A sudden burst of Conqueror's Haki swept across the entire Thriller Bark in an instant.
Thump, thump...
The defenseless crewmen who were dealing with the prisoners were pierced through by the Conqueror's Haki. Their bodies shuddered, and they collapsed unconscious onto the floor one after another, making dull thuds.
The only ones unaffected were the powerful crew members such as Jaya.
"That's the captain's Conqueror's Haki."
"What a powerful aura... The moment it 'touched' me, my 'soul' couldn't help but tremble. How terrifying! It scared my heart half to death, though I don't have a heart. Yohohoho!"
"Releasing indiscriminate Conqueror's Haki all of a sudden doesn't seem like something Maud would do. Did something happen in the castle?"
They first looked around at the unconscious crewmen lying on the ground, then simultaneously turned toward the castle, their eyes filled with surprise.
"I'll go take a look."
Jaya's eyes narrowed slightly. She felt that Maud's sudden release of indiscriminate Conqueror's Haki was far too out of character.
Uneasy, she immediately headed toward the castle.
"Ah la la, I'll go too."
Aokiji was puzzled and followed behind Jaya.
Everyone present looked at one another.
However, with Jaya and Aokiji going to check the situation, there was no need for them to worry about it.
A moment later, Jaya and Aokiji arrived at the castle.
They pushed open the door on the first floor and entered the spacious hall.
At the far end directly opposite the door was a winding staircase leading to the second floor.
Shakky was leaning against the stair post on the first floor, a newly lit cigarette held between her slender fingers.
Standing on the platform halfway up the stairs was Lafitte, his pale, bloodless face carrying a faint smile.
"Hoho, there's no need to worry. To put it