Just as Shark was about to explain himself to Chenos, several men in black suits suddenly walked onto the ship, their gazes cold as they locked onto Shark and Chenos.
The leader, wearing sunglasses, glanced at Chenos once before losing interest. He then spoke politely to Shark,
"Shark, you've been on the run long enough. It's time to come back with us to the research facility. Dr. Vegapunk needs your assistance."
Shark rolled his eyes and said mockingly,
"Vegapunk—the so-called super genius—needs my help? Please. With my little bit of mechanical know-how, he probably finished learning everything I know in a single month."
"Oh?"
The man's tone sharpened.
"So Vegapunk has already mastered everything you know? That means… you're no longer valuable."
At those words, killing intent flared in the eyes of every World Government agent present.
They didn't understand machinery themselves. Their orders were simple:
If Shark was useful, bring him back.
If not—kill him.
They could not allow any outsiders to learn about the World Government's mechanical research projects.
And since Shark himself had just admitted that Vegapunk had learned everything, he was now worthless.
One of the agents glanced at Chenos and asked the leader,
"What about that civilian? Kill him too?"
The leader nodded indifferently.
"He heard things he shouldn't have. Kill him together."
Shark hadn't expected the World Government to turn on him so quickly. One moment they were polite—next moment, they were ready to execute him.
What angered him even more was that Chenos, his customer, was going to be killed just for overhearing something.
Shark's fury ignited.
"Chenos, sorry for dragging you into this," Shark said grimly. "But don't worry—I'll hold them off. I won't let my customer die."
Without waiting for Chenos's reply, Shark charged straight at the World Government agents.
Seeing him rush in head-on, the agents sneered and attacked together.
"Tempest Kick!"
"Finger Pistol!"
...
Shark didn't dodge at all. He continued charging straight at them.
Several air blades from Tempest Kick struck his body, tearing open his clothes—revealing silver metallic sheen beneath the fabric.
Chenos's eyes immediately lit up.
"A robot? No… that's unlikely. Fully human-like artificial minds were rare, even in this world. Then—a cyborg?"
The One Piece world was a strange one.
Every island existed at a different level of technological development—some stuck in ancient times, others far into the future. It was as if people from different eras were forced to coexist in the same world.
Wooden sailing ships and all-metal warships.
Antique flintlock guns and military-grade laser weapons.
That jarring contrast was precisely what made this world so fascinating.
While Chenos was reflecting, the battle intensified.
Shark raised his palm toward the agents. His hand split open inch by inch, revealing internal mechanical structures. Dozens of tiny gun barrels extended outward.
The moment they were exposed—
"Palm Machine Gun!"
A storm of bullets erupted, spraying toward the agents like a Gatling gun.
At such close range, there was no time to dodge.
The agents shouted in unison,
"Iron Body!"
Bullets slammed into their bodies, ricocheting off as if striking solid steel.
Still, they weren't unscathed. Even iron would dent under such firepower—blood trickled from the corners of their mouths.
Once Shark's barrage ended, the agents rushed him again.
But every time one of them closed in, Shark raised a finger and fired a bullet point-blank, forcing them back.
Even so, these were World Government agents trained in the Six Powers. Shark's gunfire alone wasn't enough to finish them, and they slowly began tightening their encirclement.
From the outside, Shark looked to be in grave danger—on the verge of being overwhelmed.
Yet Chenos, watching calmly from the side, showed no intention of helping.
He was waiting.
Earlier, he had clearly felt a lethal threat coming from Shark. Someone capable of making him feel that kind of danger shouldn't struggle against opponents of this level.
Then—
The leader noticed an opening as Shark pushed back the agents on both sides, leaving his center exposed.
He lunged forward and thrust out a Finger Pistol.
But the instant he reached Shark—
He saw a crooked, triumphant grin spread across Shark's face.
"Laser Beam!"
Blazing white light burst from both sides of Shark's chest, firing straight at the leader.
The lasers were so fast there was no chance to evade.
The leader could only activate Iron Body again.
But unlike bullets, Iron Body was useless against lasers.
Two clean holes were punched straight through his chest.
Instant death.
Chenos's eyes widened as he stared at the smoking holes in Shark's chest plating.
This guy's insane…
He actually replaced those two spots with laser cannons?!
Then another thought crossed Chenos's mind.
Well… those parts weren't exactly essential for reproduction like women's—so swapping them out wasn't that big a loss.
But then his gaze drifted downward.
Chenos shuddered.
Please tell me he didn't modify that part too…
Still, after seeing the lasers, Chenos finally understood why Shark had felt so dangerous.
The absorption limit of his Rebound Fruit wasn't infinite.
Even though lasers were technically physical attacks, they far exceeded what his ability could absorb.
That was real lethal firepower.
The death of their leader didn't cause the remaining agents to retreat. Instead, grief and rage drove them to fight even harder.
But against Shark's steel body, their attacks were meaningless—while his lasers could kill them in a single hit.
Soon, only one World Government agent remained.
Looking at the bodies scattered across the deck, his eyes filled with sorrow.
"Shark… I didn't expect you to be this strong. But the World Government isn't just us. Someone will avenge us."
With that, he pulled out a Den Den Mushi and pressed the call button.
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