Dense artillery shells tore through the rain curtain, and amid the sharp whistles, Shano's black hair was whipped into disarray by the surging airwaves.
But Shano didn't move, he just continued to coldly stare at the distant warship.
Behind him.
Four figures had already sprung into action simultaneously.
"One-Stroke Cut: Lu Wei!"
Kuina shouted sharply, stepping on Moonwalk to soar into the air. Wado Ichimonji was unsheathed, slicing a bright arc in the rain.
Buzz!
Where the sword edge passed, it stirred waves of ripples in the air.
Dozens of artillery shells were neatly cut in half, and the gunpowder was drenched by rain before they could explode, smoldering while falling to the ground.
"Superior Hammer Meat SHOOT!"
Zeff flew straight to the other side, his metallic right leg kicking consecutively, like handling pieces of meat on a chopping board, with ease and composure.
The shells attacking from the edges either fell into the sea or exploded in mid-air, scattering as countless lead dust showering down.
Ah Yin and Nojiko, on the other hand, stepped on walls along their path, leveraging themselves to leap up continuously.
In their swift maneuvers, one used fists, the other claws, bringing down all the stray artillery shells.
Bang!
In just a few seconds, all the artillery shells were cleared away, and the four figures returned to stand behind Shano.
This second round of artillery barrage, totaling fifty to sixty shells, not a single one managed to break through the blockade.
Huh?
Onigumo raised an eyebrow, looking unexpectedly at the roof.
Is this a tough opponent?
I originally thought that randomly firing a few rounds at the square would be enough to start cleaning up the battlefield.
It would not only let me vent my pent-up frustrations but also satisfy Alta that fat pig with a fireworks show.
If there's accountability from above, any collateral damage to civilians could conveniently be blamed on someone else.
It's simply a win-win situation.
But first, that unruly troublemaker Smoker had to stir things up.
Then out of nowhere, this group showed up, capable of physically stopping the artillery.
This kind of strength doesn't seem like something Pirate Gang from the East Sea could possess.
Is the situation starting to get interesting...?
"Hey, have them cease fire."
Onigumo casually lit a cigar, licking the corner of his lips with interest, "I want to go ashore alone and have some fun with these pirates."
"Hound, you several Major Generals, all stay aboard and look after the various majesties. This battle doesn't need your involvement. Just send a few Captains to seal off all the square's exits will suffice."
"Yes! Onigumo sir!"
The Major General known as Hound quickly stood straight and saluted.
Watching Onigumo's departing figure with some regret, he actually wanted to go ashore and play with these pirates too.
...
In no time.
Onigumo, with a cigar in his mouth, stepped onto the dock.
Behind him, a large number of elite Marines under his command bypassed him from both sides, entering Log Town and sealing off the entire square.
Around the dock, gathered quite a few Marines from the Log Town branch welcoming the arrival.
Currently, they were being pushed to the corner, feeling somewhat at a loss, completely unable to understand why the warships suddenly opened fire.
—Even if the goal was to capture the pirates gathered in the square, there should've been a more prudent approach, such as now directly going ashore to encircle them, wouldn't that work?
"Vice Admiral!"
The leading branch Captain couldn't help but step forward, shouting to Onigumo's back:
"Don't you plan to give us an explanation! Why didn't you notify us before firing? Don't you understand this could harm the civilians on the sides of the square!"
"Also, what about Mr. Smoker? May I ask where he is now? The sudden smoke on the warship earlier, was he also on board?"
Hmm?
Onigumo's stride paused for a moment, frowning.
"So noisy."
He turned to glance coldly with no hesitation, pulled out a pistol from his coat, and shot the branch Captain directly.
Just a branch Captain, which would be a Sergeant at Headquarters, dared to question me?
Bang!
After the gunshot, the young Captain's body stiffened and fell backward, with a bloody hole in his forehead, blood gushing out.
"..."
Surrounding Log Town branch Marines fell silent instantly.
Eyes filled with disbelief swept between the corpse and Onigumo's back.
At the back of the crowd, Tashigi covered her mouth in shock, almost letting out a scream.
Initially arrived at the dock, hearing among the welcoming dignitaries was notably a Vice Admiral from Headquarters.
She was quite looking forward to personally witnessing the grace of this Vice Admiral, even her earlier disappointment for missing the banquet with Lord Shano had marginally improved.
But in reality...
It turned out to be such a person?
Unable to tolerate a disagreement, he fired deadly at his own colleague.
Is such a person qualified to be a Vice Admiral?!!
...
Tap, tap, tap.
Onigumo, carrying the cigar, continued striding towards the square.
He paid no heed to the faint murmuring voices gradually arising behind him. What these bottom-level Marines thought was utterly insignificant.
As for casually executing a subordinate?
He had done such things many times before; even a deputy at the school level dared to defy him, he would shoot unhesitatingly, let alone one obscure branch Captain in this remote little place?
On the broad square.
Those pirates gathered there all noticed the figure stepping through the rain, seeing that epaulet and recalling the prior terrifying concentrated firepower, gasping collectively in horror.
—It's a Vice Admiral from Navy Headquarters!!!
Someone shouted involuntarily, and panic spread frantically.
"—Damn, regret coming to the East Sea now. Why would such a person appear in this place!!"
"Is now the time to worry about such things? What are you doing still standing there, run quickly!"
"It's too late! All the exits are sealed!"
...
Amidst the frantic commotion.
Onigumo didn't even bother to glance at these ragtag individuals.
With a swift move, he used Moonwalk to reach the rooftop, raising his eyes to scrutinize the figures opposite.
Beyond the guy wearing the white hood concealing facial features, the others actually seemed just a bunch of teenagers, looking no older than their teenage years.
"Interesting."
Onigumo arched an eyebrow, puffing out a smoke ring, "What piqued my interest turned out to be a mere group of brats..."
"Hey, what are you doing!"
From the café's second floor, Nami suddenly appeared and yelled angrily, interrupting his speech, "Why on earth did you fire at us for no reason, we're not pirates!"
Not pirates?
Onigumo cast a glance over Shano and the others, briefly scanning his memory, he indeed had no impression of these faces, hadn't seen them on any warrants.
Still...
"Does it matter?"
Onigumo slightly shook his head, his expression indifferent:
"You helped these pirates intercept artillery shells, aren't you already opposing the Navy? Being seen as accomplices of pirates, executed on the spot, is only natural, can't blame anyone."