Smoker's patience had clearly reached its limit, and veins bulged on his forehead: "Stop pretending to be mysterious!"
Usopp's eyes suddenly turned sharp, and he stomped forward: "How dare you frown in front of me?" His voice suddenly rose by an octave, "Not even the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk, dares to be this arrogant!"
These words exploded like a bomb in the Marine camp, and the soldiers looked at each other, whispering incessantly:
"What is he saying?"
"Mihawk? That Mihawk of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
"Could this guy be..."
Usopp gave no time for anyone to react. He suddenly pulled out the silver net pouch from his waist, drawing a dazzling arc in the air: "It's time to finish you off in one move!"
The Marine soldiers were completely dumbfounded!
They stared wide-eyed at this long-nosed man who spoke such wild words, some even unconsciously taking half a step back.
One must know that standing before them was the renowned "White Hunter" Smoker of Marineford, a Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit user, the strongest guardian of the East Blue!
"Is this guy crazy?"
"Finish off Captain Smoker in one move?"
"Who exactly is he?"
Even Tashigi couldn't help but grip Shigure, her eyes behind her lenses filled with uncertainty and surprise, as she quietly asked, "Captain, this person..."
Smoker, however, suddenly laughed, a sneer like one seeing a clown overestimating himself: "Interesting."
White smoke began to billow from his entire body, "Then let me see how you 'finish me off in one move'?"
A drop of cold sweat seeped from Usopp's forehead, but he maintained his arrogant demeanor on the surface.
"Heh!"
Usopp took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, electric light seemed to flash in his pupils. Observation Haki erupted, pushed to its extreme!
"On top of the clock tower to the southeast, there are three snipers ambushing."
His voice suddenly became ethereal and precise, his finger pointing accurately into the distance, "Two of them are using 'Hawkeye' sniper rifles made with technology, with a range of 500 meters; the other is using an old-fashioned sniper rifle, with the sight off by 3 degrees to the right."
The Marine soldiers gasped, and a few of the named snipers almost fell from their hiding spots—this information was perfectly accurate!
Usopp's steps didn't stop as he continued to pace around the plaza, each step like treading on the Marines' nerves:
"There are a total of 248 Marine soldiers assembled here, including 5 Second Lieutenants and 23 Sergeants." His nose twitched slightly, "You are carrying... let me see... a total of 5764 bullets, including 6 special Seastone bullets."
Tashigi's hand trembled unconsciously, and she instinctively pressed her hand against the ammunition pouch at her waist—the number of Seastone bullets inside was exactly 6!
Smoker's face grew increasingly grim, but Usopp's performance had only just begun!
He suddenly turned to Smoker, a smile of seeing through everything playing on his lips: "Captain Smoker, your heart rate is currently 118 beats per minute, and your blood pressure has risen to 145/90..." He shook his head in feigned regret, "It seems you're very nervous."
As if to confirm his words, Smoker's heart suddenly gave a heavy thump. Every piece of data this long-nosed man spoke was terrifyingly accurate!
He instinctively pressed his chest; for some reason, his heart was indeed pounding non-stop.
He believed it!
What the other party said was true!
The Marine camp was in complete uproar:
"H-how does he know so much?!"
"He even knows how many bullets are left in my gun!"
"What kind of ability is this?!"
"Ding! Host successfully told a tall tale, shocking the entire audience!"
"Reward: Intermediate Weapon - Kuro Kabuto!"
"Current Tall Tale Level: Silver (10/100)"
"Intermediate Weapon - Kuro Kabuto: Range 4999 meters! Zero error! Damage bonus 50%!"
"Trait: Attacks using Kuro Kabuto will inflict area damage!"
"Hiss...!"
Usopp's scalp tingled with shock as he listened to the system's reward! He never expected it would reward him with a weapon!
And an intermediate one at that!
Kuro Kabuto!
Immediately, he felt as excited as if he'd been injected with adrenaline, but on the surface, he still maintained the demeanor of a master of tall tales.
He slowly caressed the silver net pouch, his voice suddenly lowered: "Now... do you still think I'm telling tall tales?"
These words were like a heavy hammer striking the Marines' hearts.
The soldiers who had just been mocking Usopp now all turned pale, some even unconsciously retreating a few steps.
Smoker's jitte weapon trembled slightly in his hand. He had fought for many years but had never encountered such a bizarre opponent!
"Impossible..." Tashigi's glasses slipped to the tip of her nose, "This level of Observation Haki... even a Marineford Vice Admiral couldn't..."
Usopp stepped forward at the opportune moment, "Now, does anyone still doubt my strength?" His voice wasn't loud, but it rendered the entire plaza silent.
Luffy had, at some point, stood at the edge of the execution platform, excitedly waving his arms: "Usopp! So cool!"
Sanji chuckled, cigarette in his mouth: "Long Nose is putting on quite a show this time."
Zoro, arms crossed, nodded in rare approval: "Though it's a stretch, the effect is good."
Nami quietly wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. Heaven knew how worried she had been that Usopp would blow his cover!
Usopp had his back to his crewmates, so no one saw that his back was drenched with sweat.
But when he looked up again, his eyes still gleamed with the confident light of "everything under control":
"Smoker, you are not yet qualified to fight me. When you reach the level of the Seven Warlords of the Sea Mihawk, I will consider fighting you..."
He slowly raised the silver net pouch, "However, next time I see you, I won't hold back."
"Now, let these crewmates of mine give you some pointers."
The entire Loguetown plaza seemed to have been put on pause, the air so thick it could almost be squeezed out.
The Marine soldiers' mouths hung open, their eyes wide as if they would pop out of their sockets.
"Are... are you kidding?!"
"Captain Smoker... isn't even qualified to fight?!"
"Are these guys really rookie pirates? You've got to be kidding me!"
"..."
Just as the Marines were still immersed in the shock brought by Usopp, Zoro slowly walked out of the crowd. The sunlight gilded his green hair, and his three swords gently swayed with his steps.
He stopped in the center of the plaza, his right hand slowly resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Clang—" Three cold lights simultaneously left their sheaths, and Wado Ichimonji was held in his mouth, its blade glinting with a cold sharpness in the sunlight.
Zoro slightly lowered his stance, his three swords in a perfect offensive posture: "Now..." His voice came through the blade, carrying a metallic tremor, "Who wants to fight? I'm ready!"
Almost at the same moment,
Sanji also stepped forward with an elegant stride. He took the cigarette from his mouth, and the tip of his leather shoe scraped a spark on the ground: "Anyone who wants to stretch their muscles, come find me!"
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