Bang!
A massive liquor barrel shattered across the deck.
As alcohol splashed everywhere, a towering figure strode out from the cabin with heavy footsteps.
His bloodshot eyes, as large as a bull’s, radiated overwhelming brutality.
Looking at the trembling pirates around him, Jack slammed a massive hand onto the ship’s railing.
Boom!
The enormous pirate ship shook violently, as if struck by an earthquake.
The pirates on deck were thrown off their feet.
"Damn it! This is outrageous!"
"How much longer am I supposed to wait? Those damned Marines have our Beast Pirates member tied up on a mast! That’s a disgrace to our crew!"
Jack roared furiously.
"If my two big brothers find out about this, how am I supposed to earn their trust and handle things for them in the future?"
"Ulti! How much longer are you going to keep me waiting? Do you not care about your Flying Six position anymore?"
His furious bellow echoed throughout the deck.
The fallen pirates immediately fell silent and nervously turned toward the white-haired woman standing nearby.
Despite the sweltering heat, the woman known as Ulti wore a fox-fur coat.
Beneath her fair complexion, every movement exuded mature charm.
Her high-slit dress only made her even more captivating.
Although Ulti couldn’t compare with Boa Hancock, she possessed the allure of a seasoned courtesan, enough to stir the hearts of countless pirates.
Feeling everyone’s gaze upon her, Ulti smiled seductively and snapped her folding fan shut.
"Lord Jack, there’s no need to be impatient."
"Since Sasaki was tied to that mast, it’s because he overestimated himself. He was the weakest among the Flying Six, yet still wanted to steal your glory."
"A mere rookie Marine Admiral doesn’t require your personal intervention."
"I alone am more than enough."
"You?"
Jack snorted.
"Hmph. I know exactly what the Flying Six are capable of."
"It doesn’t matter that Sasaki lost."
"In the Beast Pirates, the weak deserve to die. That’s an unchanging rule."
"But instead of dying, he survived and became a stain on the Beast Pirates’ reputation, bringing shame to my two big brothers."
"If I let you go and you end up becoming another disgrace..."
"How will they ever trust me again?"
"You’ve been the one stopping me from making a move."
"If you can’t give me a satisfactory explanation..."
"Don’t blame me if I kill you first."
Boom!
An overwhelming killing intent erupted from Jack.
Known throughout the seas as Jack the Drought, every place he passed was reduced to scorched wasteland.
As one of the Beast Pirates’ three All-Stars and a pirate with a bounty exceeding one billion Berries, Jack himself represented the crew’s prestige.
Ulti’s face immediately turned pale.
As one of the Flying Six, she knew better than anyone that Jack wasn’t bluffing.
If she couldn’t justify herself...
He would kill her without hesitation.
Fortunately, she had already prepared for this.
With another enchanting smile, she quickly took out a Visual Den Den Mushi and activated it.
"Lord Jack, I purchased this recording from Big News Morgans."
"It contains every battle fought by the newly appointed Marine Admiral, Admiral Glutton Lucas, over the past few days."
"As the saying goes, know your enemy and know yourself, and you’ll never lose."
"As long as we understand how this Admiral fights, victory will be within your grasp."
"After repeatedly reviewing the footage last night, I noticed something."
"This Admiral fights far too arrogantly."
"He appears to possess a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, similar to Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"He can unleash devastating finishing moves with incredible explosive force."
"But..."
She smiled even more alluringly.
"Those attacks may be deadly against ordinary opponents."
"But against Lord Jack—whose Ancient Zoan is renowned for its incredible durability—they’re nothing more than a light drizzle."
"As long as you withstand all of his attacks..."
"This Marine Admiral will eventually fall into complete despair once he exhausts himself."
Jack’s eyes lit up.
Watching the battle footage play rapidly across the Visual Den Den Mushi, he finally crushed it in his hand.
Crack!
"Good!"
"Very good!"
"Ulti, you’ve done well."
"A mere rookie Marine Admiral actually dares challenge the dignity of the Beast Pirates."
"I already know how to beat him."
"I understand his fighting style completely."
"Now let’s see how he survives the wrath of the Beasts Pirates!"
"Helmsman! Turn the ship around!"
"We’re going after that new Marine Admiral immediately!"
"Before my big brothers hear about Sasaki, I’ll crush every bone in that brat’s body—one inch at a time!"
"Yes, sir!"
As the orders rang out, the gigantic mammoth-shaped pirate ship accelerated, pulled swiftly out of the Calm Belt by two enormous Sea Kings.
Standing on the deck, Ulti looked at the shattered remains of the Den Den Mushi.
The smile on her face only grew more seductive.
Her gaze eventually settled on a newspaper hanging nearby, its front page featuring Lucas.
Chuckling softly, she muttered to herself,
"So, you’re the new Marine Admiral..."
"You refused to give CP0 any face."
"Then it’s time you learned just how cruel these seas can be."
"In a world where only the strong survive..."
"Brute strength alone can never triumph over intelligence."
"I really want to see the day when a mighty Marine Admiral kneels beneath my skirt like a beaten stray dog..."
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters...
Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and the others stared at the intelligence report on the table, their expressions darkening.
Standing nearby were two members of CP0.
Seeing the grim looks on everyone’s faces, they couldn’t conceal their schadenfreude.
"Heh... Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"Our apologies."
"This information may be unfortunate for Marine Headquarters, but the Five Elders instructed us to deliver it personally."
"If Marine Headquarters fails to stop Zephyr from defecting..."
"The matter will be handed over to CP0."
The speaker was Spandine.
Bandages still covered much of his body, and every movement sent waves of piercing pain through him.
Remembering what had happened a week earlier nearly made him grind his teeth to dust.
Had he not soaked in the Science Division’s specialized medical treatment...
He wouldn’t have been able to carry out this assignment personally.
He would still be bedridden, incapable of moving.
Recalling how Sengoku and the others had humiliated him seven days ago...
Watching their gloomy expressions now filled Spandine with immense satisfaction.
If possible...
He wanted even more to see the expression on that arrogant Marine Admiral’s face.
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