C22

"Gentlemen, perhaps we can come to some sort of understanding," the leader said, trying to remain gentlemanly even as he pleaded.

"Now you want to talk things out? Funny how that didn't cross your mind earlier," Weiss said coldly. The sword in his hand hadn't stopped swinging since he boarded the ship—behind him lay a full deck of corpses.

On Ace's side, the bodies had mostly been turned to charcoal by flames. Oddly enough, that made the scene feel less gruesome.

"Allow me to introduce myself—my name is Charles Panama. I believe there may be a misunderstanding between us," Panama said, signaling his men to fall back.

His subordinates, who were already barely holding on, scattered the moment they heard the order. They stared at Weiss in terror—or rather, fixated on him specifically.

That man, who had killed so many without getting a single drop of blood on him, without blinking once, looked like a reaper risen from hell.

"What your name is doesn't concern me. This situation no longer seems to be one where you get to make decisions," Weiss said, planting his sword into the deck and resting both hands on the hilt. With corpses at his feet and a man wreathed in flames beside him, an overwhelming pressure radiated across the entire ship.

Panama wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief, cursing inwardly. Damn it! When did people from the East Blue start returning to the Grand Line? Why didn't I hear anything about this? And why did I have to be the one to run into them?

He never once believed the two before him were locals from East Blue. People who could use both Armament and Observation Haki were already considered elite fighters in the first half of the Grand Line—there's no way such talents would remain in some remote sea like East Blue.

"I'm a direct subordinate of Saint Camilla of Mary Geoise. I'm here on a special mission. I hope you can show some respect."

…

Panama began reciting his background in full, then stared unblinkingly at Weiss. Most people, upon hearing "Celestial Dragon," would have backed off immediately. But the young man in front of him didn't even flinch.

"A special mission? What kind?" Weiss's heart sank. When it came to "special missions" from Celestial Dragons, his first thought was slave trafficking.

It didn't take three whole ships to haul back some tribute gold.

"Oh, just some talent placement—helping people find careers," Panama said with a smile. "It's for the benefit of the residents of Valan Island. After all, the island doesn't belong to any nation or pirate crew, and it's tough to survive on their own."

"So, the great Saint Camilla instructed me to help these people find proper work. In a sense, it's an act of mercy from the Celestial Dragons."

"No one can refuse their generosity."

Panama assumed that invoking the name of the Celestial Dragons would be enough to frighten Weiss into compliance, so he kept talking—failing to notice Weiss's growing scowl.

Career placement?

What a fancy way to dress up human trafficking. Everyone knew this operation was nothing more than slave trading. Their name stank across the world, but because they had the Celestial Dragons backing them, most people didn't dare speak out.

"So what you're saying is, you're planning to take away the residents of Valan Island?"

"Yes," Panama replied.

Weiss now fully understood: the people of Valan Island had been tricked. Publicly, it was presented as tribute to the Celestial Dragons in exchange for protection, allowing them to live in peace for generations. But behind the scenes, Panama had prepared three ships to round them up like cattle.

And because the island was so obscure, no one would ever know it had vanished. Even if someone did notice, they'd probably chalk it up to a giant Sea King attack in the Calm Belt.

They wouldn't even have to waste time searching for valuables—the victims had already gathered them up in advance.

It was a cruelly efficient scheme.

Weiss had originally intended to stay out of it, but slave traders? They had to die.

Besides, he suspected the Celestial Dragons didn't even know about this operation. After all, once an island paid the Celestial Tribute, it became registered under Mary Geoise. That was their main source of wealth—they wouldn't kill the golden goose.

Whether they knew or not, none of these three ships would leave alive.

"When did human trafficking become something you could brag about so openly?" Weiss said coldly.

Panama's expression changed. He realized this confrontation wasn't going to end peacefully. He shouted, "All units, attack! No mercy!"

Then he quietly took a step back, slipping behind his men.

But how could Weiss possibly give him that chance?

With a flash, he vanished from the deck using "Soru/Shave," reappearing with his sword almost pressed against Panama's neck.

Meanwhile, Ace was casually dealing with the small fry. These guys didn't even have Armament Haki—they were sitting ducks.

Panama felt the cold edge at his throat and panicked, tumbling backward in a desperate roll to avoid the strike meant to sever his head.

Weiss had held back on purpose. Otherwise, Panama wouldn't have dodged it.

Some people didn't deserve a quick death.

As Panama rolled away on the deck, a black-clad guard rushed in, leaping to slash at Weiss—only to be instantly cut down in a single stroke.

The others froze in fear.

Someone hiding beneath a mast launched a cannon shell at Weiss. Panama didn't even look back—he bolted. He knew well: such a man wouldn't be hurt by numbers or firepower. Only those with equal strength could even talk to him.

Still, this might buy him enough time to escape.

At the bottom of the ship was a submarine—his last resort, one he'd spent 80% of his fortune to acquire. His only chance of survival.

Weiss casually flicked out two sword slashes—one intercepted the cannonball midair, and the other streaked toward Panama.

BOOM!

"Aaaagh!"

The explosion rang out. Everyone on the ship turned toward the source of the scream.

There was Panama, sprawled on the deck in agony, one leg completely severed, blood gushing like a fountain.

Weiss, like a grim reaper, continued cutting down every black-clad soldier who dared approach. Eventually, the rest lost their nerve. Knowing they couldn't even block a single strike, they chose not to try. Their boss was as good as dead anyway.

The smarter ones jumped overboard, swimming toward the other two ships. No one dared swim toward the shore.

"Don't kill me! I'm rich! My cabin is full of money—Berries, gold, even treasure maps! It's all yours if you let me live!" Panama pleaded.

Weiss pointed his sword at him. "Fool. If I kill you, everything you own becomes mine anyway. Why would I let you live?"

"I—I can introduce you to Saint Camilla! With your strength, she'll definitely value you. You could rise higher than me!" Desperation took over Panama's mind as he scrambled for anything that might buy his life.

"You're begging me?"

"Yes! Yes, I'm begging you!" At this point, he'd call Weiss "Daddy" if it meant staying alive.

"You're begging, but you can't even bother to say 'Sir.'"

"…Forget it. Answer two questions for me, and I'll let you live." Weiss crouched down, smiling.

"Anything, Sir."

"First question: Was this whole operation your own idea?"

Weiss activated his Observation Haki at full force.

Panama gritted his teeth. "No—it was Saint Camilla's direct order!"

He clung tightly to this lie. As long as he could blame it on the Celestial Dragons, he might still survive.

"Alright. Next question: What's one plus one?"

Panama hesitated. A man like Weiss wouldn't ask such a pointless question—there had to be some hidden meaning.

"Is… is that a trick question?"

"No, not at all. Just answer."

"…Two?"

As soon as he said it, Panama lost consciousness.

In the final moment of his life, he seemed to hear one last phrase:

"You know too much."

---

Currently at chapter 135 on Ko-Fi

https:// ko-fi.com/sami27