The slightly weak and panicked female voice coming from the den den mushi sounded like celestial music at this moment.
Taro's mood instantly brightened. Holy crap, reinforcements are finally here!
He turned his head toward the open sea, his gaze crossing several kilometers to see two warships coming ashore.
Donquixote Doflamingo's expression changed several times, the furrowed brow on his forehead slowly smoothing out. His mind raced as he looked at Taro with a devious smile.
"Fuffuffuffu, Vice Admiral Taro. Redfield, who escaped from the Sixth Level of Impel Down, is already heavily injured. Since you summoned me to assist in the battle this time, don't forget my share of the credit for capturing him!"
Taro immediately understood Mingo's sinister intentions and sneered inwardly. Trying to play me?
If Taro admitted to summoning Mingo, it would be equivalent to admitting that he was the one who orchestrated the entire incident.
Since things had spiraled out of control, it would naturally be seen as a blunder caused by Taro's initiative.
This way, Taro would end up taking the blame for the whole mess.
How malicious!
Taro shook his head with a humble expression and waved his hand.
"No, no, no. I'm just an ordinary Marine Vice Admiral, the G4 Base Commander in Paradise. How could I possibly have the authority to summon a Warlord of the Sea to hunt pirates here in the New World?"
As he spoke, his tone grew more serious, but his eyes were filled with amusement.
"There's a much more suitable candidate. Now that this matter has become uncontrollable, it's only reasonable for him to take the blame and resign. Don't you agree, Donquixote Doflamingo?"
The wound on Mingo's chest seemed to have split open again, and fresh blood flowed out.
He took a heavy breath and said through gritted teeth, "That... is very true!"
"Hahahaha~"
Taro laughed wantonly.
Taro's laughter made Mingo's heart ache with rage, his fingers curling until his knuckles cracked.
"Vice Admiral Taro, Redfield is still here. As a Marine, aren't you going to arrest him?"
Taro raised an eyebrow and said calmly:
"Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?"
Rage rushed to Mingo's head, but then he heard Taro continue.
"I also know the location of a certain pirate. I'm thinking of going to cut him down first. What do you think?"
Mingo's face was gloomy, and threads faintly appeared at his fingertips.
"You want to break our agreement?"
Taro chuckled, not caring much.
"The previous agreement was just like what I just said—just words. As for whether I'll break it..."
"Guess?"
"Cough!"
Blood welled up in Mingo's throat. Just as a trace sprayed out, he clenched his teeth and forced it back.
After swallowing the blood, threads flickered within Mingo's pink feathered coat as he pulled it tighter to cover the wound on his chest.
Then, he shoved his hands into his pockets and walked toward the shore with his signature arrogant swagger, pretending everything was fine.
Taro squinted at Mingo's departing back.
Tsk, he clearly got beaten up badly, yet his walk is still so arrogant. Taro wondered if he should provoke him a bit more.
"Donquixote Doflamingo, I'll remember you!"
Before Taro could speak, Redfield spoke first.
Mingo's footsteps faltered, and he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Without looking back, he replied:
"Redfield, I'll remember you too!"
After exchanging threats, Redfield turned and retreated into the forest, while Mingo continued toward the coast.
Taro's lip twitched. Why do all these people like to say "I'll remember you"? Are they fellow patients in a mental ward?
Thinking this, he glanced at Katakuri, who had been silent for a long time. Are you going to say that too?
Katakuri happened to look over at that moment, his lips moving slightly.
Taro's brow furrowed, his pupils constricting sharply.
Holy crap, from the looks of it, you really want to say that phrase?
I don't want to discuss symptoms with you!
Just then, a gale rose, and the long-suppressed thick clouds finally burst, pouring down torrential rain.
Along with the raindrops, a white speck fell from the sky!
Taro and Katakuri both narrowed their eyes and glanced up toward the clouds.
In the next instant, a red light flashed in Katakuri's eyes. A look of shock appeared on his face as he quickly jerked his head to dodge.
"Bang!"
A massive fist suddenly appeared, striking Katakuri squarely on the temple.
Only then did Taro see Garp's burly figure.
Garp's face was clouded with anger. His mouth moved, revealing a set of tightly clenched white teeth.
"Boom~"
A part of Katakuri's head was actually dented in from the blow. He instantly became like a meteor, soaring into the air and flying off to the side.
Taro was dumbstruck!
He never imagined that one day, Garp would come to his rescue by stepping through the dark clouds!
Moreover, the old man's punching speed was faster than ever, so much so that Taro couldn't see the trajectory of the punch at all.
Without even knowing if he had put in any effort, Katakuri was down!
This is just too damn fierce!
Roger used a skill to fight Oden, but Old Man, you just flattened a fellow Yonko Commander like Katakuri with a plain, ordinary punch.
Tsk tsk, the ceiling of combat power!
Taro instantly became Garp's little fanboy, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"G... Garp, Old Man!"
After felling Katakuri with one punch, Garp landed on the ground, his Marine cape fluttering loudly in the gale.
Clenched fists, a tall figure, and a neat blue shirt.
Handsome!
"Ouch~"
While Taro was lost in his frantic admiration of Garp, an old fist slammed into his head, instantly burying him into the ground.
"You bastard, do you have a death wish?"
Garp roared, his voice like thunder!
"No, I didn't expect... Ouch~"
Taro lifted his head from the soil, but as soon as he spoke, he was smashed down again.
"Shut up! All you do is run around all day!" Garp held his fists in front of his chest, his chest heaving violently.
"No, I... Ouch~"
Then, another punch.
"If you want to die, it's easier to let this old man beat you to death!"
Taro learned his lesson this time. He just lay flat in the dirt, holding his head with his hands and keeping silent.
After a long while, a fourth punch didn't come.
"What are you still doing on the ground? Get up! Looking like this in front of so many Marine Soldiers is unsightly!"
Garp's tone was very dissatisfied.
So many Marine Soldiers?
Taro was shocked. He turned his head and took a look.
Well, there were many pairs of feet.
Moving his gaze up a bit...
Smoker was looking at him gloomily while biting his cigar, and tears were flowing from behind Tashigi's glasses next to him.
Behind them, a large group of Marines who looked like street punks had shocked expressions on their faces.
A massive social death scene!
For a moment, Taro had the urge to bury his head back in the dirt.
Startled into sitting up like a dying man, he flipped over and stood up, forcing a strained, awkward smile onto his face.
"Oh, it's Smoker and Tashigi, and everyone from G5. Hello there!"
Seeing Taro with a large bump on his head, a black left eye, and covered in filth yet still smiling, Tashigi's tears gushed out even more uncontrollably.
The heavy rain quickly washed away the mud on Taro, revealing his blood-stained clothes.
"Waaah~"
Tashigi wailed loudly.
Taro was completely bewildered. Why is this girl crying?
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