The G-5 Branch fortress shook under cannon fire.
Steel Hand sidestepped Vergo's Finger Pistol. His Armament Haki-coated fingertip skimmed past her cheek, tearing a shrill whistle through the air.
Instead of retreating, she stepped forward, drawing her right fist back to her waist. The instant her muscles bulged, her fist slammed into Vergo's chest.
THUD!!
A deep boom erupted across the fortress platform. Vergo flew off his feet, fine cracks spreading through the black Armament Haki over his chest under the impact. Like a cannonball, he smashed into the stone wall behind him.
With a rumbling crash, the wall caved into a massive crater. Rubble rained down onto his shoulders and legs, but he did not move-
Not because he did not want to, but because that punch had penetrated his Armament Haki and sent his organs churning.
Steel Hand withdrew her fist and shook out her wrist.
"Your Armament Haki is pretty good," she said with a touch of genuine praise.
Vergo braced himself against the shattered wall and stood. His perpetually expressionless face finally changed. A trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, ran down his chin, and soaked a small dark patch into his striped shirt.
He did not wipe it away. He merely stared at Steel Hand, something resembling wariness appearing in his eyes for the first time.
"Who are you?"
"Me?" Steel Hand chuckled, pulled the flask from her waist, and found it empty. She tossed it aside. "A retired old woman that brat hired for a billion Beli."
Vergo fell silent.
Of course he knew about the billion-Beli instructor. The news had spread like wildfire through the underworld, but no one knew who the instructor was. Now he did.
"Still want to fight?" Steel Hand asked.
Vergo did not answer.
Just