The purpose of Campacino and Brindo's earlier attack was to knock this ninja into the sea, stripping this Devil Fruit Ability User of his ability to fight back.
But clearly, they had failed—the man stood unharmed on the deck.
This meant their ambush had achieved nothing!
"Retreat?"
Brindo, who had just been kicked by Sanji, froze momentarily in confusion. He glanced back toward the higher deck, his face filled with bewilderment.
Meanwhile, Campacino frowned, dodging Luffy's punch before looking upward and demanding, "What do you mean? Why retreat?"
From their expressions, it seemed something terrible had happened. But the problem was—the situation was still in their favor.
That ninja had already been knocked into the sea. All they needed was to let the Ferocious Penguins retrieve him, and the bounty of 400 million would be theirs.
As for the Straw Hat pirate and the man in the suit, though strong, given enough time, the two of them could still take them down.
"Big brother, can't you see that ninja standing right there?!" Hockera roared.
"That's right, something's wrong!" Arbell shouted as well.
At this, Campacino's expression darkened. He recalled the words spoken earlier by the Straw Hat Pirates—almost all of them had been about that ninja.
Especially the Straw Hat Boy, who had outright stated that the ninja hadn't been sent flying and was still on the deck.
But in his arrogance, Campacino had refused to believe it, convinced the man had already been knocked away. Now, however... perhaps they had been seeing an illusion!
"Retreat!"
Without hesitation, Campacino grabbed Brindo and hurled him upward, intending to use his magnetic ability to pull himself up after.
But the next moment, his face twisted in shock.
The ninja he had supposedly sent flying suddenly appeared mid-air, delivering a sweeping kick that sent Brindo crashing back down.
"I can't just let you leave like that," Meiser said coolly.
By now, Meiser had already dispelled the Illusion Technique.
Thud!
"Ahh!"
Brindo slammed hard onto the deck, crying out in pain.
At the same time, Campacino felt a sharp agony in his abdomen, as though something had struck him there.
"So you've been toying with us all along..."
Cold sweat broke out on Campacino's forehead. This man's strength far exceeded his expectations—this time, they might have bitten off more than they could chew!
He glanced at the members of the Straw Hat Pirates standing on the deck. In his eyes, their figures now seemed terrifying.
Their eyes gleamed like the Devil's Eyes, radiating overwhelming pressure!
"Letting you escape so easily would make us look bad," Sanji said coldly.
Luffy, meanwhile, spared only a brief glance at the men above before looking away—they weren't his concern.
Watching the two charging toward him again, Campacino gritted his teeth. "Brindo, get up! They're coming!"
"Got it."
Gritting through the pain, Brindo forced himself to stand, ready to fight alongside his brother against the Straw Hat Pirates once more.
"Leave those guys to us," Franky said, pointing at the figures on the higher ground. "Meiser, toss us up there."
"Merry wants to fight too!"
"Don't worry, I've got Merry," Nico Robin said with a smile, picking up the little girl.
Hearing this, Meiser glanced at the child, then at Robin, before nodding with a grin. "Alright."
With Robin protecting her and only three enemies to deal with, there shouldn't be any issues.
"Come on, I'll throw you up."
"Whoo!"
Meanwhile, the three figures on the iceberg were as frantic as ants on a hot pan.
"No good... if this goes on, Big Bro and Second Bro will die..." Hockera muttered anxiously. "What do we do?"
"Send the Ferocious Penguins!" Arbell suddenly suggested.
"Them?"
"Yes!" Arbell pulled out a Den Den Mushi. "Have them destroy both ships and send them into the sea!"
Devil Fruit Ability Users would be as helpless as lambs if they fell into the ocean. All they needed was to knock their enemies into the water.
Quickly contacting their subordinates, they ordered the Ferocious Penguins to carry icebergs and ram the two pirate ships.
Just then, Franky and Nico Robin were hurled up by Meiser, landing on the iceberg. Merry, cradled protectively in Robin's arms, was brimming with excitement. The little one was eager to face off against the girl on the iceberg.
"Not sure what you're planning, but we'll take you down first," Franky sneered.
"You with the stick—come at me, you bastard!"
"Stick?" Hockera blinked before snarling, "You idiot, this is a hockey stick!"
"Don't care what it is—just lie down already!"
"Strong Right Hand!"
"Whoosh—"
"BOOM!!"
The steel fist shot out, smashing into the iceberg below and leaving a massive crater.
"Scary punch..." Hockera gulped, barely dodging the attack, then immediately bolted. "You freak! Catch me if you can!"
"Freak?" Franky paused, then burst out laughing as he gave chase. "Ahahaha! You've got good taste! Fine, I'll make it quick when I hit you!"
"Hold still!"
"Try catching me first!"
