Vergo's Backup Plan

On a deserted backstreet in Loguetown.

Makino had only run a few steps when she heard someone being sent flying. Worried about Lynn, she was about to look back when she heard Lynn shout:

"Makino, don't look back! Go!"

"Okay..."

Hearing Lynn's words, Makino did not turn around. She had no idea what had happened, but she still gathered her courage and said, "Mr. Linley, be careful!"

With that, Makino ran toward the harbor.

"Don't worry."

Lynn rubbed his neck, his eyes fixed on the tall man before him.

A mushroom haircut, sunglasses, and a hamburger patty stuck to his face—

Ghost Bamboo Vergo, one of the Donquixote Family's top executives, a master of both Armament Haki and martial arts!

And judging by the Marine uniform he wore, he had probably already infiltrated the Marines as an undercover agent.

Lynn had never expected Doflamingo to send him personally to Loguetown!

Vergo looked in the direction Makino had fled and smiled. "I thought she'd be too scared to stand. She's quite a brave girl."

Lynn grinned. "Yeah. She may have met more important people than you have."

"Hmm, sorry, I don't quite understand."

Vergo shook his head and lightly swung the Bamboo Staff in his hand. "But could you ask her not to run? Finding her later will be rather troublesome."

Lynn's expression immediately darkened. He knew full well that, to avoid exposing his identity, Vergo would certainly eliminate anyone who had seen his true face.

"She didn't look back. She didn't see your face." Lynn frowned tightly. He did not want Makino dragged into an even bigger mess.

Yet Vergo merely shrugged. "Really? I don't believe you."

After hearing that, Lynn's expression instead became completely calm.

He pointed at Vergo's cheek.

"You just ate a hamburger, right?"

"Mm. It's my favorite. The hamburgers in Loguetown taste good, though the portions are a little small."

Only then did Vergo notice the hamburger patty on his cheek. After taking it off, he found it covered in dust and no longer edible. He could only sigh softly. "What a shame."

Then Vergo turned his gaze toward Lynn. "Shall we introduce ourselves?"

Lynn nodded. "Lynn Barek."

"Vergo."

Lynn scratched his head. "So, Vergo, you..."

Vergo suddenly frowned and said coldly, "It should be Mr. Vergo."

"It doesn't really matter, Vergo. By the way, you haven't eaten your fill, have you?" Lynn suddenly asked.

Vergo was somewhat puzzled, but he nodded nonetheless.

Seeing that, Lynn burst into laughter. He cracked his fingers, producing a series of sharp pops, and then his face abruptly darkened.

"If you're not full, then eat a few more of my punches!"

Bang!

Before his words had even faded, Icebound Domain activated, and a thin layer of frost spread across the ground around them.

At the same time, Lynn stomped off the ground and charged forward, swinging both fists at Vergo's head!

Hero Skill: Subdue with Might.

Two consecutive heavy punches struck Vergo's cheek and jaw, and two dull thuds echoed through the empty street.

Bang! Bang!

What followed was a scream forcibly held back:

"Ah..."

Lynn retreated several steps, widening the distance between himself and Vergo. Then he repeatedly shook his hands, doing his best to disperse the pain in them.

"So hard!"

Lynn could not help but exclaim.

Not far away, Vergo remained standing. His entire head was covered in Armament Haki, turning pitch-black with a metallic sheen.

"The Young Master was right. You really are an arrogant man." He rolled his neck and let out a soft breath. "You haven't even learned Haki, yet you want to strut around on the world stage."

"Don't underestimate me!"

Vergo roared as black Armament Haki instantly covered his entire body, bursting apart the clothes on his upper body. His body, along with the Bamboo Staff in his hand, turned black and reflected a metallic gleam.

This was Vergo's ultimate technique as one of the Donquixote Family's top executives—Full Body Armament Haki Hardening!

Against Vergo in this state, ordinary blades, guns, and other weapons were completely useless.

Vergo's thoughts at that moment were simple:

Execute the backup plan.

That man called Kuro had already failed, so there was no longer any need to secretly take them out to sea aboard a warship.

As for Lynn Barek? Vergo felt that if he died, it would benefit his Young Master even more.

The primary objective of obtaining leverage over the World Government had already failed. Since that was the case, how to let Doflamingo gain as much profit as possible had become Vergo's top priority.

Therefore, Vergo set his primary target on Lynn.

After dealing with Lynn Barek, Vergo also intended to kill Kuro, Krieg, and all pirate crew officers who might know the truth. Finally, in his capacity as a Marine, he would arrest the pirates of Loguetown.

Using this as an opportunity, his reputation within the Marines would inevitably rise, and his path to promotion would become smoother as well.

Only by climbing to a higher position would he have the chance to bring Doflamingo greater benefits.

And all of these plans had one prerequisite—

Lynn Barek, who had come into contact with the Revolutionary Army and might know of Doflamingo's involvement in the Loguetown incident, had to die!

He could not leave behind even the slightest hidden danger for his undercover operation!

"Not coming over anymore?"

Vergo looked at Lynn, who had assumed a fighting stance with clenched fists, and slightly shook his head. "So once you realized the gap in our strength, you didn't dare come at me anymore."

Whoosh!

Vergo suddenly lowered his body and thrust the Bamboo Staff at Lynn's throat.

Lynn leaped up sharply, dodging the attack as the Bamboo Staff drove into the ground.

Boom!

The black Bamboo Staff gouged a huge pit into the ground.

Lynn's eyes narrowed at the sight.

With the enhancement of Armament Haki, the Bamboo Staff was now far harder than an ordinary iron rod. It had become a terrifying weapon!

Vergo, having missed his strike, looked up at Lynn. He could already imagine the fear on Lynn's face.

However, Lynn's reaction was beyond Vergo's expectations.

He burst out laughing, his eyes filled with excitement, and roared, "Again!"

"Hmph!"

Vergo snorted coldly, gripping the Bamboo Staff tightly before swinging it with all his strength toward the air. Lynn could not dodge in time and could only cross his arms tightly in defense.

Bang!

The Bamboo Staff struck Lynn, smashing him violently into the ground.

Boom!

Vergo watched Lynn slowly rise from the billowing dust and could not help bursting into laughter.

"Hahahahaha! The Young Master was absolutely right!"

"You, Lynn Barek, truly are a born warrior, but you are also the unluckiest one!"

"The Sabaody Arena strictly prohibited gladiators from learning and using Haki. So even after fighting there for four years, you never even touched the threshold of Haki, much less fought anyone capable of using it!"

Holding the Bamboo Staff, Vergo continued:

"Lynn Barek, you have four years that were ruined!"