"I really hope this guy isn't stationed here in Sabaody. If he is, the whole place is about to flip upside down."
John's expression was grave—this guy was practically a terrifying beast.
He blocked Powell's full-force strike with just a single finger.
A monster.
It was only now that Powell realized the attack had been stopped with just one finger. His eyes widened in horror as he shouted, "Impossible!!"
"Absolutely impossible!"
"I was born with monstrous strength! How the hell did a scrawny little Marine like you stop me with just one finger?!"
Furious beyond reason, he raised his five-ton hammer high and swung down once more.
"Watch out, Sir!" Os, who had just arrived, shouted anxiously.
He immediately lifted the sniper rifle from his back, squinted through the scope, and aimed at Powell.
Click—
Bang!
The bullet tore through the air—
But Klein casually grabbed the hammer and, with a flick of his other hand, caught the bullet between his fingers.
His back still facing them, he said coolly, "Oi, Os. We can't let this guy die. He's actually worth something alive."
With a clench of his palm, cracks spidered across the hammer's surface before it shattered with a loud crunch.
He had crushed it. With brute strength alone.
Powell's eyeballs nearly popped out. He shrieked, "Nani?!"
"He crushed it!?"
"No way!! I haven't even reached the New World yet, how the hell am I running into a legendary monster already?!"
"I want to go home. I want to go back to the East Blue!"
Shock gave way to fear. Then came trembling. Why...
Why did it have to be this monster?
As Powell stood frozen in disbelief, Klein reached out and grabbed his neck, his voice cold.
"Your life is the only thing worth any money."
"But your face sure as hell isn't worthy of dirtying my Iron Fist!"
He slammed Powell's head down with brutal force, burying it into the ground and smashing the stone tiles. Debris flew everywhere.
It looked like he just planted a man in the dirt.
This was what you'd call: Man-Planting Technique.
"Still feels good bullying small fry," Klein thought with a grin. "Fighting with Kong nearly killed me. This? Easy mode."
He knew his current 'account' wasn't that famous yet. But once he blew up, turned into a 'main account,' this sort of fun would be harder to come by.
At that point, his name alone would make pirates piss their pants and flee for their lives.
Klein's single move stunned the entire scene.
The super rookie with a bounty of 65 million berries, Born Strong Powell, didn't even have a chance to fight back.
Defeated by this sudden Marine Rear Admiral.
"Os, get over here and take a picture!" Klein yanked Powell up by the neck, holding him up.
The sheer contrast in their figures was shocking.
Os ran over in a hurry, eyes filled with disbelief as he stared at the Rear Admiral who was four years younger than him.
"Sir Klein, you're absolutely incredible!"
This was the gold standard of the strongest Marine prodigy in history.
Klein shot him a glare. "What're you standing there for? Take the photo. And..."
"Arrest all these pirates."
Os didn't understand why Klein wanted a photo, but he knew to follow orders.
Click—
The image captured Powell's fish-eyed stare, blood trailing from his head, unconscious with his neck twisted back.
Supernova Born Strong Powell—defeated.
With their captain gone, the rest of the Iron Hammer Smash Pirates didn't stand a chance.
They were all subdued and cuffed by the Marines.
Then, Klein elbowed Os, subtly motioning with his eyes and a sly smirk.
"Os, that pretty lady over there looks pretty shaken up. Go check on her."
This was the assist of the century. He was sure Os would finally realize his dream.
And then…
He could become the World's Greatest Sniper.
Keh keh keh keh—
Os's cheeks turned red. He jogged over to help the frightened woman. But the moment he placed a hand on her…
His body flushed with heat. His face turned beet red, steam billowing from his nose and ears.
Then he collapsed, unconscious.
"....." Klein facepalmed.
"The hell? He really faints when he touches girls?"
"Helping him fulfill that dream... might actually be kinda hard!"
He was speechless.
He'd thought getting Os a curvy, nurturing waifu would be a piece of cake.
But now? That difficulty level was sky-high.
This fainting response was practically on par with Conqueror's Haki!
