[66] : Rear Admiral Mozambia!
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No one on the Grand Line was as audacious as Arthur, catching a bullet between his teeth.
Failure meant instant death—a hole through his throat. No one, not even those sure of their strength, would dare such a feat. Who knew if the bullet was coated in [Armament Haki]? Such a gamble required lightning-fast reflexes, immense bite force, teeth harder than steel, and—unwavering nerve.
Almost all [Observation Haki] users possessed exceptional reflexes. But no one on the Grand Line was faster than Arthur—and perhaps Kizaru.
The pirates in the restaurant were terrified, choking on their drinks. The waiter cowered behind the bar.
Crack!!
Before their eyes, Arthur's teeth closed, snapping the lead ball in half. He spat the pieces onto the floor.
"Your head is worth fifty million, you say? Well, I'll gladly accept it."
Spitting out the taste of gunpowder, Arthur grinned, slowly rising from his seat.
The hulking, thirteen-foot-tall pirate paled, stumbling backward, knocking over tables.
Zzzzzzt!
Lightning crackled and danced in Arthur's hand, forming a shimmering blade. He smiled, slashing downwards.
Shhh!
Blood splattered the ceiling. A head, its eyes wide with terror and disbelief, rolled across the floor.
"If you become a pirate," Arthur said coldly, glancing at the horrified onlookers, "You should be prepared to die. If you can't handle that, go home and drink your milk. Don't disgrace the name of pirate."
Arthur's views differed from Roger's.
He believed the coming Great Pirate Era would attract all sorts of riffraff. Like Shiki, Arthur felt pirates without guts were a disgrace.
"Waiter? Where are you? Come and collect your payment. Fifty million Belly should cover the bill, right?" He turned, looking for the waiter hiding under a table.
A major city on the Grand Line like Carnival City would surely have a Marine base. Turning in a bounty head would yield a reward. Whether it was the full reward was another matter. Even the Marines, representing "Justice," had their share of corruption.
"Coming!" The waiter crawled out from under the table, expertly retrieving the head. He'd clearly done this before.
Arthur nodded, satisfied, turning to leave.
"Pirates inside, drop your weapons and surrender! You're surrounded!"
A familiar voice boomed from outside. Arthur turned. It was Captain Mozambia, now wearing a Rear Admiral's coat. He'd been promoted and transferred to the Grand Line, closer to Marine Headquarters.
"Running into an acquaintance, huh?" Arthur chuckled, pushing open the doors and stepping outside.
Click!
Dozens of Marines aimed their rifles at him, ready to attack.
"Well, well, Captain Mozambia—or should I say, Rear Admiral? Long time no see!" Arthur greeted him casually, as if they were old friends.
Mozambia's plump face froze. "—Seabury D. Arthur!"
He was stunned. This wanted criminal was in Carnival City, under his jurisdiction.
"Prepare for battle!" he roared, drawing his Meito sword, ready for a fight.
"Rear Admiral Mozambia, do you want them all to die?" Arthur asked, narrowing his eyes.
"As a Rear Admiral, even if I know I'm outmatched, I cannot allow a pirate to stand before me. This is the justice I uphold," Mozambia declared resolutely.
Arthur's respect for him grew. A man who stood by his principles, even when outmatched, was admirable.
Like the Ohara scholars, Mozambia earned his respect—but that wouldn't spare him. Showing mercy to an enemy, especially one from an opposing faction, could have dire consequences.
"Attack!" Mozambia roared.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Dozens of Marines opened fire.
"Did you forget my ability after our last encounter? Metal is useless against me! Hahahaha!"
Arthur stood his ground as the bullets froze in mid-air, then shot back at the Marines with increased speed.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The dull thud of bullets hitting flesh echoed as the Marines collapsed.
Mozambia, cold sweat beading on his forehead, slashed at Arthur with a sharp burst of sword energy.
———
Marine Headquarters, Marineford!
"WHAT? Seabury D. Arthur is in Carnival City, attacking the Marine base?" Kong bellowed into the Den Den Mushi.
"This damned Pirate!! Dispatch the nearest Vice Admiral, Saul, to assist! And where's Vice Admiral Garp? Isn't he in the vicinity?"
After a furious rant, Kong slammed the receiver down, tracing Arthur's likely route on a map of the Grand Line: from the City of Wine, Ergo—to Carnival City—to the Gourmet City of Pucci—then to Spring Queen City, the path extending all the way to the Sabaody Archipelago!
Or perhaps he'd take a different route, from Carnival City on the first magnetic route to the intersection of the second and third routes—then to Water 7 on the fourth route, and finally to Sabaody.
Kong couldn't be sure which path Arthur would take, but he was certain Arthur would eventually reach Sabaody, the gateway to the New World.
"We must capture him at Sabaody. We cannot let him enter the New World. The World Government would lose all face!"
———
"Vice Admiral Saul, we've received a distress call from Carnival City—Seabury D. Arthur is on the island. Rear Admiral Mozambia is engaging him!" An officer saluted the giant standing at the bow.
The giant, with orange hair and beard, his massive arms crossed, his face perpetually mournful, was Vice Admiral Jaguar D. Saul!
He was in the area on Kong's orders, investigating the Ohara archaeologists.
"Dereshishishi! Full speed ahead! Support Rear Admiral Mozambia!" Saul's distinctive laughter echoed across the deck.
"Yes, sir!"
———
"Rear Admiral Mozambia, your principles are admirable, but I can't let you go. Stand down, and I'll spare your life," Arthur offered, standing atop a fallen Marine, lightning crackling around him.
"If I abandon my principles, what separates me from a pirate? Justice prevails! Pirates must be eradicated!" Mozambia roared, ignoring his injuries, charging at Arthur.
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