On this day, the messenger birds in the sky of West Blue were exceptionally busy.
Black Market Organization 'Coral' Leader Victor Easily Defeats 'Charcoal Eyebrows' Umridge in Kano Country Port!
The Past and Present of 'Coral'! Our Reporter Takes You Deep into the History of 'Coral's' Former Leaders!
Shocking! The Cold and Brutal Gang Leader Has Such a Background!
...
CRACK!
A stack of newspapers was slammed onto the table. Navy Captain Krone's mood at the moment was like eating spoiled pastries mixed with strange-flavored beans—a mix of emotions.
Was this Victor guy really going to embody "silent until he speaks, then he speaks with thunder"? 'Coral' was rapidly expanding under his leadership, growing into a force that couldn't be underestimated. Although his strength was lacking, Krone's discernment was certainly not. The quicker a battle ended, the greater the power gap between the combatants.
The fact that Victor had swiftly eliminated Talma Piping and Shahm Suleiman could be attributed to his long-accumulated strength. But this time, his battle with 'Charcoal Eyebrows' Umridge ended in just a few minutes. Was this guy implying that no one in West Blue could stop him now?
No, not necessarily. 'Charcoal Eyebrows' had been directly driven out of Solenard Island by that man and had no choice but to seek refuge in the Land of Flowers. If it were him, perhaps he could curb Victor's development.
Poor Captain Krone still didn't know what Victor had gained in the Land of Flowers. If he did, he would surely regret not having done everything in his power to prevent Victor from going there.
Off the coast of the Land of Flowers, on the merchant ship 'Croissant,' in the VIP cabin.
Outside the room, executive Kuranthna guarded the door, while inside, Victor was in a secret meeting with Mai Hime.
"So that's how it is. Has Wano Country fallen to such a state?" Victor sighed. He hadn't expected Wano Country to be so ravaged by Black Maria and Kaido ten years before the original storyline.
After the battle with Charcoal Eyebrows and Victor's subsequent explanation, Mai Hime understood that this handsome young man only had some knowledge of Wano Country and was not the assassin sent by Black Maria she had initially thought. Naturally, she told Victor everything without reservation.
"Precisely. This humble one secretly came to West Blue this time for a treasure from Wano Country." Mai Hime did not conceal anything, pulling out the short sword from her sleeve and presenting it to Victor with both hands. "This is a replica of the treasure. Please take a look, benefactor."
Victor took the short sword and examined it carefully. It was an ornately decorated short sword with a straight blade, only slightly curved. The handle was wrapped in red with a carp pattern.
"This is a replica of one of our country's legendary swords, one of the 21 Great Grade Swords - Mumei no sho." Mai Hime said with a solemn expression. "Thirteen years ago, our country suffered a shocking theft case that astonished the entire nation. Not only were famous swords like Mumei no sho stolen, but also the remains of our country's legendary swordsman Ryuma and his beloved sword.
Half a year ago, I learned of Mumei no sho's appearance in West Blue, so I set off for West Blue. Unfortunately, I was injured by Black Maria's subordinates when leaving the country and pursued all the way, so my injuries never healed. The fortunate part is that I managed to shake off the pursuers in the Land of Flowers."
Victor returned the short sword to Mai Hime, leaned back against the sofa, and after a moment of contemplation, said, "I know where what you're looking for is, and we have the same goal."
"You know the whereabouts of Mumei no sho? Is that... is that true?" Mai Hime excitedly grabbed Victor's hand.
"So... are you interested in temporarily joining my team?" Victor smiled gently. "We can definitely become great partners, Miss Mai."
Mai Hime looked at Victor's handsome face, which seemed to radiate light, and her face flushed slightly. "If it's temporary... then please take care of me, benefactor."
"Don't keep calling me 'benefactor,' just call me 'Victor'." Victor's smile became even brighter.
Mai Hime's face also flushed even more, reflected by the "handsome radiation" Victor was emitting at full power. "Th-Then you can call me 'Hime' too."
A large part of the reason Victor thought so highly of Mai Hime was because his special Observation Haki, 'Revelation,' had given him information the moment he first made contact with her: a swift swordswoman, severely injured.
A swordswoman, for a swordsman, is a chasm. Some say that a swordsman who can unleash flying slashes can be called a swordswoman, but Victor believes that only when mind, technique, and body are united can one become a swordswoman. The fact that this woman before him could become a swordswoman as a woman showed her extraordinary talent.
Later, by deliberately revealing Mai Hime's origin in the alley, which led to her attacking him under a misunderstanding, Victor finally confirmed that this woman was indeed a genuine swordswoman. After all, not just any swordsman could, while severely wounded in the left leg and right shoulder, hastily use an ordinary short sword and almost open a ventilation hole in his neck, even with his Observation Haki fully active.
For now, the ship's doctor would carefully treat Mai Hime's injuries, and upon returning to Algaro Town, Dr. Rulta would provide further medical treatment.
Suddenly, Victor revealed a slight cold smile. He left Mai Hime to rest in the VIP room, and before leaving, instructed Kuranthna to continue guarding the door until he returned. Then he went straight to the captain's cabin on the top floor of the merchant ship.
The captain's cabin door was locked, but Victor was tired of pretending. He kicked the door open, only to find the room empty.
Victor's cold smile became clearer. A cold light flashed in his hand, and a long sword suddenly shot out from a zipper in his palm! Victor lightly squeezed the hilt and instantly cut an elegant semicircle in the center of the empty room. Then, a crisp metallic clang echoed!
"...A mere warrior, how did you discover me?" A figure slowly materialized from nothing, appearing in color. It was a man with wild, black hair that flared like flames. His right hand, holding a wakizashi in a reverse grip, steadily blocked Victor's slash. His left hand formed the 'Child's Seal,' and he held a scroll in his mouth, clad in black ninja attire.
"Ho ho? That wakizashi in your hand isn't ordinary either." Victor's long sword slowly pressed down as he lazily replied, avoiding the question. "Let me see... A Grade Sword of Fifty Quality - Nogamigiri?"
The black-clad ninja sharply parried the long sword and leaped backward, simultaneously waving his left arm! At the same moment, Victor lightly flicked the long sword in his hand a few times, and with several crisp clangs, several specialized shurikens, painted with a matte black dye, clattered onto the floor.
"Good moves, good eye." The ninja performed several backflips to the captain's cabin window, holding 'nogamigiri' in a reverse grip and striking a pose, praising in a low voice, "Even with Kaido-sama, you could become a Pillar... Hand over Mai Hime, and you can leave on your own. I will not trouble you."
Victor rested the long sword on his shoulder, a cold smile appearing on his usually gentle and handsome face. "I prefer to be polite first, then resort to force. Now I'll give you a chance too. Get off the ship immediately. What happens after, whether you drown or feed the sharks, is none of my business.
Otherwise, you can be the test subject for this new Grade Sword of Fifty Quality 'Seimasun Hime' I just acquired, ninja of the Orochi Oniwabanshu."
"...Since you know my identity and still dare to resist with a sword, then you are ready to die, aren't you?" The black-clad ninja's eyes became incredibly sharp.
"A person only has one fate in life. Your fate was decided long ago, Mr. Ninja." Victor said impatiently, "The threat-making part ends here. The dead have no words..."
"...Defeated, then silent!"
Two flashes of light instantly intersected!
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