Assassinating the Princess!

The weather was clear, and the sea sparkled.

On the vast blue ocean, three warships sailed in a "pin" formation, churning the water as if scissors were tearing open a curtain, charging across the sea.

The deterrent power of warships was immense in the East Blue.

Without any exceptionally powerful figures that defied common sense, the advantage of their equipment was fully utilized.

Cannons were regulated weapons. Aside from Great Pirates with connections everywhere, ordinary pirate crews only had a few rusty swords as their weapons.

Coupled with warships being far faster than regular pirate ships, once targeted, few ships could withstand a concentrated barrage.

Therefore, it wasn't that they hadn't encountered pirates along the way; rather, all pirates, upon seeing three warships in formation, especially with two agile and swift smaller warships accompanying them, would flee from a distance.

Fortunately, with an escort mission, the Navy wouldn't waste energy on pursuits.

"Three days, they should be coming soon, right?"

Inside the cabin, Lowett withdrew from his soul sea, his eyes flashing with sharp light before slowly fading.

Putting himself in someone else's shoes, if he had a secret to keep, and a person who knew it brazenly appeared before the world, he wouldn't allow them to live for long.

This wasn't a flaw of the intelligent, but a human instinct.

It was simply about living in a way that benefited oneself.

Therefore, during this voyage, Kuro's assassination attempt was bound to happen!

Lowett went to the bedroom window, blew on the scalding hot tea in his cup, and took a sip.

"To put it another way, besides the three warships, the number of people, their strength, and everything else is no different from when Branch 153 was massacred last time."

So Kuro couldn't be afraid!

Recalling that fleeting glimpse of speed that day... Lowett felt his heart rate quicken.

"It's been so long... since I've fought someone."

He couldn't help but tremble with excitement.

"Black Count" was known as the strongest individual below the Ten Saints in the mage world.

This meant that apart from beings like the Ten Saints, no one could defeat him in a one-on-one fight, and naturally, there wasn't much combat to speak of.

Furthermore, he was a genius who had mastered all five major branches of Necromancy. His difficulty to deal with was top-tier even among Necromancers. In similar situations, outsiders would rather grudgingly accept a disadvantage than choose to fight such a person.

"I hope you can give me a... memorable experience."

A red blood-like halo spun in his pupils. He couldn't hear the wind, but something dangerous brushed past his body, ruffling his hair.

Knowing that battle was imminent, Lowett had been diligently adjusting his state for the past few days.

His current mental energy was low, and his one-star magic spells were restricted. He wasn't sure if he could turn the tables with Scarlet Rage.

He might die!

But he wasn't afraid.

It was just like when he attempted to open the gates of the Underworld through illicit means; he bravely went for it, knowing there was only a "possibility."

Death was not terrifying.

For Necromancers, it was even more so.

Without this mindset, a Necromancer was practically at their end.

"But what is Kuro waiting for? Ahead is the territory of Branch 16. With their support, the chances will be even slimmer."

Once they passed the sea area managed by Branch 16, the warships could reach Loguetown in a day.

If he didn't act now...

Recalling Smoker's record in the original story of easily defeating the Straw Hat Pirates, Lowett didn't believe Smoker would be like Crocodile, defeated by a liquid and ending in a humiliating loss.

"A direct assault is feasible. For safety, we didn't travel at night, giving them enough time to catch up."

"Am I being too safe?"

Just as he was frowning in thought, a scream suddenly erupted from outside.

"Ah!!!"

"Protect the Princess!"

Morgan's furious roar shook the deck. Footsteps echoed everywhere on the warships, sounding like countless mice scurrying in the wall crevices through the closed door.

Suddenly, Lowett's eyes lit up.

"What a clever plan!"

"As expected of the guy Oda personally designated as the smartest in the early stages!"

Sally Nandecanette had been stabbed!

The shocking news swept through the three warships like a storm. By the time Lowett reached the front of the deck, it was already surrounded by a crowd.

Soldiers, three layers deep, surrounded Morgan and the others. Upon seeing Lowett arrive, they looked surprised for a moment before making way.

"Canette-chan, Canette-chan, don't scare me!"

In the center of the crowd, Princess Sally Nandecanette of the Kingdom of Goa had collapsed. Her fiancé, Sterley, held her in his arms, his expression one of sheer terror.

It was genuine terror!

His claim to the throne was based on being the princess's fiancé, essentially the heir recognized by the old king. If Sally Nandecanette died, who would recognize his status?

His adoptive father, Otluk III, alone would not let him off the hook!

"Mmm..."

In her unconsciousness, the princess let out a soft moan. On her stomach, blood had stained the goose-yellow trim of her white dress crimson, and blood pooled on the deck.

A dagger was lodged near her kidney, narrowly missing a fatal blow!

Such brutality immediately pointed to the culprit's identity.

"Damn pirates!"

Sterley, with his repulsive appearance, now had his face contorted with rage, making him look even uglier.

He looked up, his fury reaching the heavens. "How did you protect the princess? You actually let pirates get onto the ship!"

"Useless! All of you are useless!!"

"I'm going to tell Father King and have you all buried with her!"

Morgan's face flushed, and he clenched his fists.

In fact, if he hadn't heard the screams and rushed over, the attacker would have delivered a second blow, completely extinguishing Sally Nandecanette's life.

But that was no excuse. With him in charge, someone had been attacked; he couldn't escape responsibility.

