Lola was far more eager than Blackbeard. As their lips met, she even slipped him her tongue.
Of course, Lola had a reason for doing it: she needed to buy Shiryu time.
Blackbeard was revolted, but with so many people watching, he had to look enthusiastic. He had no choice but to play along and take Lola's tongue into his mouth.
Just then, Shiryu quietly moved behind Blackbeard. Ye Chen shot him a look. Shiryu gritted his teeth, pulled out his sword, and drove it toward Blackbeard's heart from behind. Thud! He plunged it deep.
The strike was precise and ruthless. Not an inch off target—it hit Blackbeard squarely in the back of the heart.
It happened so fast that only a handful of people saw Shiryu strike. Kizaru saw it. Mountain Saffron, Smoothie, Bray, and Stussy saw it too. But even if any of them had wanted to stop him, they were too late. Shiryu was right behind Blackbeard; at that distance, no one could have reached him in time.
"What..." The entire hall fell deathly silent. Not a sound could be heard. It was as if everyone had stopped breathing.
Just like Whitebeard's assassination, the sight stunned everyone. Even Blackbeard himself looked utterly incredulous.
Nidai Kitetsu pierced Blackbeard's chest without mercy, entering through his back and emerging from the front. Blood streamed down the sharp blade and dripped onto the floor, glaringly bright.
But Blackbeard suddenly laughed. "Zehahaha... Good thing my heart isn't on the left!"
Before he had finished speaking, Blackbeard took a long stride forward, sliding free of Shiryu's blade. He turned and glared at Shiryu. "Why the hell did you do that?"
Body-Substitution Technique!
Ye Chen pushed through the crowd and appeared behind Blackbeard in a flash. His fingers curled into claws as he raked