Unexpected Ambush!

Momonga is on the move!

At the port of Loguetown, onlookers from various factions watched with pale faces as a magnificent warship, exuding an imposing aura, sailed towards the deep sea.

This is trouble.

The worst-case scenario has happened!

As one of the sixteen Vice Admirals of Marine Headquarters, a transcendent existence second only to the legendary Three Admirals, Momonga's strength was undeniable. The pirates with bounties over a hundred million were still locked up in Loguetown's prison.

If he arrives at Orange Town, who can stop him?

"Immediately notify the Captain to be cautious!"

"Quick! Contact the White Dove Trading Company. Aren't they an Affiliated Nation? We can't let Momonga land!"

"Look over there, the White Hunter is on the move too!"

A pirate suddenly screamed, and the crowd followed his gaze.

On the warship, Smoker stood at the front of the deck, two cigars in his mouth. His head was bandaged, but a dangerous aura, like that of a wounded beast, could be felt even from a distance.

"I heard that 'Hyena' Morey attacked a town a few hours ago. The Navy must have gotten the news, right?"

"So that's what happened. He angered the Navy!"

"Morey, you bastard! Screw his whole family!"

The theft of Zango was originally a private matter between the pirates and the White Dove Trading Company. The Navy could have turned a blind eye to the ensuing fight. But now, an attack that brought disaster to civilians had caused the Navy to completely lose its temper.

"This is bad! Under these circumstances, the White Dove Trading Company can't withstand the pressure. We have to escape quickly!"

The furious cavalry of the Navy would tear apart anyone who dared to obstruct them. The world's awe of the Navy was not solely built on the achievements of those degenerate Marines.

Standing tall for hundreds of years, the Navy's power had been passed down through generations and deeply ingrained in people's hearts.

On the stolen warship, when Lowett received the news, he was also incredulous.

"What a madman!"

He had only intended to force Momonga out by gathering a large number of pirates, but he never expected anyone would dare to harm civilians?

Did they really think Momonga was easy to bully?

He was able to escape from Momonga by taking advantage of favorable timing, geographical location, and the disparity in intelligence between both sides. Moreover, Momonga could easily handle anyone he faced, leaving no possibility of survival.

"The early bird gets the worm, young man."

Lowett smiled slightly, his gaze shifting.

However...

"It's because of you that Momonga left earlier than I expected. With our current distance..."

Before he could finish speaking, Wallace quickly replied.

"Sir, if we proceed at full speed, we can reach Loguetown by tonight at the latest."

Although Momonga's early departure put them farther away at the moment, Lowett was bold and skilled, and he hadn't strayed too far from Loguetown in the first place.

"That's good. I'll leave it to you, Wallace."

A burning pain spread across his palm as a magical imprint quickly formed.

He endured it without a sound during this process, and upon hearing the reply, he respectfully prostrated himself on the ground.

"Yes!"

As the first rays of moonlight fell upon the sea, reflecting a silvery glow, a warship appeared in the waters near Loguetown.

The chaos of the day had not yet subsided, and the town residents gathered in small groups, uneasy.

"I really hope Lord Momonga returns soon. Without him here, I always feel like something is about to happen."

"No need to feel it, it's happening."

Sitting on a stone pier at the port, another person lit a cigarette and said, "Those punks from East Street went to the Oak Tavern for a drink today and got kicked out. The place has already been taken over."

"Could it be..."

"That's right. I took a peek when I passed by, and it was full of pirates."

"They're probably trying to go to the Grand Line while Vice Admiral Momonga and Captain Smoker are away, so they're contacting each other secretly."

"What should we do?! Let's tell the base soldiers, at least have someone come back, right?"

"Hey! I find you interesting... When Captain Smoker was here, you always cursed him behind his back, wishing he'd leave sooner. Now that he's been gone for just a day or two, you want him back."

"That's different! Before, we had to open our doors for business. Now, people will die! Don't tell me you're not worried, are you?"

"No, I'm not worried about that at all."

Under the shocked gaze of the other person, he handed over a business card.

[East Blue Housing Development Co., Ltd.]!

General Manager: Bruce Kito

As everyone knew, there was no need to build houses on ships; that was the job of the shipwrights.

"An expert in civil engineering?!"

"No wonder his clothes and demeanor are similar to us small merchants."

The man's lips twitched, and he reached out to take the business card.

He pulled, but it didn't budge.

He looked up in confusion and saw Kito with his mouth slightly open, a cigarette falling to the ground, his eyes wide as he stared ahead.

"Hmm?"

Turning to follow the direction of his gaze, a warship with blue paint slowly emerged from the darkness, reflecting white light under the moonlight.

"Huh? A warship returning to port at this hour? Weren't the Navy's orders to maintain strict defense and not mobilize without authorization?"

He muttered to himself in confusion, then his arm was suddenly yanked forcefully, nearly causing him to fall.

"You bastard! What are you doing?!"

"Are you stupid? Run! Didn't you see the ship's number?!"

"Number?"

He looked back. On the side of the warship, there was indeed a number painted in white.

[East 16-07]!

"It's the warship stolen from Branch 16!"

Upon hearing this, his pupils contracted.

Branch 16 only had one warship stolen, and that warship now belonged to the "Black Count"!

"Pi... Pirates are here!!!"

