According to a saying from Cross's past life: "Money isn't everything, but without it, you can do nothing!" Unfortunately, money, which can solve 99% of the world's problems, still bends to the will of violence.
In the world of his previous life, a world without supernatural power, an angry person could still cause bloodshed and the price was a life for a life—whether it was a commoner, a wealthy merchant, or a president.
The only difference was that the rich could spend money to "buy" power and force, and even make state institutions serve them, leveraging the power of money to a degree that crushed ordinary people.
This was the ultimate expression of capitalism.
But in this world, where extraordinary power runs rampant, a single person can rise above nations and races. The deterrence of violence diminishes the importance of money, forcing it to retreat.
Take the terrifyingly high bounties on great pirates, for example. Countless people are greedy for their heads, even attracting idiots who can't see their own shortcomings to their deaths.
However, only absolute power can counter absolute power! Those who can stand against monstrously powerful pirates are not motivated by money but by ideals, justice, hatred, fame, or other reasons.
Cross's words were like a sudden clap of thunder, shaking Myers to his core and causing his face to change dramatically.
"Cross, you need to remember that you're a Marine, not a pirate!" Myers's face was pale, and he yelled, "Acting recklessly without solid evidence is a violation of the rules! It will cause everyone within the system to turn against you! It will cause public outrage!"
"Hah... yawn..." Cross yawned lazily, then wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and said nonchalantly, "What boring nonsense. You think too highly of yourself and your brother. In the face of absolute power, everyone will try to curry favor with me, the maintainer of order, not drive me away!"
"You don't understand my true strength, so you won't understand the immense destruction I can cause once I transform from a maintainer of order into a destroyer of order!"
"Of course, you don't have to believe me. You can even contact some pirates you know to come and cause me trouble... but after that, your brother's life alone will not be enough to quell my anger!"
As he said this, Cross's eyes became as sharp as knives, as if an invisible blade had stabbed straight through Myers.
Myers thought that after meeting countless wealthy people, nobles, high-ranking government officials, Marine officers, and kings, he would no longer fear anyone or be overwhelmed by anyone's presence.
But in this moment, he felt an unprecedented terror, as if he were a small boat struggling in a storm, about to capsize and sink at any moment.
He knew very well that the man in front of him was a powerful being who had killed pirates with bounties in the hundreds of millions. The bodyguards and bounty hunters he hired would probably not even last a single blow against him. Even the pirates he could manipulate with money were only second- or third-rate in these seas, and sending them would only serve to increase Cross's reputation.
Violent resistance would only lead to certain death.
"Heh... hehe, Commodore Cross, you're just joking. How could I have connections with pirates?" Myers's facial muscles twitched as he let out an awkward laugh.
"Tsk tsk~ You had a chance, but you didn't use it!" Cross shook his head with a bored expression. He stood up, straightened his clothes, and leisurely took a cigar out of his pocket. He used a cigar cutter to clip the end, then lit it with a match, biting the thick brown cigar and taking a satisfying puff.
"Phoo... why are you still sitting? Let's go, Capo-san!" The words that followed the puff of smoke were nothing short of a devil's whisper to Capo.
At that moment, Capo, like a startled rabbit, grabbed Myers's arm and pleaded, "Bro, save me, bro! I'm your brother!"
"Commodore Cross, are you sure you want to do this?" Myers's face was ashen, and his voice was low and hoarse. "Forcibly arresting someone without solid evidence will create trouble for you, too! How about this? Give me a day. After I find the mastermind behind the incident, I'll personally hand them over to Branch G-2 and offer tenfold compensation!"
It has to be said that despite Cross's aggressive pressure, Myers was still tight-lipped and didn't reveal any flaws, showing the caution he had gained from years in the business world. He was also willing to back down, promising to hand the "real culprit" over to Branch G-2.
Unfortunately, Cross was not a righteous movie hero who played by the book.
For example, in the movie Police Story, everyone knows that the drug lord is a heinous villain, but due to a lack of evidence, he can only be watched as he taunts the police, and they are unable to arrest him.
