Chapter 43: I’m Not Done Yet

"Gol... Golden Lion!"

The subordinates of the Celestial Dragon and the CP2 agents were well aware of the weight that name carried. If they had a choice, they would never want to cross paths with that man.

"Golden Lion" Shiki, the user of the Float-Float Fruit, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allowed him to levitate himself or objects, earning him the epithet "The Flying Pirate."

As the captain of the Golden Lion Pirates and the admiral of the Flying Pirate Fleet, Shiki was a legendary pirate who once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Gol D. Roger and "Whitebeard" Edward Newgate. He wielded two legendary swords, "Oto" and "Kogarashi."

Thanks to his ability to fly, he could launch attacks from any direction, making him a force that many factions avoided provoking.

They whispered among themselves, unsure whether they should confront the man standing before them.

"All of you, attack! That Golden Lion is no threat to me!" Roswald Saint, the Celestial Dragon, was furious when he saw his subordinates hesitating. His nose twitched in anger.

He had no idea who the Golden Lion was. All he knew was what his parents had told him since childhood—no one could threaten the Celestial Dragons. If anyone dared, they would be erased from existence.

"Useless... all of you are useless." He didn't expect much from these guards, who were only good for standing watch. They were just filler. The real fighters here were the CP2 agents. These guards were nothing more than cannon fodder.

Roswald's gaze remained fixed on Selena, his eyes filled with greed and desire. The intensity of his stare made Selena uncomfortable, and she instinctively licked her lips.

"Mine... she's all mine!"

Selena's pupils contracted in fear as she trembled and burrowed deeper into Renji's arms.

Renji smirked, unsurprised. The Celestial Dragons, the so-called "World Nobles," wielded unparalleled authority in this world. If they backed down just because of a name, they wouldn't be the Celestial Dragons.

"If you're not afraid of death, then come at me. I don't care who you are."

The CP2 agents and guards slowly closed in on Renji, their eyes gleaming with malice.

"Bang!"

As they drew closer, the CP2 agents launched their attacks almost simultaneously. Their hands, capable of splitting boulders, gathered immense power as they aimed to crush Renji's skull.

The CP2 agents moved with perfect coordination, sealing off all of Renji's escape routes, leaving him with no room to maneuver.

Renji, however, remained unfazed. He shielded Selena in his arms, ready to take the hits head-on.

"Don't worry about me!" Selena's eyes welled up with tears as she screamed, seeing Renji use his body to protect her.

Renji glanced at her, thinking to himself, I can take these hits without a scratch, but you definitely can't.

"Bang!!"

The strikes landed on Renji's body, producing a dull thud that echoed through the auction house. The moment the attacks connected, the confident expressions on the CP2 agents' faces shifted.

The feedback from Renji's body sent a shockwave through their hands, leaving them in pain. To their astonishment, Renji stood tall, completely unharmed.

"This guy's no pushover. Don't hold back!"

From that brief exchange, the CP2 agents realized that Renji's strength far surpassed theirs. However, since he was holding someone, he couldn't actively counterattack in a life-or-death situation.

"Take this!"

A burly, masked man, radiating killing intent, charged at Renji with a thick wooden club. His eyes burned with ferocity, as if he wanted to crush Renji into dust.

Another agent, wielding a longsword, moved with cold precision. His eyes were devoid of emotion, filled only with determination. He joined the club-wielding man in launching a fierce assault on Renji.

Their attacks came swiftly, aimed directly at Renji's vital points, with no intention of holding back.

Meanwhile, a nimble and cunning masked figure, armed with a sharp dagger, moved like a fox. He slipped behind Renji, aiming to deliver a fatal blow from the shadows.

Facing these three deadly attacks, Renji stomped on the ground, propelling himself into the air. He hovered above them, looking down with a calm expression.

The three attackers stared in shock, unable to comprehend how Renji had evaded them so effortlessly.

But their shock didn't last long. It quickly turned into agonized screams.

"Ah! What did you do?!" The CP2 agents dropped their weapons, clutching their severed arms as blood sprayed onto the ground, staining it crimson.

Renji retracted his leg, having delivered a swift kick. "You looked like you were struggling with those weapons. I thought I'd lighten your load."

"How dare you?! We're CP2!" Desperate to stop the bleeding, they clutched their stumps and staggered backward.

Seeing their retreat, Renji's eyes narrowed. He took two quick steps, then launched himself into the air, delivering powerful kicks to their chests.

"Bang!"

Three human-shaped holes appeared in the walls of the auction house, one for each CP2 agent. Their cries grew faint until they disappeared entirely.

The other guards, who had been watching from the sidelines, turned their heads at the sound. Their jaws dropped as they saw the three massive holes in the walls and the severed arms scattered on the floor.

"Now, it's your turn."

Having dealt with the three pests, Renji was in high spirits. His gaze swept over the remaining guards.

A man who could take on three elite CP2 agents single-handedly, rendering them utterly helpless, was not someone ordinary guards could hope to defeat.

Realizing this, the guards regretted their choices deeply. They fell to their knees, begging for mercy. Renji's overwhelming power left them with no will to resist.

"Die, you insolent dog!"

Amid the despair of the kneeling guards, Roswald Saint sneered and pulled the trigger.

"Bang!"

The gunshot echoed through the auction house as flames spat from the barrel. The bullet cut through the air, leaving a beautiful trail. The room fell into dead silence.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the bullet, waiting to see if it would strike Renji.

"A cheap shot?"

In that frozen moment, Renji raised his hand. Time seemed to stand still as the guards watched, their breaths caught in their throats.

With a flick of his fingers, as if plucking a string, Renji effortlessly caught the bullet mid-air. He then casually tossed it to the ground.

"He caught a bullet with his bare hand?!"

The guards' faces were a mix of shock and despair. Their last hope had been shattered. They had pinned their hopes on that bullet, believing it would be the end of the man holding the mermaid. But reality was cruel.

They realized that this man was not only incredibly strong and composed but also possessed a mysterious power far beyond their understanding. Their plans had completely failed.

Renji's expression remained calm. "Is that all?"

"Bring me more. I'm not done yet."

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