In response to the requests of many readers, VIP membership ad-free feature is now available.

Click to view.

A sense of dread washed over him. He forcefully threw Kito off, turned, and ran.

As he ran, he yelled, "Pirates are attacking, run!"

In the blink of an eye, he disappeared at the end of the street, leaving Kito stunned.

On the warship, Luo Wei stood at the bow in his tailcoat, his black cane with golden rings resting before him.

Noticing the commotion from the port, he smiled calmly.

"Unknowingly, 'Black Count' has become a name that instills fear again?"

Lowett had witnessed similar scenes countless times and couldn't help but sigh.

"I'm a very friendly person, and the Necromancer only kills when necessary for materials or to deal with enemies. Why have I become like this?"

"Roar!"

"You're right, my pirate identity restricts me, preventing them from appreciating my beauty."

Patting the head of his fawning Black Knight, Lowett looked into the distance.

"That... must be Reverse Mountain, right? It's truly majestic!"

Under the bright moonlight, a massive shadow loomed between the sea and sky, stretching to the horizon.

He had seen the magnificent floating city of the Ten Saints Council, as vast as a continent, and had witnessed the River of Souls in the Underworld, thousands of meters wide and stretching to the edge of the world. But both were filled with strong magical traces, making them obviously man-made at first glance.

But the red-earth continent before him was not.

There were no magical fluctuations, its edges sharp as if carved by a knife. It resembled an ancient dragon coiled on this planet, majestic and magnificent.

This pure, monumental beauty was intoxicating.

"Do you have confidence, Wallace?"

"I... I do."

Wallace swallowed, his eyes bloodshot from continuous reading and studying: "Thanks to you, sir, I've had the fortune to see over a dozen successful crossings of Reverse Mountain. Plus, the storm climate hasn't been significant these past two days, so we'll definitely make it over... definitely."

Few East Blue pirates had managed to cross Reverse Mountain, but knowledge was different.

Any pirate crew aspiring to be the Pirate King would treasure knowledge about the Grand Line and keep it safe.

After annihilating so many pirate crews, Luo Wei had collected not only a pile of treasure but also a considerable amount of such information.

If only time permitted, he would have liked to visit the Sea Restaurant to get the logbook from "Barefoot" Zhefu.

"That would be best."

Luo Wei nodded slightly, smiling with satisfaction: "Then your life depends on your own abilities."

"Yes, I understand... Huh???"

Wallace bowed in reply but suddenly felt something was wrong.

What did he mean by "your life"?

He looked up at Luo Wei, who smiled slightly: "You don't actually think I'm going to drown, do you?"

Mages are known for their stealth and versatility.

Necromancers, even more so.

Unless encountering an irresistible force like Momonga, Lowett didn't truly believe he'd drown in a shipwreck. This was the very confidence that allowed him to set sail with a half-baked plan.

"So... that's how it is..."

Wallace's heart leaped in surprise, and he secretly bolstered his resolve.

"Set sail! Turn!"

Jogging back to the center of the deck, Wallace gripped the magic seal Lowett had given him and loudly issued commands to the zombies.

As the massive warship slowly turned, watching the Navy soldiers rushing to the port in a frenzy, Lowett shouted loudly.

"Go back and tell the Big Mouse and the Smoker that the next time we meet, I'll teach them what true Justice is!"

"For now, I must take my leave!"

Damn it!

The soldiers' faces flushed red. Watching the warship sail further and further away, they were both angry and annoyed by his insult to their superiors, but they were helpless.

However, they were secretly relieved that Lowett hadn't ordered an attack.

The Black Count's bounty had been paid for twice with the blood of the Navy.

However, just as everyone thought it was over, a cannonball whistled through the air.

"Roar!!"

Before Lowett could act, the newly minted Fishman Black Knight swung his right hand violently. The muscles rapidly swelled and transformed, forming a giant arm as thick as a bucket and over ten meters long.

To be precise, it wasn't an arm.

It was a muscle tentacle woven from countless flesh buds and bones!

The extending mass of flesh collided heavily with the cannonball. Smoke and fire exploded in the night sky, illuminating the surroundings. Everyone could clearly see Lowett's indifferent, cold gaze, like he was looking at the dead.

"Did you really think I wouldn't kill just because I'm in a hurry?"

"Who fired that shot? Who fired it?!"

A Major roared in exasperation, his face flushed red.

"I did!"

Suddenly, a tall, burly man emerged from the crowd. He pulled back his gray cloak, casually took out a cigar, lit it, and put it in his mouth.

Puff...

Exhaling a ring of smoke, Smoker took the Jitte handed to him by Tashigi and shouted loudly.

"You've come to my territory, at least have a cup of tea, Black Count!!"

"Is that... Captain Smoker?!"

"Why is he here?"

A commotion erupted in the crowd, filled with astonishment.

Clearly, even the Navy soldiers left behind to guard the port didn't know their superior officer hadn't left.

"So that means..."

Lowett's pupils constricted, and his head turned in the direction from which the sense of danger was coming.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Whoosh! Whoosh!

A warship marked as belonging to Loguetown sailed out from the other end of the town, its cannonballs raining down on him as if they were free.

"Fire!!"

Momonga stood at the front of the deck, raising his Plum Blossom Katana with one hand, and roared hoarsely.