The voice wasn’t particularly loud, yet it echoed throughout the plaza. It seemed to carry an almost demonic quality, leaving an indescribable sense of unease that refused to fade.
Wanda, Pedro, and the others’ expressions changed drastically.
Carrot might not have known about those past events.
But they knew all too well what the name Kozuki Oden meant to the two Dukes.
It was their absolute taboo.
"You bastard! How dare you casually speak Lord Oden’s name?! I’ll teach you a lesson!"
Inuarashi’s expression darkened as he roared furiously.
Another figure in the forest could no longer hold himself back either. Like a cannonball, he shot out.
Before Wanda, Pedro, and the others could even process what was happening, the two figures unleashed their full speed and crashed toward Lucas.
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted like a hurricane, sending shockwaves sweeping outward.
Everything within dozens of meters was torn apart.
Amid the swirling dust, the attacks unleashed by Nekomamushi and Inuarashi poured toward Lucas like a raging storm.
Collision after collision rang out across the heavens like divine drums being struck.
However, as time passed, the clouds of dust gradually dispersed.
The Thousand-Armed Kan’on, which had originally been enveloped in golden light, was now completely covered in pitch-black Armament Haki.
Attack after attack crashed against it, yet it remained utterly immovable.
Wanda and Pedro were stunned.
The expressions of Nekomamushi and Inuarashi changed as well.
As the two Dukes of the Mink Tribe, they were confident that their strength was far beyond Carrot’s.
They had assumed that this arrogant man would at least be forced to fight them seriously.
They had never expected to receive exactly the same result as Carrot.
"Hahaha! If I remember correctly, you two are the cat and dog who once sailed aboard Whitebeard’s ship and Roger’s ship. I never expected you to become the kings of a country as well."
Naguri descended from the sky. With his pipe clenched between his teeth, he carefully examined Nekomamushi and Inuarashi before giving a dry laugh.
"Looks like I made the right choice by traveling across the seas and meeting some old acquaintances before I die."
"However, I advise you not to act rashly."
"This kid isn’t some Rear Admiral or Vice Admiral like you assumed. He’s the Marines’ newly appointed Admiral!"
"And if you insist on fighting, your entire Mink Tribe could be wiped out in ten minutes by this ship alone!"
"You!"
Pedro, Wanda, and the other Minks were furious.
However, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi quickly raised their hands and stopped them.
As the gigantic warship descended into the plaza under Fujitora’s control, the imposing figures standing aboard it came into view.
Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, whose animal instincts were exceptionally sharp, both changed expression.
Every single one of these people gave them the sensation of facing a formidable enemy.
Their instincts told them that any one of these individuals would be enough to turn into a fierce battle.
If they truly attacked the Mokomo Dukedom—
Perhaps wiping out the country in ten minutes really wasn’t an exaggeration.
"Who exactly are you people, and why have you come to the Mokomo Dukedom?"
Inuarashi’s expression was grim as he demanded an answer.
Faced with such an overwhelming lineup, he no longer even had the energy to argue with Nekomamushi.
He understood very clearly that if these people truly intended to attack today, even he and Nekomamushi working together would probably have no chance of survival.
"Cat and dog, you really are completely out of touch with the outside world."
Naguri took a deep drag from his pipe.
"If it weren’t for Roger, I wouldn’t even bother wasting my breath on you."
He tossed the newspaper in his hand toward them.
"Twenty-five days ago, Marine Headquarters simultaneously declared war on the Whitebeard Pirates and Kaidō of the Beasts."
"The Marines’ newly appointed Admiral is responsible for recruiting special combat forces from across the seas to serve under him."
"Everyone you see here, except that kid, is a target on his special combat-force list."
"And the two of you should be on that list as well."
Nekomamushi and Inuarashi’s expressions changed drastically.
Those words were like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
They hurriedly unfolded the newspaper, and after reading its contents, their faces filled with disbelief.
"The Marines declared war on two of the Four Emperors at the same time?"
Inuarashi shouted angrily.
"Have they gone insane?!"
"No. Are you insane, Marine?"
Nekomamushi immediately followed.
"Don’t forget that we used to be Whitebeard Pops’ men!"
"You want to recruit us as special combat forces so that we can go to war against Whitebeard Pops?"
"This is the greatest joke in the world!"
"That would violate our oath to Lord Oden!"
"We already failed Lord Oden once in the past. If you intend to force us to raise our weapons against Pops this time, then even if we have to stake the entire Mokomo Dukedom on it, I will uphold that oath!"
"Admiral, don’t doubt our resolve!"
As his words fell, Pedro, Wanda, and the other Minks secretly tensed up.
Since their kings had already made their position clear, all they could do was brace themselves for battle.
Naguri shook his head.
"Your personalities really are just as stubborn as mine was back then."
"Marine kid, I’ll leave the rest to you."
Lucas took a small sip of the liquor in his gourd before lowering his head and glancing at the pocket watch in his hand.
"Five minutes until I get off work."
"I really don’t want to be forced into overtime."
"You’re making things rather difficult for me."
"Marine, let’s make a bet!"
Nekomamushi, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke.
Inuarashi was stunned.
Normally, he would have been the first to argue against such a proposal.
But this time, he surprisingly remained silent and simply stood aside to watch.
Nekomamushi didn’t have time to think about it either and hurriedly continued.
"Let’s make a wager."
"We’ll each get one slash."
"Whoever fails to withstand the other’s attack loses."
"If you win, we’ll agree to your recruitment. How about it?"
One slash each?
Wanda, Pedro, and the other Minks were stunned.
They had never expected Nekomamushi, who was normally a little foolish, to come up with such a bizarre wager.
But then they thought about it.
Tonight was not only the night of the full moon—Nekomamushi had also managed to exploit the situation by proposing a one-slash-each contest.
Two against one!
They had the advantage of time, terrain, and even the circumstances themselves!
For a moment, even a hint of delight flashed through the depths of Inuarashi’s eyes.
However, when Naguri and the others saw this scene, they could only sigh helplessly.
Out in the wider world, even the Celestial Dragons would avoid this newly appointed Admiral if they encountered him.
And now Nekomamushi had proposed this kind of wager.
What an absolute genius.
Lucas couldn’t help laughing when he heard the proposal.
He raised the wine gourd in his hand.
"That’s not a bad idea. It’ll save me quite a bit of trouble."
"However, before we start, let me give you one last warning."
"Otherwise, if you lose your minds and throw your lives away later, it’ll be troublesome."
"You two are indeed targets I’ve selected for my special combat-force roster."
"But you’re only on the list."
"From the very beginning, I never intended to make you fight."
"I came all the way here for one reason—Four-Thousand-Million."
"Just as I said before, the weak don’t even have the qualifications to use hostages as leverage."
"The special combat-force recruitment is merely a way for me to have a legitimate reason to raise my pay!"
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