Chapter 474: The Senior Group Has Arrived!
After a brief argument, the agents decided to ignore their superior's orders and act on their own.
Up on the bow, the man who had been lazily yawning—Hakuin—smirked faintly.
"These idiots…" he muttered. "No going back after this. Let them dig their own graves."
He gave another slow yawn, stretching his arms before lying back down.
Hakuin was one of Mekal's most capable subordinates—the same man responsible for the World Government's previous "clean-up" operations. Mekal himself never appeared, preferring to command from the shadows.
Now, despite being ordered to retreat, Hakuin simply let his underlings run wild.
"If they're so eager to die, who am I to stop them?" he said quietly, closing his eyes.
Even in sleep, his Observation Haki spread like an invisible tide, covering the entire ship. Nothing escaped his senses.
Moments later, the crew began moving below deck. They quietly transferred to another vessel and set sail toward Loguetown, leaving Hakuin's unmanned ship adrift.
The sails caught the wind, and the empty vessel drifted slowly out of formation.
---
Off the Coast – Loguetown Surveillance
"Huh? What's that ship doing?"
The scouts from the Mondo Pirates peered through their telescopes, confusion written across their faces.
"That ship's just drifting… looks empty. But the other two? They're heading straight for Loguetown."
The report spread quickly through their communication lines.
"Two ships closing in fast. The third's just wandering with the wind. Could be a diversion."
"No one's that dumb," one of the lookouts muttered. "Even a rookie wouldn't use a trick that obvious…"
Still, they passed the data to every listening post.
Shino received the news soon after. Lying prone on her vantage point, she whispered, "So, they'll reach shore by tomorrow afternoon…"
Her finger brushed the rifle's trigger guard. "That drifting one… I'll keep my sights on it."
---
Somewhere at Sea
"I'm telling you, Sengoku! Your old warship's a piece of junk!"
Vice Admiral Garp's bellow echoed across the waves. The gray-haired Marine slammed a fist against the deck, nearly cracking it.
"This rust bucket can barely keep up! Those bastards will hit Loguetown before we even get there!"
Across from him, Sengoku pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stay calm.
"Enough already," he said flatly. "Do you think I don't know that? You're free to jump overboard and swim there yourself."
"I might just do that!" Garp shot back.
Their voices clashed like cannon fire.
Sitting beside them, Tsuru calmly sipped her tea, pretending not to hear. "You two bicker like children…"
She set her cup down and straightened. "Listen up. Those ships will reach Loguetown by tomorrow afternoon. The local Marines are preparing defenses, but they won't hold for long."
Her tone hardened. "We'll need to move faster. Otherwise, the town will burn before we arrive."
Sengoku frowned. "The ship's too heavy. We won't make it in time at this pace."
He looked at Garp with a thin smile. "We'll need a little… assistance."
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Garp grinned. "You planning to turn into that golden Buddha and push us yourself?"
"I'm a Devil Fruit user, you fool! I'd sink like an anchor!"
"Then I nominate you," Sengoku snapped. "You love swimming, don't you?"
Tsuru sighed deeply. "Children. Both of you."
Before either man could react, she pressed her hands together.
"Wait, Tsuru—what are you—"
Her Wash-Wash Fruit power activated.
In an instant, both old men were caught in a spinning wave of cleansing force, their bodies scrubbed spotless and strung up like laundry flapping in the breeze.
"Tsuru! You're abusing your authority again!" Garp yelled.
"Let us down before we turn into wind chimes!" Sengoku added, voice muffled by the wind.
Tsuru ignored them, her focus shifting to the helm. As both men dangled from the mast, she used her ability to lighten the ship's weight, even washing away excess cargo to reduce drag.
The vessel surged forward, cutting across the sea like a bullet.
For the first time in hours, the ocean grew quiet—except for the howling complaints of two senior Marines fluttering like banners.
---
One Hour Later
A dark silhouette appeared on the horizon.
Tsuru's eyes narrowed. "There's a ship ahead… only one aboard, but the presence is immense."
With a wave of her hand, she released her ability, dropping Garp and Sengoku back to the deck with twin thuds.
Both men groaned.
"Next time you hang us out like laundry, at least keep us inside!" Garp grumbled, rubbing his neck. "I can still smell East Blue's wind in my nose!"
Tsuru didn't answer. Her senses sharpened. "That ship… it's not random. It's waiting for us."
Sengoku adjusted his glasses, feeling the same pressure. "Someone from the World Government?"
"Most likely," Tsuru said. "But only one life force onboard. A strange one."
"That's enough for me." Garp cracked his knuckles, grinning. "Let's see how this guy handles an old man's punch!"
Sengoku's expression hardened. "Don't act rashly, Garp."
He exhaled, golden light flickering faintly across his shoulders. "But I'll back you up if it comes to that."
The two veterans stepped forward, their combined Haki surging over the waves like a storm front.
The ship ahead rocked slightly—and from the bow, a man slowly sat up, yawning.
His lazy eyes widened when he saw who stood across the sea.
"The three Marine legends…?"
Hakuin's jaw slackened. "I… hit the jackpot."
---
The Next Afternoon – Loguetown
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The port erupted under a barrage of cannon fire. Dozens of pirate ships appeared out of nowhere, their masts rising like a forest of death.
The Marines fired back, but the enemy numbers were overwhelming.
"Reload! Keep firing!"
"We're running out of ammo!" shouted the gunner at Battery Seven. "Ten minutes at most!"
"Six here!" another voice answered from Battery Three.
The situation grew dire by the second. The local defense force hadn't been prepared for a full-scale siege. Most of their shells had been borrowed from the Mondo Pirates, and they were already running dry.
When the last cannon fell silent, the sea roared—not with waves, but with war cries.
The pirates were coming ashore.
<><><>
I have a new Naruto fanfic out, guys!
The main character is Orochimaru's disciple, and I'll say this upfront: he is also a scientist and just as evil as his teacher.
So for those who don't like evil or morally dark main characters, you might want to skip this one.
The fanfic is titled Naruto: Orochimaru's Disciple.
You can search the title directly, or just click on my profile and you'll find it there.
<><><><><>
[Check Out My Patreon For +40 Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]
[Every 100 Power Stones = +1 Bonus Chapter]
[Join Our Discord Community For Updates & Events]
[https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9]