Or a villain like the one in the Korean movie Hope, who, after being caught, the public wants to kill, but the protagonist insists on bringing the killer to justice, even protecting them with their own life. However, since South Korea doesn't have the death penalty, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment, which can even be reduced for good behavior in prison.
This is what's most disgusting, and the greatest blasphemy to human life and the law.
The law says "an eye for an eye," and it has been that way since ancient times. When Hammurabi laid down his code, justice was simple: killers faced death; those who caused harm or stole paid in kind. Sometimes, modern people who boast about being civilized are worse than the ancients.
If Cross didn't have power, he wouldn't be able to handle this kind of thing. But now that he has enough power, he will act according to his own beliefs, not according to some rules. At the very least, he considers himself a decent person with a moral bottom line, not a good person, but not a bad person either.
Given that, when dealing with these bad guys, it's better to deal with them according to his own morals and ideas.
As the saying goes, "The scholar subverts the law with his words; the knight defies the law with his martial arts."
Today, he would use his "martial arts" to fight against their "words." Cross stared at Capo without expression, not answering Myers's words. He simply said in a calm tone, "If you don't want to come with me, you can try to resist. I promise to only break your limbs!"
Capo gritted his teeth in the face of Cross's threat, a vicious look flashing in his eyes. He suddenly bent down and pulled out a double-barreled pistol with an ivory handle and gilded carvings from under the coffee table. It was as exquisite as a work of art.
"You bastard, why are you coming after me?!" His face was a volcano of anger as he snarled, cocking the hammer of the double-barreled pistol and aiming the black muzzle at Cross.
"Put the gun down, you idiot!" Myers cried out in shock, quickly yelling at him.
"Shut up!" Capo's face was flushed red, and he roared with anger at Myers. "Since you can't solve this, then I will!"
Then he turned his gaze back to Cross, his face twisting into a hysterical expression like a madman. He bellowed, "You goddamn kid, you're not going to listen to me!"
"The bullets in this gun are made of Seastone, specifically for Devil Fruit users like you! Since you won't let me go, I'll kill you and throw your body into the sea to feed the fish. Then no one will ever know!"
"Oh~ Seastone bullets, huh? I never thought you'd have such a good thing. Then shoot!" Cross looked at the exquisite pistol pointed at him with a curious expression, completely unfazed.
"Damn it, you bastard! Die!" Capo was both shocked and angry that the other man wasn't afraid at all. He gritted his teeth, his heart hardened, and he pulled the trigger.
Bang!
A muffled gunshot echoed in the spacious office. A flash of fire erupted from the muzzles of the double-barreled pistol, illuminating the look of terror on Myers's face. Propelled by the force of the smokeless gunpowder, a dark blue bullet shot out of the barrel and went straight for Cross's chest.
In an instant, Cross calmly extended his hand, his fair palm hardened with powerful Armament Haki. It was covered in a layer of metallic black, looking like a steel hand as it was struck by the bullet.
Clang—
A crisp clang of metal rang out, and sparks erupted from the point of contact between the bullet and the palm, but it failed to penetrate Cross's hand. The dark blue bullet then fell onto the glass coffee table with a thud.
"No! That's impossible!" Capo's expression changed. He couldn't help but widen his eyes, staring fixedly at the unharmed Cross. His face was now filled with terror for the third time.
"Attacking a Marine... evidence is solid!" Cross glanced at the Seastone bullet on the coffee table and said in a cold voice, "Scáthach, pierce his limbs!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the shadows at his feet twisted rapidly, coming to life in the eyes of the Jimmy brothers. They split into four sharp black threads and shot out like lightning. Before Capo could react, they pierced through his shoulders and thighs.
"Ahhhh—" Capo screamed as he fell to the ground, twisting his body in pain. Four terrifying bloody holes poured out crimson blood, quickly staining the crimson velvet carpet.
Seeing this, Myers's face turned pale, and he muttered to himself, "No... no... you can't do this... this isn't right... this isn't according to the rules..."
"Hmph. Rules?" Cross sneered, his voice ferocious. "Sorry, but my rules are the only rules!"
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