Chapter 67: Reunion and Action
In a dimly lit conference room, Sabo and Koala were deep in discussion with other Revolutionary Army operatives.
"The Bright Slave Farm is heavily fortified. It'll be difficult for us to rescue Yuri and the others without casualties using just our current forces," one operative pointed out grimly.
"Even if it's difficult, we have to try," Sabo replied with determination. "Uncle Yuri and his team were captured because they stayed behind to cover our retreat. We can't abandon them."
"I'm not saying we should abandon them," the operative clarified. "It's just that we're seriously outgunned here. While Sabo might be able to handle their leader one-on-one, we can't hold off their entire force while protecting the hostages. We might all end up dead or enslaved ourselves."
"Can headquarters send reinforcements?" another Revolutionary asked hopefully.
"That's going to be tough," came the disappointing reply. "The New World isn't our primary area of operations. Most of our resources are focused elsewhere."
The debate continued, with everyone growing increasingly frustrated as they discussed their limited options.
Sabo rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. A rescue mission was fundamentally different from a standard infiltration—he had to ensure the safety of Yuri and his captured comrades to the greatest extent possible.
Koala, however, remained calm and composed, quietly sipping her tea with practiced elegance.
Ever since meeting Momousagi, she'd developed a genuine appreciation for black tea, finding the ritual of drinking it particularly refined and soothing.
"Hmm, Rhodes should be arriving soon," she mused, taking another delicate sip.
She remembered that the last time Rhodes had contacted them was about two weeks ago, so he should be reaching their location any day now.
"If he were here, this mission would be a walk in the park," she thought to herself.
Koala and Sabo exchanged meaningful glances, the same thought occurring to both of them simultaneously.
Knock, knock, knock...
Just then, a gentle rapping came at the door.
"Who could that be?" one of the Revolutionary operatives frowned, rising with a suspicious expression.
There were multiple guards posted outside their meeting location—no one should be able to approach without clearance.
Sabo, however, broke into a knowing smile. He quickly moved to the door, opened it, and saw exactly the familiar figure he'd been expecting.
"It really is you," he said with genuine warmth.
Standing in the doorway was Rhodes, having just arrived on the island.
"Long time no see," Rhodes replied with his own smile, nodding respectfully to Koala as he entered the conference room.
Sabo closed the door behind him, barely containing his obvious relief and joy. He quickly introduced Rhodes to the other Revolutionary Army members present.
"Looks like we can finally move forward with the operation," Sabo announced confidently. "With Rhodes here, storming that slave farm won't be a problem!"
The other Revolutionary operatives looked shocked and exchanged bewildered glances.
This young man standing before them actually possessed the power to single-handedly change the entire outcome of their mission? It seemed impossible—Rhodes appeared even younger than Sabo himself!
Everyone couldn't help but feel skeptical, secretly sizing up this newcomer. However, they didn't dare voice their doubts openly due to Sabo's immense prestige within their organization.
As the next generation leader that Dragon had personally trained—the future Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army—Sabo had already established considerable authority and was highly respected by all ranks.
"What's the situation?" Rhodes asked, blinking in surprise. Was he really being thrown into a mission immediately after arriving?
"No time for a full briefing," Sabo grinned. "We'll explain everything on the way."
"Alright then," Rhodes shrugged.
With his current level of strength, there weren't many situations that required extensive planning or overthinking. This was a world where raw power ultimately determined outcomes, and no amount of scheming could overcome absolute force.
While Rhodes' abilities weren't quite at the level where he could casually conquer the entire world, he could handle most dangerous situations with relative ease.
The mission itself was straightforward enough.
Revolutionary Army officer Yuri and several other soldiers had been captured and enslaved after volunteering to serve as a rear guard during a previous operation. When Sabo and his team learned of their comrades' fate, they'd immediately come to mount a rescue.
However, the Bright Slave Farm represented a formidable criminal organization with numerous subordinates and extensive resources. Its leader was a former notorious pirate captain nicknamed "Poison Wolf," who carried a bounty of 250 million Berries. Among the current Revolutionary Army forces, only Sabo was confident he could face such an opponent in direct combat.
