an anvil.
The HQ Marines snapped out of their daze. They immediately followed orders and closed in tight, drawing their weapons to block Dante's path, glaring at the intruders.
Seeing the aggressive advance, the remaining East Blue forces hurriedly disembarked from the ship, forming a defensive line behind their boss. They gripped their rifles and blades, facing off against the overwhelming numbers, but without Dante's explicit order, neither side made the first lethal move.
Soldiers packed the stone pier. The two factions stood violently opposed, glaring at each other, neither willing to back down an inch.
The mounting commotion quickly drew the attention of high-profile guests nearby. With the execution drawing near, invited forces were arriving one after another. Because of this mandate, the Shichibukai were already present.
"Marines... fighting Marines?"
A tall woman with long black hair, wearing snake-shaped gold earrings and a vibrant cheongsam, frowned beautifully. She looked at the standoff with a cold, commanding gaze. "A civil war before the war even begins? How amusing."
Though she wore a haughty expression, the warlords standing beside her could clearly sense that Boa Hancock was watching the chaos with barely hidden satisfaction.
Of course, they felt the exact same way. It was the World Government's mess, after all. Even if they held the title of Shichibukai on the surface, they were still pirates at heart. This internal friction was highly entertaining.
"Bartholomew Kuma."
The portly Gekko Moriah seemed to spot a specific towering figure, his face instantly darkening into a scowl. He hadn't forgotten that imposing silhouette. Even if the one who destroyed his base and freed all his zombies wasn't Kuma himself, the tyrant was definitely connected to the disaster. He had seen that massive bastard bring the intruders there with his own eyes. Rage burned inside him, yet the spectacle unfolding on the pier was too good to interrupt. He suppressed his anger, a sinister, jagged grin on his face as he watched.
"Kishishishi, that's Branch 16, oh wait, looks like those guys are calling themselves the East Blue Marines now."
"East Blue Marines? Rogue Marine forces?"
Hearing Moriah's raspy words, the large fishman frowned, his prominent lower teeth shifting. His voice came out as a deep rumble. "If they're rebels, why would they come straight to the lion's den?"
"Who knows? Maybe their captain is just that arrogant."
"So we just stand here and watch?" Jinbe pondered for a moment, a heavy edge of inquiry in his tone.
Even though they were pirates, they currently represented the World Government. Standing here watching a brawl probably wasn't a good look. Moreover, Jinbe had come here ostensibly under orders, but secretly he was searching for a desperate opportunity to rescue Teach. He didn't want any unexpected chaos ruining his narrow window.
Perhaps... could he somehow use these rebels to his advantage?
"Should we step in and stop them?"
"Stop them? What's wrong with you?" Moriah sneered in deep disdain. "Fishman, did you forget what we are? Quietly watching them tear each other apart is exactly what we should be doing."
He looked ahead, his reptilian eyes going flat. "These rebels are bold, betraying the flag and actually strolling in here. And Bartholomew Kuma, a warlord stooping to be a rogue's lapdog? Ridiculous. Looks like these fools are done for."
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