In the Marines, compared to other military ranks, Marine Vice Admiral was the rank with the most obvious disparity in strength.
The strong ones could engage with great pirates with bounties over 100 million, while the weak ones were only equivalent to pirates with 30-40 million bounties who could only dominate the first half of the Grand Line.
The fundamental reason Silas was confident leaving all ten Marine Vice Admirals behind was that among these ten Vice Admirals, even the strongest one's aura was only equivalent to a great pirate with a bounty just over 100 million.
"White Wolf Silas, you must hold on!"
Black Merchant Duke Gate was now drenched in cold sweat, because after Silas left, he was the pirate with the highest bounty in the entire port town.
It was predictable that he would definitely become the Marines' primary target next.
But that was not the problem.
The problem was that Silas was currently fighting two Marine Admirals alone!
Other pirates had not encountered Marine Admirals, so they did not understand the oppressive feeling Admirals gave off, but Duke Gate was clear about it.
Three years ago, if he had not been lucky enough to encounter a storm, he would already be spending his twilight years in Impel Down's cells.
One move!
With just one move, that Marine Admiral had beaten him like a dead dog. From that moment, Duke Gate lost his ambition to advance, instead focusing entirely on making money.
Of course, with the examples of Immortal Jason and Monster Moz, Duke Gate was very clear that just as Marine Admirals could easily handle him, Silas could likewise easily deal with him.
That was why he had surrendered so decisively at the time.
But if he had known Silas had robbed Heavenly Tribute and provoked two Marine Admirals at once, he would have fled long ago!
"Black-hearted Merchant Duke Gate, you have trafficked weapons, operated smuggling operations, and murdered competitors. Your crimes are unforgivable. Surrender immediately!"
As the pirate with the highest bounty in the entire port town, Duke Gate could only steel himself to stand at the front, so the Marines spotted him immediately upon landing.
"Leave him to me. Peak, Hornitz, you handle the others!"
Elliott looked at Duke Gate. Although he knew Duke Gate had a bounty over 100 million, 115 million to be exact, as the strongest Vice Admiral here, Elliott did not think any other Vice Admiral besides himself could handle Duke Gate.
"Got it!"
"Be careful!"
The Vice Admirals named Peak and Hornitz nodded, beginning to command soldiers to charge toward the port town. But they had not advanced far when two figures blocked their path.
"Those two are..."
"New members of the White Wolf Pirates!"
Hornitz looked at Rocks and Ripley, speaking in a low voice.
Marine spies were spread throughout Sphinx. After learning Silas was here, information about Rocks and Ripley naturally fell into Marine hands.
"You take the one on the left; I will take the one on the right."
"Tsk, I do not want to fight a woman!"
"Cannot help it. I sense that woman is stronger than that man."
Compared to Armament Haki, Hornitz was better at Observation Haki. He clearly sensed a threat from Ripley, so he proactively switched opponents, having the stronger Peak face Ripley while he faced Rocks.
"Be careful. They are White Wolf Pirates crew members after all. Do not get careless!"
"I know."
Peak and Hornitz's conversation was not hidden, so both Ripley and Rocks heard their exchange. Ripley was fine, but Rocks's expression darkened.
"Treating us like fish on a chopping board?"
When his expression grew darkest, Rocks instead showed a rebellious smile.
"I will make you regret this!"
"Shave!"
Explosive high-speed movement made Rocks instantly appear before Hornitz, simultaneously throwing a punch with Armament Haki covering his hand.
"Left side!"
However, as if knowing which direction Rocks would attack, Hornitz simply tilted his head slightly to dodge Rocks's attack, then looked at Rocks with slightly surprised eyes.
"At your age, you already know Haki?"
You had to know, neither he nor Peak had learned Haki until after thirty, and they still had not completely mastered both colors of Haki.
But Rocks, who was obviously young, could already use Armament Haki.
"Looks like your perception is not very accurate!"
Peak on the side laughed. "This kid already has headquarters Rear Admiral level. Do not carelessly capsize in the gutter."
"I should be saying that!"
Noticing Hornitz's gaze, Peak's eyes sharpened. Turning his head, he immediately widened his eyes as a fist larger than his entire body charged straight at him.
Devil Fruit user!?
Though he had said not to underestimate White Wolf Pirates crew members, both Rocks and Ripley's appearances were too deceptive.
Seeing the fist about to hit him, Peak's body sank.
"Iron Body!"
Simultaneously covering his body with Armament Haki, Peak believed he could block this seemingly superficial punch without even dodging.
Bang!
Peak was sent flying hundreds of meters, crashing hard into a warship on the beach and smashing a large hole in it before stopping.
"Peak!"
Hornitz on the side widened his eyes, unable to believe Peak had been sent flying with one punch.
"Your opponent is me!"
After several consecutive attacks that missed, seeing Hornitz get distracted, Rocks finally seized the opportunity and kicked toward Hornitz.
This time, Hornitz did not dodge.
Thud!
Rocks's foot felt like it hit a steel plate, while Hornitz's arm already showed a metallic luster like metal.
"Although I am not very good at Armament Haki, that does not mean I do not know Armament Haki!"
Catching Rocks's kick, the now-serious Hornitz changed from blocking to grabbing. If he caught him, he could at least cripple one of Rocks's legs.
But at this moment, Ripley had already charged over from the side.
"Tch!"
Without hesitation, he pulled back. He could see that Rocks only knew Armament Haki but not Observation Haki, so his strength was slightly inferior to his own. But that tattooed woman's strength was definitely not below his.
"Peak, do not tell me you have been taken out like that!"
As Hornitz's words fell, he heard a muffled sound from the distant warship, and a bare-chested strong man climbed out of the ship's hole.
"Cough cough, this woman's strength is a bit much."
Seeing Peak, who had taken her punch but only spat out some bloody phlegm, Ripley's expression immediately became serious, knowing this opponent probably would not be as easily defeated as before.
"Next is round two!"
In the port town, beside collapsed rooftops, pirates were engaged in fierce combat with Marines. The Marine Vice Admirals, with no one to check them, were like wolves among sheep.
But just then, a blue sword light swept across the battlefield.
Under Observation Haki's perception, the sword-wielding Vice Admiral barely managed to block the sword light.
However, after seeing who had come, the Vice Admiral's expression became extremely grave.
"Blue Flame Ed!"
"Haha, you should have guessed already, right? Where Captain Silas is, how could we lackeys be absent?"
The man whose face already showed signs of age gripped the long sword at his waist.
His face showed a confident smile.
"Marines, guess just how many of us White Wolf Pirates have actually come?"
[Chapter Complete]
***
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