Beyond Poison Wolf himself, the organization employed several other powerful lieutenants and well-known mercenaries from the underworld. This created a serious tactical challenge for the rescue team.
After all, enslaved prisoners were typically subjected to various forms of control and restraint. Upon rescue, they would inevitably be weakened and unable to immediately contribute to the fighting—often requiring active protection instead. Some particularly cruel slave owners even implanted deadly slow-acting poisons that would kill escapees within hours.
Under such circumstances, a hasty rescue attempt would likely result in casualties on both sides.
"Slave farm... 'Bright'..." Rhodes muttered after listening to Koala's detailed briefing, his mouth twitching slightly. "This Poison Wolf character has an interesting sense of irony."
"That's not the point!" Koala shot him an exasperated look. "How confident are you that you can handle all the other enemies while we're dealing with Poison Wolf?"
The other Revolutionary operatives perked up their ears, genuinely curious to hear this mysterious young man's assessment.
"Based on the enemy strength levels you've described..." Rhodes considered for a moment before giving what he felt was a conservative estimate:
"I'm one hundred percent certain."
"..."
Upon hearing this response, the Revolutionary Army members fell into stunned silence, unsure how to react. If they'd been less disciplined, they might have responded with outright skepticism or sarcasm.
Even Koala couldn't hide her surprise at such absolute confidence.
In her experience, Rhodes wasn't the type to make empty boasts. His self-assurance always stemmed from genuine capability, and he rarely committed to anything he couldn't deliver.
Had he really grown that much stronger during their three-month separation?
She found herself filled with anticipation to see what he could do.
Sabo, despite his usual composure, couldn't help but be slightly taken aback by such certainty.
Protecting hostages while simultaneously repelling attacking enemies was a task far more complex than simply facing Poison Wolf in single combat. The opposition would be numerous, attacking from multiple directions, and would certainly include skilled snipers and ranged specialists.
Under such chaotic conditions, eliminating every threat would be incredibly difficult. Even Sabo himself wasn't entirely confident he could manage such a feat.
After all, his specialty was close-quarters combat, and even his impressive speed had limits. He couldn't block every attack simultaneously, nor could he eliminate every enemy instantly.
Each member of the team harbored their own private concerns and doubts as they made their way to the target location.
The destination turned out to be a structure resembling an ancient Roman colosseum.
Inside the main arena, enslaved fighters were forced to battle each other to the death for the entertainment of spectators who reveled in the bloodshed.
Surrounding the central structure was a complex of low, interconnected buildings that housed hundreds of enslaved people. Occasionally, well-dressed nobles and wealthy merchants could be seen browsing and purchasing human beings like livestock.
"What's the plan?" Rhodes inquired.
"We go in, find Yuri and the others, rescue everyone we can, and force whoever's in charge to remove any control mechanisms or poison constraints," Sabo stated matter-of-factly.
Rhodes' expression grew flat with disbelief, and he couldn't help but glance at Koala—only to see her nodding in agreement.
"Okay, I'll admit that is indeed the most direct approach possible," Rhodes said resignedly, rubbing his forehead.
The initial rescue operation proceeded as smoothly as expected.
With their combined abilities, storming a slave farm was relatively straightforward—especially since Poison Wolf and his top lieutenants weren't currently on the premises.
Under intense pressure from the Revolutionary Army operatives, the terrified facility manager didn't dare resist their demands. He quickly removed all control collars and neutralized the poison systems affecting Yuri and the other prisoners.
"Now comes the real challenge," Sabo's expression grew serious as they regrouped.
The slave farm was equipped with numerous surveillance Den Den Mushi and had informants throughout the area. News of their raid had undoubtedly spread immediately.
Poison Wolf and his forces would arrive within minutes.
"Since we've already committed to a direct assault, let's see it through to the end," Rhodes said calmly, slowly drawing his sword with a predatory grin that revealed gleaming white teeth.
Before he'd even finished speaking, a group of fierce-looking fighters brandishing various weapons came charging down the main street toward their position.
Leading the charge were Poison Wolf and his most powerful officers.
End of Chapter 67
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