Chapter 9: The Bloody Butcher

Damn it, how dare they cause trouble in the area under his jurisdiction? It's like digging for trouble right under the nose of the Tai Sui. 

He had just been thinking that it had been a long time since pirates caused any trouble, and now, in the blink of an eye, they've brought him a big one. 

"Lieutenant Commander Renji, slow down a bit... I... I can't keep up with you..." 

Kuzan had been using every ounce of strength to keep up with Renji, but the distance between them was only growing. He had no choice but to call out to him. 

"Kid, have you not been training properly?!" Renji slowed down a bit after hearing this. 

Hearing this, Kuzan's face twisted as if he had eaten a bitter melon and a lemon. He spent every day training, barely even sparing time to sleep or use the bathroom. 

And now, not only was there no praise, but he was also being misunderstood like this. He really had no way to explain himself... 

Seeing Kuzan's expression, Renji realized he had misunderstood, but since he was the higher-ranking officer, apologizing was out of the question. He'd just have to make it up to him later... 

"Let's pick up the pace. I want to get a clear picture of the situation there as soon as possible..." 

Without waiting for Kuzan's agreement, Renji grabbed him and flew into the sky, speeding toward the direction Kuzan had pointed out earlier. 

"Wahhhhhhh!" 

The fact that a grown man could let out such a scream showed just what he was going through... 

From above the clouds, Renji's calm voice rang out: "If you keep screaming, I might just drop you." 

He had now fully mastered the abilities of the Azure Dragon Fruit, able to fully transform into a dragon or a smaller dragon-human hybrid form. 

The Azure Dragon Fruit had enhanced his physical abilities, raising both his upper and lower limits. 

But there were downsides too. Regular training could no longer improve his physique, and like Kaido, he was almost immune to life-threatening dangers. His ability development had hit a bottleneck. 

The ability he was using to fly now was Flame Clouds. Through experimentation, he found that he could use it in any form, though the strength varied depending on the form. 

As his thoughts wandered, they had already reached the skies above St. Andrew Island. 

Renji looked down at the island. 

The people on the island were being evacuated in an orderly manner by the Navy. There was no panic on their faces. 

They knew that the waters around the Sorbet Kingdom were guarded by a very reliable Navy officer. They trusted that this person would protect them all. 

Renji nodded in satisfaction as he watched the Navy soldiers in action. This was what soldiers should be doing. 

They needed to distinguish friend from foe, unite with true allies, and attack the real enemies. Only then would the number of enemies decrease, and the pressure on the Navy would lessen. 

His goal was to build a force truly dedicated to peace, and this force was already taking shape. 

The island could be left safely in the hands of the Navy. 

Renji's gaze shifted to the other side of the island, where three pirate ships were approaching, their crews ready for action. 

On the Bloody Butcher ship. 

A tall, burly man stood at the bow, a crazed smile on his scar-covered face, adding a touch of ferocity to his appearance. 

Henry Evans, an insignificant squad leader under the Rocks Pirates, had chosen to go independent after Rocks' defeat. 

So far, the West Blue was still undergoing a major Navy purge, forcing him to risk crossing the Reverse Mountain to come to the South Blue to wreak havoc. 

"What a beautiful island... Perfect as the starting point for my conquest of the South Blue." 

Henry Evans coldly stared at the small island before him, unable to suppress the grin on his face. 

"Boss, are we really going to attack this island? I feel like there's something off about this area..." 

A nervous crew member anxiously scanned the surroundings, feeling extremely uneasy. 

"Are you telling me what to do?" 

Henry Evans glanced at him indifferently. 

"N-no... I didn't mean it like that... I just..." 

The crew member was terrified by his aura and quickly shook his head. 

Bang!!! 

A gunshot rang out, and a bloody flower bloomed on the crew member's chest. 

Drip, drip... 

Crimson blood gushed from the wound as the crew member's mouth opened in disbelief, the light in his pupils gradually fading. 

"HAHAHAHA!" 

The surrounding crew members burst into laughter, completely unfazed by the death. Newbies were just newbies. How dare they talk to the captain like that? If they wanted to die, they didn't have to be in such a hurry. 

"Even when I was surrounded by the Navy, I never felt a hint of fear. The four seas hold no threat to me." 

Henry Evans gently blew away the smoke from his gun barrel, a smile returning to his face. 

"Throw him into the sea for the fish!" 

Without another glance at his fallen subordinate, he made it clear that his ship would only have one voice—his own. He was the absolute authority. 

This ship had no room for cowards. Such trash would only hold him back. 

He only needed complete obedience and absolute lunatics. He reveled in slaughter. 

This was the only thought in Henry Evans' mind as he scanned his crew. 

Looking at this group of "loyal followers," he nodded in satisfaction. 

"WAHAHAHA! Men! Go wild with the slaughter! The foolish civilians on that island are your reward!!! Do whatever you please!!!" 

Henry Evans drew the long sword at his waist and casually twirled it. 

"Such a prosperous island is rare even in the four seas. This time, we'll rob them blind!" 

"That's right! Under Captain Henry's leadership, we'll get even more treasures!" 

"With Captain Henry's strength, even if the Navy comes, they'll just be here to die!" 

The pirates laughed and joked, their weapons waving unconsciously in their hands. 

Henry Evans smirked confidently. Mere Navy soldiers? He had already killed over 500 of them, and those were from the Grand Line. 

What troubled him now was his lack of fame. After plundering this island and boosting his reputation, he could expand his crew and gradually dominate this sea. 

Thinking this, Henry Evans raised his sword high and swung it downward with a maniacal laugh. 

At his signal, the previously rowdy pirates suddenly became serious. 

The pirate ships had reached the shore, their cannons aimed at the town, ready to fire. 

"Men! Let the carnage begin!!!" Henry Evans roared. 

Hundreds of pirates, armed to the teeth with swords and guns, exuded a fierce, bloodthirsty aura. 

Boom!!! 

With a deafening roar, the cannons on the pirate ships unleashed their payload. 

Henry Evans laughed wildly. 

But before his laughter could fade, something unexpected happened. 

Boom! 

A massive explosion erupted, flames and thick smoke rising into the air before slowly dissipating. 

The sudden turn of events brought the charging pirates to a halt. 

"Damn it! Why did the cannonballs explode mid-air?!" Henry Evans fumed. 

As the smoke cleared, everyone's eyes were drawn to the figure hovering in the sky. 

The man had long, flowing hair, clear eyes accentuated by arched brows, and a coat billowing in the wind. 

The Navy lieutenant commander descended like a thousand blooming trees, the perfect description for his arrival. 

Looking down at the pirates in the distance, the young officer curled his lips into a cold smile. 

"So, it's you mutts causing trouble here..." 

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. 

"Who gave you the courage to come wreak havoc in my territory?!" 

...