Felix: Where Was the Promised Ultimate Showdown?

Hearing what Felix said, the royal nobles could not help but draw sharp breaths. As expected, every Great Pirate who had returned from the back seas was a monster.

Against the weak, he could stir up the fear in their hearts, achieving an instant-kill effect akin to utter domination. Against strong individuals, he could amplify the fear within himself, boosting and strengthening his own power.

This bug-like ability was practically worlds apart from the abilities they remembered Devil Fruit users having.

However, even more people were stunned by Longinus's strength. He had actually forced a Great Pirate like Felix to willingly put himself at a disadvantage. No wonder Commodore Adkin had bluntly admitted that he was no match for Major Longinus.

"Longinus, you can be considered one of the strongest opponents I have encountered in the first half of the Grand Line. To show my respect, I will use my full strength to kill you!" Felix felt his blood surge, as though he had recalled the version of himself who had first chosen to set sail in pursuit of adventure.

"Then I am sorry to say that your fate can only be to atone for the first half of your life in Impel Down!" Longinus's ultimate control over his body allowed him to stomp the ground dozens of times in rapid succession within an extremely short span of time. He pushed the speed application of the Rokushiki technique Shave to its limit, appearing before Felix as though he had teleported.

"That again?" A savage smile appeared on Felix's pale face. In an instant, he wrapped his entire body in black mist, and the drifting fog condensed into solid spikes. He seemed prepared to trade injury for injury with Longinus as he laughed wildly like a masochist. "Come on, let me feel your strength! Let me tremble beneath your strength!"

Felix had thought it through clearly. Although he could not match the other man in speed, he could compete with him in taking hits. Every time he was injured, his fear would deepen, and he could then turn that fear into an endless supply of power.

In short, he would drag his opponent down to his level, then defeat him with his extensive experience in getting beaten up.

Yet Felix's perverted smile quickly froze on his face. Longinus had already locked Seastone cuffs around his wrists. His speed and reactions had already been inferior to Longinus's, and since he had been focused on passively taking hits, he had become a prisoner before he could react at all.

Without mastering Observation Haki, ability users were actually at a great disadvantage against agile opponents. The enemy did not need especially powerful attacks. As long as they seized the opportunity, like Longinus had, to bring Seastone into contact with an ability user, they could end the battle swiftly and cleanly.

Of course, ordinary people would not carry Seastone handcuffs around with them like Longinus did.

Felix fell silent for a moment, then an aggrieved and indignant expression actually appeared on his face, like a man whose best friend had stolen his lover—or a young girl deceived by a scumbag. "What happened to the promised ultimate showdown? How could you... how could you cheat!"

"Idiot, who promised you anything? That was entirely your own wishful thinking." Longinus's mouth twitched. He had long since given up hope for the average intelligence level of the Pirate World.

The surrounding royal nobles, as well as the pirates and Marines, all stood there dumbfounded, too stunned to react. We had even taken our pants off, and this was what you showed us?

They had thought what followed would be an earth-shattering, epic battle worthy of being recorded in history.

Unfortunately, they had guessed the beginning but not the ending. This truly was a lesson that deserved to be recorded in history. As the negative example, Felix could teach other pirates one principle: ability users had to stay clear-headed in battle and must never get carried away in excessive self-indulgence.

"So the captain was an idiot? As an ability user, he did not even know to guard against the enemy's Seastone attacks!" The pirates who had followed Felix were already cursing up a storm inwardly. Tacitly, they began backing away, hoping only that the Marines would notice their movements a little later.

However, the Marines had spent two full years following Longinus and gaining experience in finishing off enemies. Naturally, they would not miss this chance to strike while the iron was hot. The moment they noticed the pirates' little movements, they immediately surrounded them.

"So it was over just like that? This was the Great Pirate Father had placed all his hopes on?" Cobra found it deeply ironic. Instead, he felt fortunate that Felix had betrayed them. Otherwise, an even greater disaster would be awaiting them now, while the misfortune they should have borne had all been dumped onto some poor sucker.

"Th-this has to be a joke, right? That was a Great Pirate with an 80 million Beli bounty! How could he be taken down so easily by a Marine major? I must be under too much pressure and hallucinating. Yes, that must be it!" King Azka forcefully hypnotized himself, but the malicious gazes around him made him feel as though he were sitting on pins and needles, unable to suppress the fear in his heart.

"King Azka, based on the vile acts you committed during this pirate attack, I have the authority to arrest you directly. Of course, considering your status as a King, I will not throw you straight into Impel Down. For now, think carefully about what explanation you will give the government agents who will soon arrive!" Longinus locked handcuffs around King Azka's wrists, making clear that he would not overstep his authority.

"G-government agents?" King Azka swallowed with difficulty. He knew that the infamous Cipher Pol might very well be coming this time. No one wanted to deal with those cold-blooded machines, not even a King.

"Major Longinus... no, Lord Longinus, could you please show some mercy and pretend none of this ever happened? I firmly support the Four Kingdoms Cooperation Act you proposed earlier, and I will vigorously promote every word you say. Also... right, all you esteemed Marines have worked tirelessly to capture pirates. On behalf of the Azca Kingdom, I have decided to sponsor ten million... no, thirty million Beli for your military expenses."

King Azka spoke with conviction and great generosity. Anyone unaware of the truth might have thought he was offering three billion Beli!

Longinus's mouth twitched. Thirty million Beli was merely Hina, that little rich girl's monthly pocket change. Even if the Azca Kingdom was far less wealthy than the Hisca Kingdom, for an entire kingdom to offer thirty million Beli was truly stingy.

Longinus even suspected that this fellow had never intended to honor whatever price he had agreed upon with Felix.

No wonder Commodore Adkin had said from the start that King Azka was foolish and greedy. Even at this point, he was still so miserly. He deserved to be the one left holding the bag.