Cracker? He's dead!

At the sight of the scene, like something from a battlefield of carnage, Momonga and the countless others were shaken.

Just how ruthless did someone have to be to create this hellish scene, where so much blood had been spilled that pestles could float in it?

"Vice Admiral Momonga, there's someone over there!"

Suddenly.

A colonel spotted a figure slowly walking toward them through the flames of battle not far away.

It was as if he were the only living person on the island!

"Hmm?"

Momonga's expression changed, and he took a defensive stance.

Seeing this, the others also braced themselves, staring intently at the approaching figure.

When the person drew near, Momonga and the others were stunned.

He was a black-haired, black-eyed youth, and the Marine uniform he wore stood out sharply amid the flames of battle.

The youth walked up to them, a hint of surprise on his face.

"Huh?"

His gaze swept over the group and finally settled on Momonga. Thanks to his distinctive appearance and attire, the youth immediately recognized him as Marine Vice Admiral Momonga.

"You're..."

Momonga's eyes widened, and he asked cautiously, "Are you Feng Lei?"

This was an island ruled by one of the Four Emperors, and it was full of pirates. The person wearing a Marine uniform was most likely Feng Lei, who had come to capture Cracker.

"I am!"

Feng Lei nodded.

He had just used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to kill every pirate on the island and was getting ready to wrap up when he sensed someone approaching.

He hadn't expected it to be Marine Vice Admiral Momonga, or for him to have brought so many people.

It didn't seem to be a coincidence, either.

"So, you killed all these pirates?"

Momonga asked slowly.

"That's right."

"Gasp..."

Hearing his confirmation, not only Momonga but everyone else drew a sharp breath.

How ruthless!

The thought surfaced in their minds. He was so young, yet his methods were so vicious.

Momonga took a deep breath. They were pirates, after all, so it didn't matter that they were dead.

"Thank goodness you're all right!"

He had thought he was too late, but Feng Lei was completely unharmed. Now he could complete his mission.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku ordered me to bring you back to Marine Headquarters. The assessment for [Special Recruits] has been suspended for now."

"Suspended? Why? I just completed the assessment!"

Feng Lei looked surprised.

After spending days finally tracking down Charlotte Cracker and taking care of him, why had Sengoku changed his mind?

Could it be that he didn't acknowledge him as a [Special Recruit]?

"You completed the assessment?"

Momonga looked at Feng Lei doubtfully.

"Yes!"

Feng Lei gave a slight nod.

"In that case, let's leave at once! This island is guarded by Charlotte Cracker, an officer of the Four Emperors and one of the Sweetheart Four Sweet Commanders. We need to withdraw as quickly as possible before he comes after us."

Seeing how serious Feng Lei looked, Momonga didn't question him further.

As he saw it, since this island was ruled by one of the Four Emperors and was full of pirates, there had to be one or two with bounties over a hundred million.

Judging by the carnage around them, a fierce fight had clearly taken place. Feng Lei had to be quite strong to kill a pirate with a bounty over a hundred million.

But if they ran into Cracker, not only Feng Lei but even they would be in danger.

Fortunately, Cracker didn't seem to be on the island right now.

"Cracker?"

Feng Lei raised his hand and pointed to Cracker's corpse nearby, a sword lodged in its neck. "I've already taken care of that guy," he said slowly.

"What!?"

At Feng Lei's words, not only Momonga but the other Marine officers were startled, shock showing on their faces.

That was Cracker, an officer of the Four Emperors with a bounty of 860 million Beli!

Even in the New World, where experts were as numerous as clouds, he was a renowned first-rate pirate.

Feng Lei looked no more than sixteen. Could he really have killed a pirate like that?

Then.

Their gazes followed Feng Lei's pointing hand to Cracker's corpse.

The next second.

Their expressions turned bewildered, and Momonga frowned.

They had noticed that the man looked nothing like Charlotte Cracker on the Marine wanted poster.

"You're saying that's Cracker?"

Momonga looked somewhat disappointed.

Did he really think they didn't know what Cracker looked like?

That lie was far too obvious. Even if he wanted to pass the assessment, he should at least have come up with a plausible story!

"Yes."

Feng Lei nodded. He had noticed Momonga's skeptical look, so he explained, "He's a biscuit man who ate the Biscuit-Biscuit Fruit. Because he's afraid of pain, he used biscuits to make himself a suit of armor."

"He usually hides inside the armor. The portrait you saw on the wanted poster is the armor he made. What you're seeing now is his real appearance!"

Hearing how convincingly Feng Lei spoke, everyone was stunned.

Momonga's frown deepened. He had Observation Haki and could tell Feng Lei wasn't lying.

Could it be true?

Was this tall, thin man the real Charlotte Cracker?

If it was true, didn't that mean Feng Lei had the terrifying strength to kill an officer of the Four Emperors?

How was that possible?

Momonga had seen countless geniuses, but he had never seen a monster who possessed such combat strength at sixteen.

"Let's go! Big Mom has lost a son, and she might already be on her way here. I can't guarantee I can keep all of you safe!"

Feng Lei picked up Cracker's corpse and strode toward the port.

Momonga and the others were stunned.

Only then did they remember that this was an island ruled by one of the Four Emperors. With so many of their subordinates dead, the Emperor would surely retaliate.

And from the way Feng Lei spoke, the body he was carrying really did seem to be Charlotte Cracker, an officer of the Four Emperors.

Whether it's him or not, we'll know once we see how Big Mom reacts.

Momonga thought to himself.

If Feng Lei really had killed Cracker, Big Mom would definitely make a move.

Once it was confirmed, the youth before him would become famous across the seas!

Whole Cake Island.

Katakuri sat in a chair with his legs crossed, resting with his eyes closed.

A long time had passed since his call with Cracker, but there had still been no news.

Did he let that Marine get away?

Just as Katakuri was wondering.

Suddenly.

He sensed something was wrong. His eyes snapped open, and he reached into his clothes and pulled out a small piece of paper.

A Vivre Card!

The card shrank when its owner grew weak and returned to its original size when the owner recovered. If it gradually turned to ash, it meant the owner was nearing death.

And the Vivre Card representing Cracker had turned to ash!

"How is that possible?"

Katakuri's expression changed.

"How could Cracker be dead?"

He suddenly remembered that when their call ended, Cracker had gone to find the Marine who had declared he would capture him.

Could it be... he killed Cracker?

When did the Marines get someone like that?

Boom!

He immediately got up and strode toward the palace ahead.

Entering the palace, Katakuri came before his mother.

"Mama! Something terrible has happened!"

"Oh? Katakuri, what happened?"

Charlotte Linlin reached out, took a large piece of dessert and put it in her mouth, a satisfied expression on her face.

But the next second, Katakuri's words made her expression change.

"Mama, Cracker is dead!"