Chapter 23: Roger Kicks Off the Little Lion’s Second Round

"A fleet sighted ahead! It's... the Golden Lion Pirates!"

Roger poked his head out of the captain's cabin with a grin. "Oh? That guy Shiki still has the guts to come looking for us?"

Ritter sprang up like a startled carp and squinted into the distance. Three formidable warships were charging through the waves, their prows flying flags adorned with golden lion heads. On the deck of the lead ship stood three unmistakable figures:

No need to say much about Golden Lion Shiki he's an old acquaintance. Wang Zhi was a towering man with a long blade at his hip and a menacing glint in his eyes.

As for Charlotte Linlin gotta admit, she was actually beautiful when she was young. She held a piece of cake in one hand, cream smeared at the corner of her mouth. As for how she turned out later... best not to comment for now.

"Gyahahaha! Roger! Long time no see!" Shiki's booming laugh echoed over the sea breeze.

Roger stood with his hands on his hips and called back cheerily, "What, didn't get enough of a beating last time? Now you've brought backup?"

A vein popped on Shiki's forehead, but he quickly suppressed his temper, sneering, "Don't get the wrong idea. I came today to bring you... an opportunity!"

"Captain Rocks has his eye on you!" Wang Zhi added coldly. "Join us. Sooner or later, this sea will be ours."

Ritter twitched at the corner of his mouth and muttered under his breath, "Well, well, pyramid scheme boss Rocks is recruiting again. That multi-level marketing stink finally blew its way to our ship…"

Jabba, hefting his axe, scoffed, "The Rocks Pirates? What kind of joke is that?"

Charlotte Linlin licked the cream from her fingers and giggled sweetly, "Mama mama~ Roger, if you join us, I'll bake you cakes every day. We could even..."

She winked at Roger suggestively.

Roger, being Roger, blinked in confusion clearly not catching the implication.

Rayleigh pushed up his glasses and deadpanned, "Captain... they're even trying a honey trap."

Roger burst out laughing, clapping his straw hat. "Kuhahaha! Thanks, but I'm not interested in being anyone's lackey!"

Shiki's smile darkened, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Don't be foolish, Roger. Captain Rocks is a man destined to become the King of the World!"

Ritter raised an eyebrow. Looks like Shiki wasn't exactly a loyal follower either definitely plotting something of his own.

He picked at his ear and loudly quipped, "What was that? King of the world? Has he consulted with Marine Headquarters, the World Government, or, say, our captain?"

Wang Zhi snorted, "Brat, no one asked you!"

Roger's smile didn't falter, but his gaze grew sharper. "Tell Rocks this—"

Ritter added with a sneer, "Quit dreaming. You think you can tame our captain? I spit on that!"

The sea breeze seemed to freeze. Tension crackled between the two sides.

Shiki sneered. "Then you leave me no choice…"

He raised his hand.

"Lion Might: Sea Surge!"

The ocean erupted with a deafening roar. Towering waves surged upward, morphing into roaring lions that lunged toward the Oro Jackson.

Roger drew his sword, a brilliant glow of Conqueror's Haki coiling around the blade as he laughed wildly:

"Boys prepare for battle!"

The wind howled as two figures faced off on the Oro Jackson's deck.

Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, the lenses flashing cold light.

Wang Zhi slowly unsheathed his blade, its edge gleaming like frost. "Dark King Rayleigh… they say your Observation Haki can predict everything."

Rayleigh smiled faintly. "Why don't you find out?"

In an instant, Wang Zhi vanished.

Not just high-speed movement he vanished. No footfalls, no breath, not even a ripple in the air.

"Silent Assassination Art: Shadow Strike."

The blade darted toward Rayleigh's back, utterly noiseless.

But Rayleigh, as if expecting it, didn't even turn. He swung his sword backward.

Clang!

Sparks flew as his blade perfectly intercepted Wang Zhi's attack.

Wang Zhi's eyes narrowed. "You can see me?"

Rayleigh chuckled. "No. I heard you."

"Your heartbeat is far too loud."

Wang Zhi sneered, "Then listen to this!"

He burst forward, moving like a specter. His blade flickered into countless shadows, slashing at Rayleigh from all directions.

"Silent Flow: Thousand Blades!"

Each slash was utterly silent and deadly.

Rayleigh stood calmly, his eyes beneath his glasses sharp and clear.

You didn't actually think Uncle Rayleigh was weak, did you?

Clang! Clang! Clang—!

His rapier deflected every blow with surgical precision. Sparks sprayed like a storm of steel.

The longer the fight went on, the more unnerved Wang Zhi became. "He's... actually reading all my moves?!"

Then, in a brief lull between slashes—

Rayleigh moved.

"Your so-called 'silence'... is just a cover for your impatience. You're no different from a clown."

His blade lashed out like a serpent, stabbing straight for Wang Zhi's wrist.

Shnk!

Blood sprayed. Wang Zhi let out a grunt as his sword flew from his hand.

Rayleigh's sword shifted in a flash, its tip pressed against Wang Zhi's throat.

"It's over."

Wang Zhi gritted his teeth and leapt back onto his ship.

Meanwhile how was our Ritter doing?

Ritter took one look Shiki was Roger's. Wang Zhi had been snagged by Rayleigh. That left Jabba and himself.

Whoever didn't fight would lose face after the battle and that just wouldn't do.

He activated his domain and charged at Charlotte Linlin.

"Mama mama~ Little boy, is dodging all you've got?" Linlin's eyes glinted with danger.

Ritter's figure flickered within the blood-tinged mist, lips curling in a wry smile. "Can't help it. My mist can melt through warships. And I gotta say, your skin is seriously thick."

Linlin threw a massive punch into the center of the fog. The air itself cracked with the impact but all she struck was a fading illusion.

"Ugh! You're like a mosquito!" she growled, stomping the deck with such force the entire ship quaked.

Ritter seized the moment and reappeared from the opposite side.

"Mist God Style: Blood Tide!"

The black-bladed sword burst with blood-red fog, forming countless razor-thin blades.

Clang! The attack landed with a metallic clash Linlin hadn't even looked back. She casually swatted the mist aside with one hand.

"Tch. No weak point at all?" Ritter scowled and vanished into the fog again.

Jabba, hacking through enemy crew on the side, stole a glance at their duel and couldn't help shouting:

"Hey! Ritter! What's with this pathetic performance?! You can't even scratch a woman?!"

Ritter's voice drifted out from the mist. "You try it! She's harder than seastone!"

Jabba yelled back, "Then move over and let me!"

With a leap, Ritter swapped places with Jabba midair.

Jabba wasted no time. He charged forward, both axes spinning in full arcs.

"Wild Axe Style: Mountain Cleaver!"

BOOM—!!

His blades crashed into Linlin's arm, sparks flying from the impact.

Linlin didn't budge an inch. Instead, she laughed with delight. "Not bad! That one almost stung!"

Jabba's hands went numb. He cursed internally, Is this woman made of seastone or what?!

But out loud, he shouted boldly, "That was just the warm-up! Watch closely, kid this is where the real lesson starts!"

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