Chapter 15 Don't pretend, showdown

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Sengoku, who had just stepped off the navy ship, suddenly felt uneasy.

"Vice Admiral Sengoku, what's wrong?"

At this time, the deputy beside him noticed something unusual about Sengoku.

"Nothing. Has the detection team sent back any news?"

"The last communication came in 5 minutes ago; they should still be moving forward."

"Well, let's go too."

"Yes, everyone is in preparation mode and ready to enter the island!"

"Yes!"

As a Vice Admiral, Sengoku stood at the forefront of all the navy personnel. He frowned. From just now, he had always felt that he was being observed, but his sight did not detect anyone.

Am I worrying too much?

Sengoku began to doubt himself.

He shook his head and laughed. Really, it was just an ordinary mission. With the troops he brought, he could easily resolve the rebellion here. After that, once they collected the heavenly gold, his mission would be complete.

It's just that simple.

Sengoku led the team into the forest. Suddenly, he stopped and stared in one direction.

All the navy immediately tightened their grip on their weapons.

After a three-second wait, nothing happened.

"Vice Admiral Sengoku?"

"I'm fine."

Sengoku withdrew his gaze and continued to lead the team into the forest with a neutral expression.

...

A few hundred meters away, Marco, who was hiding, broke into a cold sweat.

This is terrible. He was almost discovered just now, even though he was already so far away.

Watching the navy gradually move into the forest, Marco suddenly found himself in a dilemma.

Do I want to continue chasing?

He had been so cautious and was almost spotted. If he pressed on, he might attract Sengoku's attention, putting him in danger.

But when he thought of Larson's usual dismissive attitude towards him, he felt a surge of anger. He resolved to complete this mission and prove himself in front of Larson!

With that thought, he regained his composure and carefully approached Sengoku's direction.

"Coming."

In the dense forest, Larson suddenly opened his eyes.

He threw the lifeless navy soldier in his hands into the open space beside him.

At this moment, he felt something and turned his eyes in one direction.

He spotted a cyan figure cautiously approaching, inch by inch.

Seeing this scene, he almost couldn't help laughing.

However, Marco's caution also reassured Larson. If he were a reckless fool, Larson would be disappointed. At least now, he wasn't in immediate danger.

Larson concealed himself so as not to be spotted by Marco. He also observed the navy led by Sengoku from a distance and began to discern their true purpose for coming to the island.

To quell the rebellion on the island.

This was the mission the navy had disclosed to Larson. He had been watching for half a day, and it had proven that the navy personnel had not lied. Sengoku's navy was there to resolve the rebellion swiftly.

It was also Larson's first time witnessing the true strength of the navy. Sengoku could effectively quell a country's rebellion in just half a day. The speed was astonishing and had Larson thoroughly impressed.

But considering the situation, while the island was rich, the rebels were merely a handful of pirates. The navy was dispatched under Vice Admiral Sengoku, and the strength of the two sides was completely mismatched.

Larson didn't even see Sengoku take action; the naval soldiers easily stabilized the situation on their own.

During this period, a female sailor came into Larson's view.

Female soldiers were rare in the navy. This particular sailor drew Larson's attention as she deftly took down more than ten rebels with one sword, effortlessly defeating them.

With such strength, she was at least a second lieutenant in the navy. Seeing her, Larson couldn't help but recall a character from the original story, Vice Admiral Momonosuke, also known as Gion.

She had a similar temperament to Gion and bore a somewhat similar face, though her features were more youthful.

But whether this woman was indeed Gion or just resembled her, Larson couldn't be sure.

In the original work, Gion's age wasn't specified, so he had no way of knowing if the woman before him was the beautiful vice admiral he once admired.

From the moment the navy entered the town, much of Larson's attention had been focused on Sengoku. Two hours after the navy's arrival in response to the rebellion, Sengoku led a group of soldiers into the dilapidated royal palace of this war-torn country, which was filled with gunpowder smoke.

The streets were littered with corpses, and most of the navy busied themselves cleaning up the battlefield.

In the palace, only Sengoku's deputy and the woman who resembled Gion were present beside him.

Suddenly, a man wearing a crown walked down the steps, grabbed Sengoku's hand with a grateful expression, and said, "Thank you. Without you, our country would have fallen into the hands of traitors!"

