The square in the inner city, once a land of peace, was now covered in sticky blood underfoot.
Ford's hands were drenched in blood as he surveyed the scene, his throat dry.
He turned to Oli, who was swiftly executing nobles nearby and asked.
"Oli, must we keep killing? Are we still the old Black Hawk Pirates?"
Oli didn't answer immediately.
After snapping the neck of a pleading woman in his grasp, his voice carried reassurance.
"Don't overthink it, Ford. This is all for Captain Boars. Our Black Hawk Pirates need this nation as our supply base—only then can we change the world and save more people in the future."
But Ford remained silent, panting heavily as he stared at the hellish scene before him, sweat beading on his forehead.
He finally said.
"No... no! This isn't why I set sail! Not why we founded the Black Hawk Pirates! Oli, stop this! I'll talk to Captain Boars—we're not the same as before! Can't you see it?! When Boars kicked you, he genuinely wanted you dead! If Captain Boars has changed, why don't we—"
"SHUT UP!"
Veins bulged on Oli's forehead as he shouted those two words—the last sounds Ford would ever hear.
The next moment, Ford felt a sharp pain in his chest.
Instinctively, he looked down to see a black claw tearing through his heart.
The moment he saw that claw, Ford knew who had killed him.
With a smile that was either relief or bitterness, he gazed at Oli, whose eyes were wide with fury, before slowly closing his own.
Boars watched the falling figure, feeling the still-warm blood on his hand, his expression was complex.
As Oli began to roar at him, he spoke softly.
"Oli, calm down. Ford was planning to betray us. The medicine he gave me last night was deliberately stored elsewhere, rendering it ineffective. If the doctor hadn't noticed something was wrong, I would already be dead."
Hearing Boars words, Oli's face twisted in grief.
Cradling Ford's body, feeling the warmth of his blood, tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes.
"Captain, have you ever considered that the doctor might be the liar? Have you ever thought that we—Ford and I—have been with you since the day the Black Hawk Pirates were founded? We are the ones you should trust the most! That doctor? You've known him for less than a few hours!"
"And yet, you'd rather trust someone you've known for mere hours than the brothers who've followed you for decades! How can anyone trust and follow a captain like you?"
Oli's words turned Boars gaze cold.
"Those who say such things often think that way themselves. Am I wrong, Oli?"
Seeing that Boars showed no remorse and instead cast suspicion towards him, Oli's heart sank completely at that moment.
He knew the captain who had once led them with dreams of becoming eagles of the sea, punishing those who deserved death—that captain was truly gone.
A bitter smile touched his lips as he looked at Boars, his voice hoarse.
"Captain Boars, it seems our journey ends here. After Ford and I die, please bury us together."
Boars' expression darkened slightly at Oli's words.
"What are you planning? Only Ford dies today. You won't."
Oli replied calmly.
"I know you better than anyone, Captain. If you could kill Ford today, you could kill me tomorrow. Or perhaps you've already thought of it—only hesitated because killing too many crew members at once, especially your first mate, would sow fear among the crew."
"Don't worry, Captain. Oli, first mate of the Black Hawk Pirates, won't held a grudge against you even in death. But before I die, I wish to do one last thing for you."
As he spoke, Oli turned his gaze toward Jake, his lips curling into an inscrutable bitterness.
"Doctor, do you remember? Ford once said you could take his life at any time. Today you've done it—his life has paid for mine. Now, I owe you nothing! I will kill you and before death comes, I'll clear the final obstacle for the Black Hawk Pirates!"
With that, Oli charged straight at Jake at lightning speed.
His fists began to mutate, pale blue scales slowly emerging on his arms.
In less than a second, Oli had completely transformed into a monstrous creature covered in spikes!
This guy was also a Devil Fruit user!
Watching this scene, Boars face was filled with complexity.
He had already been shaken by Oli's earlier words, but what if this was all part of Oli's elaborate ruse?
He couldn't quite make up his mind, but he knew one thing—if Oli really killed the doctor, his illness might never be cured.
And Oli, being the one who understood Boars the best, had aimed for Monet standing beside Jake from the very beginning.
Seeing this, Boars relaxed, his expression blank as he watched Oli charge towards Monet.
However, at that moment, Jake let out a faint sigh.
A holy radiance descended, forcing Oli back.
Jake removed his mask, revealing his young face beneath the mask, then turned to Boars.
"You have a fine crew, but that's all there is to it. Oh, and Oli, i forgot to mention something—before we arrived, the purge within the Black Hawk Pirates was already complete. You and Ford are the last targets."
As Jake revealed his true face, Boars eyes turned bloodshot, veins instantly flooding the whites of his eyes.
He roared, his muscles swelling violently.
"Damn bastard! I'll kill you!"
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