Rosse step by step walked to stand in front of Marco.
At this moment, Marco looked as though he had already lost all will to resist due to the deaths of his comrades.
But just as Rosse casually reached out, intending to grab Marco by the neck, suddenly—
"AHHHH!", Marco suddenly erupted, eyes full of hatred, both hands brought together with fingertips pointed forward, the phoenix flames gathering at the tips and firing straight toward Rosse's heart.
BANG!
"Meaningless," Rosse extended his palm, easily catching Marco's strongest attack, "The difference in strength doesn't increase because of a sneak attack or rage."
He kicked Marco in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Slowly walking up in front of him, he raised his foot and stepped on his face.
"Cough! Cough…", Marco coughed weakly, trying to struggle up.
But in the face of such an overwhelming gap in power, it was utterly futile.
"A strong one… should trample the weak?", Marco said bitterly.
"Coming from a pirate like you, that's truly laughable," Rosse sneered, "Those enemies your pirate crew killed, were all of them strong people on par with Whitebeard?"
"Weakness isn't an original sin," Rosse twisted his heel, pressing Marco's face into the dirt.
In his eyes, there was always a cold indifference, "But if the weak dare to try and hunt the strong, then they better be prepared to be humiliated by the strong."
Rosse lightly flicked his foot, flipping Marco's body over.
Just earlier while Rosse was suppressing him, Marco had kept struggling. Now, he no longer had the strength, lying powerless on the ground.
"I never mind people challenging me. As long as, when challenging, they're prepared to be humiliated by me," Rosse spoke calmly and unhurriedly.
He had never provoked the Whitebeard Pirates.
Since the Whitebeard Pirates had come knocking, thinking he was easy to bully, then don't blame him for hitting back even harder.
Rosse lightly waved his palm, and a stream of scalding water formed in his palm.
The water flowed and shifted in his hand, eventually taking the shape of hoof of the soaring dragon.
"You!", Seeing the water slowly falling toward his face, Marco's face showed a trace of terror.
"No… don't…"
How could he not recognize that symbol? If this was branded onto his face, to him, it would be worse than death.
"I know you're not afraid of dying, so I'll let you live. Go back and tell Whitebeard, this is the price of provoking me. If he still wants to avenge his sons and brothers, then be prepared for the whole family to be humiliated by me," Rosse said coldly as the water fell.
Sizzle~
"AHHHHHHH!!"
The scorching seawater pressed against Marco's face. He let out screams of pain, trying to twist his body.
But under Rosse's suppression, any struggle was futile.
Eventually, the Celestial Dragon hoof mark was branded onto Marco's face.
And Marco could only collapse weakly on the ground, eyes lifeless, filled with despair.
"Boring," Rosse glanced at the nearly-dead Marco, then turned without hesitation and walked toward the direction of Otohime.
Of the four people, he had never intended to kill them all. Killing was just a form of deterrence.
But killing three and leaving one, was the greatest deterrent.
If Marco didn't go back, who would spread word of his "evil deeds"?
Wipe out the roots? Heh, Marco at most was just grass, Whitebeard was the root.
Whether Marco lived or died, this grudge was already formed.
Since that's the case, when he goes to kill Whitebeard, killing Marco again is fine.
He actually hoped that by then, Marco could give him a little surprise. If he could be broken and reborn, reaching A-rank strength, that would be even better.
"Easily dealt with. Hope I didn't scare you all," Rosse smiled as he looked toward Otohime and Jinbe and the others.
Under his gaze, Otohime's expression remained normal, but Jinbe and the others all lowered their heads.
Too brutal.
Four Whitebeard Pirates commanders. In just a few minutes, Rosse had already killed all of them.
And the way they died, was especially brutal.
"Not at all. Why didn't you kill him too?", Otohime gently shook her head, her eyes calmly looking toward Marco.
If she were to pity Marco, then who would pity the fish-men and merfolk?
Marco and the others' intention to kill Rosse had practically been laid bare.
If Rosse had died on Fish-Man Island, then the entire island would have been buried with him. And not just a few, everyone would have to die with him.
Rosse was not Saint Rosward, their status and rank were not even on the same level.
Did Marco and the others not know this?
Yes, they knew. It just wasn't going to harm the Whitebeard Pirates. And if they could plot an "accident," they naively believed this matter wouldn't involve the Whitebeard Pirates.
After all, back when Rocks tried to hunt the Celestial Dragons, only Rocks died in the end. The others, including Whitebeard, all escaped.
Now they were certainly thinking, as long as Fish-Man Island took the blame, there would be no trouble for them as pirates.
Marco's actions only made Otohime feel disgusted.
"Sometimes, living is the greatest torment," Rosse smiled slightly, quite pleased that Otohime stood on his side.
At least it proved that his efforts these past days hadn't been wasted.
"What should we do with him next?", Otohime asked softly.
"Just toss him out of Fish-Man Island," Rosse looked at Jinbe, "Your name is Jinbe, right? I believe the fish-men should be willing to help with this?"
"No problem! Saint Rosse, how far should we go?", Jinbe hurriedly stepped forward to respond, eyes filled with seriousness.
Because Rosse had helped them, he had originally only felt admiration.
But after witnessing Rosse's strength, besides admiration, there was now a layer of awe.
To gain the protection of such a strong person, for Fish-Man Street, it might be an enormous blessing.
"Just find a boat and throw him into the New World. Oh, and don't forget the Whitebeard Pirates' flag. Also, make sure you send along the gift I gave him," Rosse smiled.
"Understood," Jinbe answered respectfully. Without delegating to anyone, he personally led a group toward Marco.
Although Marco was like an ant in front of Rosse, his strength still wasn't weak.
Just in case, Jinbe decided to go himself.
Surely, after witnessing Rosse's power, there wouldn't be anyone on Fish-Man Street who dared be foolish.
"Jinbe's not bad. He could serve as your deputy and help manage the new Fish-Man Island," Looking at Jinbe's back, Rosse's eyes showed appreciation.
Jinbe's personality, steadfast but flexible when needed, was something he rather liked.
"I think so too. He will be a bridge between us and the fish-men," Otohime smiled faintly. On this point, she and Rosse were in agreement.
There were still useful people in Fish-Man Street.
[T/N: This chapter was awesome.]
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