He really is Admiral Glutton Lucas... the Fourth Admiral!
The portrait from the newspaper’s front page flashed through Yuri’s mind with increasing clarity.
When he saw the calm face beneath those unmistakable gold-rimmed glasses perfectly match the image in his memory—
His blood instantly ran cold.
"Retreat!"
Yuri shouted at the top of his lungs.
But the moment the words left his mouth—
An invisible breeze swept silently across the battlefield.
The hundred pirates charging toward Lucas suddenly stopped three to five meters in front of him.
It was as if they had all been struck by a paralysis spell.
The bizarre sight froze the remaining pirates in place.
Only a second ago, they had been overflowing with murderous intent.
Now...
It was as though someone had extinguished that fighting spirit in an instant.
"Locke, why’d you stop moving? This isn’t the time to joke around!"
One pirate finally lost his patience and shoved the rigid man standing in front of him.
The next moment—
Everyone’s pupils contracted violently.
Scarlet jets of blood erupted from the bodies of more than a hundred pirates.
Bloody slash marks spread across their bodies like crimson fireworks blooming in the air.
As hot blood splattered across the dock—
The pirates screamed.
Their bodies were torn apart as if struck by countless invisible blades.
In an instant—
Severed limbs and mangled corpses rained onto the ground.
Over a hundred pirates collapsed into pools of blood.
The sea breeze swept across the dock, carrying the thick scent of blood with it.
Everyone stared at the lone figure standing amidst the mountain of corpses as though they had seen a ghost.
They had expected the Fourth Admiral to make a move.
What they had never imagined...
Was that Lucas merely needed to raise one hand.
And over a hundred pirates were annihilated.
There were certainly powerful people on the seas capable of wiping out a hundred pirates.
But to kill them so cleanly...
Without any of them even realizing how they had died...
That was utterly terrifying.
For a long moment—
The entire harbor fell silent.
Even Gion and Chaton aboard the warship couldn’t hide the change in their expressions.
They had already witnessed Lucas’s abilities before.
But only on an actual battlefield did they truly understand how horrifying they were.
Standing still...
And instantly slaughtering over a hundred enemies.
For his opponents...
It wasn’t merely physical destruction.
It inspired absolute terror.
"Admiral Lucas..."
Gion landed beside him and couldn’t help asking,
"Can we really get any intelligence from these people?"
As an experienced Marine officer, she had already surveyed the harbor.
Aside from the pirate captain, Great Axe Yuri, who carried a bounty of 89 million Berries...
The others were insignificant.
Finding Whitebeard through people like them seemed almost impossible.
"Vice Admiral Gion, don’t worry."
Lucas took another sip of strong liquor and smiled.
"I originally thought I’d have to visit several places before finding any useful clues."
"I didn’t expect such a pleasant surprise here."
"Looks like a new workweek really does bring new opportunities."
His gaze slowly swept across the harbor.
"I don’t think I need to waste any more words explaining myself."
"Those of you hiding in the shadows..."
"You’ve watched the show long enough."
"Why don’t you come out?"
Someone was hiding?
Gion and Chaton’s expressions changed.
They immediately spread their Observation Haki.
Everything that had happened moments earlier had completely caught them off guard.
Only now, prompted by Lucas’s words, did they discover dozens of presences concealed behind the rocky cliffs.
Could these hidden people...
Be Lucas’s real lead to Whitebeard?
"Heh..."
A chuckle echoed from behind the rocks.
"I didn’t expect to run into the Marine whose name has been making waves across the seas lately..."
"The Fourth Admiral..."
"Admiral Glutton Lucas."
A burly man over two meters tall stepped out from behind the rocks.
Black horns protruded from his head.
Around his waist was a belt engraved with the emblem of the Beasts Pirates.
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
"That’s..."
Gion’s expression changed.
"Who’s-Who’s subordinate, Sheepshead—the Beasts Pirates officer with a bounty of 180 million Berries."
"What is he doing here?"
This was Whitebeard’s territory.
Although the Four Emperors rarely engaged in all-out war...
Conflicts between their crews were common.
If the Whitebeard Pirates discovered the Beasts Pirates had infiltrated their territory...
A bloody clash would be inevitable.
Which made Sheepshead’s appearance here all the more suspicious.
"Lord Sheepshead!"
Yuri hurried over.
"Thank goodness you’re here!"
"This Fourth Admiral said he wanted to find you."
"We only tried to stop him for a moment..."
"And all our men were slaughtered."
The horrifying scene from moments ago had completely broken Yuri’s courage.
Now that Sheepshead had appeared under the banner of the Beasts Pirates...
He felt as though he had grabbed onto a lifeline.
After all...
To pirates like them...
The name of a Four Emperor was the strongest shield imaginable.
Ordinarily...
Even Marine Headquarters exercised restraint when confronting a Yonko crew directly.
"Yuri."
Sheepshead grinned arrogantly as he strode forward.
"I imagine the Admiral simply didn’t know you were working under me."
"That’s why he acted so recklessly."
As one of the Beasts Pirates...
And one of Jack the Drought’s trusted subordinates...
Sheepshead had inherited Jack’s arrogance.
More importantly...
He knew exactly who stood behind him.
Kaido.
The strongest creature in the world—
The captain reckless enough to attack Marine Headquarters alone.
Because of that confidence...
Even after learning Lucas’s identity...
He still dared to stand there wearing a smug grin.
Looking at the unusually young Fourth Admiral before him, Sheepshead’s smile widened.
"So..."
"You’re the Marines’ newly appointed Fourth Admiral..."
"Admiral Glutton Lucas."
"You’ve come here to investigate Whitebeard and Red-Haired Shanks’ meeting, haven’t you?"
"The Beasts Pirates and the Marines have always stayed out of each other’s business."
"I suggest you leave."
"You Marines don’t want the Beasts Pirates setting their sights on you."
"If Boss Kaido hears about this..."
"Marine Headquarters will regret it."
"You bastard!"
Helmeppo shouted angrily.
"How dare you speak to Admiral Lucas like that!"
Within Marine Headquarters...
An Admiral represented the Marines’ highest military power.
They were also the pride and symbol of the entire organization.
Yet now...
A mere pirate officer worth 180 million Berries dared to show such blatant disrespect.
It was outrageous.
The surrounding Marines also darkened their expressions.
Even Gion and Chaton frowned slightly.
However...
Instead of responding to Sheepshead’s provocation, Gion raised a hand to stop Helmeppo.
"Don’t be reckless."
"He’s one of the Four Emperors’ men."
"They require... special treatment."
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