"Boom Boom — Hundred-Stone Bomb!"
"Spear Style — Ferocious Tiger Thrust!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Splurt—!
"Cough—hck—pff—!"
Gomray barely lasted five minutes. Exhausted and overpowered, he was first hit head-on by hundreds of exploding stones, and then immediately impaled through the abdomen by Wildman Taro's spear. Clutching his bleeding gut, he stumbled back toward the ship's cabin. Blood poured freely from his mouth and stomach—he was clearly down for the count.
"Heh heh~ Thought he was a tough nut to crack. Turns out he's just another soft-bellied fool."
Bemira chuckled darkly, his eyes drifting toward Spandine.
"Come on out, lapdog of the World Government!"
Spandine was already trembling like a leaf, practically pissing himself as he cowered in hiding. Hearing Bemira's taunt, he didn't even dare to respond—just continued shivering like a frightened animal. Wildman Taro frowned and began striding toward him, spear in hand.
"Ahh! You two—help me! Save me!"
Seeing Taro approach, Spandine frantically called for the two CP9 agents beside him. The agents knew they didn't stand a chance—but thoroughly brainwashed, they gritted their teeth and yelled:
"For the Government—kill!"
"Spear Style — Twin-Stab Bird!"
Splurt—Splurt—!
A single exchange was all it took. The two ordinary CP agents were no match for Wildman Taro, who effortlessly drove his spear through both of their hearts.
"Gaaah—!"
Spandine screamed in terror and dropped to his knees, groveling in sheer panic.
"Please, noble pirate sirs—spare me! Don't kill me, I beg you! I'll agree to anything—anything at all, just don't kill me!"
On his knees, bawling like a child, Spandine looked more pitiful than a stray dog. Even Gomray, writhing in pain nearby, turned his head away in shame.
What a disgrace!
Wildman Taro paused mid-step, clearly stunned. He raised an eyebrow and muttered:
"Oi... this is the kind of agent the World Government sends? Pathetic. Disgusting."
"No, no—Taro, don't get the wrong idea." Bemira said with a sneer. "The real agents are the ones who actually fight. Gutless worms like him? Just bureaucratic dogs, they only know how to grovel. He's textbook Government scum."
"So... should I kill him?"
Taro glanced at Bemira, who nodded without hesitation.
"Go ahead. My target's just the ship's supply of valuable White Lead. With that, I'll have the funds to recruit more followers and finally head for the Grand Line!"
"Don't forget my share." Taro said flatly.
Bemira grinned. "Of course. We're allies, aren't we?"
"Then I'll kill this mutt."
"Do it."
Bemira gave his approval. Taro raised his bloodstained spear again. Spandine trembled like a broken Transponder Snail.
"No—no—please, don't! Help! Somebody help me!"
"Hmph. Die, you filthy mutt—!"
"Tempest Kick: Flying Slash!"
Just as Taro was about to run Spandine through, a sharp Tempest Kick slash wave cut through the air from a distance, knocking his spear off course. Both Taro and Bemira instantly turned alert, eyes scanning the sky.
There, hovering midair on Moonwalk, stood a teenage Marine with a Transponder Snail in hand. The camera was on loan from the 73rd Branch, courtesy of Water Duck. Rosinante had originally just wanted it to snap some photos while sightseeing, he hadn't expected it to come in handy this way.
"Yare yare~ Sorry to interrupt. If you're gonna kill someone, at least let me finish taking the photo first!"
"A Marine?"
Bemira frowned, glaring at the young man stepping through the sky.
Rosinante clicked the shutter one last time, then flashed them both a cheerful grin.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen. As representatives of justice, we formally inform you: you are under arrest. Please don't resist—it would be pointless."
"Under arrest? Just you?" Bemira's face darkened. "Don't make me laugh. Get down here so I can crush you."
With a flick, a stone shot from his sling straight toward Rosinante. Reacting swiftly, Rosinante dodged midair, and the stone exploded in a fiery blast behind him.
"Woah woah... that's a pretty dangerous ability." he muttered, eyebrows raised.
Below, Spandine suddenly found his voice and began screaming again.
"Marine! I'm Spandine, CP9 Division Chief! Save me—!"
"So noisy..." Rosinante muttered, rubbing his ears in irritation.
He stepped off the sky, landing smoothly on the ground as Bemira and Taro sized him up warily. Rosinante simply smiled at them, utterly calm.
"Watch out, Marine! They're strong!" Gomray warned, blood still pouring from his wound.
Rosinante gave him a nod.
"I saw your whole battle just now. They're definitely formidable."
With that, he slowly drew his Grade Blade, Blood Slash.
"Pirates, you can surrender peacefully... or I can get rough. But if I do, I can't guarantee you'll survive."
"Ohhh? Can't guarantee we'll survive?" Bemira scoffed. "Big talk. Even CP agents couldn't handle us. You think you're any different?"
The two pirates exchanged a look, then moved to flank Rosinante from both sides.
He didn't seem the least bit nervous.
Having watched their earlier fight, Rosinante already had a full read on their combat styles. They were decently strong—no doubt about that, but nowhere near the level of a true 70-million-bounty pirate like Quick-Slash Boss Dars. Especially Bemira—his fighting relied entirely on his Devil Fruit, and that made him an easy target for Rosinante's countermeasures.
As Rosinante assessed them, Wildman Taro lunged forward.
"Spear Style—Twin Dragon Thrust!"
"Boom Boom—Hundred-Stone Bomb!"
Taro charged. Bemira followed up by hurling bombs to cut off Rosinante's escape. Rosinante's blade lifted slightly.
"One Sword Style—Vertical Cleave."
CLANG!
With a simple, unflashy swing, Rosinante parried Taro's attack. Don't underestimate a basic cleave—trained tens of thousands of times, it could be just as lethal as any named technique.
"Spear Style—Ferocious Tiger Thrust!"
"One Sword Style—Parry!"
Once again, Rosinante blocked with composed, steady form. After just two exchanges, Taro realized this Marine was no pushover—he was a genuine threat.
"Bemira! I need backup!"
"I'm on it—Boom Boom! Giant Stone Bomb!"
Bemira hurled a massive boulder, the size of a fist, straight at Rosinante. Rosinante vanished with Shave, narrowly dodging the explosion.
His brow furrowed.
This fight needs to end quickly. No dragging things out.
Looks like I'll have to take one of them out first.
He kicked off the air with explosive force.
"Shave—Charge!"
Rosinante shot forward, changing direction mid-sprint and making a beeline straight for Bemira.
Wildman Taro's eyes went wide.
"Bemira—watch out!!"
(End of Chapter)
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