At this moment, Lowett pushed through the crowd and said softly.

"Setting aside the fact that you are not yet officially married to the princess, and whether anyone recognizes you as 'Father King,' the fact that you are currently blocking the doctor from providing aid makes me suspect... your true intentions."

"Second Lieutenant Lowett, you have no right to speak here!"

Major Aiden exclaimed in alarm, quickly reprimanding him.

If it weren't for Morgan's favor, Lowett, as a Second Lieutenant, should have been on the perimeter maintaining security, not in the center of things.

However, Lowett had no authority and no direct subordinates, so others couldn't find an excuse to fault him.

"You!!"

Sterley was startled.

He truly hadn't noticed the doctor's arrival, having been solely focused on contemplating his own succession to the throne after Sally Nandecanette's death, rendering him oblivious and distracted.

"Ahem, Sir Sterley, please let the doctor examine her quickly."

Morgan coughed and interjected.

"Oh, right! Hurry, doctor! If you can't save her, I'll take your life!"

Sterley suddenly started, stood up with a flustered expression, but still managed to sound imperious.

Bullying an idiot is truly despicable.

Lowett shook his head and approached Morgan, asking in a low voice.

"Captain, where are the culprits?"

Morgan's expression grew even more grim upon hearing this.

"We killed one, and one escaped. One was on lookout, the other acted, and they escaped in our rescue boat."

It was Kuro after all!

If he had only suspected before, Lowett now had his theory confirmed.

Someone had to escape for him to carry out the next step of his plan.

True assassins were usually fanatics who sought death; fanatics didn't need lookouts to ensure their survival.

"This is troublesome..."

Lowett sighed.

"With one of the culprits escaping, let alone this fool not letting it go, the Kingdom of Goa won't let it slide either. If we can't catch them... we'll all be in trouble."

Major Aiden was greatly alarmed and didn't bother thinking about who "this fool" was.

"Then what should we do?"

What to do?

Of course, send people to pursue and bring the culprits to justice!

But...

Who could guarantee there were only these two assassins on the ship?

If they pursued, wouldn't they fall into the enemy's trap of luring the tiger away from its mountain?

If Sterley also met with an accident, then forget it, they might as well all become pirates.

The World Government would certainly not let Branch 153, which had caused such a mess, off the hook; even Sengoku couldn't protect them.

Lowett didn't answer; he believed Morgan already had the answer.

"Colonel, let me take a warship to pursue them!"

Vice Captain Jordi handed over command to his adjutant and came aboard the flagship.

The enemy had slipped away right under their noses. If not for the priority of ensuring the royal family's safety, that assassin wouldn't have gotten far.

The sudden chaos and the principle of prioritizing the royal family's safety had given the enemy ample time to escape unharmed.

But that was relative safety... A warship's speed was nothing a mere life raft could compare to.

"No! The enemy is in the dark, and we are in the light. If we pull away our defenses, we might be attacked in full force, which would be even more dangerous."

Morgan refused decisively.

No one knew the enemy's true objective: assassination or a diversionary tactic.

The firepower intersection network formed by their three warships had been their deterrent all along. If one was withdrawn, it would undoubtedly increase the enemy's chances of a frontal assault.

"What? The prisoner escaped?!"

At this moment, Sterley, his face contorted with rage, slapped Major Soxie across the face. His hand throbbed from the blow, as he lacked training, but the ferocity in his eyes did not diminish.

"No matter what excuses you have, if you can't catch the prisoner, you'll all wait for death at my command!"

To be slapped in the face by an outsider in front of the soldiers, Major Soxie's face turned red with anger and shame, his body trembling.

Looking at the soldiers' shared indignation, their murderous gazes, Morgan took a deep breath.

"Can I trust you, Lowett?"

Lowett was taken aback.

He had already been formulating his words to take on this troublesome task, never expecting Morgan to speak first...

He really didn't expect it!

Looking up, Lowett met Morgan's calm gaze.

Actually...

There was a third option in this situation.

That was to sacrifice a pawn, to take the blame!

The nobles' anger needed an outlet, and the government's investigation required someone to bear responsibility. This target could be the entire Branch 153, or it could be...

Someone who failed in pursuit!

For the royal family's safety, it made sense that Morgan wouldn't pull away defensive forces to pursue.

Therefore, sending a small unit to capture the culprit also made sense.

However, that small unit failing to catch the culprit...

That was unacceptable!

At that time, all the anger and accusations would fall upon the person in charge of the pursuit. Branch 153 had been involved but not at fault, and this could be used to protect themselves.

Morgan naming Lowett undoubtedly meant he wanted Lowett to play this role.

If he caught the culprit, it would be a great success, even establishing Lowett's authority within the branch and resolving the growing internal conflicts. If he failed, it would still be Lowett's incompetence.

"I guarantee the mission will be completed, Colonel!"

Lowett's decisiveness surprised Morgan.

But he didn't hesitate and nodded.

As long as he agreed.

"Go, pick twenty good men. That should be enough to catch up!"

"Yes!"

With that, Lowett turned and left.

After he left, Vice Captain Jordi frowned and hesitated, "Colonel, Second Lieutenant Lowett before... If we let him pursue, perhaps it will..."

"Wouldn't that be even better?"

Morgan looked at him coldly, sending a chill down Vice Captain Jordi's spine.

He lowered his head.

"Yes!"