Several hundred pirates followed closely behind Jack as they charged forward.
The thunderous footsteps shook the ground.
Watching from the side, Ulti’s smile grew even wider.
Not long ago, she had received new orders.
As long as she completed this mission, she would be able to leave the dangerous Beasts Pirates and return to CP0 for reassignment.
With that thought in mind, she leaped forward, caught up to Jack, and said with a smile,
"Lord Jack, there’s no need to be so impatient."
"That brat is still just a newcomer."
"The southern harbor is occupied by dozens of pirate crews and several thousand pirates."
"Facing that many enemies, the pressure on a rookie Admiral should already be overwhelming."
"If you appear in person now, you might scare him into running away."
"And if he escapes..."
"It won’t be easy to find him again."
"Scare him away?"
Jack snorted, his eyes widening.
"Hmph."
"Even if he’s scared out of his wits..."
"He won’t escape from me."
"Anyone who provokes the Beasts Pirates is as good as dead."
He waved his hand.
"Move faster!"
"Don’t let him get away!"
Seeing Jack become even more fired up, as if he’d been injected with adrenaline, Ulti’s smile became increasingly enchanting.
With morale this high, she was certain her plan was already more than halfway to success.
The western and southern harbors were only about ten kilometers apart.
Led by Jack, the group reached the southern harbor in just a few minutes.
As the outline of the Marine warship came into view in the distance, Ulti smiled first.
"Lord Jack, capturing an Admiral will be—"
Her voice abruptly stopped.
The moment they crossed the hill and saw the harbor...
Everyone froze.
Hadn’t they been told that dozens of pirate crews and several thousand pirates had trapped the Marine Admiral through sheer numbers?
So why...
Was the entire harbor now reduced to ruins?
Thousands of pirates lay scattered across the battlefield.
Some motionless.
Some groaning in pain.
At the center of the devastation stood a lone figure.
The sight instantly extinguished the excitement that had filled every pirate moments earlier.
It was like having a bucket of ice water poured over their heads.
Then...
Their eyes landed on the two Den Den Mushi in Lucas’s hands.
A terrible realization dawned on them.
Could it be...
The one who had contacted them earlier hadn’t been the pirates working for them...
But this Marine Admiral?
Were they the ones who had voluntarily walked into the trap?
Looking at the thousands of pirates lying unconscious—or worse—around them...
Even Ulti’s smile stiffened.
"So you’ve finally arrived."
Lucas looked around before fixing his gaze on Jack, whose massive frame resembled a small mountain.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"Finally."
"Someone who’s actually worth some money."
"Unlike those worthless Tobi Roppo."
"But..."
"Could you wait a little longer?"
"I still haven’t confirmed your bonus."
"My bonus?"
The pirates exchanged confused looks.
They had no idea what he was talking about.
But one sentence immediately caught their attention.
’The Tobi Roppo aren’t worth much.’
That was simply too arrogant.
Just as they were about to refute him...
Many noticed Sasaki, another member of the Tobi Roppo, still hanging from the mast of the Marine warship.
Wrapped in bandages like a mummy...
Missing one arm and one leg...
The scene left them with nothing to say.
"What an arrogant rookie."
Ulti spoke coldly.
"The seas have been full of rumors lately."
"They say the Marines’ newest Admiral is obsessively fixated on bonuses and performance rewards."
"It seems those rumors were true."
"Not only did you lure us here..."
"You actually see Lord Jack as nothing more than a bonus."
"You’re courting death."
She sneered before continuing,
"But you’ve underestimated Lord Jack."
"One of the Three All-Stars."
"A pirate with a bounty of 1 billion Berries."
"People say the Marines’ Fourth Admiral possesses countless strange abilities and fights in unpredictable ways."
"I’d like to see..."
"How you’re going to break through Lord Jack’s defense."
"So..."
"Prepare to die beneath Lord Jack’s feet."
Her lengthy speech finally pulled the surrounding pirates out of their daze.
They still didn’t know exactly how thousands of pirates had been defeated.
But they understood one thing.
At this level...
Everything depended on the battle between true monsters.
If this Marine Admiral couldn’t even break Jack’s defense...
Then victory was impossible.
"Brat."
Jack stepped forward, drawing the two massive blades at his waist.
His face darkened.
"You’ve wiped out pirate crews under the Beasts Pirates."
"You killed my subordinate Sheepshead."
"And you crippled Sasaki, the Tobi Roppo personally selected by Lord Kaido."
"If Lord Kaido hears about this..."
"He’s going to be furious."
"And I’ll end up getting yelled at."
"So..."
"Come back with me."
"And accept Lord Kaido’s punishment."
"Go back with you?"
Lucas took another sip of liquor.
He glanced helplessly at the Den Den Mushi in his hand, which was still showing a busy signal.
"I don’t mind going."
"But..."
"Can you let me settle the bonus first?"
"I’m worried..."
"The reward for bringing you in alive might be different from bringing you back dead."
Different bonus tiers?
Jack paused.
His brain might have been built more for muscle than thinking...
But even he immediately understood what Lucas meant.
In the distance, Ain, Smoker, and the others could only smile bitterly.
As Marines, they had often imagined what it would be like to confront one of the Four Emperors.
They had expected a desperate battle where only one side survived.
Never...
A discussion about how much the bonus would pay.
If they hadn’t witnessed it themselves...
No one would have believed it.
Still...
Their opponent was Jack the Drought—
One of the Three All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates.
A pirate worth 1 billion Berries.
Could Lucas really defeat him?
"Brat!"
"You dare look down on me?"
Jack roared.
Gripping both swords tightly, he charged toward Lucas with enormous strides.
Watching the massive figure bear down on him, Lucas let out a helpless sigh.
"Forget it."
"I’ll capture you alive first."
"Then I’ll decide whether you live or die after I learn which bonus pays more."
"If Fleet Admiral Sengoku refuses to honor it afterward..."
"That would make all this effort a complete waste."
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