Adrian still had no idea—
That ever since Xiao Dangjia took over the ship's kitchen,
just one meal was enough to completely conquer Hachi, Usopp, and Zoro—
all of whom were locked in the cabin.
…
Time slipped by quickly.
During these days, Adrian's crew kept their ship anchored at Shells Town, waiting for Luffy to arrive.
But—
Two whole days passed.
Still no sign of Luffy.
Instead—
The Marines arrived.
"A Marine warship, huh?"
Zabuza stood at the railing, staring at the approaching vessel.
"These Marines don't look like they're here to make friends."
Grimmjow and the others turned and gave him a synchronized blank stare.
"Thank you for your wisdom, Captain Obvious."
They were bandits.
They'd attacked Marines.
A Marine warship coming straight for them wasn't here to deliver care packages.
"Hopefully someone strong shows up."
Grimmjow grinned.
"If they're too weak, it won't be fun."
His last "battle" at the 153rd Branch was too boring—
those ants didn't even warm him up.
"In the East Blue? Forget it."
Lucci folded his arms.
"This sea barely has any real Marine power. Unless Garp returns home, no one here is strong."
He raised the telescope.
Saw the warship's prow—
not a dog's head.
"Not Garp. Good. In that case, whoever shows up… we can handle."
Adrian also looked through his telescope.
"Oh, it's him. Smoker. Marine Headquarters' Colonel, stationed in Loguetown.
User of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, a Logia type."
He chuckled.
"But as long as you have Armament Haki—or better yet, seastone cuffs—
he's not that big a threat."
Adrian was no longer the clueless rookie who first arrived in this world.
A Logia user like Smoker?
Just a guy with some strength.
Nothing more.
Still, seeing Smoker gave him… ideas.
"You guys deal with him."
Adrian ordered calmly.
"But try to keep as many Marines alive as possible.
Especially that Smoker guy—I want him alive.
Anyone who refuses to surrender… kill them."
Grimmjow and the others answered like loyal hounds:
"Understood, boss!"
"This will be done!"
They didn't take Smoker seriously at all.
Serving Adrian was their honor.
…
On Smoker's warship
"R-report!!!"
The lookout shouted.
"Speak," Smoker said, exhaling a stream of white smoke.
"The enemy ship—those pirates—some of them are moving! Two of them are… flying toward us?! And another one is—
RUNNING on the ocean?!"
The lookout's voice cracked.
He was genuinely stunned.
This was beyond strange—this was illegal.
Flying? Sure.
Smoker could fly when he turned into smoke.
But someone sprinting across the surface of the sea…?!
Even for the Grand Line, that was absurd.
For the East Blue? Impossible.
"Oh… I see them."
Smoker muttered.
Up in the sky—
one man was leaping through the air.
Another moved so fast he blurred between points in midair.
As for the one on the sea—
A man running on water.
Smoker narrowed his eyes.
Must be a Devil Fruit ability… probably something unusual.
If Kuzan (Aokiji) could freeze the ocean and ride a bicycle over it, then someone running on water, while bizarre, wasn't completely unimaginable.
…
Back on Adrian's ship
Grimmjow, Lucci, and Zabuza launched out instantly.
Only one person remained onboard—
Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Grimmjow could walk and dash through the air because he was an Arrancar.
Lucci had Moonwalk (Geppo).
Zabuza used chakra to walk and run on water.
But Yoriichi…
"…"
Yoriichi stood awkwardly on deck.
He lacked spiritual pressure.
He lacked chakra.
He hadn't learned Moonwalk yet.
So without any mobility technique that let him fly or step on the air—
He was stuck.
"If there's a small boat onboard, maybe I can—" Yoriichi murmured.
He was seriously considering rowing himself into battle.
"No need, Yoriichi."
Adrian stopped him.
If Yoriichi rowed over,
the battle would be long finished by the time he arrived.
"Leave this to Grimmjow and the others."
"…Yes."
Yoriichi lowered his head, frustrated.
A moment of need—
and he couldn't contribute.
Unacceptable.
He silently vowed:
The moment this is over, he's mastering Moonwalk.
…
On Smoker's warship
The Marines readied themselves.
They watched the three figures approaching—
one from the sky, one skimming the waves, one descending from above.
None of them looked "simple."
The Marines steeled their nerves.
Facing these monsters—
They had to give everything they had.
To be continued…
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