Killing without lifting a finger-Tesoro had gone mad. Even his trusted subordinates had been killed, but he had little strength left himself as the poison gas spread through his body.
The gas was not lethal. It was not some potent virus that spread infection and death.
Still, Tesoro had exhausted himself. After raging for a while, he collapsed to the ground, too weak to keep going.
A vine dropped from an airship and wrapped around Tesoro.
Whoosh!
A blade slashed at it, sending sparks flying from the vine, but failed to cut through.
"Don't even think about taking him away..." Baccarat said, staring at Rogge.
"That's not up to you." Rogge turned his icy gaze on her.
"If you want to take him, you'll have to step over my corpse." Baccarat gripped her sword and stood in front of Tesoro.
Silence settled over the scene. Women like her were not unheard of, but Baccarat's willingness to face Rogge with a sword for Tesoro's sake showed admirable courage.
Yet she was ultimately nothing more than an ant. The gap between her and Rogge was far too vast. Rogge did not even need to act. Jelly's vines poured down, and in practically a single move, even Baccarat, with her power to manipulate luck, could only fall beside Tesoro.
"Boss..." Baccarat reached for Tesoro, but before she could touch him, the vines bound them both and hauled them straight toward the airship.
Someone else intervened, however, and this time it was someone far beyond Baccarat: Peach Rabbit. Her slash cut straight through Jelly's vines, rescuing Tesoro and Baccarat.
"Are the Marines looking for trouble?" Rogge looked at the Marine vice admirals. "Your Admiral Fujitora was defeated by me just a few days ago. That sanctimonious bastard is still hanging around in the Marines?