A Major Move at Navy HQ
Just one coordinated volley—thirty Navy warships completely obliterated in a single strike!
Even the canon teams aboard the pirate vessels couldn't believe it.
---
The allied pirate captains—bracing for boarding warfare—stood dumbfounded:
> "Only seven ships… one broadside… and it's over already?"
"What happened to maneuvering closer for hand-to-hand combat?"
It wasn't until the burning hulks of thirty Navy ships were swallowed by the sea that the pirates realized how they had won—through utterly unimaginable means.
---
Amid roaring celebrations that echoed across the open ocean, Whitebeard emerged from the Captain's Quarters and relaxed beside Roya.
His face was calm, but a subtle grin betrayed his elation—it was clear he had enjoyed a smashing victory of his own.
---
Roya grinned:
"Old Man, you're fast on the draw."
Whitebeard beamed with pride:
"I never imagined the World Government's secret techniques were so… simple."
Roya chuckled:
"For someone of your caliber, what the government considers esoteric is just a paper facade—once it's pierced, it's thin as air."
Whitebeard waved dismissively:
"Maybe for you, but for me… convincing myself to lose half a liver isn't easy!"
He clapped Marco on the shoulder:
"What are you standing around for? Prepare the banquet and the booze!"
"If the Vice‑Captain brings us a victory like that, we're celebrating for three days and three nights!"
Marco's heart leapt—Life Return was working wonders.
---
Word of Whitebeard's bodily improvements flashed through the fleet—and the celebrations erupted.
---
Meanwhile, at Navy HQ: Marineford War Room
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's face was a stormcloud. Before him knelt Bastille and Dalmatian, heads bowed to the wood floor.
The cold glare in Sengoku's eyes radiated lethal intent.
Admiral Akainu (Red Dog) hissed impatiently:
"You idiots—get out!"
Bastille slumped, exhaling in relief, then dragged Dalmatian away.
Sengoku instructed, "Suppress all news of this defeat—no leaks!"
He looked to the admirals:
"What of this Vice‑Captain Roya? He apparently developed Observation Haki to its extreme. Any counter-strategies?"
Admiral Tsuru shook her head despondent:
"If what Dalmatian said is true, human countermeasures are useless—we've walked into his predictions."
Akainu's eyes sparkled with excitement:
"Then we'll need an open match—this is going to be fun."
Sengoku glanced at Aokiji and Kizaru, who sat expressionless. Clearly, they'd come merely out of duty.
He dismissed them: "Meeting adjourned."
---
Later that night, in darkness, Sengoku's words echoed:
> "Lucci—take out Whitebeard's new Vice‑Captain, Roya."
"Success, and you'll be pardoned, restored to CP0, given freedom to rebuild it."
---
That same evening, a small, swift launch approached the Moby Dick under cover of night.
A white dove, wearing a tiny black collar, flew onboard. Clutched in its claws was a meter‑long burlap sack.
Amid the pirate revelry, none noticed this odd messenger.
The bird alighted on the deck and released the sack. A leopard-like creature emerged, stretching across the wood... transforming in an instant into a tall, athletic man.
It was Rob Lucci, the former CP‑9 assassin—the most lethal operative in history.
Lucci donned the burlap like plain clothing and rubbed his face, erasing his assassin's aura. To any casual observer, he looked like just another pirate crew member.
He scooped wine from an empty bottle and splashed it over himself, then stumbled forward toward the celebration.
---
Whitebeard and allied captains formed a toast circle around Roya:
"If we can't beat you, we can at least drink with you! Cheers!"
Whitebeard hoisted a barrel and downed round after round.
Roya didn't top Whitebeard in drinking prowess. Instead, he scanned the crowd—and caught Lucci's gaze.
"Rob Lucci?"
Eventing a figure with no distinctive features or killing intent, Roya was surprised—but only because his Observation Domain flashed a detailed new character sheet into his mind:
"Former CP‑9 top assassin… future CP0 director."
He stared, tepidly amused: "Sent here by Sengoku to kill me… they never give anyone a moment's peace, do they? Well then… let's play."
---
Lucci felt the instantaneous lock of their gazes—as if seen through completely. A sweat broke out on his back.
"This… this is advanced Observation Haki!"
"Damn Sengoku… using me as a live probe at once!"
Roya calmly broke eye contact. That brief glance had told him everything he needed—and it set Lucci trembling.
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