Holy Land Mary Geoise, Blake Manor.
Blake, who had only returned a few days ago, was training with Mandy, Kuina, and others in the manor.
Kuina had been by his side for over half a year, but their interactions were few, and she even had some negative impressions of him due to what happened in Shimotsuki Village.
Blake, however, had high expectations for Kuina, and occasionally made time to do some ideological work with the little maid.
As she had more and more contact with Mandy, the little girl's personality became more and more like the ice beauty, preferring not to speak if she could help it.
Blake didn't mind this; not speaking was fine, as long as she was obedient.
However, today, a sudden piece of news disrupted his plans.
Indeed, this news was conveyed to Blake by Gris through Aramaki—the struggle for the Ope-Ope no Mi had begun.
Blake was both surprised and unsurprised that Vergo was the first to arrive at Minion Island.
In the original work, Rosinante was the first to obtain the Ope-Ope no Mi.
However, that was under circumstances where Rosinante had set sail a year earlier to find a cure for Law's lead rot disease.
Now that Law had been brought back and cultivated by Blake early on, Rosinante naturally had to prioritize his undercover mission.
And the original second in line, Vergo, naturally became the first to arrive at Minion Island to participate in the struggle for the Ope-Ope no Mi.
Upon hearing this news, Blake, without a word, casually greeted the few people who were training and left in a hurry.
He returned to his study and quickly sent for Stella.
Blake briefly explained that he needed to immediately and secretly travel to North Blue, and Stella immediately understood.
She couldn't be said to be completely knowledgeable about Blake's plans, but Blake hadn't deliberately hidden many things from her, so she could naturally guess some of the situation, and immediately replied:
"Understood, Your Highness!"
"I will arrange the daily affairs of the manor properly, ensuring that no one outside detects your departure."
She didn't ask further and immediately began to arrange the affairs inside and outside the manor, ensuring everything operated as usual, leaving no suspicious traces.
It was certainly impossible to hide it from the personal maids in the manor, but as long as it was hidden from the outside world, that was enough.
In fact, Blake was just preparing an extra layer of insurance; he wasn't a prominent figure in Mary Geoise to begin with, and with all eyes worldwide focused on the Ope-Ope no Mi, no one would care about the whereabouts of a small, inconspicuous person like him.
As long as the sanctuary did not set sail, Blake would ostensibly remain in Mary Geoise.
What Ope-Ope no Mi? I don't know!
About half an hour later, Stella was ready and returned to the study:
"Your Highness, it is ready."
She raised her hand, and as her ability activated, the air in front of her rippled like water, forming a faintly glowing doorway out of thin air.
Beyond the door, a completely different sky and sea landscape was vaguely visible.
"Let's go."
Blake stepped into the light door first, with Stella following closely behind.
As their figures disappeared, the light door closed, and the study returned to its calm state, as if they had never appeared.
Given Stella's stamina and the extent of her Door-Door Fruit development, she naturally couldn't directly reach Minion Island.
But it didn't matter; after reaching the farthest distance, the two emerged from the alternate dimension. Blake activated the power of his Devil Fruit, spread his wings, and flew through the sky carrying Stella.
After a period of rest to recover her stamina, Stella continued to use her spatial ability, and it wouldn't take long to reach Minion Island.
Just as Blake and Stella were rushing towards Minion Island, the battle there had already fully erupted.
The pirates' attacks kicked up a cloud of dust, completely obscuring Vergo's figure.
When the dust gradually dispersed and Vergo reappeared in everyone's sight, the pirates were all stunned—
This Marine was completely unharmed, bullets clattering to the ground from his body as if they were hitting steel.
Vergo's body was covered in a layer of purplish-Blake Armament Haki, making him appear somewhat eerie.
"What a bother!"
Vergo said expressionlessly, his tone showing impatience:
"Since you are unwilling to hand it over voluntarily, I will just have to do it myself."
No sooner had he spoken than he suddenly vanished from his spot.
The next moment, Vergo appeared in front of a gun-wielding pirate, his hand, covered in Armament Haki, shot out like lightning, precisely gripping the opponent's wrist.
With a crisp snap, accompanied by the pirate's agonizing scream, his wrist had been brutally broken.
Another pirate, seeing his comrade injured, roared and charged with a large saber.
Vergo didn't even turn his head, merely raised his other hand and flicked a finger.
Clang!
The thick saber broke with a sound, its fracture surface
as smooth as a mirror.
Vergo charged into the crowd like a tiger among sheep, each punch and kick causing immense damage, sending pirates flying high into the air and tumbling backward.
Barrels watched his subordinates fall one after another, his face growing increasingly grim.
He threw away his liquor bottle and took off his jacket, revealing his muscular physique.
"Enough!"
He strode forward, his gaze fixed on Vergo:
"Do you really think we're easy to bully?"
As a former member of the Marine, he was well-informed enough to recognize the Armament Haki Vergo was using.
But Barrels was not afraid.
According to his experience in the Marine, officers below the rank of Vice Admiral, even if they mastered Armament Haki, usually wouldn't be too strong, and certainly couldn't use it frequently.
Just now, Vergo had covered his entire body with Armament Haki to block the first wave of damage, and now he had defeated so many of his crew members; he should be nearing the limit of his Haki.
And he, Barrels, was well-rested!
Striking suddenly while this fellow was exhausted would surely catch him off guard!
This round! The advantage is mine!
With this conviction, Barrels roared, his muscles tensed like iron, and he charged fiercely towards Vergo.
"Soru!"
Vergo finally turned around. Facing Barrels' full-power attack, he merely calmly raised his hand.
Boom!
Barrels' originally confident expression instantly froze.
He felt a force far stronger than his own transmit up his arm, making his blood churn.
Clearly, he had overthought it.
Although Vergo's rank was not yet high, he was not a legitimate Marine.
As an undercover agent planted by the Donquixote Family within the Marine, how could he not have some real power?
In terms of actual strength, the current Vergo was even stronger than most Vice Admirals.
After only a few moves, Barrels was already panting, while Vergo remained composed.
But it had come to this point; the Ope-Ope no Mi would never be handed over easily!
Barrels gritted his teeth, knowing he had encountered a tough opponent today.
Facing Vergo, who pointed a finger at him, Barrels roared:
"Iron Body!"
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