Kuzan's slightly sorrowful voice rang out from the bow. He turned to look at Sharon Lily beside him.
Behind Sharon Lily, Tsugikuni Yoriichi held his long sword level, watching her with an indifferent expression. At the slightest unusual movement from her, the blade could immediately pass through her neck.
"Commodore Kuzan, Colonel Tsugikuni Yoriichi, what is this?"
Sharon Lily lowered her head to look at the blade by her neck. Her pupils contracted slightly, but after a brief daze, she quickly regained her composure and asked softly. There was no trace of wavering or panic in her voice despite the sword at her throat.
"Actually, I did trust you from the very beginning."
"But Yoriichi's words reminded me of something."
"Yeah, are there really that many coincidences in this world?"
"From then on, I became more guarded when I was around you."
"After you came aboard, you really didn't do anything strange. But I realized that ever since I came into contact with you, I haven't quite been myself!"
"That fragrance constantly lingering in my room was your Devil Fruit ability, wasn't it?"
As Kuzan spoke, he walked to the railing at the bow and gazed out over the sea. On the once-calm waters ahead of the warship, enormous submarines rapidly surfaced, forcing the warship to a stop.
The hatches atop the submarines opened, and a group of men radiating savage menace stepped onto them. Then they leaped into the air and jumped onto the warship's deck.
Before long, dozens of burly men armed with blades densely filled the deck, their gazes fixed on Tsugikuni Yoriichi, Kuzan, and the others at the bow.
"Who are you people?!"
They had appeared too suddenly and too quickly. Only after they had boarded the deck did the crew react belatedly. A bold young