On the blue waters of the South Blue, more than a dozen pirate ships flying skull flags came face-to-face with two white warships.
"Hahaha, those Marines still aren't running?"
"Don't they know our captain is the strongest pirate in the South Blue, Captain Eustass Kid?"
The pirates jeered arrogantly, showing none of the fear ordinary pirates felt when encountering Marines.
Eustass Kid stood at the bow of the Victoria Punk, his crimson spikes whipping wildly in the sea breeze. "Boys, open fire! Blast those Marine warships to bits! Let these two warships be my parting gift to the Marines before I head to the Grand Line!"
"Captain, there's something off about how those two warships are outfitted..." The navigator wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "They don't look like South Blue warships."
"Who gives a damn who they are?" Kid spat. "Even if they're Headquarters Captains sent by Marine Headquarters, it's not like I haven't beaten them before."
Just then, two figures appeared on the warships' decks.
Both wore Justice Coats. One had a cold gaze that sent chills down people's spines, while the other smiled with a cigar clenched between his teeth.
"M-Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals?! I've seen them in the papers!" the navigator cried in terror.
Killer's pupils contracted sharply beneath his mask. "Headquarters Vice Admirals? Are you sure you haven't mistaken them?"
The navigator looked close to tears. "One's called Onigumo, and the other's Yamakaji. They're both Marine Vice Admirals who've been in the papers."
"You're kidding, right?" Killer's fingers turned slightly white around his scythes. "Is it really necessary for Headquarters Vice Admirals to personally deal with pirates like us who haven't even entered the Grand Line?"
Onigumo's voice was icy. "Trash pirates like you certainly aren't worth our time, but these are the Celestial