Chapter 9: Who Would Reason with Such Arrogance?
The giant catapult device on Ian's ship was a sophisticated weapon custom-made for him. By controlling the launch distance, it could accurately propel him onto a target vessel. Its purpose was to allow him to initiate an assault before his subordinates could even reach the enemy ship. Whether to practice his Fruit abilities and eliminate everyone or selectively leave some alive... the situation would be much easier for Ian to control.
Of course, using "Moon Walk," one of the Navy's Six Powers, would also allow him to easily cross the sea to his destination. But if someone were to witness it before he reached Headquarters, it would be difficult to explain. After all, he had never even been to Headquarters. Where could he have learned the Navy's Six Styles?
After the launch command was given, Ian shot across the sea like a black shadow.
BOOM!
He landed precisely on the pirate ship led by Gladius. The impact of his landing caused the ship to shudder violently on the sea. Everyone aboard quickly steadied themselves and looked toward the source of the commotion.
"What's going on? Is that a person? Did he just fly over from the enemy warship?"
"It looks like a figure... near the rear cabin!"
"How did he get over here? He's so fast! Could he be a Devil Fruit user?"
"Who could withstand an impact like that? Who is that?"
"..."
Gladius frowned, his mind racing. This unconventional boarding method puts me on alert. Perhaps this 'Adjudicator of the Sea' won't be as easy to deal with as I thought. Having spent years in the New World, Gladius had seen too many strange and bizarre abilities. It seemed now that the other party hadn't dared to intercept them so brazenly without having some cards up his sleeve.
As the ship gradually stabilized, the dust kicked up by the impact at the stern was slowly blown away by the sea breeze. Ian brushed the wood splinters off his clothes and walked calmly into everyone's view, his signature, righteous smile plastered on his face.
The pirates scattered across the deck immediately surged forward like a tide, surrounding him in a fan-shaped formation. Ian brushed his disheveled hair aside and waved a hand, joking, "Good afternoon, fellow pirates. I'm Jock Ian. I admire your courage for refusing to stop for inspection after hearing my announcement. It seems you're all prepared to face the consequences. Is there some unspeakable secret hidden on this ship?"
His words put Gladius even more on edge. Was his interception not just a rash impulse? Did he receive specific intelligence? Gladius speculated silently, holding back from immediate action.
The pirates aboard were far more impatient than he was.
Click-clack!
Click-clack!
"..."
Several firearms of different shapes were simultaneously aimed at Ian.
"This damn Marine dares to provoke us? Kill him!"
"No matter what ability he has, if he dares to board our ship alone, he's not leaving alive!"
"The East Blue base commander? Hah! Do you think you can act so arrogantly just because you wear a Marine uniform?"
"Looking for death! Don't waste time talking; just take care of this bastard for Boss Gladius!"
"..."
The arrogant pirates took turns hurling insults at Ian. Gladius didn't step forward to stop them. A cunning glint flashed in his eyes as he calmly observed Ian. A Devil Fruit user? A member of a special race? The Grand Line is full of all kinds of strange people. It's better to let my subordinates make the first move to test his limits while I observe from the sidelines and identify his weaknesses.
BANG!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"..."
The sharp reports of gunfire rang out continuously. The pirate lackeys showed no mercy, aiming at Ian's vitals and pulling the triggers repeatedly. The bullets fired by a few even carried the distinct aura of Armament Haki!
This was the biggest gap in strength between pirates of the New World and those of the Four Blues. A fighter who possessed Haki was several times, even dozens of times, stronger than an ordinary person.
In contrast, Ian remained perfectly calm, not panicking or fleeing. He simply stood there, shifting his feet slightly within a small range. His tall figure continuously executed extraordinary evasive movements within the extremely narrow gaps between the bullets. His movements were so fast that it seemed as if layers of afterimages enveloped his body.
The bullets whizzed past, slamming into the cabin behind Ian.
Missed!
All of them missed!
"This... How is this possible? We didn't hit him?"
"What did he do? Did he even move? Wasn't he just standing there?"
"Those afterimages just now... He was too fast! I couldn't see what he did at all!"
"You actually... you actually dodged all our attacks?!"
The pirate lackeys were utterly shocked. Not just them—even Gladius was taken aback.
Damn it! Is this the strength a normal East Blue Marine should possess? The speed Ian had just displayed was so immense that even Gladius's keen eyes couldn't keep up. Among the powerful young fighters in the New World, few could boast such rapid reaction speed! Without relying on any special ability, he had used a perfect combination of dynamic vision and his own physical speed to evade all attacks from the pirate underlings.
Click-clack!
Click-clack!
Without time to think, firearms were once again aimed at Ian. The crowd had no intention of giving him a chance to catch his breath and prepared to launch another assault.
"Everyone, stop! Fall back!" Gladius shouted immediately. He understood perfectly well that no matter how many times they tried, the result would be the same. They were no match for Ian.
"Conditions met!" Ian declared, his voice cutting through the tension. "Refusing to submit to inspection and attacking a Marine officer. Negotiations have failed. It is now entirely reasonable and legal for me to take action against you!"
Without waiting for Gladius to counterattack, Ian's eyes sharpened. An unparalleled, powerful mental pressure instantly swept across the entire ship like a storm.
The pirates froze in place. The colorful world before their eyes suddenly warped into a dead, monochrome gray. Immediately after, a violent buzzing filled their heads, plunging their consciousness into a swirling vortex.
Thud!
Thud! Thud!
"..."
The pirate lackeys who had been shouting to attack moments ago collapsed one after another, falling heavily onto the deck. Of all the pirates on the ship, only Gladius managed to take two stumbling steps back, barely resisting the powerful spiritual oppression.
Miscalculated...
To think we'd hit a wall like this in the weak East Blue!
"Conqueror's Haki! The same kingly disposition as the Young Master!" Gladius gasped, cold sweat breaking out all over his body, his heart trembling violently. "A Marine Captain from the East Blue? How is that possible? Jock Ian, you bastard..."
From the moment Ian boarded the ship, only a minute had passed. The only pirate left standing capable of fighting was Gladius himself. The mental pressure of that Haki was so brutal and unreasonable!
He had originally planned to test Ian's limits. Instead, Ian had incapacitated all the pirates without even lifting a finger.
Is this guy really just a Branch Captain?!