But in an instant, the situation had turned completely upside down.
The two individuals who had been brimming with confidence and strength just moments ago were now utterly defeated, looking like stray dogs with no fight left in them.
It must be understood—these were no ordinary opponents.
Both were powerful individuals who possessed Devil Fruit abilities, and they were infamous pirates with bounties exceeding tens of millions of Berries on the vast seas.
For a long time, their unique abilities and ruthless methods had struck fear into countless adversaries.
Who could have imagined that such formidable figures would be so thoroughly overwhelmed by this one Marine, collapsing almost instantly upon contact?
Witnessing this scene, Alvida was completely dumbfounded.
Her mind went blank, unable to process what had just unfolded before her eyes.
She simply couldn't understand why those two seemingly invincible Devil Fruit Ability Users had been defeated so easily.
Could it be that this Marine's strength had reached some unimaginable height? Such a battle situation plunged Alvida into deep terror and despair.
"Captain..." Mohji rushed toward the cratered Buggy with a group of underlings, but they deliberately gave Lancelot a very wide berth.
Although they had watched the battle from a distance, they had clearly seen how Lancelot completely overpowered Buggy, Matthew, Alvida, and Cabaji.
Such a powerful opponent was simply beyond their ability to handle.
The fact that they still dared to rush over and help Buggy up under these circumstances was, in its own way, commendable courage.
Lancelot glanced at them but didn't make another move.
Then he glanced at Matthew, who was lying groaning in the distance, and said.
"Have your ship doctor treat them. I hope they can all sit before me in half an hour to discuss matters. Otherwise... none of you need to stay alive."
When he spoke the last sentence, Lancelot's voice had turned icy cold.
It sent a palpable chill down everyone's spine.
"Gulp..." Mohji couldn't help but swallow hard.
Then he nodded frantically.
Who would dare disobey Lancelot's words at this moment? What difference was there between that and seeking death?
Afterward, Lancelot didn't look at the pirates again.
Instead, he fixed his gaze back on Alvida, who was still frozen in his grip.
The heat in his eyes was completely unconcealed.
"This..."
Meeting Lancelot's predatory gaze, Alvida felt her scalp go numb.
It had to be understood that after eating the Paramecia-type Slippery Fruit, she hadn't just transformed into a sexy beauty; her personality had also become much more charming and coquettish.
Her current frightened, vulnerable appearance was truly enough to evoke pity in anyone.
Lancelot reached out with his free hand and lifted her chin with his finger.
"Stop being a pirate. Follow me and join the Marines."
"Ah?" Alvida froze completely on the spot.
She never would have imagined that this Marine before her actually wanted to recruit her into the Marines.
Become a Marine? This was something she had never considered before.
Besides, who was she? "Iron Mace" Alvida.
She was a famously notorious female pirate in the East Blue.
While not exactly having killed countless people, she had committed plenty of evil deeds.
Could someone like her really become a Marine? Had Marines become so worthless now? And what kind of Marine recruits a pirate to join their ranks?
"Don't agree?" Lancelot narrowed his eyes, though his smile remained.
His expression turned unfriendly.
He might be lustful, but... he was no simp.
Disagreement would only lead to one outcome.
That was for her to "die," and for him to add a new Devil Fruit to his collection.
"I agree...!" Alvida had already sensed the cold killing intent emanating from Lancelot and didn't dare hesitate for a single second.
She wasn't stupid. She could always find an opportunity to escape later.
"Tsk tsk..."
However, Lancelot seemed to see right through her thoughts.
He wrapped his powerful arm fully around her slender waist, pulling her flush against him.
Alvida instinctively wanted to dodge, but meeting Lancelot's domineering gaze... her heart tightened.
"Those two will take some time to wake up," Lancelot murmured, his voice low.
"Let's go somewhere private and have a... 'good talk'... about life."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lancelot held Alvida tightly and used Soru.
They directly vanished from the spot.
...
Half an hour later, Matthew and Buggy, patched up by their respective crews, woke up one after another.
The two men stared at each other, desperately wanting to flee immediately.
Yet they understood escape was impossible.
The gap between their strength and that Marine's was far too vast.
Being targeted by someone like him meant even if they ran, they would live in constant fear every day.
Moreover, there was a high probability they would be captured and brought back.
Most importantly, after defeating them, this Marine had neither arrested them nor killed them.
This indicated he had another purpose in seeking them out.
There was hope for them to survive.
"Huh?"
Just as the two were making various speculations in their hearts, Lancelot emerged from a nearby building with Alvida in his embrace.
At this moment, Lancelot wore an expression of utter, smug satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Alvida's face was flushed crimson, her eyes filled with a strange mixture of shyness and affection as she clung to him.
Buggy: "..."
Matthew: "..."
They had nearly been beaten to the point of being unable to care for themselves, and yet here this guy was... directly... going off to have his "fun" with their former ally.
The corners of their eyes twitched involuntarily.
Then they simultaneously turned their gaze to Lancelot.
At this moment, their perception of him had completely changed.
Since when did Marines play with pirates instead of capturing or killing them? Buggy and Matthew exchanged a look.
This was a "Black Marine"—their term for those corrupt and greedy Marines.
Lancelot paid no attention to their thoughts.
Still holding Alvida casually, he walked straight up to the two defeated captains.
Coldly, he stated, "Those who comply shall live. Those who resist shall die. Do you wish to live, or to die?"
"This..." Buggy and Matthew froze in place, not expecting Lancelot to be so direct.
They then glanced at Alvida, who was now his.
"No, no, no...!" Buggy and Matthew were terrified, immediately shaking their heads frantically and signaling their refusal to resist.
They feared Lancelot would attack them in the next instant.
Seeing this, Lancelot couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth upward.
"So, you're complying?"
Buggy and Matthew exchanged glances, then immediately nodded.
Lancelot nodded in satisfaction.
"Good..."
Matthew, being the quicker-witted of the two, stepped forward cautiously.
"May I ask, Rear Admiral, what... what do you want us to do?"
Hearing this, Lancelot laughed.
"Simple—you continue being pirates. Of course, from now on, you can't randomly burn, kill, and plunder. If I hear you've harmed civilians indiscriminately, I'll make you regret being born into this world. However... you can target those nobles who are overflowing with wealth."
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