Acquaintances in the Marines

Due to the previous battle, not a single soul could be seen in the town now, a stark contrast to when Rod and the others first landed.

"Rod, are we going to deal with these two now?"

Law walked over from the side, carrying the unconscious Gladius in his hand. Beside him, Bepo carried the equally unconscious Manudo.

Glancing at the panting Law, Rod shook his head.

"You still need to work on your stamina, Law. You're like this after just one fight. The monsters in the Grand Line can fight for ten days straight!"

"You bastard, I used my ability multiple times after the fight ended!"

After the battle concluded, Law first used his ability to heal Grey, then casually healed some bystanders injured by Gladius's earlier explosion. He looked quite weak now.

"Alright, alright, you're right."

Rod's tone was perfunctory as he continued walking forward, carrying the box himself.

Then, before Law could get worked up again, Rod freed a hand and patted his shoulder.

"Let's take these two with us for now. I think our previous experiment might have involved some luck, so I need to do some calculations and pick a good day to try again."

"You can do calculations?"

Law and Bepo followed beside Rod and the others, walking towards the shore.

"Probably just blindfolded and drawing randomly."

Nerl undermined him from the side.

"Just tell me if you can calculate or not. Anyone I pick will definitely be a lucky day."

"Lucky you? You've never won a lottery! I think it's better to let Nerl draw."

Law added to the jab.

"Nerl can't, he'll cheat passively."

Nerl smiled without speaking.

Suddenly, the smile on Nerl's face vanished. Sensing his abnormality, Rod and Law simultaneously shot him questioning glances.

"A ship is approaching. It's the Marines!"

"Strong?"

Rod, knowing Nerl's personality well, saw a flicker of light in his eyes.

If it were just ordinary Marines, Nerl wouldn't react like this.

"There's one particularly strong individual, and below him are three others whose strength shouldn't be underestimated."

"How much longer?"

"Ten minutes!"

"Let's get to the ship and prepare everything. We need to ensure we can set sail at any moment."

A wild smile spread across Rod's face.

He had been feeling a bit regretful earlier, not having had a proper fight with Gladius. It felt a bit incomplete as an opening act.

However, having a few Marines witness his departure wasn't too bad either!

As they spoke, the group quickened their pace, rushing towards the Polar.

Meanwhile, on the approaching Marine warship.

The situation on the island could now be clearly seen. Those on the warship stared in shock at the town center, which had been reduced to ruins.

From the warship, the town center appeared as a completely destroyed scorched earth, a stark contrast to the surrounding streets.

Rear Admiral Bastille felt a sense of vigilance.

Based on the intelligence they had seen earlier, the Donquixote Family cadre in the North Blue should be the user of the Explode-Explode Fruit, Gladius.

He had been rampant in the North Blue years ago, with a bounty of 31 million. After training in the New World, his strength would undoubtedly have increased, and he was by no means someone ordinary North Blue pirates could handle.

Could it be Germa 66?

This thought was immediately dismissed by Rear Admiral Bastille. If Germa 66 had been involved, the entire town would likely be gone.

The warship slowly docked. Major Corlao and Captain Bastoe led their soldiers, disembarking immediately after the ship docked and quickly heading towards the town center.

While the ship was docking, they had confirmed that in the town center, numerous people were lying down. Judging by the rise and fall of their chests, they were still alive. Undoubtedly, those people urgently needed their medical attention.

"Those brats are really bold."

Captain Baro's gaze swept over the ships docked at the port. Seeing a few youths staring directly at them, a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

As a Captain of Marine Headquarters, he had been the base commander of an entire Marine branch for the past two years in the North Blue. Even the nobles of kingdoms had to bow their heads slightly before him, let alone be looked at so rudely.

Hearing Captain Baro's low murmur, Captain Drake also turned his gaze.

"That's..."

Upon seeing the few people on the dark red sailboat not far away, Drake froze slightly, then his pupils contracted sharply.

"Gladius!"

"Where is that Donquixote Family executive?"

Upon hearing the name Drake spoke, Hina tilted her head slightly, her gaze also shifting in that direction.

"You've got to be kidding... Did these few youngsters do this?"

On the deck of the dark red sailboat, there was a giant fish tank. Inside, however, weren't any fish, but two headless torsos.

The two torsos were submerged in water. Perhaps due to being soaked for too long, they had become completely limp. Beside the fish tank lay two bare heads.

One of them, though not exactly like the portrait seen before, could still be identified by the mask and glasses on its face. It was the Donquixote Family executive, the explosive man Gladius!

"Hina is curious. Did you defeat that person?"

Recognizing Gladius's head placed to the side, Vice Captain Hina took a step forward, addressing Rod and the others first.

"What a strange speech habit."

Glancing at the Marines' warship, a hint of surprise flashed in Rod's eyes.

He hadn't expected some "acquaintances" to show up.

"Black Bars" Hina, an ability user of the Cage-Cage Fruit, who could trap anyone who passed through with black bars, a popular beautiful Marine; "Red Flag" Drake, an ability user of the Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Zoan, Allosaurus form, one of the future Supernovas, actually a Marine mole; the one wearing a horned mask seemed to be a certain future Marine Vice Admiral, whose name he couldn't recall, but judging from his aura, he was the strongest among them; the remaining one, he didn't recognize, but his strength should be decent.

"You guys are pirates, aren't you!"

Hina jumped onto the warship's railing, tugged at her glove, and looked down at Rod and the others from above.

"Although I don't like those brats, they should just be ordinary, ignorant youngsters."

Captain Baro, however, spoke up to explain Rod and the others.

"Their ship isn't flying any flag."

"They're about to hang one, aren't they?"

Hina tilted her chin slightly, gesturing. Captain Baro looked over and saw two capped youngsters standing at the top of the crow's nest on the mast, holding a black flag and preparing to hoist it.

Though the pattern on it was unclear, everyone at sea knew that only pirates used black flags!

"They're pirates!"

Captain Baro's eyes snapped open as if waking from a dream.