"Third Bro ran off..." Lil instinctively hid behind her sister, peeking out at Robin and Merry. But when she got a clear look at Merry, she froze.
"A... a kid?"
"Wait, why is there a child in your pirate crew?" Arbell asked, equally baffled as she stared at Robin. Why would such a delicate little girl be on a pirate ship? Unless...
"You monsters—you're kidnapping children?!" Arbell roared. "You scum!" She then beckoned to Merry. "Quick, come to me! I'll protect you!"
This adorable little girl instantly stirred Arbell's maternal instincts, making her unconsciously want to protect the child.
Nico Robin: "..."
Seeing Arbell's genuine expression, Nico Robin wore a complicated look.
Who would have thought the Straw Hat Pirates would one day be mistaken for child traffickers?
"What are you talking about?" Merry tilted her head at Arbell. "What do you mean by kidnapping?"
"Aren't you being kidnapped by the Straw Hat Pirates?"
"Of course not!" Merry retorted, hands on her hips. "I'm a member of the Straw Hat Pirates! How could I be kidnapped?"
She'd been adventuring with her crewmates ever since they first stepped onto the Going Merry.
There was no kidnapping involved.
Arbell froze momentarily before suddenly looking enlightened. "I see now."
"If you understand then—"
"You must have brainwashed this little girl!" Arbell glared at Nico Robin. "You despicable pirates!"
Nico Robin: "..."
"Big sis, I think you might really be mistaken," Lil whispered. "Maybe she's someone's child?"
"Impossible!" Arbell snapped. "How could pirates have such an adorable child?"
She refused to believe it. Absolutely refused.
"Enough talking," Nico Robin slowly raised her hand. "I have no interest in arguing with you about this."
"Looks like we'll have to fight after all," Arbell drew her weapon. "In that case—"
"Huh?"
Arbell's expression changed when arms suddenly sprouted from her body.
"Wai—"
"Twelve Wheels of Flowers!"
"Eep—!"
With a yank from Nico Robin, Arbell did the splits and landed hard on the ground, tears springing to her eyes from the pain.
"Oww... that hurts!"
"Hey, let's you and me get started too." Merry grinned, pulling out her tiny hammer and advancing toward Lil step by step.
The porcelain-doll-like little girl wore an excited smile, as if she'd finally found a worthy opponent.
But to Merry's surprise, Lil simply raised both hands in surrender. "No, I don't want to fight."
"Huh?!"
Merry stopped in her tracks, stunned.
Weren't they enemies? Why would she surrender without even fighting? What was Merry supposed to do now?
"Robin..."
Merry turned to look pleadingly at Robin, unsure how to proceed.
"You're a pirate too. Follow your heart," Nico Robin said gently with a smile.
Merry blinked at this, ultimately deciding not to attack as she pocketed her hammer, much to Lil's relief.
Here, she had no combat abilities anyway.
Just then, the iceberg in the distance began moving—heading straight for the pirate ship at increasing speed!
Arbell's eyes lit up. "They're coming!"
Once Campacino and the others were free to act, this terrifying woman would be no match!
"Whoa!!"
"The iceberg is coming right at us!!" Nami and Usopp screamed in panic. "Meiser!"
"Meiser!"
"Understood."
Meiser calmly glanced at the distant iceberg crashing toward them and said, "I knew these beasts wouldn't just sit idle."
"But...did they really think such methods would work?"
As the iceberg drew nearer, Meiser used the Body Flicker Technique to appear at the ship's bow without hesitation, immediately activating a combined Ninjutsu.
"Thunder Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
"BOOM!!"
A Water Dragon even larger than the one carrying their ship surged forth, its body crackling with terrifying lightning.
"ROAR!!"
With a deafening roar, the Water Dragon mercilessly struck the distant iceberg, the sheer impact forcibly halting its advance.
Simultaneously, the fearsome lightning energy coursed through the iceberg and water, striking the group of Ferocious Penguins lurking below.
"ZZZT!!"
"ARGH!!"
Along with the enemies hiding underwater, they were violently electrocuted, their eyes rolling back as they lost consciousness.
Soon, one after another, the Ferocious Penguins floated to the surface, lifeless.
"Wh...what?!"
Campacino stared in disbelief, his eyes filled with horror.
Was this the power of a Straw Hat Pirates member? To achieve such terrifying results with just a single attack?!
Judging by the current state of the sea, it seemed all their Ferocious Penguins had been wiped out!
"Damn you, you monster!"
Hearing this, Meiser merely gave him a cold glance before looking away, while Sanji sneered, "Naive fool. Isn't it obvious that a member would possess such strength?"
"Attacking without even investigating your opponent—how have you survived this long?"
But before Campacino could respond, a pair of hands suddenly appeared in his vision, moving so fast it left him stunned!
"Gum-Gum Rocket!"
"BOOM!!"