Framing the Marines

Because Whitebeard and Kaido were fighting outside, Wano Country did not have much defensive strength left. Using the darkness of the Dark-Dark Fruit, Rune and Kuma moved quietly through the shadows and soon approached the place where Ace was being held.

"Onigashima..."

Rune looked at one of the buildings on Onigashima and confirmed that Ace was inside. There were several Beast Pirates guards outside, and at the building's entrance, Rune spotted the distinctive ivory tusks.

Leaving the King of Ships here to stand guard showed they took this seriously.

With Rune's current strength, he would still be at a disadvantage against Jack in a one-on-one fight. After all, many Zoan Devil Fruit abilities directly enhanced the body.

Even if Rune could disable the other party's Devil Fruit powers, their physical prowess and Haki would still allow them to display considerable strength.

If they truly fought it out, Rune, having escaped Kizaru's pursuit earlier, had improved somewhat again. He might actually have a chance to take Jack down alone.

But...

That would waste too much time.

Rune and Kuma had come to rescue Ace, not defeat Jack.

With the formidable vitality of a Zoan Devil Fruit user like Jack, beating him until he could no longer resist would still take Rune some time.

"Kuma, I'll draw his attention in a moment. You hide within my darkness and ambush him directly, sending him flying. Our goal is to save people. Don't get too entangled with Kaido's men."

Kuma nodded to indicate that he understood. Rune activated his elemental form, enveloping Kuma in darkness.

Then Rune revealed himself and charged toward Jack.

"Today's the day the Marines collect that billion-berry head!"

Rune wore Tashigi's pink coat of justice. It looked a little strange, but the Marine coat's style still caught Jack's attention at once.

"Arrogant!"

Jack transformed instantly. Though he did not recognize Rune, since Rune was a Marine, there was naturally no need to hold back.

However, when Rune's fist, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, collided with his, Jack felt the bizarre sensation that his punch had struck nothing.

The next moment, a dark paw-shaped imprint slammed into Jack's body.

Because it was a paw wrapped in darkness, it looked much like Black Star. With one side prepared and the other caught off guard, Kuma sent Jack straight into the sea with a single slap.

"Move, save him!"

Rune returned to Kuma's side, and the two entered the building where Ace was imprisoned. Without Jack, one of the top officers, the guards inside were nothing more than cannon fodder to two fighters at the level of the Seven Warlords.

Before long, Rune found Ace.

And Yamato, not far away from him.

"Kuma, send both of them to the Thousand Sunny!"

With Conqueror's Haki wrapped around his fist, Rune smashed Ace's Seastone handcuffs apart. Then he punched Ace in the head, knocking him unconscious on the spot.

If this idiot had not acted so foolishly, there would not have been so much trouble!

"You're Yamato, right? I know of you."

Rune looked at the shackles on Yamato's hands. They were not Seastone shackles, but shackles that would explode if she left Onigashima. Still, such a thing was not difficult for Kuma to deal with.

"Kuma, slap her handcuffs away."

The Paw-Paw Fruit ability activated. Yamato was completely unharmed, but her shackles vanished.

"I am the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Seventeenth Division. Kozuki Oden was once the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division."

Rune extended a hand toward Yamato. "Do you want to come with me?"

"You're a pirate?"

"Yes."

Rune nodded in admission, then pointed at Ace. "This guy and I are companions. I came this time to rescue this idiot."

"You admire the life of sailing out to sea and going on adventures, don't you? Do you want to become the next Kozuki Oden?"

Rune saw the longing in Yamato's eyes. Though Rune himself did not like Kozuki Oden, he could absolutely use Oden's name to lure Yamato in.

It could not exactly be called deception. Taking her out of Wano Country would not be a bad thing for Yamato.

As for whether Kaido would fly into a rage after discovering that both Yamato and Ace were gone, that was not Rune's concern.

Besides, this could not be blamed on Rune.

Rune tore off the pink coat of justice he was wearing, ripped the word "Justice" from its cape, and tossed it onto the ground. Then he grabbed Ace with one hand and Yamato with the other.

"Kuma, send us back to the Thousand Sunny."

The Paw-Paw Fruit ability activated, and all four of them appeared together on the deck of the Thousand Sunny. Rune looked at Tashigi nearby and scratched his head awkwardly.

"Sorry, I ruined your coat. I'll get you another one next time."

Rune returned the pink coat missing its "Justice" to Tashigi, then looked at the unconscious Ace beside him.

So annoyed that Rune kicked him again.

"I'll go find Marco. Kuma, keep an eye on them."

Rune felt that Kuma was the most reliable person on the ship. He planned to make Kuma vice-captain in a few days. If Rune was ever absent in the future, Kuma could make the decisions.

After saying that, Rune leaped onto the Moby Dick. Whitebeard and Kaido were still fighting at that moment, and the clash of their powerful auras made even Rune feel some pressure.

He looked at the two still locked in fierce combat and took a deep breath.

Then, along with Conqueror's Haki, his shout carried into Whitebeard and Kaido's battlefield.

"THE MARINES ARE HERE!"

Whitebeard and Kaido both froze. Just after Rune finished shouting, a golden flash appeared in the distant sky.

Now Whitebeard and Kaido stopped fighting.

The two of them looked at the golden flash together.

The golden flash had no intention of approaching at all.

Marco transformed into a phoenix and flew to Whitebeard's side. After explaining that Rune had rescued Ace, Whitebeard gave Rune a surprised look before immediately returning to the Moby Dick.

And with Kizaru's threat in the distance, Kaido did not pursue them either.

He could only watch as the Moby Dick and Whitebeard's fleet departed.

Only after the Moby Dick had gone far away did Whitebeard, together with Rune, see the unconscious Ace aboard the Thousand Sunny.

Their objective had been achieved, so there was no reason to continue fighting. Whitebeard immediately ordered them to leave the waters around Wano Country.

The Marines had arrived. This war could not continue any longer. If they kept fighting, first, there would be no reason for it.

Even if there were a reason.

They still could not fight.

They could not possibly let the Marines come and reap the benefits.

Seeing that Whitebeard and Kaido had not fought to the bitter end, Kizaru lost any desire to land on the island. By himself, he could not take down the entire Beast Pirates.

Meanwhile, Jack, who had been slapped into the sea, was finally discovered and hauled back up.