This man was the king of the kingdom.

Sengoku's face showed a trademark smile. "This is what our navy is meant to do. In addition to dealing with the traitors, our navy has one more task to accomplish."

The king nodded. "I understand; I've prepared everything."

How could he not know the navy's purpose? As long as he held onto his throne, he would be satisfied.

A satisfied smile spread across Sengoku's face. He turned to the woman beside him. "Gion, go and follow them."

Sengoku's words confirmed the woman's identity to Larson, who was hiding in the shadows.

Gion nodded and waved to summon a team of marines from a distance. Then she looked at the king and asked, "Where is it? Take us there."

"I'll take you there right now."

The king summoned his own guards and entered the palace with Gion and the navy, leaving Sengoku behind to converse with him.

"May I ask what your position is in the navy?"

Given that his country had just been saved, the king's tone was very humble.

Sengoku replied politely, "Vice Admiral."

There was one thing Sengoku didn't disclose. After this mission was completed successfully, he would be promoted to Admiral Sengoku.

He feared that the remnants of the traitors might not be entirely eradicated, so he would rely on these navy soldiers in the future. This made the king especially respectful toward Sengoku.

The two chatted for about five minutes when Sengoku suddenly raised a hand to interrupt the king.

"Wait a minute."

Sengoku's eyes darted towards a distant location. "You've been following me this entire time; do you still want to hide?"

Who?

Upon hearing Sengoku's words, the king reluctantly followed his gaze but saw nothing there.

Sengoku looked disdainfully. "You hiding rat, do you think I can't find you?"

The king fell silent, no longer daring to speak.

The atmosphere became thick and tense as several seconds passed, feeling like an eternity.

Finally unable to endure the pressure, Marco in the corner gritted his teeth and stepped out.

Damn it, I was discovered. It should be too late to escape now. Regardless, I've completed my mission and should be able to report back.

As Marco stepped out, Sengoku displayed a faint smile, but before he could speak, a sigh suddenly echoed from above his head.

"Oh, you truly live up to your title as an admiral. Even I couldn't detect you."

Larson shook his head and strolled into view.

Marco's eyes widened; he didn't understand why Larson was here.

And Sengoku's expression froze at that moment.

Damn it, why the hell is there another person?!

No, stay calm; it's just one more person, no big deal.

Sengoku's eyes then narrowed at Larson's armpit — or rather, the individual he was holding under his arm.

Sengoku's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Gion?!!!"

Gion lay unconscious, held by Larson with one hand.

The moment Sengoku noticed the box Larson was clutching in his other hand, his expression shifted.

Before he could react, the king exclaimed, "How could the heavenly gold be in his possession?!"

Sengoku: "..."

Warring States stepped forward, his body emanating a dazzling golden light as he enlarged several times in an instant.

He glared at Larson, his expression radiating authority. "I will only give you one chance to put down the woman and the box in your hands."

Larson's face remained expressionless. "Kneel down."

Sengoku was furious. "What did you say?!"

Infuriated, he was about to take action when Larson sneered, "I am Don Quixote Shakespeare, a noble Celestial Dragon. You, a filthy navy man, dare to attack me? Do you understand the consequences of such an action?"

Veins protruded on Sengoku's forehead. "You think you can deceive me with a fabricated name? Put down the woman and the box, and I may spare you. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Meanwhile, the surrounding navy had quietly circled around Larson and Marco.

Larson said calmly, "Don't believe my identity? You can check it out!"

Sengoku smirked. "Once I catch you, I can research your identity at my leisure."

Larson sighed. Sure enough, there were no fools in this world. No one believed his words.

But in that case…

Instead, he decided to stop pretending and reveal his cards.

Larson's eyelids drooped slightly, and the corners of his mouth lifted just enough so that his whole demeanor transformed.

The Kaleidoscope Sharingan whirled quietly, and he threw Gion and the box in his hand towards Marco. Marco caught it hurriedly, but was still knocked to the ground by Gion's weight.

Sengoku's eyes widened, and Larson's expression gradually soured.

At this moment, he finally realized Larson's identity, and it all clicked.

"You are Larson!"

Yes, the one who he had encountered with the Whitebeard Pirates before, and then inexplicably chased by them. It all made sense now.

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