Foolish Loyalty

"An eyesore of vermin."

Imu's enormous shadow floated behind the Ushi-Oni, controlling its grotesque spider limbs as they stomped into the muddy ground.

The earth rumbled and shook as though countless massive living creatures were scurrying beneath it.

Then, thick black spikes shot out from the ground, indiscriminately piercing and slaughtering the Marines and pirates present.

He was very disappointed.

He had thought he would get to watch those vermin tear each other apart, yet they had reached an agreement after only a few words.

He had even deliberately given them time to argue. What a complete waste of anticipation!

"Why is he attacking the Marines? Aren't they on the same side?"

"Who cares? Run!"

The pirates were terrified. No longer bothering to watch the Rocks Pirates' spectacle, they hurriedly fled in every direction with treasure chests in their arms.

A Marine rear admiral wore an extremely grim expression, yet all he could do was roar instructions at the soldiers.

"Everyone, fall back and keep your distance! Under no circumstances are you to attack that lord!"

Watching Marine soldiers who had failed to escape in time get pierced through by the spikes, Garp clenched his fists until they cracked, his rage reaching its limit.

"The Five Elders, huh? This is my first time seeing the leader of the maggots. He certainly looks the part."

"Vice Admiral Garp, please watch your words!"

The rear admiral was so frightened by Garp's remarks that he was nearly in tears. He hurriedly grabbed him and desperately pulled him backward.

Although he had fallen so low as to become a loyal dog for the Celestial Dragons' slaughter of innocent civilians, he still held great respect for Garp, a superior who cared for his subordinates.

Besides...

God Valley was a "non-World Government affiliated nation." It did not belong to the World Government's camp and was even considered hostile.

When slaughtering God Valley's civilians, he could deceive himself into believing that he was eliminating enemies who threatened the World Government's security.

But Garp was not only his superior; he was also speaking out in fury on behalf of the Marine soldiers.

He believed it was his responsibility to protect this superior!

Most Marine officers who had yielded to power shared this mindset, maintaining their ridiculous logic of "justice" amid extreme contradiction.

Only then could they keep themselves from breaking down.

"Hey, King of Rats hiding in the sewers. Did you come here specifically to kill me?"

Amid the chaos, Rocks walked up to the Ushi-Oni monster with his sword in hand, raised his head, and stared directly at the crowned shadow behind it.

The crowned shadow looked down at Rocks, its strange pupils filled with the cold indifference one would show an ant.

"So it's you, Davy Jones."

"Hm?"

Rocks raised a brow, then revealed a contemptuous expression.

"I'm not him, but I belong to the Davy Family. Didn't you come here specifically because of the name 'Davy'?"

"Why are you acting as if you've only just recognized me? Then what did you come here for? Is your brain broken?"

He was not insulting him. He was stating a fact.

This Rat King had clearly come for "Davy," yet he was acting as though he had only just discovered him.

His actions before and after were simply too contradictory!

His brain had to be broken!

Insulted, the crowned shadow glared in fury and raised its grotesque spider limb, stomping down toward Rocks' head.

"Davy, you must be eliminated! You must be completely erased from history!"

"If you have what it takes, then try it!"

Black-red lightning flickered around the Western sword in Rocks' hand as he swung his arm and slashed upward diagonally.

Rip—

The instant the two collided, the spider limb was severed by a single slash, blood gushing out in a torrent.

"That bastard Rocks actually dared to attack Saint Saturn!"

The Marine soldiers who had retreated into the distance looked as though their own parents had been injured. Powerless to do anything else, they could only condemn him with their words.

John, who stood silently among the Marines, tilted his head with a face full of question marks.

This blind loyalty was a little excessive, wasn't it?

"If my subordinates were these Marines, that would be great. Even if I chopped them up, they still wouldn't betray me."

For some reason, John felt a little envious, even jealous, of the Five Elders and Imu.

Comparing people could kill you; comparing goods made you throw them away.

"If I get the chance, I'm joining the Marines too!"

At that moment, John made up his mind.

If he could escape his certain death, he would definitely turn over a new leaf and sneak into the Marine ranks with a righteous facade.

And he would rise to the top!

"We should go support him, shouldn't we, Rear Admiral?"

Seeing Saint Saturn steadily lose ground under Rocks' attacks, the Marines made an urgent request to their superior.

At those words, the rear admiral's eye twitched, and a bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

He could not understand why the soldiers were being so stupid. He opened his mouth, intending to find an excuse to refuse.

"No..."

"Of course we're going to support him. Move aside!"

Before the rear admiral could finish, Garp shoved aside the soldiers crowding around him and strode toward the gigantic Ushi-Oni monster.

"Vice Admiral Garp! If you take action, those pirates will surely—"

"Huh? Wait! Which side is he going to support?!"

Before the soldiers could cheer, they saw Garp suddenly accelerate, leap into the air, and throw a punch at the Ushi-Oni monster.

The rear admiral was so frightened by Garp's actions that his heart trembled. His eyes darted around as he came up with a quick idea.

"You idiots, what are you standing around for? Those pirates stole the Celestial Dragons' treasure! Go stop them and arrest them!"

He did not dare stop Garp, nor did he want to help the frightening-looking Saint Saturn deal with Rocks. And he could not just stand there doing nothing.

Otherwise, if the Celestial Dragons held him accountable afterward, he would not escape blame.

Therefore, capturing those "ordinary" pirates was the best option!

It was relatively safe, gave them something to do, and would prevent them from being punished for avoiding battle.

Perfect!

Soon, dense gunfire rang out as the Marine soldiers, as if pumped full of stimulants, chased those "ordinary" pirates all over the place.

The Marine soldiers around John suddenly vanished, leaving only Alice and Teach at his sides.

"No workplace is easy to survive in."

John shook his head helplessly and turned his gaze toward the Ushi-Oni monster being pummeled by Rocks and Garp together.

For now, Saturn possessed by Imu was performing rather... ordinarily.

He looked so weak that John felt he could pin him to the ground and beat him himself.

"It's all an illusion. It's all fake. Calm down!"

John took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the restless urge in his heart.

Once he had calmed down, he began considering what to do next.

Clearly, events were still moving in the direction fate had indicated. Rocks simply could not be persuaded.

"Next comes Black Transference."

John's eyes flickered as he mentally simulated the feasibility of blocking the "fatal" strike for Rocks.

No!

In just an instant, John realized this path was completely unworkable.

The Ushi-Oni monster might look slow-witted right now, but the Haki it unleashed surpassed his in every way.

If he approached and was accidentally struck, then fell under Black Transference, he would definitely die here.

He could not gamble!