In the blink of an eye, the pirate crews inside the tavern were completely cleared out. Only Buffalo's group and Mr. 1's group remained in the venue.
And...
Hiroto and the others, who had remained inactive and merely observed in the center of the venue from the start of the conflict until its temporary conclusion.
The two groups exchanged glances, clearly sensing that the others possessed strength far surpassing the pirates who had been forcibly eliminated.
Therefore, they shifted their focus to the three individuals in the center of the venue.
"Hey, why don't you leave?" Miss Doublefinger glanced at the three, the meaning in her eyes quite direct.
If they didn't sneak away, their fate would be the same as the pirates lying scattered across the floor.
Baby 5 was more straightforward, immediately transforming her arm into a black muzzle. "Get lost."
"An interesting turn of events. You've given me quite a show." Hiroto smiled, pulling off the hood of his black cloak.
"Your idea is excellent. I'll take advantage of it."
Shusui was drawn at that moment, and a sharp flash of light suddenly burst forth.
Bang!
Just as Baby 5 pulled the trigger, she, along with her bullet, was struck by the radiating slash and sent flying, smashing through the wall with a loud crash. She tumbled into the snow like a broken sack.
Next came a second roar.
Buffalo, who had just started to move, was struck by a close-range slash from Zoro and sent flying, replicating his companion's situation.
"Leave these two to me."
As if afraid that Hiroto would steal his prey, Zoro tossed out this sentence and walked out of the tavern, sword in hand.
In the corner, Violet widened her eyes, staring in shock at the trio who had seemed harmless just moments ago. They had shed their disguise and displayed incredible power in the blink of an eye.
No, that's not right.
Violet stared at the man who was clearly the Captain, and suddenly the bounty poster she had seen in the news recently flashed in her mind.
The Sea-Cleaving Swordsman Hiroto, bounty 400 million berries, who had killed one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea Gecko Moria and Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Dalmatian.
The moment she recognized his identity, Violet's heart began to pound wildly.
This powerhouse, comparable to Doflamingo, had actually appeared here?
Was he also attracted by those three Devil Fruits?
Right, besides those three Devil Fruits, what else on this island could attract such a figure?
The mission is probably impossible to complete.
Violet pressed her index and middle fingers together. Tears rapidly multiplied in her eyes, were squeezed out, and instantly expanded and hardened into a whale.
Attack Hiroto?
Wrong!
She immediately smashed through the wall and ran away without looking back.
The speed of her action and the decisiveness of her choice even stunned Hiroto for a moment.
"Hey, what the hell is going on?"
Mr. 3, who had just finished creating a gigantic candle champion shaped like a robot and had Miss Goldenweek color it to enhance its power, noticed the situation.
It was understandable that the first two powerful enemies were sent flying. The trio was so fearless precisely because of their strength.
But what did it mean when the last one turned tail and ran immediately, as if seeing a ghost?
As Mr. 3 thought this, he saw the man holding the sword turn his head, and a somewhat familiar face came into view.
A little familiar?
Miss Goldenweek's face turned white. She stumbled two steps and fell to the floor.
"Hi... Hiroto! Sea-Cleaving Swordsman Hiroto!"
When she shouted out the identity of the familiar man, Robin, who had been observing the situation from the back, changed color.
How could it be him?
After causing such a huge disturbance in the East Blue, didn't the Marines try to surround and pursue him?
According to her intel, Marine Hero Garp was searching everywhere for Hiroto's whereabouts, and warships were deployed at the entrance of the Grand Line in the East Blue.
Clearly, Robin's intelligence gathering capability in the East Blue was far inferior to that in the Grand Line.
But regardless, Hiroto's appearance was now a fact.
As the saying goes, a man's reputation precedes him.
Robin knew all too well the terror of the Sea-Cleaving Swordsman Hiroto, he was definitely not someone they could handle. At the very least, he was an enemy that only Crocodile himself could deal with.
However, it was clear that the others did not share her clear understanding. Some even seemed eager to try their hand.
"A bounty of 400 million berries... is that you?"
Mr. 3, now clad in his Candle Champion armor, had a flicker of wariness in his eyes. This suit of his had hunted pirates with bounties as high as 48 million berries.
The hundred-million level, especially at the 400 million mark...
He should be able to exchange a few blows with the opponent, right?
"Let me ask for a moment, what is your goal?"
At that moment, Mr. 1, who had not yet made a move, stood up, his cold gaze fixed on Hiroto.
"The Devil Fruit?"
"Which one?"
"What do you mean 'which one'?"
Hiroto gave him a strange look. "Only children make choices. Naturally, I want them all."
"Then there is no other way."
Mr. 1's tone turned frigid. "My mission is to bring back that Devil Fruit. Since you're standing in the way, I'll just have to cut you down."
This was the first time he had faced an enemy at the 400 million berries bounty level. But the mission had to be completed. This time, two pairs of Chief Officers had been deployed, and even the high-ranking Miss Sunday had appeared to lead the team personally.
It was foreseeable that Crocodile placed great importance on this matter.