"Damn you!"
Vergo glared at Caesar, wishing he could tear him apart.
Monet was equally stunned by Caesar's betrayal.
What was this guy thinking? Did he really want to be handed over?
The plan had been on the verge of success. The Young Master could have avoided massive losses.
But this idiot actually jumped out and sold him out!
Vergo wanted to crack Caesar's skull open and see what was inside.
However, the most urgent thing now was to clear himself of suspicion.
"Caelan, please hear me out!" Vergo shouted. "I'm definitely not an undercover agent. He's just trying to take revenge on me!"
Vergo looked at Caelan pleadingly, his expression full of sincerity and backed by logic.
Wasn't it normal for pirates to bear grudges against the Marines?
It sounded plausible, but Caelan wasn't buying it.
"Take him."
Caelan couldn't be bothered to listen. He had known for a long time that Vergo was a spy.
Now that Caesar had exposed him, there was no need for any more nonsense.
Swish!
Caelan reached out with one large hand, aiming straight for Vergo.
"Why don't you investigate this properly?!"
Vergo roared in fury.
This guy didn't even hesitate before taking action. What a brute.
But this brute was also terrifyingly strong—someone Vergo couldn't afford to underestimate.
Vergo prepared to resist. He couldn't let someone else determine his fate so easily.
"Let me see the power of the God Slayer!"
A blaze ignited in Vergo's eyes.
He wanted to test himself against a powerhouse of Four Emperors level.
He was filled with burning anger.
"Tch. You think you're qualified to fight me?"
Caelan looked at him with disdain and struck with more force.
"Damn it!"
Humiliated by Caelan's contempt, Vergo gritted his teeth.
He covered his body in jet-black Armament Haki and raised his arms to block Caelan's attack.
But it was pointless.
The powerful physique and Haki he was so proud of were effortlessly crushed under Caelan's strength.
With a sharp pain in his neck, Vergo was lifted like a chick in Caelan's grip.
Vergo still struggled in Caelan's hand, but Caelan only sneered.
Bang! Bang!
Two heavy punches landed on Vergo's body, shattering multiple bones and severely damaging his internal organs. He could no longer resist.
"How can he be this strong?!"
Vergo was terrified, suffering a double blow to his body and spirit.
In an instant, all his ambition crumbled. Caelan's three simple attacks had shown him who truly ruled the battlefield.
He had known Caelan was strong, but not this strong.
The God Slayer name wasn't just for show.
Vergo felt bitter, but he hadn't given up entirely. He still had his loyal subordinates.
As expected, the surrounding Marines had witnessed the scene of Caelan capturing Vergo.
This was Vice Admiral Vergo, the commander of the base and one of the most elite officers among vice admirals.
They had admired his strength. But now, Vergo was utterly helpless in front of Caelan.
The legendary God Slayer was frighteningly powerful.
However, the Marines couldn't accept that Vergo had been arrested based solely on the word of a criminal.
"This is absurd. You can't arrest a vice admiral based on the claim of a criminal!"
"Even if you're Caelan, the God Slayer, this crosses the line."
The Marines were furious.
Vergo had left a perfect impression in their hearts.
He was always gentle and courteous, treating the G-5 soldiers kindly. All the sailors respected him greatly.
"The dignity of the Marines must not be violated!"
Smoker couldn't bear it any longer.
How could a base commander be condemned so casually by Caelan?
It was an insult to the Navy.
Without hesitation, he raised his seastone weapon and charged at Caelan.
"Smoker-san, calm down!"
Tashigi shouted.
She had been through a lot with Caelan and believed he must have his reasons.
Smoker, her former superior, was acting too impulsively.
Tashigi drew her sword and unleashed a flying slash at Smoker.
The slash was swift and fierce, coated in pitch-black Armament Haki.
"What?! When did she get so strong?!"
Smoker initially didn't take it seriously. He thought Tashigi was still the same as before.
But the moment he saw the attack, his eyes widened.
Smoker quickly turned into smoke and entered his elemental state.
But it was no use. Caught off guard, he was struck by Tashigi's slash.
He was sent flying and slammed to the ground, unable to get up for a long time.
He was stunned. When had Tashigi become this powerful?
Could following Caelan for such a short period cause such a dramatic change? That was Armament Haki—and even he had only recently grasped the basics.
Yet Tashigi wielded it fluently, and her swordsmanship had reached true swordsman level.
Not long ago, Tashigi had been a clueless Master Chief Petty Officer who nearly lost to a low-level pirate with a bounty of only a few million.
I was careless. I didn't dodge!
Smoker tried to rationalize it, but even if this had been a real fight, he knew he wouldn't have won.
Now he couldn't even beat Tashigi?
Smoker lay on the ground, not wanting to move.
Meanwhile, the Marines around them were stunned by Smoker's defeat.
That was Rear Admiral Smoker, a Logia user.
When he first arrived at the G-5 branch, they thought he was just a crony of Vergo's.
But then he displayed overwhelming strength and won everyone's respect. He was seen as the strongest after Vergo.
And now, he'd been beaten by a single slash from a young girl's sword.
Even if it was a sneak attack, her strength was undeniable.
It was shocking. The person who attacked wasn't Gion. It wasn't the Pirate Empress. It was just an ordinary girl.
And yet Caelan himself was already this powerful. Could even his subordinates be monsters?
But no matter how strong Caelan was, they couldn't allow him to execute their base commander without cause!
Three thousand elite Marines surged forward, ready to seek justice for Brother Vergo.
There was a glint of pride in Vergo's eyes.
That had been his plan from the start—to use them as protection against death.
Gion's expression was serious. She knew Caelan wouldn't show mercy.
But these sailors were all loyal and righteous. Killing them would be a shame.
At this moment, Caesar also realized how serious things were. He stood up once again.
"Caelan-sama, I have evidence!"
Everyone turned to look at Caesar, waiting to hear what he had to say.
"Vergo came to this island many times to trade with me. I recorded the transactions on video as evidence!"
Caesar shouted loudly under everyone's gaze.
"Damn it!"
Vergo's smug expression froze, and he looked at Caesar in disbelief.
This was the second time that bastard had betrayed him.
Vergo looked up at the sky, deeply regretting ever coming here.
Monet was also stunned by Caesar's outrageous actions. She lowered her head and remained silent.
(To be continued.)
***
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