"Ah—Is he sick?!" the lady gasped.
"I think," Klein said darkly, walking over and glaring at Os, "he's got some kind of condition where he faints when he touches girls."
Os, oh Os... at this rate, when the hell are you ever gonna make use of your 'Black Gun'?
You're gonna give me a headache, man.
The woman looked at Klein with immense gratitude.
"Thank you. Thank you for saving me. I was wrong about you. You're a good Marine."
Beep—
[Good Guy Card: +1]
Klein hoisted Os up.
"Eh, just doing what I can. No need to thank me."
Then he turned around and shouted at the nearby Marines, "Oi! Move your asses! Round up all the pirates! Don't let a single one get away!"
"And find out where their ship is! Secure it before anyone loots the supplies onboard!"
"Yes, sir!"
Inside the tavern, John finally snapped out of his shock and looked at Klein's retreating figure.
"That young Marine... he's the real deal when it comes to Born Strength!"
"Compared to him, Powell's so-called strength isn't worth squat. That power is insane."
"Crushing a steel hammer like it's tofu... terrifying guy."
"Looks like the Marines just got another monster rookie."
Out on the street—
The rescued girl shouted after him,
"Hey! My savior! Can I at least know your name?"
"Moretti Klein."
The surrounding crowd exploded in cheers and applause.
They surrounded Klein, shouting their thanks.
Suddenly—
A flicker of killing intent. One civilian's eyes glinted coldly as he pulled a dagger from his belt and lunged at Klein's back, aiming for his heart.
His face twisted with fury as he roared, "DIE, MARINE!!"
Clang—!
The gleaming blade pierced through the cape of justice. But when it hit Klein's back, it stopped like it had hit steel.
The next second, the dagger shattered.
Klein's face darkened, and his hand shot out like lightning, gripping the attacker's neck. His gaze was sharp and filled with killing intent.
He was livid. His voice was cold enough to make your blood run cold.
"Oi. Why the hell did you sneak attack me?!"
"HAHAHAHA—" the man laughed as Klein held him up. "You've disrupted the balance in Sabaody! The pirates will turn our lives to hell! They'll go crazy on this island!"
Klein's face darkened even further.
"I don't give a damn about rules."
"If you've got the strength, then—"
"Rules? Balance? It's all bullshit!"
With a sharp twist, CRACK—he snapped the guy's neck like a twig.
I arrest pirates. And this is the thanks I get? A backstab?
You deserve to die.
At the same time, he felt someone watching him.
He turned in that direction and saw—
Only an empty table through the window. An empty wine bottle sitting on top.
Elsewhere…
Sabaody Island Marine Base.
Brrring brrring—
Brrring brrring—
The line officer immediately picked up. A grateful voice came from the other side of the Den Den Mushi:
"Thank you! Thank you so much for saving that girl! You Marines are true heroes!"
"?????" The operator was stunned. From the voice, he recognized it as the person who had called for help earlier.
But what the hell?
The girl was saved?
They hadn't even dispatched anyone yet!
Behind him, Captain Bill was also shocked. He jumped up, grabbed the receiver.
"Hello? Can you tell us what exactly happened over there?"
"Oh! It was a Marine Rear Admiral named Moretti Klein! He's the one who captured Powell!"
"Nani?!" Colonel Bill's face twitched. "Could you tell me exactly what happened? Give me all the details."
Moretti Klein?
Rear Admiral?!
Why the hell didn't I get a report about a Marine like that coming to the Sabaody Archipelago?
Who the hell is this guy? Why did he just show up out of nowhere?
And what's more...
He took down Born Strong Powell, the 65 million bounty super rookie?!
"..."
As the caller described what happened, Captain Bill quickly pieced the situation together.
He was speechless for a long while.
Click.
He hung up the call. His brows furrowed as he fell into deep thought.
"Could he be an inspector sent from HQ?"
"His strength is terrifying... I have to report this to Rear Admiral Ayer immediately!!"
He grabbed his coat, stormed out the door, and rushed toward the heart of the base.